They have very good food. I have had it twice and it's great. I would eat it again no problem. I like Greek food a lot and cava gets rid of my cravings so go for it! read more

It was so good. My sister got a kids meal which comes with two sides and our server Chloe was great she let her have a 3rd. She was so nice and took all of our requests. I would recommend this place to everyone. Absolutely great read more

Another disappointing experience from CAVA. This time we ordered to-go. The food wasn't bad, just expensive. Not really worth it. Beware of the roasted eggplant side. We received literally a thimbleful of this side. Considering it was watery and under-cooked, maybe it was a good thing that we received a very small amount. The inside wasn't very clean. The staff was rushing everyone through the line, bordering on rudeness. read more

Nice find! We were in the area and wanted a quick lunch. The food was flavorful and delicious. Everything is set up to be a make-it-your-way Mediterranean food place. You can pick the bowl style or have everything on a pita, choose your protein, veggies, and dressings. The staff was friendly and we didn't have to wait since it was empty at 11:00am. We ate in and it's like most other quick service casual places with a drink station if you want a soft drink or juice; very chill. I'd go back the next time we're in the area! read more

CAVA - Fresh pita chips. Salted & super yummy! - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I used to LOVE this location, food was good and portions too, with friendly staff. However, the last few times, especially the last time I visited, it was definitely missing the mark. The older woman (i think the manager?) serving the first part of the bowl was not friendly and giving horrible portions. For the people in front of me, she even took some out of their bowl after she had already put it in, which is awful serving and disgusting. As for my serving, she gave me the tiniest amount of rice that I've ever seen and when I asked for more, she said it would cost extra. I feel like they never really skimp on portions at this location, but this visit really let me down. Both of the portion for the rice and the chicken was so disappointing and I've never seen it that bad before. If I wanted to awful portions, I would just go to chipotle, so to see this behavior from CAVA is so disappointing. Not to mention the food was cold, even eating it in the restaurant. This is the first time i've ever been disappointed at this location but wow, it was bad. read more

First time at cava (let the employee know) & wasn't sure how to order so I just winged it as there was no help offered. The food was okay but the service sucked! We came in about 7:45 which is 2 hours before close and they were almost out of everything! You shouldn't be running out of food 2 hours before close at any restaurant clearly management needs to make changes here. Wish my first experience would've gone different as it wasn't worth the the $17 down the drain. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

I really enjoy the food, friendly service and the value! Most places like this I feel are too pricey.

Sam took my order and was AMAZING!! The meal, her service, and Jana was awesome too!! Will always come back here. Chicken great, steak is great, rice is delicious. Their Maine soda selection is off the wall fantastic!!!! Thanks again to Sam!!! read more

CAVA - Great location and workers!!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

It had been a few years since I came here, but remember loving it. Unfortunately this location is now in desperate need of new management. The food station was a complete disaster. Sauces were smeared everywhere, avocado on the floor, containers of meat tipped over. Employees were struggling to keep gloves on, and some looked dirty. The whole environment was disgusting. I considered leaving to avoid getting ill. I should have followed my gut. We were the only customers in line with more than five employees buzzing around, but not one was trying to tidy the space. Two were pleasant, but overwhelmed and undertrained. The rest were rude, indifferent, or downright hostile about the burden of serving us. All of our food was abandoned before making it to the register, so we had to ask for someone to finish. Twice. It was complete chaos... and remember, there was hardly anyone eating here. I asked to have one of the tables cleaned by an employee who rolled his eyes before coming to clean with a stained dishrag. I decided to talk to someone about the situation, but they met my concern with a half-hearted apology and irritated excuses. Nothing was offered. Something needs to change. This is an inexcusable way to run a business. read more

This location is really inconsistent. I love CAVA and have ordered several times from here, so am rounding up to 4 stars since some of the bowls have been great. My biggest complaint is the bowl size when you order ahead. They don't seem to consider how many toppings you add, and just give a tiny scoop of each even if you only pick a few things. I would think they would adjust the amount in the bowl to be appropriate regardless of how many toppings are selected. Last night I went in to order in person to avoid this, and had to ask a couple of times for more of a topping because the amount included was miniscule. They also didn't offer pita and I forgot to ask, so was bummed when I got home and realized that. On top of this, it was the second time now the white rice has been undercooked. Will be awhile until I give this location another chance. read more

I love cava but this location is the worst. They are always out of everything, the people behind the counter are slow and unhelpful, tables are always dirty, and every time I've wanted to avoid that and have it delivered via DoorDash or their app they always get something wrong or forget something. I order from another location closer to my work in Mission Valley and have never had an issue. Do better. read more

This is the first time l've tried Cava. They have a good quality and taste food. I like the chicken bowl it was amazing. Everything fresh, the stuff are helpful with a huge smile. I have to mention the manager Sam, he's a great person and helped me too much. I like his recommendations. Absolutely I'll be back always here. Thank you guys for everything. read more

CAVA - Wow - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

Received 3 burnt meatballs and was told these were the recommended way to cook them and offer customers. We have been visiting this location for years literally and this will be our last time. This is seriously gaslighting a customer and is insulting. read more

CAVA - Burnt lamb meatballs - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

Came here right before heading to the San Diego Botanic Gardens' Lightscape show as it was not that far down the road. Neither my partner nor I had been to Cava before and we had always been interested in trying out, so we felt this was a pretty good opportunity. When we arrived, we weren't sure upon walking toward it whether it was going to be open for long. This was because the majority of the seats were all turned upside down onto their tables, what it normally looks like when a place is closing down soon for the night. We checked the hours and they had several hours to go. I am guessing maybe they were short staffed and didn't have enough people to clear that many tables and wanted to just have people sit in the few tables that were open? Not sure. I decided to build my own CAVA bowl. I can't remember all the elements - but I remember getting most of the toppings - tomato+cucumber, fire roasted corn, pickled onions, crumbled feta, pita crisps, cabbage slaw, with base of basmati rice and braised lam and arugula. I chose tzatziki and yogurt dill as my dips and dressings. It was DELICIOUS. I wish I had made an exact note of what I got because I would most absolutely eat it again. This place is very much like a Subway/Chipotle/Poke style where you walk down the options and watch them build what you request as they build your bowl with all the ingredients you have chosen. I would not hesitate at all to come here again. I will say I was absolutely STUFFED after eating it - the braised lamb was flavorful and tender and the one thing I would say is I might have preferred having the dressing on the side as I might have waited to finish it had it not had all that dressing (as it would keep better and microwave better without it on the side). It would probably also make it slightly healthier. One thing it definitely does is leave you full for a long time, so that's a win! This specific CAVA location is a bit out of my way but as there are so many locations now I'd be happy to drop by any time I need a quick eat and I am starving. For the amount you get for the price you have to pay, it is definitely fair especially given inflation. Very reasonable. If you are like me and have been waiting to check it out - just GO :) read more

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Waited 45 minutes while everyone seemed to have no urgency. Could have done about 50% more customers if they had any urgency.

First, I walked in around 5;30pm and there was a line. A line because they ran out of protein (steak, chicken, and whatever else) and needed to make more. I've never experienced this at other Cavas especially during peak hours of lunch and dinner. Second, the stations were all a mess. Food everywhere. It looked like a tornado had gone through all the food stations. My immediate thought was "is this chicken going to make me sick?" because of how wrecked the whole place was. I will still enjoy Cava but this location needs some serious management oversight. Whoever is the current manager needs to get whipped into shape by Gordon Ramsey. read more

Walked in when they were close to closing and the cashier was friendly and attentive. I ordered the Mediterranean bowl and loved it! I will definitely be back when I'm around town read more

My wife and I walk in through dirty doors into the restaurant. We approach the line with couples stating no lentils at 5 o'clock dinner.We ordered in front of them. There was not a single table available that was clean. Requested bus boy to clean but he sprayed cleaning solution on my wife. Food stains and particles on the walls with food crumbs under table! Asked busboy to refill lemonade. It's a well-known fact if the restaurant is dirty in the front it's filthy in the back of the house. This was my 1st time @ CAVA. SHAME on management! read more

I love Cava but lately my food has been cold when I order pickup from this location. I hope I'm wrong but it seems like the quality is starting to go down. Mostly by this location being short staffed. Hope they get more staff in the evenings. The staff are great and working hard to keep up! read more

This food wildly exceeded my expectations. Yes, it's a chain restaurant in a mall. I don't care. The food is crazy fresh and delicious. Is it healthy? It seems very healthy. I'm not sure it's low in calories, though. You basically have two options: a pita sandwich or a bowl. They have suggested ingredient combinations or you can pick your own. I suggest making your own creation. If you get a pita, it's freshly made and it's amazing. Whatever you get, make sure you get the braised lamb. You have to pay a little extra but it is off the charts delicious. There are a ton of different sauces you can add (or get on the side). Experiment. Go crazy. Your dish will have a ton of flavor. But don't use too many sauces--the flavors will muddle together. This place has been bookmarked forever and I've passed it a thousand times. That's my loss. It's very good. read more

CAVA - Make your own bowl with lamb, chicken, and a ton of other great things. - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I came in pretty late last night 30 minutes before closing, as a worker in the food service industry I already felt bad but my dad and I were really hungry for healthy food. The restaurant was really clean, the staff were awesome, especially the man who helped us, his name is Sean, he deserves a raise because his service was excellent and made us laugh and it really made the experience nice. Thank you Sean and everyone else who made our dinner possible that night! read more

Base - white Rice, Lentils, Super Greens Dip - Harissa, Taziki, Hummus Protein - Chicken, Brasied Lamb 1/2 & 1/2 Topping - Get everything Sauces - Harissa, Dill yogurt, little bit of the Green Get this and you will be loving this place. This place is good eats and will keep or get you lean without the mean. Love this place and the drink selection is a fun combination of good and interestingly weird. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

Door dash orders *thumbs down*I love the Encinitas store. The staff is always nice and everything is good. Every time I order door dash from this location it is poor quality or has mistakes. I understand there is no real consequence since the staff doesn't have to interact with the customer at this point. But I would avoid door dash from this store if you are craving a good Cava experience. It's sub par and you'll be disappointed. read more

Great customer service every time I go!! Everyone is so nice + helpful. Food is yummy too!

Love eating here. My favorite is the Harissa Avocado bowl. Staff is nice too! Especially Marissa! She's so kind and is so positive!

We love this cava! Generous servings and very friendly staff. Can get busy during lunch time but otherwise has the freshest and most delicious good. We live 20 mins away and try to stop by at least once a week read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

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First I just want to mentioned that the staff there was and is always lovely and so helpful. Tonight was Cloe and Bryan helping me and they were so sweet. It's still surprise me every time how such great service doenst have a tip Jar. These are people that's go down the line and help you with all you're requests and between you and I we all Know CAVA has so many options. Bottom line Great staff great welcome smile by these two tonight and super helpful. A good place where the food is always consistent. read more

Spicy Greens Bowl!!! So good. So thrilled for delicious healthy options!!! Love the drinks as well. read more

Came here after fasting, I was starving! It was fresh and delicious!!!! We'll be coming back!

We love Cava for their healthy selections and hearty portions. last Thursday (8/15) we ordered a salad and a bowl. I have never seen a salad with literally 10 pieces if not less of lettuce. It barely covered the bottom. I asked for more lettuce and she added 4 more. My bowl was literally the same with the rice. Cava is not cheap to get a sprinkle of lettuce or rice for bowls. Hesitant to return. *and the usual always out of the popular drinks read more

My family loves this place! Food is fresh and healthy, and the service is friendly. As a vegetarian, I can vouch for the falafels and hummus! read more

to give a huge shoutout to the amazing team members who keep this place spotless! Every time I come in, the cleanliness is top-notch, and it's clear they take pride in their work. They are friendly, attentive, and always seem to be on top of everything, even during busy times. The dedication from the team to create a welcoming environment does not go unnoticed--thank you! However, I am disappointed with the management. While the team is working so hard, it's frustrating to see the manager, Charles, frequently on his phone, even when there's a line of customers waiting. It feels like he lacks the attention and care the rest of the team clearly has. I really hope that management will step up to match the commitment shown by the staff or that a new manager might come in who truly supports and leads this wonderful team. The team deserves better, and so do the customers! read more

Amazing food BUT longest lines ever during peak periods. Also messy working area. If they can fix all that then perfect! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Me and my sister came in for an early dinner date and were met with the most amazing customer service from Quinn! She was absolutely incredible and attentive to each and every one of the customers and truly made the experience for us. She made sure to prioritize our needs regardless of how busy it was. We've been here multiple times and have never had such a great experience like this one. Quinn you are absolutely amazing, keep doing a great job! read more

My family eats at Cava normally at least twice a month. I'm not sure what's happened recently but the food and service has gone downhill. The chicken tonight tasted like pure salt. I had to remove it from the bowl as it tasted like a salt bomb. Last time it was the burnt meatballs. My bowl was filled with 1/4 to 1/3 lettuce and I asked for a half scoop of rice and they told me it would be an extra $3 for a scoop of rice. Seriously. They never give you pita now unless you know to ask. read more

I love CAVA! There are so many options to build a healthy bowl. The location and team is great. Olin was super helpful helping me choose! read more

CAVA - Inside - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California

Usually I absolutely love the food here. Not sure what's been happening with the management. But the flavors have gone a bit all over the place, and the cooking has been like way wild. Today my rice was like almost burnt looking. Super crunchy. After looking at it I asked if I could have some lintels too because the rice looked pretty bad. Then the lady told me it would be extra.... Which I was like okay... let's just move on. Then they went pretty light on the chicken & pita strips were stale. Asked for a drink. Got rang up and then asked about the drink and they just kinda looked at the drink thing with the cups that are facing them. Then they slowly grabbed the cup and handed it to me like it was an inconvenience. I will say this is the second time in a row I've had an experience like this. Outside of the poor experience and over/undercooked grains, the room is very clean. Always. I'll probably be back... but if this keeps happening, I'll just go back to chipotle. lol. read more

We're big fans of Cava and especially love to frequent on a night when we don't have time to make dinner but still want to eat something healthy. However, the Encinitas Cava continues to consistently be "out" of critical menu items when we come in between 7-8pm. As an establishment that is open for business until 10pm, it's somewhat bizarre that management isn't doing a better job to track sales, supplies, and quantities needed to account for such. I can only imagine what few options there must be for customers who arrive later. This is the third time in the last 2 months which we've had this experience. Tonight, at 7:30pm, they were out of saffron basmati rice, harissa honey chicken, tzatziki, fiery broccoli, corn, tomato & onion, Persian cucumbers, and multiple dressings. Each time we've asked if they have more and are met with the same response that "they're out right now." When these items are what round out the majority of the menu and you're arriving well before the store is set to close, it begs the question as to if it's truly a supply chain issue or lack of effort to prepare more items on the part of the employees or those who oversee them. read more

**** HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! **** wayyyyy better than chipotle. lol first of all. NO BUT HONESTLY I've been a cava girl form the beginning! THIS place ROCKS! The staff is the most friendly, thoughtful, and service is top notch!!! some favs! * BRAISED LAMB * CRISPY FALAFEL * CORN *LAMB MEATBALLS * & EXOTIC DRESSINGS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD! The ambiance is relaxed and modern! Lunch is packed! But FRESH! The proteins are fresh and delicious I wouldn't think twice about going to this satisfying spot! read more

My first time here was amazing, for sure I'll be back. The food is really good and also the workers are super friendly, I strongly recommend. read more

CAVA - Customized bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Encinitas, California