Kedra's Kitchen: Fresh Salads and Southern Comfort in Columbia
What Kedra's Kitchen Serves
Kedra's Kitchen is a casual counter-service restaurant in Columbia that builds its menu around fresh salads, grain bowls, and Southern-inspired sides. The salad options rotate seasonally and often feature locally sourced vegetables when available. You order at the counter, choose your base (greens, grains, or both), and select from a range of proteins and house-made dressings.
The restaurant sits in a relaxed, neighborhood setting where the focus is on quality ingredients rather than table service or elaborate plating. Most customers grab their order and eat in the small dining area, though takeout is straightforward. The price point is moderate—salads typically run between $12 and $16 depending on protein choice.
Key Takeaways
- Kedra's Kitchen specializes in customizable salads with rotating seasonal vegetables and house-made dressings.
- The restaurant operates as counter-service, so you order and pay before receiving your food.
- Proteins include chicken, fish, tofu, and sometimes beef or pork, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
- The space is small and casual, best suited for quick meals rather than lingering dinners.
- Takeout and online ordering are available, making it convenient for lunch breaks or meal prep.
The Salad Menu and Customization
Rather than a fixed list of named salads, Kedra's Kitchen lets you build your own. You start by choosing a base: mixed greens, spinach, kale, or a grain blend like quinoa or farro. From there, you add vegetables from what's available that day—this changes with the season, but typically includes tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, beets, and leafy herbs.
Proteins rotate but usually include grilled chicken breast, pan-seared fish (often salmon or tilapia), seasoned tofu, and occasionally beef or pork. The house-made dressings are a strong point; they change regularly and often reflect Southern flavors—think buttermilk-herb, hot honey vinaigrette, or creamy peanut. You can also request oil and vinegar or ask what dressings are available on the day you visit.
If salad isn't what you're after, the restaurant also offers grain bowls with similar customization, plus sides like roasted vegetables, collard greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas. These sides often reflect traditional Low Country and Lowcountry cooking, which is part of Kedra's Kitchen's broader identity.
Location and Hours
Kedra's Kitchen is located in the Five Points neighborhood of Columbia, a walkable area with other restaurants, shops, and galleries nearby. The exact street address and current hours are best confirmed by calling ahead or checking their social media, as restaurant hours can shift seasonally or for special events.
The neighborhood itself is worth exploring if you have time before or after your meal. Five Points has a mix of independent businesses, and the area is pedestrian-friendly with street parking available, though it can fill up during lunch hours on weekdays.
Dietary Needs and Restrictions
Because you build your own salad, it's relatively easy to work around dietary restrictions. Vegetarian and vegan options are straightforward—choose greens or grains, load up on vegetables, and skip the protein or choose tofu. The staff can tell you which dressings contain dairy or eggs, and which are plant-based.
If you have a severe allergy, mention it when ordering. The kitchen is small and shared, so cross-contamination is possible. The staff will be honest about what they can and cannot may provide, which is more useful than a blanket promise.
Pricing and Payment
A basic salad with greens, vegetables, and no protein typically costs around $10 to $12. Adding a protein brings the price to $13 to $16, depending on which protein you choose (chicken is usually the least expensive, fish and beef slightly more). Grain bowls are priced similarly.
Sides like collard greens or cornbread run $3 to $5 each. The restaurant accepts cash and card, and most payment happens at the counter before you receive your food. Some locations offer online ordering through third-party apps, though calling ahead to order for pickup is often faster and more reliable.
Why Kedra's Kitchen Fits Columbia's Food Scene
Kedra's Kitchen represents a shift in Columbia's dining landscape toward restaurants that take vegetables seriously and draw on the region's culinary traditions without pretension. The salad-focused menu reflects both the health-conscious eating habits of many diners and the abundance of produce in South Carolina's growing season.
The use of Southern ingredients and techniques—buttermilk dressings, collard greens, cornbread—connects the restaurant to Columbia's food heritage while keeping the format modern and accessible. It's the kind of place that works for a quick lunch, a meal-prep stop, or a casual dinner with friends, which is why it has become a neighborhood fixture in Five Points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order online or call ahead?
Many locations accept phone orders for pickup, and some are listed on third-party delivery apps. Calling ahead is the most reliable way to ensure your order is ready when you arrive, especially during lunch rush.
Do you have options for people with nut allergies?
Some dressings and sides may contain nuts or be prepared in a shared kitchen space. Ask the staff directly about ingredients and preparation when you order, and they will tell you what is safe.
What if I don't like salad?
Kedra's Kitchen also serves grain bowls with the same customization, plus sides like roasted vegetables, collard greens, and cornbread. The grain bowls are hearty and work well as a main course.
Is there seating inside?
Yes, there is a small dining area inside, though it fills up quickly during lunch hours. Takeout is always an option if seating is limited when you arrive.
What are the house-made dressings like?
They rotate seasonally and often feature Southern flavors—buttermilk-herb, hot honey vinaigrette, and creamy peanut are examples. Ask what's available on the day you visit, as the menu changes regularly.