CAVA

"Champion of the coveted 2020 Eater Bowl Bowl, topping mega-chains like Chipotle, Panera, Panda Express, the DC-based fast-casual eatery Cava first arrived in San Diego in 2018, debuting in Encinitas and expanding to One Paseo last summer. And this June, it quietly opened at The Shops in La Jolla. A fourth location launches today at Westfield Mission Valley, serving Cava’s customizable menu of bowls and salads built with grains or greens and toppings ranging from hummus and harissa to falafel and spicy lamb meatballs. Adhering to the indoor dining ban, the restaurant will stick to takeout service, offering digital ordering through the Cava app, curbside pickup, and delivery. Cava is also still slated to join the lineup at The Watermark, a new Scripps Ranch area development that will also house Whole Foods Market, Shake Shack, and The Lot." - Candice Woo

"Washington, D.C.-based Cava is expanding across San Diego, with a new location at The Shops at La Jolla, joining other dining options like Snooze and Philz Coffee. Cava provides a customizable menu of salads, pita breads, or grain bowls filled with over 50 varieties of dips, proteins, toppings, and sauces. Plans include five locations in San Diego by late 2020, including at Carmel Valley’s One Paseo and Westfield Mission Valley mall. The first location in the area opened last fall in the Encinitas Town Center. Offerings include roasted vegetables and a spicy lime tahini dressing. Cava was founded in 2011 by Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and chef Dimitri Moshovitis, and has 78 locations nationwide." - Tierney Plumb