Best salads for the Shanghai summer

There's nothing like a Shanghai summer day to bring out a craving for a big, leafy bowl of salad -- and we're not talking about one of those little side salads. Give your appetite a break from the summer heat and instead of a big lunch or dinner, try one of these meal-in-a-bowl salads. 

The Cobb versus the Laffa Bread Salad? No competition here.

Laffa Bread Salad, Element Fresh

Price: RMB 68

There are two types of people who dine at Element Fresh: people who love the Classic Cobb (RMB 78) and people who will swear to the fabulousness of the Laffa Bread Salad (we'll admit, we fall into the latter category -- but hey, to each their own). Laffa Bread Salad lovers argue that their salad is clearly the red-headed stepchild of the arrangement -- because the Cobb gets its photo in the menu -- but it's still a far superior salad. Cobb salad lovers complain that the Laffa Bread Salad tries too hard to be ethnic. Really, they need to stop fighting and love the Laffa. It's a simple combination of salad greens with tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, goat cheese and strips of grilled chicken breast all tossed in a creamy miso-yogurt dressing that was delectable enough to make our "40 Shanghai foods we can’t live without" line-up. This dressing is that good. Douse the salad with the miso-yogurt dressing than eat the whole thing as a Laffa bread "burrito" or as a straight salad, it's up to you. Both are equally delicious.
Element Fresh, multiple locations, 1/F Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Xikang Lu 南京西路1376号, 近西康路, +86 21 6279 8682, www.elementfresh.com

A summer salad worth hopping the river for. Really.

Vegetarian and Grains salad, hof (Lujiazui)

Pride: RMB 78
"We wanted to create a salad what could be a meal," explains chef and restaurateur Brian Tan on how he started on the road to make the perfect light salad meal. Offering just about everything your daily food pyramid could ask, this combination of bulgur and brown rice lends a hardy base to the salad while the greens, eggplant caviar, Moroccan spiced vegetables and homemade taro chips all mix perfectly on the tongue, making basic green salads look piddly and flavorless in comparison.
hof (Lujiazui), DBS Tower, 1318 Lujiazui Huan Lu, near Dongyuan Lu 陆家嘴环路1318号星展银行大厦, 近东园路, +86 21 5010 0800

A simple combination that pops when combined with the Pier 39 house dressing.

Pier 39 Signature Salad, Pier 39

Price: RMB 58

Although Pier 39 is best known for its clam chowder in a bread bowl (yup, there is even good -- yes, we said good -- clam chowder in Shanghai), we go there for the Pier 39 salad, dragging any salad-craving friends in tow to show them how good this salad really is. For RMB 58, you get Pier 39's two-person version of a chopped salad. A bed of lettuce, arugula and frisée holds up neatly lined rows of hard-boiled egg, sliced red onion, cheese, smoked chicken and diced tomato. The tarragon and olive-oil dressing is sweet and aromatic. Add this and a splash of lemon juice and the salad is positively addictive. Don't believe you could be addicted to a salad? Try it (don't skimp on the dressing) and get back to us.
Pier 39, 172 Jinxian Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu 进贤路172号，近陕西南路, +86 21 6258 1939

Seafood takes this rocket-based salad to the next level.

Squid, Shrimp and Rocket Salad, Pomodoro Bistrot

Price: RMB 65

This one is for rocket (aka arugula) lovers. If you aren't used to the snappy flavor of rocket, don't even bother with this one (go for the Caesar instead), but if you're a fan, this salad is second to none. Pomodoro's salad is all rocket worship -- glossy rocket leaves tossed in a light olive oil and lemon dressing with shrimp and calamari rings tucked in. The light, lemon flavors complement the spicy rocket, a sublime choice for summer, and the protein makes it so filling you won't need anything else.
Pomodoro Bistrot, 1023 Kangding Lu, near Yanping Lu 康定路1023号，近延平陆，+ 86 6218 3798

This salad is as good for local famers as for your mouth. Dig in.

Octopus salad, Downstairs

Price: RMB 75

This new seasonal salad, already a Downstairs menu favorite according to chef Mark Beckwith, features coins of octopus sausage, diced avocado, sweet segmented pomelo and salty olives tossed in extra virgin olive oil. The flavors together are subtle and appropriately light for the hot weather -- next time we plan to enjoy this on the terrace. Simple, but very tasty and just in time for summer. You can also down this salad knowing you're supporting local farmers. David Laris, the restaurateur behind Downstairs, created the menu to be 80 percent locally sourced. “We use as much local produce as possible. Having that consciousness is the first step and it makes sense. We support the local economy and reduce emissions from not having to fly everything here,” says Laris.
Downstairs, 183 Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu 进新闸路, 胶州路183号, +86 21 5172 1300

This salad heats up your mouth to cool down your body.

Papaya salad, Chiang Mai Thai

Price: RMB 32

Papaya salad, a slaw of grated green papaya, peanuts, lime, green beans, garlic, fish sauce and chili in its basic form, is a staple of every Thai menu in town. Our favorite and remarkably filling version can be found at Chiang Mai, where the freshly julienned papaya is extra crunchy and extra fishy. For the real deal, ask your waiter for “Thai spicy” then prepare for the onslaught of spicy, salty, spicy, sour, spicy flavors with a big glass of Thai iced tea. If you are not crying, then it's not "Thai spicy."
Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine, 1019 Kangding Lu, near Yanping Lu 康定路1019号，近延平陆，+86 21 5228 1588