Haruka in Hyderabad proves that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring

Haruka is redefining healthy eating in Hyderabad with flavourful salads and meal options

The founders of Haruka, a food subscription cloud business, set out to debunk the myth that healthy food is not tasty. Their menu, however, is what they claim sets them apart. Intrigued, I took a closer look at their salads. Unlike the usual hydroponic greens hastily tossed with grilled chicken and a bland dressing, these salads were different.

Their salad bowls feature ingredients like sweet potato mash, carrots, baby corn, zucchini, bell peppers, rajma, cooked brown rice, choy, couscous, green peas, Malta orange, methi mutter tikki, achari paneer, bocconcini, saffron rice, and cherry tomatoes, to name a few. Interestingly, the lettuce plays only a minor role in every salad.

Haruka was founded by a group of friends, including a Kellogg MBA fellow with experience in the US (partners do not want to be named) and Vinayak Reddy, a business administration graduate from Hyderabad. Inspired by the availability of healthy yet flavourful food abroad, they want to redefine healthy eating in Hyderabad. While US salad brands influenced them, they wanted to infuse bold Indian flavours into their bowls. Their menu is a blend of local ingredients with innovative techniques, proving that healthy food can be both exciting and delicious.

Having an idea was not enough — they spent time analysing the healthy food market to identify how they could stand out. Once they refined their food and taste philosophy, they brought in chef Gracian De Souza. “Once the chef was on board, we spent time understanding what we wanted and how to execute it,” says Vinayak Reddy. “After several rounds of menu development, Gracian worked closely with our team to fine-tune the recipes.”

Haruka’s signature flair comes from its in-house sauces, including red pepper sauce, ginger sauce, bang bang dressing, and beetroot tzatziki. Also, most meal boxes — including salads — come with a mini crunch box featuring croutons, pita, lavash, roasted papad, peanuts, crackers, or nachos for added texture.

Beyond salads, their delivery menu offers hearty options. The Asian Chicken Bowl, their bestseller, features street-style egg fried rice with crispy chicken, peanuts, and a fried egg, served with a peanut butter bang bang sauce. Spicy but manageable, it is perfect for those who enjoy a kick. However, if you are one who cannot tolerate spice this will have you reaching out for a glass of buttermilk for sure. Portion sizes are filling but controlled — this is not about overindulgence but striking a balance. The Prawn Soba Noodles bowl was another standout, impressively executed even in a delivery format.

For vegetarians, the Falafel Bowl should be a go to. Beyond its flavour, one ingredient had diners guessing — is it couscous? Broken wheat? Turns out, it was cauliflower rice, cleverly incorporated for a light, nutritious twist.