Six free scratch-made dips. Eight fire-grilled proteins. A bowl that never tastes the same way twice. Cross-checked against CAVA Group's official SEC filings, published nutrition sources, and verified in-store pricing across 459+ locations nationwide.
Real food made from scratch. See our bowls, pitas, and dining experience.
Understanding the fast-casual brand redefining healthy customizable dining across the United States.
CAVA is a fast-casual restaurant built around Mediterranean food. Guests build their own bowl or pita by picking a base, a protein, a few dips, unlimited toppings, and a dressing, all assembled at the counter. The chain started as one sit-down restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2011, and grew into a national brand from there.
As of April 2026, CAVA Group runs 459 restaurants across 29 states and Washington, D.C., a figure confirmed in the company's own SEC filing. CAVA is also a public company, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CAVA since 2023.
CAVA mezze refers to the small-plate, shared-dip tradition found across Greek, Lebanese, and broader Mediterranean cooking. CAVA built its menu around this idea by offering six scratch-made dips, such as hummus, tzatziki, and harissa, free with every bowl or pita. Most fast-casual chains treat dips as a paid extra. CAVA treats them as the core of the meal, which is a large part of why regulars often say the dips, not the protein, are the real reason they keep coming back.
CAVA is often called the Mediterranean answer to fast food, and the comparison holds up in a few specific ways. Fast food menus generally lean on fried items and heavy sauces built for shelf life. CAVA's proteins are grilled or roasted in-house, its dips are made fresh daily, and its bases include whole grains and greens. It is still a for-profit chain built around margins like any other restaurant, but the ingredient sourcing sits closer to a sit-down Mediterranean spot than a typical drive-through.
CAVA menu prices typically fall between $11 and $17 for a full bowl or pita. Pricing shifts with your chosen protein and location (10–15% higher in metro hubs & airports).
Fully customizable bowls starting at $11.75. Choose your base (Saffron Rice, SuperGreens, SplendidGreens).
Warm, fluffy Damascus Bakery pitas wrapped with your choice of savory proteins and creamy tzatziki.
Free with bowls, or $3.55–$4.35 individual 8oz tubs. Hummus Trio + Chips for $10.50.
Freshly pressed juices (Pineapple Mint, Blueberry Lavender) & 0-calorie brewed green teas.
Salted chocolate oat cookie & Greyston Bakery B-Corp certified blondies and fudge brownies.
Kids meals with mini pita/bowl ($7.15–$7.95). Group Bowl Bar ($15–$20/person, 10 min).
| Bowl Name | Price Range | Calories | Key Ingredients & Protein | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build-Your-Own Bowl | $11.75 – $17.05 | 480 – 1,000+ cal | Choice of base, protein, 3 free dips, unlimited toppings, dressing | Configure → |
| Chicken + Rice Bowl | $11.75 | 710 – 715 cal | Grilled Chicken, Saffron Rice, Hummus, Tzatziki, Cucumbers (42g Protein) | |
| Falafel Crunch Bowl | $11.75 | 860 cal | Golden Falafel, Black Lentils, Hummus, Eggplant Spread, Tahini (24g Protein) | |
| Greek Salad Bowl | $11.75 | 585 – 600 cal | Grilled Chicken, Romaine, Tomato Cucumber, Feta, Greek Dressing (34g Protein) | |
| Harissa Avocado Bowl | $16.25 | 810 – 885 cal | Harissa Honey Chicken, Crazy Feta®, Avocado, SuperGreens (38g Protein) | |
| Steak + Harissa Bowl | $15.45 | 615 cal | Grilled Steak, SuperGreens, Crazy Feta®, Harissa, Rice (41g Protein) | |
| Salmon + Strawberry Sesame Bowl | $16.00 | 700 cal | Glazed Salmon, Strawberries, SuperGreens, Brown Rice, Tahini (37g Protein) | |
| Salmon + Yogurt Dill Bowl | $14.80 – $18.50 | 710 cal | Glazed Salmon, Arugula, Saffron Rice, Tzatziki, Yogurt Dill (38g Protein) |
Mix and match your favorite greens and grains to build a bowl just the way you like it.
Choose your grain bowl base: saffron basmati rice, brown basmati rice, or black lentils.
Choose your greens to start building your bowl: arugula, baby spinach, romaine, Super Greens, or Power Greens.
Grilled chicken, hummus, tzatziki, pickled onions, tomato + onion, cucumber, feta, arugula, brown rice, Greek vinaigrette
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, avocado, corn, cucumber, feta, pickled onions, basmati rice, Super Greens, harissa vinaigrette
Grilled steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, tomato + onion, cucumber, feta, sumac cabbage slaw, brown rice, Super Greens, harissa vinaigrette
Grilled chicken, tzatziki, hummus, feta, tomato + onion, cucumber, olives, romaine, arugula, Greek vinaigrette
Half falafel, half roasted veggies, hummus, Crazy Feta®, cucumber, sumac cabbage slaw, romaine, pickled onions, tomato + onion, pita crisps, rice, lentils, skhug
Spicy lamb meatballs, avocado, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, pickled onions, cucumber, tomato + onion, Super Greens, lentils, lemon herb tahini
Grilled steak, traditional hummus, red pepper hummus, fire-roasted corn, pickled onions, feta, Power Greens, strawberry sesame dressing
Glazed salmon, tzatziki, red pepper hummus, cucumber, feta, tomato + onion, sumac slaw, brown rice, spinach, and strawberry sesame dressing
Glazed salmon, Crazy Feta®, hummus, fire-roasted corn, tomato + onion, cucumber, rice, arugula, and yogurt dill dressing
Glazed salmon, Crazy Feta®, hummus, avocado, pickled onions, tomato + cucumber, fiery broccoli, saffron basmati rice, Greek vinaigrette
Fill our fluffy and perfectly chewy pita with your unique combo of ingredients. Made with sprouted grains.
Grilled steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, pickled onions, feta, pickles, romaine, garlic dressing, Greek vinaigrette, pita
Grilled chicken, tzatziki, tomato + onion, olives, feta, romaine, yogurt dill dressing, pita
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, avocado, pickles, corn, feta, pickled onions, harissa vinaigrette, pita
Barbecue meets the Mediterranean. Our classic pita chips mixed with a kick of cayenne and a blend of spices. A little spicy, a little smoky, and a tiny bit sweet.
Made from our classic pitas. Cut, then fried for a deliciously dippable, chewy bite.
Our fluffy and perfectly chewy pita made with sprouted grains.
Feta whipped with jalapeño, onion, and olive oil for just that right level of spicy. A CAVA signature.
Chickpeas puréed with tahini, lemon juice, fresh garlic, salt. A guest favorite and CAVA classic.
Fiery, tomato-forward, and full of spices.
Made with Greek yogurt, shredded cucumber, and dill. Thick and creamy.
Roasted red peppers puréed with chickpeas, tahini, and garlic.
Roasted eggplant blended with lemon juice, parsley, onions, and garlic.
A kid-sized, build-your-own meal with a half-serving of one main + grain, one dip, one dressing, and up to three toppings. Choose three classic pita chips or a side 1/4 pita, and small juice or milk.
A strawberry + raspberry drink with a hint of lively ginger to keep things interesting.
Made in-house from a purée of blueberries and lavender.
Sweet and cooling, balanced out with fresh lime juice. Made in-house.
A sweet and refreshing lemonade made in-house.
Unsweetened iced black tea with a balanced, smooth taste. Brewed in-house.
Sweetened black tea brewed in-house.
Choose from a selection of Maine Root fountain sodas.
Sparkling lemon water.
Sparkling half tea, half lemon water.
Open Water still water.
Open Water sparkling water.
Organic apple juice from Honest Kids. No sugar added.
Organic 1% milk.
Organic 1% chocolate milk.
If an oatmeal cookie and a salted chocolate chip cookie had a baby.
A blondie with a super soft, almost gooey inside.
An intensely chocolatey brownie, with a fudgy, almost gooey inside.
Follow the five sequential steps used at the counter. Know your order ahead of time to build your customized macro powerhouse with zero stress.
Greens, grains, or a mix of both. Biggest impact on total calories.
Pre-decided flavor harmonies designed by CAVA's culinary team for faster, stress-free ordering.
The Harissa Avocado Bowl is one of the most frequently ordered items on the CAVA menu, combining harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, fresh avocado, and hot harissa vinaigrette. Harissa honey chicken is CAVA's most ordered protein system-wide: the subtle sweetness in the chicken glaze balances the heat in the vinaigrette instead of competing with it.
The Chicken and Rice Bowl is generally the safest first order, built with grilled chicken, saffron basmati rice, hummus, tzatziki, and a simple tomato and cucumber salad. It avoids strong spice and keeps flavors familiar, giving you a clear baseline for CAVA's proteins and dips before experimenting further.
The CAVA pitas menu mirrors the bowls menu almost item for item, using the same proteins, dips, and toppings wrapped in warm sprouted grain flatbread from Damascus Bakery in Brooklyn (+230 cal). Wrapping ingredients concentrates flavors more than a bowl does, ideal for eating on the move.
An honest, unbranded look at CAVA's nutritional macro distribution, cooking oils, and calorie traps.
Most CAVA bowls fall between 480 and 860 calories with 30 to 50 grams of protein and a high share of vegetables and whole grains, which puts CAVA comfortably ahead of most fast-casual competitors on paper.
CAVA cooks with a blend of sunflower oil and olive oil across most of the menu, despite marketing that leans heavily on its olive oil and Mediterranean positioning.
Calories can also climb past 1,000 quickly if you add multiple dips, extra cheese, avocado, and a rich dressing on top of a grain-heavy base. Whether CAVA is healthy for you personally depends far more on how you build your specific bowl than on the restaurant's overall branding.
Explore all 8 scratch-made vinaigrettes and dressings with heat ratings, calorie counts, and flavor pairings.
Our signature spicy and slightly sweet vinaigrette with tomatoes, jalapeños, and Mediterranean herbs.
A creamy, cooling yogurt-based dressing perfect for balancing spicy harissa or chicken.
A dairy-free twist on caesar using rich sesame tahini and lemon juice.
Recreate CAVA's legendary Crazy Feta®, Harissa Honey Chicken, and Saffron Rice in your own kitchen.
Whip together feta cheese, olive oil, jalapeños, and onion for a homemade version of CAVA's iconic dip.
Marinate chicken thighs in harissa paste, honey, garlic, and lemon juice before grilling.
Standard builds ranked from lowest to highest calorie counts, cross-checked against CAVA's published nutrition data.
| Rank | Item Name | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Category | Nutritional Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | SuperGreens + Grilled Chicken Bowl | 480 cal | 33g | 18g | 22g | Bowl | Lowest calorie count, highest protein density |
| #2 | Tahini Caesar Bowl | 550 – 660 cal | 42g | 28g | 34g | Bowl | Savory & low carb if pita crisps reduced |
| #3 | Greek Salad Bowl | 585 – 600 cal | 34g | 26g | 32g | Bowl | Light & refreshing classic |
| #4 | Garlicky Chicken Shawarma Bowl | 600 – 660 cal | 39g | 44g | 28g | Bowl | Robust garlic & herb notes |
| #5 | Keto Greens + Steak Bowl | 615 cal | 40g | 14g | 42g | Bowl | Clean keto macro ratio |
| #6 | Steak + Harissa Bowl | 615 cal | 41g | 38g | 32g | Bowl | High protein, spicy kick |
| #7 | Crispy Falafel Pita Pocket | 620 cal | 22g | 78g | 26g | Pita | 100% vegetarian staple |
| #8 | Lemon Herb Chicken Bowl | 650 cal | 38g | 50g | 26g | Bowl | Zesty & balanced |
| #9 | Salmon + Strawberry Sesame Bowl | 700 cal | 37g | 52g | 36g | Bowl | 2026 limited-time seafood item |
| #10 | Salmon + Yogurt Dill Bowl | 710 cal | 38g | 48g | 38g | Bowl | 2026 chef curation with wild salmon |
| #11 | Chicken + Rice Bowl | 710 – 715 cal | 42g | 64g | 28g | Bowl | Safest pick for first-time visitors |
| #12 | Greek Chicken Pita | 720 cal | 38g | 62g | 32g | Pita | Portable Mediterranean wrap |
| #13 | Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl | 780 – 795 cal | 44g | 54g | 44g | Bowl | Hearty and rich spiced meatballs |
| #14 | Harissa Avocado Bowl | 810 – 885 cal | 38g | 68g | 42g | Bowl | #1 most popular item on menu |
| #15 | Steak + Feta Pita | 810 cal | 42g | 58g | 38g | Pita | Hearty wrapped steak |
| #16 | Falafel Crunch Bowl | 860 cal | 24g | 92g | 38g | Bowl | High carb & high fiber plant bowl |
| #17 | Spicy Chicken + Avocado Pita | 970 – 1,030 cal | 46g | 74g | 48g | Pita | Loaded pita wrap, highest calorie build |
How to easily navigate Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Keto, and Allergen restrictions at the counter.
Proteins: Golden falafel, roasted vegetables, white sweet potato.
Dips: Hummus, red pepper hummus, harissa, roasted eggplant dip.
Skip: Tzatziki, Crazy Feta®, garlic dressing, yogurt dill.
Stack Crazy Feta®, cucumber dill tzatziki, crumbled feta, and yogurt dill dressing on top of all vegan bases and falafel for rich, satisfying Mediterranean flavors.
Every bowl is 100% gluten-free simply by skipping the pita bread and pita crisps! All bases, proteins, and dips are naturally gluten-free.
Stick to SuperGreens or arugula base. Pick grilled chicken, steak, or braised lamb. Pair with Crazy Feta® and tzatziki for optimal low-carb macros.
Grilled chicken delivers 28–33g protein. Add black lentils for +18g protein. Double protein pushes total protein past 53g–66g per bowl.
Cross-contact is always possible in a shared kitchen. Guests with severe allergies should speak directly with store staff.
| Menu Item | Dairy / Milk | Sesame | Wheat / Gluten | Fish | Summary Allergens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harissa Avocado Bowl | 🥛 Milk | 🌱 Sesame | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Sesame, Dairy |
| Chicken + Rice Bowl | 🥛 Milk | ✓ Free | 🌾 Wheat | ✓ Free | Dairy, Wheat (if pita crisps added) |
| Falafel Crunch Bowl | ✓ Free | 🌱 Sesame | 🌾 Wheat | ✓ Free | Wheat, Sesame |
| Greek Salad Bowl | 🥛 Milk | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Dairy |
| Steak + Harissa Bowl | 🥛 Milk | 🌱 Sesame | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Dairy, Sesame |
| Salmon + Strawberry Bowl | ✓ Free | 🌱 Sesame | ✓ Free | 🐟 Salmon | Fish (Salmon), Sesame |
| Spicy Chicken + Avocado Pita | 🥛 Milk | 🌱 Sesame | 🌾 Wheat | ✓ Free | Dairy, Wheat, Sesame |
| Tahini Caesar Bowl | 🥛 Milk | 🌱 Sesame | 🌾 Wheat | ✓ Free | Dairy, Sesame, Wheat |
| Pita Bread / Pita Chips | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | 🌾 Wheat | ✓ Free | Wheat |
| Traditional Hummus | ✓ Free | 🌱 Sesame | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Sesame |
| Crazy Feta® | 🥛 Milk | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Dairy |
| Cucumber Dill Tzatziki | 🥛 Milk | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | Dairy |
Seafood Chef Curations, athlete collaboration bowls, and seasonal fruit juices.
CAVA's breakthrough seafood curation featuring glazed wild salmon, fresh sliced strawberries, Persian cucumbers, pickled red onions, and toasted sesame tahini over SuperGreens and wild brown rice (700 cal).
Seared salmon fillet atop saffron basmati rice and wild baby arugula, finished with cooling cucumber dill tzatziki, Greek feta crumbles, kalamata olives, and yogurt dill dressing (710 cal).
Rotational house juices pressed in-house daily with fresh fruit purees, mint herbs, and floral infusions rather than poured from artificial concentrates (85–110 cal).
How CAVA stacks up against Chipotle and Sweetgreen on pricing, included dips, and value.
CAVA is often called the Mediterranean version of Chipotle because both use an assembly-line build-your-own model.
Sweetgreen focuses on warm grain bowls and seasonal produce with similar plant-based offerings.
Maximize savings with student discounts, skip the line with the app, and feed groups with catering stations.
Ordering ahead on the free CAVA App lets you skip the in-store line, earn CAVA Rewards points on every dollar, and access the Live Nutrition Macro Tracker.
Uber Eats and DoorDash add platform fees and up to 15–20% menu markup. Ordering directly for pickup or through CAVA's direct delivery is almost always cheaper.
CAVA's most popular buffet station: 2 bases, 2 proteins, 3 dips, unlimited toppings, 2 dressings, and pita packs. Perfect for mixed dietary needs.
Pre-assembled, individually wrapped pitas (Assorted Chicken, Steak, and Falafel) ready for office lunches and board meetings.
Standard store hours across all 459+ locations and official holiday closures.
10:45 AM – 10:00 PM
7 Days a Week across most standard national locations.
Real answers to the most common questions about CAVA ordering, prices, and health facts.
The Harissa Avocado Bowl is CAVA's most consistently praised item, combining fiery harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, fresh avocado, and hot harissa vinaigrette. For a simpler first order, the Chicken + Rice Bowl is the safest, most commonly recommended baseline pick.
CAVA follows the same build-your-own, assembly-line format as Chipotle, which is why it's often nicknamed the 'Mediterranean Chipotle'. However, the cuisine is authentic Mediterranean, and CAVA's signature advantage is six scratch-made dips included free with every bowl or pita, whereas competitors charge extra for dips/guacamole.
CAVA bowls run $11 to $17, slightly above fast food, because every bowl includes premium scratch-made dips free, high-quality proteins like salmon, steak, and braised lamb, plus locally baked sprouted grain flatbread from Damascus Bakery in Brooklyn.
Most CAVA bowls fall between 480 and 860 calories with 30g to 50g of protein, putting it far ahead of typical fast-casual chains. Note that CAVA cooks with a blend of sunflower oil and olive oil across most ingredients. Keeping your dressing on the side and choosing greens keeps meals easily under 600 calories.
CAVA does not have an official secret menu published or endorsed by the company. Customers do create custom combinations using the 5-step builder, but nothing outside the standard ingredient roster is officially offered.
Yes! You can order directly via the CAVA App or cava.com to skip the line and earn CAVA Rewards. CAVA also offers a 10% Student Discount Monday through Thursday with a valid .edu email verification in the app.
Yes! Every single bowl is 100% gluten-free when built without pita bread or pita crisps. All bases, proteins, and dips are naturally gluten-free. Always notify staff if you have celiac disease due to shared counter preparation.
The CAVA menu works because the ordering system is simple even though the ingredients behind it are not. Six free scratch-made dips, eight proteins, nine bases, and eight dressings mean every bowl is genuinely different from the last, even though the ordering process itself never changes from visit to visit.
Whether you are managing a dietary restriction, training for athletic performance, or deciding between the Harissa Avocado Bowl and a build-your-own steak pita, the core value of CAVA comes down to complete control over what actually ends up in your meal.
This guide is maintained by a menu content specialist and reviewed against CAVA's official nutrition calculator, published pricing data, and CAVA Group's own public financial filings (SEC Form 10-K) for company facts like location counts (459 restaurants across 29 states) and founding history. Prices and calories are national averages and will vary slightly by location. Last reviewed and updated for April 2026.