Wendy’s has merged the two concepts with its reinvented Garden Sensation Salads line: a fresh and flavorful quartet featuring Apple Pecan Chicken, BLT Cobb, Spicy Chicken Ceasar and Baja.

The goal was to bring the quality of a restaurant salad to fast food so each salad is made to order. There’s no premade salad waiting in a refrigerator case. As a result, the warm chicken, bacon and other proteins make these freshly-made salads real comfort food, as well as a fiber- and vitamin-packed meal.

We recently tasted three of the four new salads, and give them a thumbs-up. Each contains one-to-two cups of vegetables. Atop a mixture of crunchy romaine and other lettuces and greens are:

Three of four fast salads, made to order.
Photo courtesy Wendy’s.

• Apple Pecan Chicken: This fan favorite combines fresh-grilled chicken, chopped red and green apples, crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries and spiced pecans.
• Baja Salad: Instead of chili with a side salad, here the chili and cheese go atop the salad. Pico de gallo, guacamole and tortilla chips add south-of-the-border flavors.
• BLT Cobb Salad: Our personal favorite—we’re happy to know that we can enjoy a Cobb Salad wherever our travels take us. The ingredients include grilled chicken, crispy applewood smoked bacon, crumbled blue cheese, hard-cooked eggs and tomatoes. Avocado, an ingredient in the classic Cobb Salad, appears here in the form of avocado ranch dressing.
• Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad: We didn’t try this one, but Caesar salad fans are in for a treat. The Asiago cheese is fresh shaved—no powdery Parmesan from a can; the croutons are made from baguettes.

Next time you want a crunchy salad for lunch—or are having a snack attack—you can head to Wendy’s. The chain will continue to offer its Garden Side Salad and Caesar Side Salad.

Find more of our favorite salads and recipes in our Vegetables & Salads Section.