Ask most folks in town which restaurant makes the best salad and they’ll inevitably tell you ZaZa — the Little Rock staple specializing in big salads and small, tasty pizzas.
ZaZa offers 13 “Classic Salads,” along with the option for customers to create their own salads from a variety of select ingredients. Through the years, I’ve tried almost all of these “Classic Salads,” but until recently, had never ordered the Sesame Ahi Tuna. This comes with romaine, a mixture of greens, seared sushi grade ahi tuna, avocado, cucumber, edamame, green onions, lemon, toasted sesame seeds, wasabi peas, and a ponzu vinaigrette. I decided to forgo the wasabi peas and opt for a medium dose of dressing.
The lettuce was crisp and plentiful, and the other ingredients perfectly complimented one another. I had hoped the tuna would stand out, and it certainly did for its quality and freshness. The sweet and salty ponzu vinaigrette provided subtle flavors and elevated the centerpiece of sliced fish, while the creamy bits of avocado and handful of edamame gave the salad hearty substance.
Has the Sesame Ahi Tuna ($13.50) vaulted itself to the top of my ZaZa salad mountain? Maybe, maybe not. It’s still hard to beat the Petit Jean Ranch or the Asian Ginger Chicken, but if you’re in the mood for tuna, this salad definitely delivers.
If you’re not overly hungry or are in the mood to pair it with pizza, consider ordering the small portion of any salad, which costs $3 less than the price of an entrée salad.
ZaZa
5600 Kavanaugh Blvd. (501) 661-9292
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.