Popular Tropical Smoothie Cafe Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best

We all love to start off the day with a nice, fresh smoothie, at least every once in a while. And while smoothies are relatively easy to make at home with some frozen fruit and a blender, sometimes we just don't want to go through the laborious process of gathering all those ingredients together. That's when taking a trip to Tropical Smoothie Cafe just makes more sense. However, when it comes to the Jetty Punch smoothie, you're better off just sticking to the stuff you can make at home. Why? Because this smoothie is about as basic and boring as it gets.

When you order this stuff, all you're going to get is some blended bananas and strawberries. Seriously, that's it. Sure, you can add extras if you want, but is it really worth paying a premium when you can make the very same smoothie for a fraction of the price at home? The flavor isn't particularly interesting — in fact, it's kind of bland — so the truth is that we wouldn't even waste our time making it in our own kitchen without a lot of modifications. While this kind of a smoothie might be good for unadventurous kids or really picky eaters, just know that there are much better options you can find at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

If you love Italian food, then you've probably had your fair share of Caprese salads. There's something about this kind of salad that's always a hit (hint: it's probably all the mozzarella cheese). Therefore, when you see the chicken Caprese sandwich on the Tropical Smoothie Cafe menu, you might start to get excited about the prospect. But before you order this sandwich, you should know that it's not quite as good as you might assume.

The first thing you'll notice about this sandwich is the fact that the chicken is completely and utterly dry. The last thing you want is a tough, unappetizing hunk of meat in your sandwich, which is precisely what you're going to get with this menu item. The pesto and the balsamic glaze help to combat that dryness somewhat, but they still don't make up for the texture of the chicken.

We also think there's slightly too much cheese in this recipe, surprisingly enough. It overpowers the other flavors coming from the tomato, sauces, and protein. Some fresh basil could make a big difference here, but this sandwich is lacking that as well. Now, does this sandwich taste horrible? No. But are you better off ordering something else? We certainly think so.

It's always a great thing when a restaurant has plenty of side dishes you can choose from. After all, you don't always want a standard side of chips or fries. But that doesn't mean that every such dish you encounter is actually going to be all that good. Unfortunately, that was the case with the maple-kissed sweet potatoes at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

You definitely shouldn't think of these potatoes as sweet potato fries because they're pretty far off that quasi-savory mark. Instead, this menu item is more like a dessert. Sweet potatoes already have a lot of sugar in the mix as it is, but add the maple glaze into the equation and they become way too sweet. All told, there's nothing about them that complements the savory dishes you'll find at the chain, so we don't even know how these sweet potatoes got on the menu.

While the maple-kissed sweet potatoes aren't terrible on their own, we certainly wouldn't order them with anything else that appears on the menu. In fact, they just make us wish that you could order a serving of fries instead.

You may think of Tropical Smoothie Cafe primarily as a lunch spot, but that doesn't mean you can't grab breakfast there, too. Now, it's true that there aren't too many breakfast options, but sometimes, you only need a couple of menu items to pique your interest. One breakfast option you probably shouldn't get, though, is the All-American wrap. It sounds incredibly simple, and it is. In this wrap, you'll find eggs, bacon, ham, and cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses.

Of course, when these ingredients come together, they're going to taste good — it's cheese, after all. Add them onto a wrap, and you have a winner. However, this kind of meal probably isn't what you're looking for when you go to a place like Tropical Smoothie Cafe. A wrap full of meat, eggs, and cheese isn't exactly the healthy and light breakfast you might think you would find in this more health-focused establishment.

While the wrap itself isn't bad, you can find much better breakfast burritos and wraps at fast food spots that are known for their greasy and indulgent morning meals. We think you're better off with that option than trying something that's relatively unhealthy at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. After all, if you're going to indulge, it should actually be delicious!

There's not always time to eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast in the morning. And there's always the occasional lunch when you're in a rush and just need to get something down fast. That's when a healthy smoothie is often in order. And if you're looking for something that will fill you up and give you the energy you need, you need to check out the Chia Banana Boost smoothie. This thing is packed with good-for-you ingredients that will have you feeling your best. Chia seeds, whole grain oats, almonds, dates, coconut, and cinnamon all come together to create a rich flavor profile. Roasted bananas bring the flavor to a whole new level. And then you can decide whether you want peanut butter or strawberry in there too.

This smoothie is going to make you feel great, but what about the taste? It's not the most impressive smoothie on the menu, that's for sure. It tastes somewhat heavy and bland, but that's because there's not a lot of watery fruit in this smoothie — it's more substantial. It tastes better with the strawberry, as the peanut butter can make the resulting smoothie even heavier.

The verdict? This smoothie is blandly okay on taste but it's absolutely great when it comes to filling you up.

When you're really hungry at lunchtime but you still want something healthy to eat, it can be hard to decide what to get. A cheeseburger and fries might be calling your name, but is that really going to help you feel your best? We're going to guess it won't, at least not on a regular basis. However, a healthier sandwich may fulfill some of the same cravings while keeping things light a fresh. Enter the Ultimate Club from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. This sandwich starts out with a ciabatta bun (quite possibly the best bread ever!) and brings together turkey, ham, bacon, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, lettuce, tomatoes, and chipotle mayo. It's all toasted and served to you warm. Sounds great, right?

This sandwich is really filling, and it tastes great overall. The chipotle mayo is an especially nice touch, lending a bit of heat and smoky complexity. Just about anyone who orders this sandwich is going to enjoy it. That being said, there's nothing super interesting about this dish, so don't expect something unique or much different than every other sandwich you've ever had. It's still a solid choice in our books, though!

Wondering what kind of salad would go best with your chicken pesto flatbread? Well, we have just what you're looking for: the kale and apple slaw. Kale's moment may have come and gone, at least in the world of culinary trends, but that doesn't mean we don't still love the bitter green for its health benefits and hearty flavor. And when it's paired with a sweet and juicy fruit like apple, it's hard not to find it even more delicious. That's why we think this salad is such a great option. It's a light, healthy, and refreshing side that doesn't feel like an afterthought on the menu. Rather, it's actually extremely flavorful.

Our only problem with this salad? You're not going to get enough of it. While it is sold as a side dish, we think you should get a larger portion if you choose greens over something like those heavy and sugary maple-glazed sweet potatoes. Apart from that slight issue, though, this salad is a winner. Give it a try if you're looking for a truly tasty side.

Let's say that you're on a health kick, but you forgot to bring your lunch to work. What should you do? No worries! Just make your way to Tropical Smoothie Cafe and pick up the Supergreen Caesar chicken bowl. You can thank us later. 

If you're looking for something that feels really healthy, it's hard to go wrong with this option. Romaine lettuce and spinach make up the base of the bowl, but you're going to get a lot of grilled chicken as well. Tomatoes provide that fresh, juicy texture you're looking for, and the Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing really up the ante with some rich umami flavor. The best part of this salad, though? The Parmesan crisps, without a doubt. After all, can you really have a good meal without a bit of crisp?

That said, despite the hefty portion of chicken, this meal isn't as substantial and as filling as it could be. But when you're looking for something that's on the lighter side, we think that this is a fantastic option.

Attention, vegetarians! We know it can be difficult to find good food options at chain restaurants that aren't full of meat, especially those that have more of a fast casual vibe. But luckily, you have some really delicious options at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. In fact, the hummus veggie bowl is so good, we can truly say that it's one of the best items on the menu regardless of whether you're a dedicated herbivore or an omnivore. The bowl starts with a base of rice and romaine lettuce. Then come the black beans and the pepper jack cheese that make this meal heartier. The smashed avocados, tomato, and pickled red onion add a brightness to the dish that you're going to love.

The best part of the bowl, though, is the hummus. You're going to get a hefty portion of it here. Considering the hummus and all the black beans you get in this bowl, you know you're going to get plenty of protein in via this meal, even without the meat. Would this bowl have ranked higher without the lite dressing that they add on at the end? Yes. But can you ask for your bowl without it? Also yes, which we recommend, as you don't necessarily need it to enjoy the bowl. At any rate, this is a Tropical Smoothie Cafe favorite that you just have to try.

Who knew that a side dish could be so delicious? Really, it's a shame that the jalapeno corn is just a side dish at Tropical Smoothie Cafe because it's definitely one of the tastiest items on the entire menu. That's especially true if you like a little kick to your food. It starts with charred corn, which is perhaps more significant than you may first think. The fact that the corn is charred lends it so much more flavor — after all, isn't a grilled ear of corn much better to eat than a raw one? Then, they mix this corn with chipotle mayo. While this mayo does have a bit of heat to it, it's definitely not overwhelmingly spicy. Most people should be able to eat this dish without worrying about the spice levels at all, unless you're extra sensitive to that sort of thing.

Then, to finish it all off, they squeeze some lime over the top of the corn. That bit of acidity really brightens up the whole dish, bringing it up another level. Rest assured that it'll have you going back for more once you take that first bite. Not all of the side dishes at Tropical Smoothie Cafe are worth writing home about, but this one is the best of the best. Next time you're considering your options, be sure to choose it over a bag of chips. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how amazing it tastes.

Were you waiting to read about the best item on the menu? Well, here you are, and now you know that you have to try the Baja chicken bowl. This meal in a bowl is seriously out of this world, and we could eat it just about every day. Rice, black beans, and romaine lettuce make up the base of this bowl that's covered in healthy grilled chicken. The smashed avocado adds a creaminess to the overall meal while still retaining the dish's freshness. And the pickled red onion and tomato salsa are both absolutely essential when it comes to that savory flavor you're going to love. Add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top, and it's clear why this bowl comes out on top.

The Baja chicken bowl is relatively simple, but it's still incredibly flavorful. It's healthy, but it still has everything you need to feel full, including carbs, protein, and plenty of delicious and nutritious veggies. So, what are you waiting for? Make your way to Tropical Smoothie Cafe today so you can see what all the hype is about.