This organic fast-casual salad chain has become a cult favorite

Hollis Johnson

Fast-food is getting greener, fast.

Washington, DC-based salad chain Sweetgreen is one of the leaders of the growing farm-to-table fast-food movement.

With the company's marketing espousing sustainability, local suppliers, and healthy menu items, the chain has captured the imagination of health-conscious urbanites who are wary of what they eat. 

And it seems the chain has captured the attention of investors as well, raking in $35 million in funding for 2015.

And even with the recent deletion of sriracha sauce and bacon from the menu, and a rather Byzantine rewards program, its popularity perseveres.

I've heard stories of the famous lines stretching outside the New York City Sweetgreen locations, so I had to find out for myself if this chain deserves its organic cult status.

There are five Sweetgreen locations in NYC — I visited this one on 28th Street and Broadway in the city's NoMad neighborhood. I expected a line ...

... and I was not disappointed. The lunch time rush is in full swing — I arrived right at high noon.

The space is decorated with lots of wooden tables and seats, with painted brick walls. It's a clean look, yet not sterile; essentially you can tell they sell healthy food just from the decor.