Not sure if this is true, but someone told me this is the fastest growing fast-casual restaurant in the country right now. I can totally see why that would be true. It's basically Mediterranean Chipotle. Start with a bowl or pita, pick your protein, then add the rest of your fixens from there. When it's all put together you've got a cheap, healthy, and hearty lunch option that if you're ok with waiting in a line for it's pretty awesome. There's so many other similar concepts like it and I didn't necessarily think CAVA stood out for any reason on my visit. For that reason I'm gonna hold off on the fifth star. I'll definitely be back and I'm sure revisit my rating in the future. read more

I found the staff here a little unfriendly and quite annoying. I was the only one in line but felt so rushed to make an immediate decision about what I wanted without having a 10 seconds to look at the food choices. It was also quite expensive. They add on more for certain menu items. Food is ok read more

10/10 food always, but warning if you are going for a quick pick-up it can be challenging. There are a few 10 minute pick up spots out front but they are often full so you need to park and walk from the parking garage. read more

CAVA - Greens and grains bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

One of the newer additions to the One Paseo center, Cava offers a casual Mediterranean assembly line style food with healthy options. You can pick your base, spreads, protein, toppings, and dressing all for under $10 unless you upgrade. Cava is set off on its own across from Shake Shack in case you're wandering around trying to find it. There are more tables outside than inside, and they blast the AC inside which is nice. They just opened so there weren't a ton of people when my husband and I went for dinner. There are menus at the front door so you're not holding up the line by the time you order at the counter. You're allowed to sample even the proteins, so don't be shy! The staff were nice, but you could tell they were still figuring their way around the assembly line. We both opted for the same proteins (half braised lamb and half lamb meatballs). We don't mind that there was an upcharge for certain proteins, but I would recommend making it clearer for customers. We realized after we left that my husband was charged $3.95 for extra meatballs, but he didn't get extra meatballs. Not a big deal, but it would've been nice to get extra meatballs since we were charged for it--LOL. We both really enjoyed our bowls! I like that I can add grains to my greens instead of one or the other. Maybe we just got a generous scooper since we both felt that the protein was a fair portion given the price. My husband liked the lamb meatballs, but they were too tangy for my liking; I preferred the braised lamb. As for spreads, I got eggplant (my fave), hummus (solid), and tzatziki (just ok for me). I liked the pickled onions (on the sweeter side) and the white beans the best out of the toppings that I got. As for sauces, I only got yogurt dill which I liked. All bowls come with a mini pita too. At first I thought I was going to need to get a second dinner, but by the time I finished my bowl I was actually full with enough room leftover for dessert of course. I would definitely recommend Cava and will be returning in the future! read more

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I really enjoy this place because it's fully customizable and you make your Mediterranean bowl any way you want. The ingredients are all super fresh and they make it right in front of you so you get exactly what you order. I order a bowl with half greens and half brown rice ($9.87) and they give you a piece of pita on the side. You then can choose your protein and pick three different scoops of their spreads, like hummus, etc. They have a great selection of vegetables and chilis that you can throw on top and you can't go wrong with just getting all of them added. Finally they have a solid number of sauces that you can throw on top - I suggest the siracha one and the green chili one. The bowl was very filling and their grilled chicken is super tasty - I'm definitely going to come back and try different proteins and combinations. This place really does fast and delicious Mediterranean food right! read more

CAVA - Half Greens/Half Brown Rice Bowl with Grilled Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This was the restaurant I was looking forward to the most at One Paseo because those from the East Coast & the OC have been raving about it! Think of CAVA as the Subway or Chipotle of Mediterrean cuisine. Healthy. Build it! Base- Salad SuperGreens: Nutritious. Dips + Spread- Tzatziki Protein- Spicy Lamb Meatballs: I love lamb! & I thought that their lamb would be cut in strips like how gyros come. Unfortunately, they do not come like that here! The meatballs were spicy & decent, but very dry. Braised Lamb: Stripped meat, soupy, & no flavor. Toppings- Diced Cucumbers Fresno Peppers Dressings- Siracha Greek Yogurt: Yogurt Dill read more

Food tasted so good! Great customer service and great ambience. Loved the different options they offer. Definitely recommend this place!

First time trying this place out. Staff was helpful and made the ordering process easy to understand. Food had great taste and made my lunch break enjoyable. Anthony was a great help! Will start adding this to my lunch rotation from now on. read more

I have never had anything like Cava before and it was awesome!! It is like a Mediterranean Chipotle where you get to either make a bowl (lentils or rice) or a pita (small or large) and add as many toppings as you like! All the ingredients were so fresh and I loved all the different sauces. I got the pita the first time and I'm excited to try the bowl in the future. read more

CAVA - Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is fire. Chip*tle ain't got no thang on cava. Came here today with my manz and shared a bowl (we have tiny stomaches). April literally killed it with the speed and the jokes. I've been to other cavas but this one is my fav for sure because of the service April gave us. I'll be back. Every day. read more

If you like choices and know what you want for a delicious Mediterranean style bowl then Cava is the place to go. As I walked around One Paseo and looked at my choices for lunch, there were a couple places that offered bowls but as I read the items in the bowls, there were some items that I wanted to substitute or take out so that's how I chose Cava because I can just pick the items I want. Plus the prices at Cava are very reasonable. You can choose a salad, a grain, or half salad, half grain for your base then build on top of that. So in a way you can make it as healthy as you want. I liked the choices in sauces, protein, and toppings. The bowl sizes are generous. I also liked the drink choices. Normally I don't order a drink but they had some tempting flavors such as cucumber mint and some unique lemonades so I got one. The only negative thing is the parking. The lot was pretty full when I went on a Monday at 1pm. But aside from the parking I enjoyed my lunch at Cava. The place was clean and the selection was great. read more

Stopped in mid afternoon. First time at any cava location. I wanted a braised lamb wrap, but they were out of it. Then I was going to do harissa chicken - also out. The guy suggested the meatballs - but they looked like they had been out a while. I noticed he just filled the grilled chicken - so I opted for that. The chicken on its own had little to no flavor. The wrap wasn't a wrap as much as a pita taco, and after maybe two bites the whole thing just fell apart. read more

Oh I'm diggin this place! So glad that there are so many more healthy options to choose from so close to my house and office. I wasn't sure what to expect when I was going here but my coworker mentioned that it is somewhat like chipotle with a Mediterranean twist. I really enjoyed my bowl. I got the grains/green bowl with the following: arugula/brown rice pilaf/lentils tzatziki/eggplant & red pepper/harissa grilled chicken/grilled beef meatballs romaine/pickled onions/cabbage slaw/mint/tomato & onion salad/olives/quinoa/cucumber/red peppers/white bean salad All that with a drizzle of Greek vinaigrette! My bowl was delicious. It was fresh and light - just perfect for lunch. The server was super nice as well as the cashier. I definitely look forward to coming back and trying other combos. read more

I was able to go for their soft opening. It's a build-your-own Mediterranean food restaurants. You pick which items you want (base, protein, sauce), pay at the counter and find your own seat (inside or out). There is also a good selection of craft soda, flavored teas and juices. I would recommend and total come back! read more

CAVA - Menu and to go bag - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I had to ask for extra food when people are having more portions. I was so pissed off had to pay extra over extra to get food.

First time visiting with backed up line but well worth the wait for tasty options and cucumber drinks is cherry on top.

atmosphere..chill..nice outside area..quiet..aqay fro. all the other restaurants. brewery next door. food..so fresh and delicious..so many options and good quantity for price. its like a Mediterranean chipolte with better flavour and more options. i like the lentil concept and the greens and grains concept. service..friendly and fast. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

A bit pricey, but fresh food isn't usually cheap. Generously portioned with a side of pita. The jasmine tea was refreshing. Plenty of outdoor seating too. read more

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I love this place. My first time coming and I was blown away by all the possibilities. It's the most customizable Mediterranean place I've been to compared to other places such as Simsims and Tahini. I appreciate the option of getting halfsies for the base & protein. I got a bowl, which comes with side pita. Now you don't need to feel left out and be conflicted between choosing a salad or pita sandwich! For base, I got half grains half greens. You even have variation within the greens, what??? They have 2 types of premixed greens, and separately you can also get baby spinach, arugula, or romaine, or a combination of anything mentioned. For dips/spreads, you get 3, and I got the eggplant+red pepper dip, hummus, and tzatiki. My favorite was the hummus- went well with pita. My friend liked his roasted red pepper hummus. I tried some harissa- spicy; don't get it if you're not good with spice! For protein, I got half roasted veggies half grilled chicken. They were both so good, veggies were roasted/charred perfectly, and the chicken was tender and flavorful. My friend liked his spicy lamb meatballs (extra charge). Some proteins are more expensive than others, but it is clearly labeled. By far the most topping variation compared to other Mediterranean places I've been to. I got almost all of it. I love that tabbouleh is categorized as a topping here. The pickled onions really brightens up everything too; I recommend it, as most of the other toppings don't have that quality. Lastly, I asked for dressings on the side. Yogurt dill and lemon herb tahini. Lemon herb tahini was so good, and was both of our favorites. Try it! I know this is a long post for a simple straightforward build-your-own place, but I was so excited the entire time while in the assembly line. Did I mention the bowl/portion sized turned out huge? Huge, but packed with healthiness. Can't wait to come back! :) read more

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We just moved to this area and this is our go to Cava. Every time we have visited, the food has been delicious and staff have been welcoming. Today we did roadside pick up because even tho we're socially distancing, we can't seem to distance ourselves from this Cava location. We've had Ashley bring our food out to us twice. Both times interacting with her were consistently hospitable and efficient. With the world going to hell in a hand basket she still is bringing 100% to her job. read more

CAVA - Awesomeness in a bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is a bomb new fast food joint. Like all the other reviews say it's like Chipotle but Mediterranean. Pita was soft and fluffy, definitely tastes fresh. Highly recommend the braised lamb, little bit more expensive but really flavorful and juicy. Tons of different toppings to choose from like kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Everything really fresh. It's a little bit more expensive than Chipotle, but worth it. read more

CAVA - Grain bowl with braised lamb and lotsa toppings - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Since moving to SoCal, I've been going to CAVA least 7 times a week, sometimes 9 depending on my mood. I normally go to the one in Encinitas, but just this one time I decided to go to this location because as I was driving, I had that sudden urge, an irresistible urge, for that delicious taste of the build-your-own bowl. As I go to order my usual, the girl reaches into the rice with her bare grimy hands, and places it into my bowl. I was hoping that this was just a glitch, but no. The horror continues. As she scoops the hummus, she proceeds to then scoop some back out of my bowl and dump it into the trash, tapping the scooper on the edge of the garbage can. She then uses the same scooper to scoop the tzatziki. For the final scene, she slides my pathetic bowl of dirty hand-grabbing-rice and contaminated hummus (that probably contains some type of bacterial infested worms) to the register. As my soul began to leave my body, I noticed my total was $27.50. I tried to contain my salty tears, but I felt one slide down my cheek as I searched for the right words. To my dismay, I was speechless. I felt myself backing away from the register in horror, and then made an escape to the nearest exit. I don't know what is more tragic: the service from this establishment, or the projectile vomiting that was most likely induced from who ever ate at this place.  I think I will have to confidently say that the service and filth was worse.  I was able to make up for this awful wretched experience by quickly going to get gas station food right after I left.  I hope this review can save somebody else. read more

OMG NEW FAV PLACE ALERT. Such great vegetarian options & the staff and service were excellent. Brenda helped me - I walked in and confessed I had never been there and she took the time to walk me through each part of the buffet. She was attentive and very kind in her service. Everything was delicious - I got a spinach salad with extra falafel & an unsweetened jasmine iced tea. My only complaint may be the cost at $16 & change but for an on occasion visit I don't mind. I'll be back! read more

CAVA - Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Loved the service here! All the employees are very kind: Trey helped me out and was amazing!!

Bee did a great job today! Food is awesome! Ingredients are always fresh and they handled rush hour so well! Love Cava

Best lunch ever! My friend & I went to Cava at the end of a chaotic work week and it boosted both of our moods & made our bellies VERY happy. Anthony helped us and was incredibly generous with his time making recommendations and explanation of the menu items. I am already looking forward to eating my leftovers for dinner, and will certainly be making another trip to Cava ASAP! Thank you Anthony!!! read more

So Fresh! So Yummy! All the Dips and Meatballs are Awesome! Went to the Hosted Lunch pre-opening and it was amazing. The Watermelon Mint water was so refreshing. My new lunch spot. read more

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1st time at this place. I wanted something on the healthier side and was tired of Chipotle. This spot hit all the check marks for me!!! Food was incredible and very fresh. The service was great. They helped me create my own bowl and even gave me samples of some things I wasn't sure about. Places to sit outside and inside, can't go wrong with either. It's a very clean and cool spot for a quick bite! 10/10 would recommend! read more

The Cava at One Paseo is one of our "go to" restaurants. It is casual, clean and welcoming. The staff personnel are friendly and generous with the portions. We always make our own bowl and there is a wide variety of ingredients to choose from, all of which are excellent. And, there is always plenty left over for lunch the next day. We highly recommend it. read more

Alex was very friendly and professional! We love cava for the fresh food and great customer service!! Keep it up!

I absolutely 110% highly recommend this delicious restaurant to eat loll a good friend and olde to try Cava and I am in LOVE I pay them a visit at least twice if not 3 times weekly. Thankful to Alex and Sofia that are always so helpful and knowledgeable on the menu not to mention Sofi has a smile that can light up the entire room. Thank you all for the excellent service and delicious food. read more

A good choice if you are looking for quick and easy Mediterranean food. We ordered a pita and a bowl, both with falafel as the choice protein. The ingredients were fresh and the bowl is a great value (also comes with a small pita). Not quite 5 stars because the falafel was overcooked, but the sauces helped distract from that. read more

Service was amazing!!! The food was delicious and fresh. It's so easy to order and the ambience is great at this location! Will definitely be back! read more

Super bomb diggity. Hit the spot. I did mine gluten free/dairy free - and was able to find so many options. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Fast and great service! Had the best customer experience, the mangar Michael was very friendly and attentive! Helped me navigate through my first time experiencing CAVA. He helped guide me in ordering the best bowl! Will definitely be coming back because of the customer experience shared. read more

CAVA (why is the name all caps?) fits in the category of healthier fast casual chains, alongside, for example, Urban Plates and Tendergreens, and if you like those eateries, as I do, then you would also likely like CAVA -- particularly if you like Middle Eastern (or eastern Mediterranean) cuisine. The layout is the familiar assembly line of fast casual, which in normal times can provide a friendly cafeteria ambiance, but in pandemic times can be a bit depressing with the necessary restrictions. You choose bowl or pita, base, protein, toppings, and any extras. Some flexibility is allowed, so, for example, you can mix greens and grains. The greens and all the prepared items were fresh, tasty, and colorful. Proteins include braised lamb, chicken, and falafel. I walked out with a bowl stuffed with chicken and veggie goodness and enjoyed every bite. They helpfully provided a warning about the chili pepper slices, which were indeed quite spicy. On this visit they provided free mini-pitas, which was nice. These pitas seemed more like Greek gyro style pitas, which are not my favorite, but were fresh and tasty. The staff was friendly and competent and strove to make things right when they got an order a little wrong (not our order, but that of the people right behind us). The prices are quite reasonable, with quite-filling bowls costing in the low teens and sandwiches less. read more

The FOOD smells but they nickel n dime everything asked for more rice cuz he gave small small scoops and then I got some pita chips gave me 2 chips and then extra charge the sauce which wasn't even full to the top but Service was good as soon as we came thru the door hello and nice ambiance 5/10 read more

This place is freezing inside! As are ALl the locations I have been to. It ruined everything as I was literally shivering while wearing my sweater and scarf inside the restaurant. The pita bread and falafel got cold in 20 seconds due to the subzero temperatures. The Brussels sprouts were raw instead Of cooked, which was gross. Almost all the teas were sold out so ended up drinking overly sweet blueberry lemonade, which I could not even finish. I actually have a stomach ache now. I will never come back. I've given it 3 tries. Each time I stopped in only because I was traveling and needed to stop and rest and charge my EV. It was too convenient. Never again. I'd like my $20 back please. read more

Not bad. Not really my style of eats.. but healthy, tasty, and unique. Think chipotle meets fancy salads and yummy humus. You create salad bowls with grains and leafy greens and different proteins and sauces. Whatever concoction my gf helped me create was yummy and something in it was very spicy and yum with the mix of greens and grains. A little pricey and portions were decent.. Service at the del mar location amidst covid was very friendly. Nice little place to catch a healthy lunch. Might return if I were in the area and seeking healthy eats! i loved the natural colors in my bowl with greens and beets etc. read more

The worker had the bowl contents recipe I selected listed on a laminated card and passed it down the assembly line with my food. The second worker put the card on top of my food as he passed it along, this card was handled and placed on surfaces, I was disgusted that he put it on top of my food. I paid and left knowing I couldn't eat it. Convinced myself to turnaround and ask for another one, they kindly did make me another. The bowl was okay, meat was overseasoned and overly chopped up on my opinion. No reason to return. read more