Salad. As a vegetarian and produce-lover; that one word makes my heart pitter-patter. There is really no better food (in my opinion) than a bowl of crisp, colorful vegetables topped with a bit of acidity (that's the dressing or vinegar, folks). However, we all know the major flaw of salads: the unequal ratio of ingredients leaving you with bites that are just vegetable or simply the leafy greens. Chop Stop eliminates that problem with their chopped salad concept.
Chop Stop is a quick-serve eatery serving salads, soups, wraps, and "chopurrito bowls" of every combination your mind can fathom. The establishment is somewhat small in square footage with an order counter and a few tables so not really best-suited for eating-in. Regardless, it is clean, modern, and has Ikea-esque esthetics. Immediately upon stepping foot into the Chop Stop, we were greeted by a young male employee while the female order taker asked if we are first-timers (yes) to which she proceeded to explain the process and menu. I am HUGE on customer service and it is a bigger resonating point with me than the actual food. You win with customer service and you may have my vote even if your food isn't that great. Chop Stop was impressive with their manner and instantaneous welcome.
The menu at Chop Stop offers pre-imagined salads at approximately $9 (and everything can be made into a wrap) or a create-your-own salad where one can pick a lettuce (or combo of two), 6 toppings (veggies, cheeses, beans and grains, crunchies, and proteins), and a dressing. This gives you the liberty to up the calories and carbs (and fat) or go the super lean route. I chose to create a salad with a combo of kale and spinach, broccoli, carrots, egg whites, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, and a fat-free raspberry vinaigrette to go.
Now, Chop Stop isn't like Subway or Chipotle where you can see the ingredients behind the counter so it is a little tricky having to keep count of your 6 toppings. Despite this, don't worry that the employees missed any because the order taker read it back like a pro. The preparation of the salad didn't take too long and was presented with a smile. My instant reaction? Whoa baby, these are large! This is no side salad! This is a never-ending bowl of salad!
I actually consumed my salad the next day and being that I asked for dressing on the side, it was not wilted or discolored. I would say that the little cup of dressing is not enough for the gigantic salad (this baby will be enough for you just as dinner). The great thing is that the chopped itty-bitty pieces solves the problem of eating one ingredient more than the other so each bite is satisfying and you genuinely can eat this salad with a spoon. It is very fresh, filling, and hearty even though it is just vegetables.
A downside to Chop Stop is aside from fountain drinks (the machine is behind the counter); they sell some soft drink and water bottles but these are not that chilled and they don't offer a cup of ice. An upside, though? Chop Stop is open until 10pm which is great for HEALTHY late-night munchies.
There really is no reason to not try Chop Stop (I hear they can get pretty busy though). It's healthy, has great customer service, and is a huge, filling quantity well-worth the price. Thanks to Chop Stop, the dilemma of being left with one ingredient in a salad bowl is solved. That makes this salad-lover sigh with relief.... read more