Every Olive Garden Soup, Ranked & Reviewed by a Food Editor

• What It Is: spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes in creamy broth
• Price: $8.50

I loved the rustic look and earthiness of the skin-on potatoes. The fennel-kissed sausage offered delightful herbaceousness and modest spice to every spoonful. I also felt the bacon went a long way flavor-wise, due to the smokiness it imparted to the broth. I wouldn’t have minded more greens, but I still appreciated its starchy, satisfying consistency that, thankfully, wasn’t overwhelmingly rich. However, I felt the soup could’ve been creamier for its undeniable stick-to-your ribs vibes. (Psst: This one’s gluten free.)

• What It Is: fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in light tomato broth
• Price: $8.50

Yup, there *are* vegan menu items. Visually diverse and photogenic, this Olive Garden soup was dappled with teeny-tiny shell pasta. The broth reminded me of tomato sauce, and it had an acidic high note that signaled the potential addition of red wine. However, it fell a little flat in terms of seasoning. A touch of salt really made it sing.

• What It Is: roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach in creamy broth
• Price: $8.50

If your mind only turns to soup when you’re craving comfort food, look no further than this hearty pick. It was straight-up indulgent with plenty of tender, succulent poultry and doughy, pillowy dumplings that offered the optimal amount of chewy resistance. It’s hands-down the creamiest soup on the menu, and it boasted a pleasant whisper of nutmeg that I very much enjoyed.

• What It Is: white and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta in savory broth
• Price: $8.50

This Olive Garden soup had big Bolognese energy. The savory, rich beef gave the meat sauce-like broth a rich consistency and plenty of savory splendor. The al dente beans were great for textural diversity and stand in as a starchy element that’s just as satisfying as potatoes. While I certainly could’ve enjoyed this one plain, go the extra mile by asking your server to top it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. That touch of salt enhanced everything that was already tasty about my top pick.