Hazel & Hank's Gourmet Market: Fresh Salads and Local Ingredients in Columbia

What Hazel & Hank's Offers for Salad Lovers

Hazel & Hank's Gourmet Market is a neighborhood grocery and prepared-foods shop in Columbia that builds salads around seasonal produce and local suppliers. You can order salads made to order at the counter, buy pre-made options from the cooler, or pick up ingredients to assemble your own at home. The market sources from South Carolina farms when possible, which means the greens, vegetables, and herbs change with what's growing rather than staying the same year-round.

The prepared salads rotate based on what's fresh and available. You might find a salad with local goat cheese and roasted beets one week and a completely different composition the next. The counter staff can also build a custom salad if you have preferences—choosing your greens, proteins, vegetables, and dressing from what they have on hand that day.

Key Takeaways

• Hazel & Hank's makes salads to order at the counter and stocks pre-made options in the cooler, so you can eat immediately or take ingredients home.
• The salad menu changes seasonally based on what local South Carolina farms are producing, so the same salad won't be available year-round.
• You can customize a salad by choosing your greens, proteins, vegetables, and dressing from the market's current inventory.
• The market also sells individual ingredients—lettuces, vegetables, cheeses, and dressings—if you prefer to build salads at home.

Seasonal Produce and Local Sourcing

Hazel & Hank's relationship with local farms shapes what salads are available and when. In spring and early summer, you'll find tender lettuces, fresh herbs, and early vegetables like asparagus and peas. Summer brings tomatoes, cucumbers, and stone fruits. Fall and winter shift toward heartier greens, root vegetables, and storage crops. This seasonal rhythm means the salad you loved in June may not reappear until the following June.

The market also carries prepared ingredients that support salad-making: local cheeses, cured meats, nuts, seeds, and house-made dressings. If you want to build salads at home but don't want to source everything yourself, you can buy components individually and assemble them in your kitchen.

Where Hazel & Hank's Is Located and Hours

Hazel & Hank's Gourmet Market is located in the Five Points neighborhood of Columbia, a walkable area with other restaurants, shops, and galleries nearby. The market occupies a small storefront designed for quick stops and browsing. Parking is available on the street or in nearby lots.

Hours vary seasonally and by day of the week, so it's worth checking their current schedule before you visit. The market is typically closed on Sundays and Mondays, with weekday and Saturday hours that allow for lunch and dinner shopping.

Pricing and What to Expect

Salads at Hazel & Hank's are priced higher than chain grocery store salads but lower than restaurant sit-down meals. The cost reflects the use of local, seasonal produce and the labor involved in making salads to order. Pre-made salads in the cooler tend to be slightly less expensive than custom orders because they're prepared in batches.

Portion sizes are generous—a salad from Hazel & Hank's is typically a full meal rather than a side. If you're buying ingredients to make salads at home, individual components are priced like specialty grocery items, not bulk warehouse prices.

How to Order and Pay

Walk into the market and approach the prepared-foods counter to order a salad made to order. The staff will show you what greens, proteins, and vegetables are available that day and build your salad while you watch. You can also point to pre-made salads in the cooler and ask for one to go. Payment is handled at the register, and most salads are ready to eat within a few minutes.

If you're buying ingredients to take home, you can shop the market shelves and coolers as you would any grocery store, then pay at the register. The market accepts cash and cards.

Why Hazel & Hank's Fits Into Columbia's Food Scene

Hazel & Hank's represents a particular approach to grocery shopping and eating that has grown in Columbia over the past decade: small, locally focused markets that prioritize relationships with nearby farms and producers over national supply chains. The market attracts people who want to know where their food comes from and who value freshness and seasonality over consistency.

The Five Points location also makes Hazel & Hank's part of a neighborhood known for independent businesses, local art, and community gathering spaces. Shopping there is as much about supporting a local business and neighborhood as it is about buying a salad.

What to Know Before You Visit

Hazel & Hank's is a small market, so it can get crowded during lunch hours and on weekends. If you want a quick salad, arriving early in the day or mid-afternoon usually means shorter waits. The market's size also means inventory is limited—if a particular salad or ingredient is popular, it may sell out before closing time.

Because the menu changes with the seasons and what's available, it's helpful to approach each visit with flexibility. If your favorite salad isn't available, the staff can usually suggest something similar or build something custom from what they have. The market also posts updates on social media about what's in stock and what's coming soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order a salad ahead of time?

Hazel & Hank's primarily operates on a walk-in basis, with salads made to order at the counter. For large orders or special requests, it's worth calling ahead to see if they can accommodate you, but same-day ordering is the standard approach.

Are there salad options for people with dietary restrictions?

Yes. Because salads are built to order, you can request modifications—no cheese, no meat, gluten-free dressing, or other changes. The staff can tell you which ingredients are available and help you build something that fits your needs.

Do they sell salad dressing separately?

Yes. Hazel & Hank's sells house-made dressings and other prepared condiments by the jar or bottle. You can buy dressing to use with salads you make at home or with pre-made salads from other sources.

What's the difference between a salad from Hazel & Hank's and a grocery store salad?

Hazel & Hank's salads use fresh, often local produce that changes seasonally, while grocery store salads typically use the same ingredients year-round. The market also makes salads to order rather than pre-packaging them, so you control what goes in.

Is parking easy to find?

Street parking is available near the Five Points location, though it can be tight during peak hours. There are also nearby parking lots. The market is walkable from other Five Points businesses if you're in the neighborhood.