The present invention comprises a hard surface cleaning composition including an environmentally friendly alkyl amide solvent, derived from renewable bio-based resources that works at least as well as d-limonene. In one embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning composition including an anionic surfactant salt, a saturated C8 to C10 alkyl amide solvent, a cosolvent and water. The composition is substantially free of d-limonene and can remove red food soils with up to 20 percent protein, and also functions as an asphalt removal composition.