Learn Hardcore French: C'est la moins chère des salades ici. - It is the least expensive of the salads here.

French uses C'est to identify or evaluate something, especially before a noun or a superlative with a determiner. C'est la moins chère is the natural pattern.

If you explicitly name the noun, you can also say: Cette salade est la moins chère ici.
Elle est la moins chère works only if elle clearly refers to a previously mentioned feminine noun; C'est is more neutral and idiomatic in isolation.

Why do we need the definite article la before moins chère?

Superlatives require the definite article: le/la/les plus/moins + adjective. Here the set has a single cheapest item, so it’s la moins chère (the least expensive one). Without la, it would be a comparative idea, not a superlative.

Why is chère feminine and singular?

Agreement. The adjective chère agrees with the implied noun salade, which is feminine singular. If the implied noun were masculine or plural, you’d change it:

Masculine singular: C’est le moins cher des sandwichs ici.
Feminine plural (several items tie for cheapest): Ce sont les moins chères des salades ici.

What does des mean in des salades here?

Here des = de + les and means of the. In superlatives, French often uses de + group to mean “in/among the group”: la moins chère des salades = “the least expensive of the salads.” It’s not the indefinite plural “some” in this sentence.

Could I say de salades instead of des salades?

No. Because you’re talking about a specific set (the salads here), you need the article: de + les = des. If you want another structure, you can say parmi les salades ici (“among the salads here”): C’est la moins chère parmi les salades ici.

Can I make the noun explicit, like C’est la salade la moins chère ici?

Yes, very natural: C’est la salade la moins chère ici. When the noun is expressed, you usually repeat the article: le/la/les + noun + le/la/les plus/moins + adjective (e.g., la salade la moins chère).

Can I drop des salades and just say C’est la moins chère ici?

Yes. If the context already makes it clear you’re talking about salads, C’est la moins chère ici is perfectly fine. Adding des salades or parmi les salades simply makes the comparison set explicit.

Where can ici go, and is it necessary?

Ici typically goes at the end, but it’s movable:

Ici, c’est la moins chère des salades.
C’est, ici, la moins chère des salades (less common). You can also replace it with something more specific: dans ce restaurant, sur ce menu, à ce stand, etc. It’s optional if the location is understood.

Why is cher/chère after the noun for price, but sometimes before the noun?

With the meaning “expensive,” cher/chère goes after the noun: une salade chère. Before the noun, cher/chère usually means “dear”: ma chère amie. In the superlative with the noun expressed, it stays after: la salade la moins chère.

What’s the difference between moins cher and moins chère?

Agreement and function:

As an adjective, it agrees: une salade moins chère, un plat moins cher, des salades moins chères.
After coûter, French often uses cher adverbially and invariable: Ça coûte moins cher (“That costs less”). In your sentence, chère is an adjective modifying an implied feminine noun.

Could I use coûteux/coûteuse instead of cher/chère?

You can, but coûteux/coûteuse is more formal/literary. Possible alternatives:

C’est la moins coûteuse des salades ici. (formal)
Very idiomatic price phrasing: C’est celle qui coûte le moins cher ici.

Is there a difference between comparative and superlative here?

Yes.

Comparative (two items): Cette salade est moins chère que celle-là.
Superlative (within a group): C’est la moins chère des salades ici. For just two items, both are acceptable; the comparative is often preferred, but la moins chère des deux is also common.

Why not le moins chère?

Because the implied noun is feminine (salade). You need feminine forms: la moins chère. Masculine would be le moins cher; plural would be les moins chers/les moins chères.

Is the spelling chère with an accent important?

Yes. Chère has an accent grave on è. Without it, the word is misspelled. Forms:

Masculine singular: cher
Feminine singular: chère
Masculine plural: chers
Feminine plural: chères

Any pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

C’est: [seh]
la: [la]
moins: [mwã] (final s silent; nasal vowel)
chère: [ʃɛʁ]
des: [de]
salades: [salad] (final s silent)
ici: [isi] No liaison is required here (there’s no following vowel where one would apply).

Could I replace des salades with a more precise set?

Absolutely:

… des salades du menu.
… des salades de ce restaurant.
… des salades de la carte. The structure stays the same: la moins chère de + group (contracted appropriately: du/de la/des).

Is parmi interchangeable with de in this structure?

Often, yes. La moins chère des salades ≈ la moins chère parmi les salades. De is the default with superlatives; parmi explicitly highlights the idea of “among,” and is stylistically fine.