I had to take a second to write this because the experience was that good. Andres at CAVA is on another level. From the moment I walked in, he brought great energy, was genuinely welcoming, and made the whole experience feel personal instead of rushed. You can tell he actually cares about what he's doing -- not just going through the motions. He helped me build the perfect bowl, gave solid recommendations, and made sure everything was dialed in exactly how I wanted it. On top of that, his attitude stood out the most -- positive, attentive, and just real. That kind of service is rare. People like Andres are the reason I'll keep coming back. CAVA is lucky to have him. Give that man a raise. read more

CAVA is my favorite Mediterranean fast-casual spot and easily my go-to for healthy fast food. I love the salad bowls, and the braised lamb is always my order, it's flavorful, tender, and really satisfying. The toppings are great too, with plenty of options that let you build something fresh without it feeling boring. I used to go to CAVA all the time when I lived in New York, so I'm genuinely happy to have one here in Costa Mesa now. Reliable, healthy, and consistently good, this place never lets me down. read more

Awesome time ordering from CAVA for a poker night! We ordered numerous bowls, meals, and drinks and were blown away! Their staff made sure to pack everything carefully and had everything finished in a reasonable amount of time. I loved their steak and harissa bow. It had juicy steak on a bed of super greens, rice, tomato, cucumber, corn, and rice with tzatziki on the side. The steak worked perfectly well with the greens and the tzatziki provided a great blend of flavor with all of the ingredients. read more

We were near a Cava so we tried it for the first time. It was highly recommended so we were super excited for lunch. We all ordered something a lil different. One salad salmon bowl, two bowls half rice have power greens with chicken, one gyro and a kids meal. The service was spot on they were helpful explaining our options. The tea was okay a lil on the watered side unsweetened. We ate in the outdoor patio. Free parking in back. Loved it! We'll definitely be back. read more

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Enjoy eating outside on a beautiful day. The cucumber mint drink is refreshing. I've been eating CAVA a lot now starting 2026 that I lost 10 lbs! Ordering from the app, earn rewards and redeem for a free bowl. I can get 3 or 4 meals from 1 bowl, so very affordable and healthy. read more

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I had about an hour to spare during my choir concert and was starving, conveniently cava was right around the corner. Honestly, it was a pleasant surprise! It's like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food, and every bite was loaded with flavor. At first glance, I thought the bowl looked kinda small, but halfway through I realized this thing was like a bottomless bowl. It just kept going! My only gripe is the price. The base bowl is around $13, which only covers chicken or veggies, and if you want anything else it's like an extra 3 or 4 bucks. Not the best deal, but still worth it for how fresh everything tastes. Service was quick, the spot was clean, and overall I left full and happy. 4.5 stars if that was a thing! read more

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I loooove Cava! I can always count on Cava for a delicious meal. I love their plethora of options. Their chicken is juicy and delicious! I particularly LOVE their harissa. The side pita is quite tasty as well. The workers were very friendly and quick as well! I ended up sitting outside and enjoying my meal on the patio. It was a great time! I'll be back! read more

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I love this location! Whenever I go after work it's not super packed (like the one in Irvine is) and the workers are always friendly. Their meats and veggies are super fresh and they have great portioning. I recommend getting the Hot Harissa Pita! I don't know if they have it, but the recipe was on a tan looking laminated paper. If they don't have it, the harissa itself is pretty yummy so just try that with whatever you like! read more

CAVA - Steak + Harissa - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Elisa always provides the best customer service. She's fast and efficient and makes a delicious full bowl. The restaurant is clean bc she's always working hard to keep the dining area and food area mess free. We go back bc of her. read more

They aren't kidding when they say it's the chipotle for salads. Even the decor is chipotle inspired. It actually does open at 10:45 - I wasn't believing it- but it's true. (Seems odd, but okay) They weren't totally ready-but they hustled and made it all work. I got the Greek salad as my base...then added a few other ingredients.... picked onions some of the green jalapeño cilantro sauce- really good and not spicy. It came with 2 small pieces of pita that were so fresh and delicious. The folks behind the counter did feel rushed (just like chipotle) but they were stiff friendly. read more

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Absolutely top notch service. The assistant manager made sure that our first visit here was phenomenal, and she was extremely welcoming. The clerk assisted us with the types of foods to select. We had such a phenomenal experience with stellar service. We will be back. I love the organized clean look of the inside and it's a great place to bring a large party of people. read more

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Got to try "Mediterranean Chipotle" after my brother raved about this chain for so long. We each got a mixed bowl. It held up well for the 30 minute drive home too. The shop is spacious, clean, and the service was friendly. I can see this being a great place for a work lunch or something quick but a bit elevated. I got a chicken and rice bowl with my desired toppings. It's customized to my tastes so I won't bother listing it all out, but I can say any combination you choose with mesh well in terms of flavor and textures. I topped it with hot sauce which wasn't that hot but added a contrast of acidity to everything going on. I wish it was a bit more packed though. The staff gave me some chips after learning it was my first time here which was nice of them! Overall I'd definitely consider going here when I'm in the mood for Mediterranean food. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

If you like food thats fresh and full of flavors and actually leaves you full afterwards, then the steak and chicken combo bowl here at Cava is a must. The steak is super tender with a perfect grilled edge, and the chicken is juicy and loaded with flavor. They load the bowl up with crumbled feta, pickled onions, juicy tomatoes, and this rich red spicy sauce that spices it up just right. Every bite has a mix of creamy, tangy, spicy, and fresh. It's a bowl where you keep finding different textures and flavors the more you eat! ha The place itself has a really clean, modern vibe. Bright natural light, sleek wood and metal touches, and an open setup that feels welcoming without being too busy. It's definitely one of those spots you don't mind hanging out in for a bit, whether you're eating in or grabbing something to go. I've been here a few times before and it always hits. Consistent, quick, and full of flavor. This combo bowl is one I'd definitely come back for. read more

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This was my first time coming in and I have to say, Andres is the best worker there. I had no idea what to get, but he took his time helping me choose something that actually fit my taste. Super patient, super knowledgeable, and really made the whole experience easy. Because of him, I'm definitely coming back loyal customer from here on out. Highly recommend asking for Andres! read more

CAVA - Build your own bowl and a salted chocolate oat cookie - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I came back to say my experience was completely different this time! After tweaking my last order, it improved my bowl greatly. This time I did a build-your-own Grains bowl that included White Rice, Sauce (Tzatziki, Crazy Feta, & Red Pepper Hummus), Grilled Chicken, Toppings (Fire Roasted Corn, Pickled Onions, Cabbage Slaw, Crumbled Feta, Pita Crisps, Persian Cucumber), and topped it off with Garlic Dressing and Hot Harissa Vinaigrette. The options really are endless in unique flavors here. The sauces weren't overloaded and my bowl was more enjoyable this time around! I would've included a pic, but I couldn't wait to dive in! read more

CAVA - Grains (Top) & Greens + Grains (Bottom) Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

YUM YUM YUM!! Not only was the food awesome, but the service was above and beyond. I couldn't get my app to add on sauces on the side, but Andres was kind enough to get me them! I came in at 6pm on a Monday and there was no line, although I took advantage of the order ahead through the app which was relatively easy to use. Pita chips are worth it. They almost never make the drive home. Definitely a pricy menu but I think it is quality and delicious read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We had a work event and decided to get CAVA to cater to about 50 people. Since the moment we arrived to pick up our order at this location, it was an incredible experience. We were quickly helped and Debs even walked us to our car to load. That alone deserves 5 stars. Now, the food. It was a HIT. They package everything so well and it even had labels showing if the container or dressing has nuts, oils, etc. The details are incredible. The rice with the proteins and added veggies and flavors are so unique and full of flavor. We ordered steak and both styles of chicken. It is a must try and so filling. We will definitely be ordering for another event. read more

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I love CAVA and I go to a lot of different locations depending on whether I have work or errands. I tried out this location since I was on my way to a party. I placed an order online and waited around 20-30 minutes after arriving there. The mobile app says it'll be prepared ASAP (I left my area at 5:30 pm) but then stated it'd be ready by 6:15 pm. When I got there it was 6 pm and it wasn't ready until nearly 6:30. The service was alright, I felt bad for the workers but also they weren't busy where they were standing and chit chatting for a majority of the time. It was disappointing that their online orders weren't taken care of effectively as there were multiple tabs yet no work was being done. My friends and I waited for way too long and they didn't put any of the right items in our bowls. We even had to ask them to give us pita crisps that we paid for. With our frustration, we were expressing it within ourselves but we overheard the workers complaining about us (I guess it's fair). The main reason for why I'm giving a low rating is the fact that they put olives (not requested) in my bowl BUT ALSO PUT A WHOLE AVOCAO PEEL...this is wildly unacceptable and in fact disgusting. It disappoints me that they don't do their orders correctly and I understand when it's busy, it's hard. But that doesn't excuse for mistakes like this avocado peel nor does it make it okay to consistently make peoples bowls or orders incorrect. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So much potential, but a huge fail. I ordered a salad and my husband ordered a bowl. When you go online and order you pick so many items in each category. I was missing crazy feta, tomatoes plus onion, pita crisps, hummus and Greek olives. I was looking forward to dipping my pita in hummus, but no luck. Ended up with a $20.00 salad with romaine, steak, feta, cucumbers and pickled onions, pretty lame. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This location was my first CAVA experience, and it hit the spot! If you're not familiar with CAVA, it's essentially modern Middle Eastern Chipotle. Their drinks tastes great too, especially their diet cola. Usually diet colas from alternative brands tend to not taste great (Coca Cola is my gold standard), I thought the brand they were using did a really fantastic job of nailing it. I wish they had locations in the Bay Area. I would probably stop eating at Chipotle if they did (not that the cuisine is identical, but literally everything else from style of choosing your food to operations is very comparable) Parking is terrible. In fact had I known there was another location in Irvine I would've just went to that one instead. Apparently there's a lot in the back of this Costa Mesa location but the wording on the parking signs were kind of confusing. I've also gone to the Irvine and Topanga Mall locations and all were wonderful as well. read more

CAVA - The guy making my order missed like 4 things I said I wanted in my bowl. It was still good but I think they are hard of hearing. - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great idea- build your own salad/grain bowl Mediterranean style. All ingredients were fresh and blended together well- no one ingredient was too flavorful or overpowering. Not overpriced and good amount of food. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We had delivered and had kids meal, chicken rice bowl and chicken steak rice bowl. The chicken was too 'spicy' for my picky kid but that just blessed me with more chicken! I didn't think I'd like the pita chips but man those were good too. Portions are good. Everything was fresh except my tomatoes were a bit wilted. Very seasoned. Only other nit pick was the steak was dry but that didn't keep my other half from eating it. read more

This was our first time trying out Cava! After a great day at the beach, our nephew recommended. We are so glad he did. The interior was nice, bright and spacious. Lots of seating. Staff were welcoming and friendly. They provided great recommendations for us first timers. The food was delicious and fresh! Price was fantastic. Bonus were the great drink offerings with self serve made in house drinks and sugar cane sodas. Can't wait to return when we visit SoCal again. read more

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Similar looking and ordering like chipotle but make it Mediterranean. Quick friendly service. Parking is in rear of restaurant. Built my own chicken bowl and it was delish, tasted healthy and light! It was great trying Cava for the first time! read more

CAVA - Chicken Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Whoa!! I'd heard so much about Cava and my coworkers order all the time, but I still hadn't tried it, especially because I tend to bring my lunch. My coworkers talked me into joining the mass order one day and now that I've finally tried it, I'm in love! First of all, those garlic ranch pita chips are delicious! I packed on some of the contents in my bowl onto the chips and it went so well together! I ended up ordering the Harissa Avocado bowl. I'm generally not a fan of a sloppy mess of a bowl. I've been to some places that just make a mess of the food and it really grosses me out. I was so glad to see that our bowls were carefully made! Huge points for me! The Harissa Honey Chicken was SO good! I loved how spicy the bowl was! I asked for the hot harissa vinaigrette on the side and I'm glad I did, because with the crazy feta and the hummus, you honestly don't even need the dressing. That crazy feta is next level! I'll definitely get more of that next time! I love the split between the super greens and basmati rice. I added olives to mine, which gave it an even better flavor. I like that the bowl is completely customizable. If you don't want rice, you can choose lentils for extra protein, or add more salad like arugula or baby spinach. You can add two different main toppings like grilled steak, falafel, or even lamb. They have so many toppings to choose from to add, like pickles, olives, or tomatoes and cucumber. If you don't like the dressing it comes with, you can easily switch it to another, lemon herb tahini, garlic dressing, or yogurt dill. They also have desserts and yummy drinks like blueberry lavender, pineapple apple mint, or jasmine tea. Nutritional information is online and here's the highlight... they also sell their delicious hummus and dips in stores like Whole Foods and Mom's! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Cava employees were nice and efficient. Andres did a great job serving our food and checking up on us. Clean and nice outdoor seating.

I stop here so often it's hard to believe I haven't left a review just yet. The restaurant is clean and always has fresh ingredients for their bowls. I love to change between yogurt dill and the garlic sauce. I know this location gets busy after school hours but it's worth it (: Parking is in the back. read more

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YUM YUM YUM!! I always refer to this as the Mediterranean Chipotle. I could eat this every single day, it has all of my favorite foods in one bowl. This is a very healthy lowerish cal and high protein option (if you make your bowl that way). That lemon herb tahini dressing is a necessity. The line moves quickly and I love that they have a rewards program too. read more

To my astonishment and disappointment, Cava has no mechanism to leave customer feedback. Even website and app have no feedback links, only a link for "General Inquiry," which feedback is obviously not. So I ask myself why would I ever return to a restaurant that cares so little about its customers that you lack even the most basic convenience to convey feedback? Perhaps it's because your ownership mistakenly believes it has achieved perfection in every conceivable way? That would be an unprecedented level of arrogance. So this makes two negative criticisms because my initial complaint is that by lunchtime your restaurant is already out of both cucumbers and onions and while it's located across the street from a full grocery supermarket yet not a single employee could simply spend 10 minutes picking up or even having vegetables picked up. A veggie bowl without cucumbers and onions is sad but not as sad as your oblivious company leadership not caring. read more

So fast and clean ingredients! can't beat the classic cava. Rogelio helped us out today and was so kind! Made the food taste better.

It's refreshing getting such great customer service and Elisa always delivers! She's the best, just so kind and helpful, my experience with this location and her customer service has been always exceptional Keeps me coming back! read more

I love cava so much. It was my first time at this location and it was definitely worth that drive after work. The customer service was phenomenal. I really appreciate Andres and Bella for helping me out with my order. Some of the nicest people, and they really made my day with how helpful they were to me with my order. The food here is so affordable and they stuff your bowl. I love that this Cava location is close by my work and I will definitely be coming back. It is also very spacious and lots of seating! read more

CAVA - kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came in on a Saturday no wait. The ingredients all looked fresh and very clean. Staff was friendly! Will definitely come back read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Fast pace when ordering, the food tastes fresh and unique simply if you need something with a quick bite! The service is fast, and the workers were nice. read more

Woof, this Cava was a disaster today. Giving it three stars because food is always solid, and service is usually a bit better than this. Warning to those placing online orders around lunchtime ... you'll want to order before noon and also triple check the order you placed is accurate before leaving. A few areas where they could improve: (1) Communication! Even a digital board showing order numbers. Volume of people waiting for online orders was ridiculous and nobody knew how long the estimated wait was, making it frustrating in the middle of a work day. (2) Resourcing: If more are placing orders online than in the store, assign more employees to work on those. A lesson in urgency would be helpful as well. Felt like the human assigned to this area was moving slower than a jeweler trying to set a diamond. (3) Being solution oriented: There were a bunch of bowls off to the side, which I realized were waiting for chicken schwarm to cook...but when the employee finally asked, multiple ppl were ok with the regular chicken to avoid waiting longer. Will be back, but yikes...it was rough. read more

Food is amazing! The flavors, your tastebuds will explode! So much going on with your creation that anything you add to your bowl, a masterpiece will be made. Best part, it's really two meals for the price of one. Don't over eat it and lunch tomorrow/dinner evening will be oh, so, sweeeet!!! read more

CAVA - Cava bowl, music, beer and beach for the win! - Mediterranean Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A lot of healthy Mediterranean food like chipotle style where you can pick what you want. All their ingredients were fresh but they do up charge for items like steak or others. I tried a lot of new things with the add on options. Their drinks are special flavors even the sodas but I suggest the blueberry lavender. Very refreshing! read more

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Absolutely love this place. The staff here are great, friendly and helpful. Best place to have lunch. Thanks to the staff the there. Noel, Pablo, Debbie and Elisa. read more

The last two times I've gone to this location to order a bowl, my meat and rice were cold and I got sick with food poisoning (diarrhea) afterwards. This location needs to be inspected by health officials. read more

We love Cava food, but this location is poorly managed - they are always out of key toppings (ie cucumbers), this has now happened several times, which makes the meal. Last several times out of cucumbers, or out of lemonade, skimp on the portion, need to ask several times for the pita (where the Cava employee should be the one on it) and sometimes get a worker with an attitude. Please review customer service with your workers and ensure ingredients in stock. read more