I wouldn't typically go to Chick-fil-A or Zaxby's for salads, but I did for this taste test. Meredith SchneiderI ordered basic salads at Wendy's, Culver's, Chick-fil-A, and Zaxby's to see which chain was best.Wendy's used to rule the salad game, but I was underwhelmed by my Cobb there.If you want quality on a budget, Chick-fil-A's customizable salads are the way to go.Fast-food restaurants aren't necessarily known for their healthy options. Heck, McDonald's has vehemently exited the salad game at US locations, in part due to a lack of interest.Local restaurants and salad-specific chains like Sweetgreen and Just Salad are on the rise, but if you know where to look, there are still some great options at the drive-thru.I tried basic salads at Wendy's, Culver's, Chick-fil-A, and Zaxby's to see which offered the tastiest dish for the best value.Here's how the fast-food chains stacked up.First, I ordered a Cobb salad at Wendy’s.My local Wendy's looked completely empty. Meredith SchneiderI started my taste test at Wendy's, my old go-to spot when I needed a salad fast.The chain's salad menu does have some nice variety, though, with Caeser, Cobb, apple-pecan, and taco options. For this comparison, I went with the basic Cobb. The Cobb salad comes with crispy onions.I thought Wendy's salads used to be bigger. Meredith SchneiderA traditional Cobb usually has greens, tomatoes, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, grilled chicken, and a vinaigrette dressing. Wendy's version wasn't too far off, but it swapped in cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. I got two packets of dressing with the salad and a bag of crispy onions to sprinkle on top. The ranch wasn't particularly flavorful, but the addition of the onions added a dash of flavor and crunch. Wendy’s is no longer the salad savant.Wendy's Cobb salad was just OK. Meredith SchneiderThe Cobb salad cost me $9.13 at Wendy's, and despite being on the smaller side for this taste test, it was pretty filling.My biggest complaints were that the grilled chicken and ranch were a bit on the bland side, and the bowls felt flimsy and shallow, making it difficult to blend the ingredients.I remember Wendy's salads being bigger and a little more impressive, but maybe it's just been a while since I've had one.Zaxby’s was my second Cobb salad of the evening.There wasn't much of a crowd at my local Zaxby's.Meredith SchneiderNext, I drove over to the closest Zaxby's location. The chain is primarily known for its seasoned and breaded fried chicken.A salad isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Zaxby's — I'm personally a fan of its funnel cakes and other fried foods. So I wasn't surprised that the chain only sold two Zalad options: Cobb and house. This Cobb had near-perfect portions.Zaxby's salad came in a hearty box. Meredith SchneiderWith mixed greens, hard-boiled egg, cheese, carrots, red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, fried onions, and fried chicken, Zaxby's salad was certainly fully loaded. But despite all the accouterments, I thought the ratios were spot-on.Similarly to Wendy's, Zaxby's uses cheddar jack instead of blue cheese, perhaps because the stinky variety isn't everyone's favorite.For the dressing, I had a choice of ranch, honey mustard, or vinaigrette, and the salad came with a hearty piece of Texas toast on the side.I also really appreciated that I was in and out with my salad in less than four minutes. I like fast food that's actually fast. Zaxby's had the biggest and most expensive salad. The Zaxby's salad even came with a side of Texas toast. Meredith SchneiderZaxby's salad came in a more substantial container than the others, which also meant the portion size was a bit bigger. But it was the priciest salad at $12.60.I was already a fan of the chain's top-notch fried chicken, and enjoying it on top of a colorful salad ended up being a delightful experience. Chick-fil-A packs a punch — but in a smaller container.The drive-thru at my Chick-fil-A was packed. Meredith SchneiderChick-fil-A is a popular place to be. Many locations have even added a second line to their drive-thrus. But I've found that the chain operates efficiently (albeit slower) than other fast-food spots.Nevertheless, if you breeze past the many chicken options, Chick-fil-A has three salads: Cobb, spicy Southwest, and market. I liked that the salad was a bit customizable.I was intrigued by Chick-fil-A's interesting topping and dressing. Meredith SchneiderChick-fil-A's Cobb salad is made with mixed greens, roasted corn kernels, bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, and chicken nuggets. It's served with an avocado-lime ranch dressingUnlike the other chains, this salad allowed for a little more customization. I could've substituted the nuggets for chicken strips or fillets that were grilled, fried, cold, or warm. Instead of fried onions, the salad also came with a topping of crispy bell peppers.Chick-fil-A really impressed me.I'd definitely order another Cobb from Chick-fil-A. Meredith SchneiderThe real hero of this meal was the creamy dressing. It pulled the flavors together and was unique compared to the other offerings I tried. Even though the packaging was on the smaller side, the salad was densely packed. It was also incredibly delicious and kept me full for hours.I'd pay $10.40 for this Cobb again. Culver’s seasonal summer salad was a close comparison.I like Culver's, but it can be crowded. Meredith SchneiderCulver's has a fantastic ButterBurger, but the Midwest-based chain actually makes a pretty great salad as well. Oddly enough, they're sectioned off with the seafood options on the menu.Although there wasn't a Cobb on the menu, the seasonal strawberry-fields salad caught my eye — I'm a sucker for a limited-time offer. With mixed greens, chicken, blue cheese, and vinaigrette, I thought it was close enough to a traditional Cobb to compare to the others.There were also chicken-cashew, cranberry-bacon-blue, and garden-fresco salads.The seasonal salad came with two vinaigrettes. I was a little thrown off by Culver's mismatched dressings. Meredith SchneiderThe strawberry-fields salad came with raspberry vinaigrette, blue cheese, strawberries, tomatoes, grilled chicken, and pecans on a bed of mixed greens. But when I picked up my order, I was handed one fat-free Ken's vinaigrette and one Culver's brand option. It was a bit odd, but I like having options, so I didn't mind. Culver’s satisfied my sweet tooth.I didn't even feel like I was eating a salad at Culver's. Meredith SchneiderCulver's packs its strawberry-fields salad with enough fruit to make it feel like a dessert. That alone probably makes it a little harder to compare to the Cobbs, but at the end of the day, a fast-food salad is a fast-food salad. This one is for people who don't want to feel like they're eating salad. There were enough toppings to saturate each bite, and at $9.77, it was a cheaper option. My only complaint was that the grilled chicken was a bit bland and didn't really add anything for me. Price became my deciding factor for this salad review. Clockwise from top left: Salads from Chick-fil-A, Zaxby's, Culver's, and Wendy's. Meredith SchneiderAlthough none of the salads were bad, when it came down to crowning a winning chain, Zaxby's and Chick-fil-A were neck and neck for me. They both offered quality ingredients, decent portion sizes, and top-notch taste. If you're looking for faster service, Zaxby's might be the one for you. But Chick-fil-A's Cobb salad is a more budget-friendly option. Considering Chick-fil-A's salad was cheaper and so dense that I actually had leftovers, I think it has to be my winner. Read the original article on Business Insider
