Five summer salads perfect for lunch delivery in Chicago

Ditching the crispy, edible bowl (making delivery easier), the Antique Taco Salad revels in the unexpected. The kale-based creation always arrives with a generous portion of seasonal fruit—such as strawberries or apples—that pairs well with a pomegranate vinaigrette dressing. It’s rounded out with onion, cheese, red peppers, cranberries, spicy peanuts and tortilla strips—and you can add chicken, pork or shrimp to the dish (for an additional fee) if you’re craving protein.

A burger joint that makes a killer salad? Yes, such a place exists. In addition to perfectly-stacked patties, Mini Mott’s Logan Square shop churns out a sizable serving of chopped iceberg and romaine lettuce, topped with radish, dill, tomato, ditali pasta, bacon and a mixture of nori and bonito. You can choose between a house Italian or a miso, carrot and ginger dressing (personally, we prefer the latter).

We know that this salad takes its name from a list of ingredients that all begin with the letter “A,” but we give it high marks for its flavor, portion size and creativity. Combining arugula, avocado, Asian pear, asiago cheese and almonds, this overachieving dish comes with a simple vinaigrette dressing that doesn’t get in the way of the menagerie of flavors. You can add chicken or salmon if you need a slightly heartier lunch, but the Straight “A” makes our honor list with or without the extras.

Craving a salad but not in the mood for a pile of lettuce? The Greek salad from Avli should do the trick—and its lack of leafy greens only bolsters its authenticity. This veggie-packed specialty comes with grape tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, green peppers, olives and feta cheese, all coated in a Greek vinaigrette. There are enough flavors in this medley to satisfy any palate, and you can always throw in a few pitas if you need something a bit more filling.

Best known for its extensive menu of specialty pies and a picturesque patio where they can be enjoyed, Homeslice Pizza also boasts an exceedingly robust selection of salads that don’t necessarily need to be accompanied by ‘za. The standout of the bunch is the Kale Cobb Salad, named for its primary green and stacked with all the toppings you’d expect (tomato, hard boiled egg, bacon, gorgonzola, ham and avocado). Naturally, it’s smothered in Homeslice’s ranch dressing—the kind you might dip your crust in if it weren’t atop your salad.