Salata is now open! Photo by Matea Granados

Salad lovers, rejoice! Denton has a new restaurant in town and this one is on a mission to provide a healthy experience. Salata: The Next Generation Salad Bar - is now open on Hickory Street across from Lucky Lou’s.

Instead of choosing from a preset menu, guests are able to completely customize how their salads and wraps are made. This may be daunting task as an immense amount of toppings are available, but, have no fear. The staff is happy to make recommendations - and - sampling is an option. Every college kid's dream come true, right? Owner Gahreen Simonian believes that Salata offers a great meal because it will have everything you want. “We try to do our best with little details to provide a healthy experience,” Simonian says.

Fresh ingredients are a good thing. Photo by Mateo Granados.

All toppings are chopped fresh daily and contain no preservatives. All the dressings are made in-house, and the fountain provides various types of lemonade and organic tea. You are also able to get your proteins from a meat selection that includes spicy chicken and marinated shrimp at an extra cost. A bowl or wrap varies between $7 -$15 depending on what toppings you include in your meal. House-made soups and fresh cookies are also available. If you visit their allergen list you’ll find a wealth of gluten-free options as well.

When Simonian first started scouting locations, she was looking for a city without a Salata. She found a likeable energy and vibrant residents within Denton. Simonian sees that there is a healthy amount of Dentonites that grew up here and choose to stick around. Her goal is to ensure that Salata is healthy, fresh, and a great experience.

The first 50 people to attend the grand opening on today, Thursday, May 12, will get a free meal. Salata has partnered with Our Daily Bread by offering a portion of the entire day’s sales to be donated. Our Daily Bread is a local charity that provides food for the homeless.

Salata is a franchise that originated in Houston and is now up to 54 locations spread around Texas, California, and Illinois. The Denton location will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. and on Sunday the restaurant is closed. Salata is located at 1220 W. Oak Street.

Salata is Now Open