I hate to come on here and write a 1 star review but after my last visit I feel compelled to do so. Firstly, this location is definitely lacking. I'm not sure if they are understaffed or what by they are always out of items and everything is so messy (mainly the food preparation area). They also do not do a good job of managing the line (ie. If you're waiting for a protein refill from the kitchen to finish an order let other people skip ahead who can). Aside from the lack of customer service and cleanliness at this location- my other main issue is with CAVA in general. It is such a great concept but I'm my opinion poorly executed. The portion sizes are WAY TOO BIG and the food doesn't keep well enough to split it into 2 meals. And when you mix everything together it becomes a cold soppy mess that is so unappetizing. I've tried to get the pita thinking it's a smaller portion but the execution of that is thoroughly lacking as well. When you add sauce or get a fatty meat like the lamb the pita absorbs the liquid and becomes a cold soppy mess. And don't even get me started on the menu. The lists are so small I can barely read them without my glasses. I am 36 years old and my vision is not that bad. I suggest you think of older people who can't see worse than me and who would be confused AF trying to order food. And don't even get me started about how much pressure I feel when I am not ordering fast enough (multiple locations). Thanks CAVA but I won't be back. read more

Why is the cashier the one rolling the pitas? Dude took my cash, gave me change, and then proceeded to finish rolling the pita with the same gloves. To top it off, restrooms closed and hand sanitizer empty. Good pita chicken pita though with a hint of dirty cash money! read more

It tasted healthy, I will give you that. But the spicy chicken wrapped in pita. I did not care for it. It was a mish mash of too much of everything from sauce to onion and I had no clue what the heck I was shoving into my mouth after several bites. I admit. This place is just not for me, I guess. I will give 4 stars and move on, cuz I think the reason I could not enjoy this place was due to my lack of understanding of the Mediterranean cuisine. read more

The is the absolute WORST location. Every time and I mean every single time I order from here my bowl is missing something. 5 or 6 times now I have said I will never go back and over the years I continue to think they will improve and the never do. Tonight they were out of chicken and forgot the onion and sweet potato on my bowl and like ALWAYS they forgot the free pita. Last time I went they were out of rice and they always forget my dressing on the side. DO NOT ORDER ONLINE, you will regret it. read more

Wtf is up with this place? Went at 7pm and this is what I observed when I first walked in: 1. Every table in the dining room was empty, and every table was covered in trash. Watched an employee walk out from behind the counter and assumed she would start cleaning g but then she just kind of...did nothing? Like literally nothing, just standing near the empty drink dispensers doing nothing... 2. All of the drink dispenser options were empty and when we asked if the soda machine was also empty we were told YES, they were totally empty. Keep in mind this location is open til 10pm. 3. Food area behind the counter was DISGUSTINGLY FILTHY. 4. Line of 7 or 8 customers and I was super frustrated to watch the employees using the worst possible method of serving customers. One girl was starting the bowls by asking people what protein they wanted, then scooping it into the bowl and placing it on the counter for the next employee to finish. Problem is her scooping takes 2 seconds, but the next employee is tasked with finishing the bowl and ringing people up...which takes several minutes apparently. So employee #1 scoops and moves on to the next person, scoops and moves on to the next person, etc etc. All the while employee # 2 hasn't even finished the first bowl so it creates a bottle neck. Who came up with this method? They should be fired because it's incredibly inefficient. We stood in line for a couple minutes just kind of looking around in disbelief and then realized this place looks disgusting and unsanitary and we absolutely didn't want to eat here. So we left. Get your shit together. Maybe someone needs to call the health department on this location. read more

I had a major Cava craving so stopping by was a must for a quick healthy bite. I came in behind a group of students and was impressed how quickly and efficiently the staff helped every guest. Honestly, you can't beat the reasonable prices and overall great atmosphere here. Shout out to the General Manager Savannah, I wanted to try something different this time and she was more than accommodating in helping me decide what items to choose while also considering my dietary restrictions. I'll definitely be back read more

CAVA - Friendly staff who seemed to enjoy working there. - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

Finally I got to eat here, I had my eye on this restaurant.Whenever we visited that complex their working hours didn't matched. I took avocado lentil bowl with saffron basmati rice. Their falafels are really good,very soft and crispy. They have good options for humus and toppings. Lastly we ordered pita chips and we love it. read more

CAVA - Avocado lentil bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

The last time I was at Cava my bowl didn't turn out very good and I didn't come back for awhile. This time it was different and I was helped by Raymond. He helped me create a delicious bowl with chicken, avocado, saffron rice and more, now I can wait to come back! The customer service here is also great. read more

CAVA - Custom bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

Absolutely delish. Every single time. Large portions and flavors are so exquisite. Yummy yummy. We have gotten cava over 5 times and have never had a bad experience. I usually get a salad and my husband will either get salad or wrap. No complains and will go back read more

Quality and ambiance of the restaurant was great .Julissa was super kind and welcoming . read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

The service was amazing ! Lovely staff and great food. The cashier (his name is Shach) has exceptional customer service.

Closed without any notice two hours before posted close time. Heard the food is good guess we'll never know though! Ambiance gives a run down shop that serves solid food but hey, guess we'll never know. Major L. read more

Wow, we love this eatery! Came by for dinner after a movie and wanted to eat something healthy after having popcorn. This was perfect! Besides all the healthy options to eat and drink, Cava is super clean and organized. We appreciate the earth-friendly straws, bowls and forks n spoons, etc. That's a plus. The food was really fresh. Didn't look nasty from sitting out. When I asked for the roasted eggplant, the container was almost empty. But they easily grabbed another fresh container full of it ready to go. All the produce looked good, colorful,... Even the proteins. Although I would say the lamb meatball was just a bit dry, though it tasted good. The braised lamb was perfect. Yes, I think I overloaded my bowl as it was all new to me and everything looked good! You'll just have to see the pics. (You also have to bear in mind some of the ingredients cost extra so it can add up. The server was good to mention whenever I chose something that cost extra.) Some of my favorites were the lemon herb tahini dressing, the roasted corn, the kalamata olives, the avocados, roasted eggplant... and heck, just everything mixed together was so yum! We both got fountain drinks. The cucumber mint juice was refreshing and paired well with my salad. I was going to also try the other juices but I was too full. Will have to come back. I just wish there was a Cava in the East County. I would eat here often! read more

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The food is yums!! So I understand why it gets so busy during the day :,(( but the wait is honestly worth it personally. I feel like my combination of sauces also works really well! I feel like the price is a little on the pricy side so can't eat too often. Definitely a good place to treat yourself to something yummy but also decently healthy(?) read more

Great service and food! We love this place, it's has everything and it's healthy . Sreeya was really nice at the cashier! read more

Staff was kind and friendly . Overall experience was great . Order time was quick and easy .

Great service!! Staff was efficient even during lunch time rush. I would definitely come back soon

Amazing staff, always so accommodating. Live love cava always so thoughtful about my portions too

Best bowls!!!!! My go-to spot for lunch :) There are so many tables to hang out at too! read more

I had the unfortunate experience of seeing an employee and the manager on duty having to deal with an unhappy customer in front of me in line. JD and Gordon kept their composure throughout and did their best in handling the situation. Even gave the guy this order for free. After dealing with all that, they gave me exceptional service (as they did with everyone in front of me, including the angry customer.) Sad to see this kind of situation, especially during the holiday season. read more

GIVE YAMAM A RAISE!!!!!She made my bowl perfectly and never fails to amaze my tastebuds 10/10

Service and food is great. Appreciate Alex's efforts behind the counter! Will be back! read more

Good to great. This place was unexpected and perhaps they may not appreciate this comparison but it's sort of like the Mediterranean equivalent to Chipolte but in all the good ways. You walk up, decide if you want a salad, bowl, or pita and then select your ingredients and the options felt endless, whether you're vegetarian, vegan or a meat eater, there were many options, it felt filling but also healthy and there was also a vast ice tea bar. I'll definitely go back. I can't wait to try the different combinations. I loved the flavors of the bowl I selected. The only downside if there is one is that parking isn't easy and it gets crowded quickly. I hope this place is a success and sticks around. You can order ahead of time which might be beneficial during peak times. Their fried pita bread/chips were also a great side I wouldn't hesitate recommending to friends or patrons. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

Okay I CANNOT believe that I have been living in La Jolla for 4+ years and have never been here before now. So many wasted weeks of sad dinners that could have been amazing if I just came here. Cava is basically chipotle for Mediterranean food, and all the options tasted super fresh and amazing. I loved the tiny pita bread you can ask for on the side of your plate, it's the perfect vehicle for the perfect harmony of your food. You can get either salad or rice as your base, and I did half and half and both were great. I would highly recommend checking cava out for a quick default takeout place! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

I love CAVA but this is the absolute worst location I've ever ordered from. I tend to either DoorDash or pickup the order-- every time they have messed up the order. They always forget the side pita, they don't give you your sauces on the side or even add it to the bowl-- one time i even received a bowl and they forgot the protein! Unbelievable. Go to the mission valley location instead. They also never pick up their phone. read more

CAVA is hands down my favorite mediterranean spot. It's basically chipotle but for mediterranean food and i love that we have the option to build your own bowl. I always start my bowl with red pepper hummus, harissa, and tzatziki dips and get turkey meatballs for my protein. They offer so many toppings here so I always load up my bowl with them and top it off with the lemon herb tahini dressing and tahini caeser which are so creamy and flavorful. Also they give a free side of pita bread with your order! It's definitely one of my favorite spots in San Diego and I wish there was one in the bay because i crave it when I'm not in socal. It's by far the superior Mediterranean take out restaurant and overall a 10/10 experience every time. read more

CAVA - Grains Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

it was my first time here and the workers here were really kind in showing me how to order and recommending what's popular. Shoutout to Jian and Aiden for their great service! Would come again 10/10 read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food was horrible... Mediterranean-Mexican fusion may be a fad, but these guys took it to a whole new low. The Lamb Pita was more like an extremely spicy 7-layer burrito than a pita. The first half of the pita had no lamb whatsoever... It was all onions & a very spicy harissa, and I actually like spicy food. The other end was dripping with way too much of a yellow sauce, and I love sauce. It was not assembled with care and just too sloppy for a $17 pita. Then, I tried the Chicken Pita, which was thrown together and not tasty at all... I attempted to add some flavor with the tzaziki, but it was the most bland tzaziki that I had ever tasted. It was only plain yogurt and cucumbers with no garlic. Then, I thought that I would try to add some flavor with their vinaigrette that comes with the Chicken Pita. This was the oddest vinaigrette that I have ever tasted. Every Mediterranean restaurant vinaigrette has a hint of sweetness to it , but this one smelled and tasted like beer. It was like pouring beer over your pita and eating it! Epic fail on their part... Finally, I tried one of their bowls to try to salvage the experience. It looked like it was made by a Mexican street vendor... It was atrocious! For $50, I would've expected 1 out of the 3 entrees to taste decent. The food has potential, but they need to clean it up in the kitchen with some experienced cooks who know how to assemble a pita and a bowl with a much better presentation, and tweak a few things in terms of the sauces & spice level. Hopefully the GM sees the potential in this place! read more

A great salad place. Customize it to what you want and the staff are friendly and quick. In and out fast is a key for limited lunches. Have also had them cater - great job!! read more

I don't think I have recommended any other place in SD more than CAVA. I always refer to it as a Mediterranean Chipotle. The food quality is consistently good at any location I go to and service is always great! I almost always get the harissa avocado bowl but sometimes switch it up to make my own. They do get very busy for lunch and sometimes for dinner also, I recommend having early lunch or late lunch to avoid the rush. The outside patios at the Del Mar and La Jolla locations are ideal places to eat and enjoying the always perfect SD weather! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

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The first time I had cava was in Irvine. I'm happy they have a couple locations in sd now. Cava is pretty much a Mediterranean chipotle. You build your own bowl. I always get half grain and half greens with a pita on the side. My favorite hummus and dressing is the harissa. It's a little spicy. I also get garlic on the side to dip my pita bread in. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

I've been here maybe 5 times now. There's almost always a long line, but the staff do their best and the establishment is clean. However, this last time I was there I had placed an order online to pick up. The employee handed me my order quickly and I left without looking at the food, just the name on the order. When I got home I saw they hadn't finished my order. My bowl wasn't even half full, it just had grains and meat, and I ordered much more. I was extremely disappointed, and didn't have the time to go back to have it fixed. I love the food, but I learned my lesson to always check everything is there before leaving. Not sure I'll be going back for a bit after that. read more

So good for the price. When you want cheap, healthy, yummy, this is it. I'll be back.

I usually really like the food, but the service was a little sad. I understand that it was understaffed but the amount of food they gave was quite pitiful. Normally, the bowl is filled but today the employees only filled the bowls half way. It just feels like a waste since I am paying the same amount. Also they normally put my bowl in the bag for me when I ask for one but the employee today just handed me a folded bag. Not that it's a huge deal but just comparing to all of my other experiences today was just lacking in terms of service. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE NEVER TRIED THIS PLACE BEFORE. So many options I couldn't decide. I really enjoyed the harissa, hummus, and roasted eggplant. Even though they give small scoops for each of these add-ons, I like how to can add up to three. The falafel was alright. It kinda tastes mushy. I can't really describe it. From the past, all the falafel I have had were crispy on the outside and a little crumbly on the inside. It was bad, though. I would probably get it again. Overall, great place to eat for healthy and filling meals. Although it is not as good as authentic Mediterranean food, I was not disappointed with the variety of options and delicious flavors. Everything is really fresh too! read more

10/10 delicious pita! Came during a rush and Suzzy did a fabulous job of moving the line along. Bella assembled the best pita. Such a great experience. read more

CAVA - Yummy pita! - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

Salad bowls are delicious and light. Pita chips are a must with the red pepper hummus. Staff is always friendly and gives good portions. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - La Jolla, California

i love that you can get a build your own option or the option to choose one of their signature bowls. i always do the build you own. the chicken is my favorite protein and the pita is soo good! read more

My order here is always right! I don't even like mediterranean food usually! Outdoor seating is always possible read more

The food is awesome here. I absolutely love, people are super friendly, the food is pretty fresh most of the time. And they don't run out of food at all. Most time I come here, all the toppings are there read more