Best Vegan Menu Options at CAVA 2024 Beyond Falafel

Possibly the BEST Vegan-Friendly Restaurant Chain…

CAVA may have the best vegan-friendly menu options of any fast food restaurant. In 2024 it would seem every fast food restaurant should have vegan options, though few do. CAVA leads the industry with the quality and variety of vegan menu options. If you are looking for vegan options, look no further than CAVA and their vegan menu options that go so far beyond Falafel!

Several years ago I was visiting my kids in Maryland.  We were struggling to find a restaurant for a quick lunch where I could get a vegan-friendly meal.  My daughter suggested this Mediterranean-style fast food restaurant that she found called CAVA.  She described it as a Chipotle-like place, but with more options.  Walking in, I thought I discovered Vegan Utopia.  

Similar to Chipotle, you can choose the ingredients to go into your meal, walking through an assembly line of fresh choices.  Alternatively, you can choose one of their curated meals, but more on that later.  Unlike Chipotle, CAVA has so many Vegan options that you can order something different (seemingly) with every visit.  There are so many combinations that you can create that CAVA will not become stale or boring.

What are the Vegan menu options at CAVA?

CAVA describes the components of their meals as Grains, Greens, Pita, Dips + Spreads, Mains, Toppings, Dressings, and Sides.  The Vegan options in each of these categories are as follows:

Grains

Greens

Pita

Dips + Spreads

Mains

Toppings

Dressings

Sides

RightRice ®, SplendidGreens ®, SuperGreens, Harissa, Tahini, and Skhug…what are these?

If I see something on a menu that I do not know what it is or how it tastes, I am sure to order it.  Honestly, of these items, I was only familiar with Tahini before visiting CAVA.

RightRice ® is a vegetable rice made from the flour of lentils, chickpeas, and peas.  It is high in protein and fiber.  CAVA mixes RightRice ® with their Greek Vinaigrette for their menu item.

SplendidGreens ® contain romaine lettuce, radicchio, escarole, chicory, and endive.  This mix is chopped and provides a somewhat bitter crunch.

SuperGreens is CAVA’s blend of raw cabbage, chicory, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and kale.

Harissa is a traditional North African spicy chili pepper paste.  CAVA adds tomato to give it a Greek spin.

Tahini is a creamy, nutty Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame seeds.

Skhug is a pepper (chili or jalapeno) and cilantro blend with other herbs and spices.  This is a popular Middle Eastern condiment originating from Yemen. 

Choose – Bowl or Pita Bread

You can choose to have your meal served with the ingredients in a bowl or in a pita.  I tend to choose the bowl over the pita, but that has more to do with my obsessive compulsive need to be neat.  I tend to find that I make a mess when eating the pita.  But you can’t go wrong with either choice.

What is Pita?

Pita bread is a round flatbread common in Mediterranean cuisine, made simply from yeast, water, and flour. Baked at high temperatures, the bread forms a pocket inside, allowing ingredients to be stuffed within the pita.

The Three Bowl Options

If you choose a bowl, you have three options to build your own bowl.  These are Greens and Grains Bowl, Salad Bowl, and Grains Bowl.  What is the difference between the three?  Essentially it is just the difference in the base.  The Greens and Grains Bowl gives you the option of one of the “Greens” and one of the “Grains” as the base of your bowl.  The Salad Bowl gives you the option of one serving of the available “Greens”, or two ½ servings of available “Greens”, as the base of your bowl.  Lastly, the Grains Bowl has as the base your choice of a serving of available “Grains”, or two ½ servings of “Grains”.

After choosing your base, your bowl is built with your choices from the various categories.  Select up to 3 Dips + Spreads, 1 Main or 2 ½ Main options, Unlimited Toppings (though there is an up-charge for avocado), up to 2 Dressings, and a FREE side Pita.

Choosing the Pita

If you opt for the Pita, you do not have the option of adding either Grains or Greens.  However, you do select up to 3 Dips + Spreads, 1 Main or 2 ½ Main options, Unlimited Toppings (with an up-charge for avocado), and up to 2 Dressings.

What’s Available for Kids?

Kid’s meals include a bowl with 1 Grain, 1 Dips + Spreads, 1 Main, up to 2 Toppings, up to 2 Dressings, Pita Chips or Carrot Sticks, and a drink.

My granddaughters absolutely love eating at CAVA and their kid’s meal is a huge hit.  There are so many vegan and non-vegan options for kids.

Curated Bowls and Pitas

There are 13 standard chef-inspired curated bowls and pitas.  Often, they may have a seasonal curated bowl or pita.  Unfortunately, only the Crispy Falafel Pita is the only vegan curated option.  However, it is easy to either substitute a vegan ingredient or leave off a non-vegan option in order to make it vegan-compliant.

My Favorite Bowl

As I mentioned, I tend to go with a Bowl over the Pita.  I am able to get a side pita for free, so if I am craving pita, that can be satisfied with my bowl.  I should mention, the bowl’s ingredients are placed separately in the bowl. It is up to you whether to mix them all together or eat them in an orderly fashion.  I choose the latter when devouring my custom bowl.  No judgment please.

My favorite bowl is a Greens and Grains Bowl with Black Lentils and SuperGreens as the base.  My three Dips + Spreads are Hummus, Harissa, and Roasted Eggplant.  I typically choose the Falafel as my Main, but sometimes will go with the Roasted Vegetables and Roasted White Sweet Potato.  I load up on the Toppings.  Cabbage Slaw, Tomato + Onion, Persian Cucumber, Tomato + Cucumber, Kalamata Olives, Fiery Broccoli, Pickled Onions, and Fire-Roasted Corn.  My bowl is then topped with the Lemon-Herb Tahini and Skhug.  

Drinks

Other than milk or chocolate milk, all drink options are Vegan.  They have a wonderful selection of lemonade, tea, and fruit and/or herb concoctions that are so light and refreshing.

Where is CAVA located?

CAVA recently went public on the New York Stock Exchange.  With access to capital, I expect CAVA will expand quickly…as they should. This place rocks!  

Currently, CAVA is located in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Here is a link to the list of their locations https://cava.com/locations.

CAVA’s Website and Apps for IOS and Android

I love CAVA’s website.  It really does a great job telling CAVA’s story and their commitment to customers and their employees, vendors, and community.  All nutritional information can be found on their website.  

The order process is as easy on their website as it is on your mobile device using their apps.  You can download the app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.  While you are at it, join the CAVA Rewards program by following this link https://cava.com/rewards and earn discounts and birthday rewards!

Conclusion

What I love is I leave CAVA satisfied, though not bloated, and it is easy on my wallet.  In our area, my meal is less than $12.  For the quality and vegan options, CAVA is a true winner.

I have found that there is something for everyone at CAVA.  Young and old, carnivore, vegan, or something in between. CAVA’s quality, variety and price accommodates just about anybody.  

I highly recommend CAVA.