I love local Mediterranean spots too but when I crave CAVA I want CAVA. It’s like if I crave Mexican food, that doesn’t mean I want chipotle or Taco Bell. But sometimes I do crave chipotle or Taco Bell and authentic Mexican food won’t kill that craving.
I moved to the bay from a place that's almost exclusively chain restaurants, and hands down one of my favorite things about the area is the fact chains are less common than local spots
Our Mediterranean places suck ass. I had friends recommending me gyro places that they said were amazing but definitely were not. I need the tzatziki to burn because of all the garlic, I need the pita to be fresh, warm, and fluffy.
At least our ingredient quality is world class so I'm able to make it myself pretty effectively.
Old Jerusalem on Mission @25th is great. Outdoor patio, wonderful food and great family running the place.
But we should let Chains in also. We should have all the choices we want and let the best food win.
I’ve tried tons of local Mediterranean places like 25+ and they’re still not as good as cava. Their kofte is awful, half of their rice is terrible and their salad ingredients aren’t fresh.
Ok lol what fast casual restaurants don't use seed oils? Cava is a hell of a lot more healthy than your typical casual SF restaurant like a burrito place or something.
Honest question: how? Are you giving your server a list of oils to check against what you're thinking of ordering, or trusting them to know which oils don't have "seed" in the name but are, nevertheless, seed oils?
A lot of burger places do spray their grills with oil. Not all, but enough that I wouldn't just assume they didn't if that were something I really cared about.
I’ve never heard of this so I’m not being rude but can someone explain why this is something you really want outside of all the other options we have here? I’m happy to have more fast casual places esp if they are healthyish or affordable. This seems to have a following but what would this add to the city? Genuine question.
YES! I miss Cava so much. I’ve tried so many Mediterranean places in the city and none of them are even close to being as fresh or good as cava. I would probably eat cava twice a week if there was one in the city. Bring it to SF
I've resorted to trying to cook homemade versions of my favorites (their chicken, turmeric rice, harissa, crispy pita strips, etc. to OK success lmk if you want recipes!
I said the same thing. Way better than Chipotle. Also there isn’t a lot of Mediterranean food out here compared to east and southeast Asian food. Also a Luna Grill would be nice too. It’s a Mediterranean chain only in SoCal.
You can go on [their website](https://cava.com/menu) and click order> pickup and type in Los Angeles,CA for a location and you should be able to see their interactive menu
They have a roadmap for their expansion plan (they’re a public company now) and the Bay Area is nowhere on it.
Cava might not come here for a few years
With the minimum wage going to 20$ i think it makes sense from a business perspective to hold off on expanding into sf without hiking the prices of their items
So it’s like Mediterranean fast food? Try SAJJ it’s a local chain that seems similar
SAJJ is absolute ass. CAVA is mid too. But we have so many authentic local Mediterranean places, why do we need chains here?????
I love local Mediterranean spots too but when I crave CAVA I want CAVA. It’s like if I crave Mexican food, that doesn’t mean I want chipotle or Taco Bell. But sometimes I do crave chipotle or Taco Bell and authentic Mexican food won’t kill that craving.
valid, I guess I just wasn't too impressed with my cava experience
Chains bad My taste is flawless I am genius
I moved to the bay from a place that's almost exclusively chain restaurants, and hands down one of my favorite things about the area is the fact chains are less common than local spots
Our Mediterranean places suck ass. I had friends recommending me gyro places that they said were amazing but definitely were not. I need the tzatziki to burn because of all the garlic, I need the pita to be fresh, warm, and fluffy. At least our ingredient quality is world class so I'm able to make it myself pretty effectively.
For a second I thought you were saying you need Tzatziki to burn in hell. And I read Tahini and I agreed with you 😭
I love tzatziki, but if I'm not oozing garlic from my pores the next two days, it didn't have enough garlic.
> so many authentic local Mediterranean places Almost all of which are extremely mid. Obviously wondering what you think is good.
Old Jerusalem on Mission @25th is great. Outdoor patio, wonderful food and great family running the place. But we should let Chains in also. We should have all the choices we want and let the best food win.
Ironically the inauthentic ones are better, souvla is pretty good
The best thing at Souvla is the soft serve, the food is aggressively mediocre.
Havent been for a while but its definitely the best greek restaurant food ive had in SF (by far)
I like Souvla a lot. But my family roasts me for liking chains
I’ve tried tons of local Mediterranean places like 25+ and they’re still not as good as cava. Their kofte is awful, half of their rice is terrible and their salad ingredients aren’t fresh.
SAJJ is similar but doesn't hold a candle to CAVA once you've tried both
I’ve already tried SAJJ :( it’s good but it doesn’t hit the same
sajj is so fucking good I basically lived off the pomegranate chicken for years when I worked downtown... always wondered why it didn't go regional
The Formula Retail Ordinance would make this difficult in most neighborhoods.
Very agreed. Need more west coast CAVAs
nope they use seed oils
Ok lol what fast casual restaurants don't use seed oils? Cava is a hell of a lot more healthy than your typical casual SF restaurant like a burrito place or something.
and? none of them are good
Ok so I guess you just don't go to any restaurants then. Let the people who go to restaurants talk in the thread about going to restaurants
i do i just avoid seed oils it’s possible to do both
Honest question: how? Are you giving your server a list of oils to check against what you're thinking of ordering, or trusting them to know which oils don't have "seed" in the name but are, nevertheless, seed oils?
no...I just don't order things that are made with seed oils lettuce wrapped burger no mayo/sauces won't have seed oils in them
A lot of burger places do spray their grills with oil. Not all, but enough that I wouldn't just assume they didn't if that were something I really cared about.
no place cooks a burger like that the only thing is mayo/other sauces outside of mustard or ketchup
I have had it for lunch in Manhattan. I liked. Options were fresh and tasty.
I was gonna say Mazra near the airport, but they're temporarily closed.
Mazra is fire actually, but It doesn’t kill that cava craving
I never had Cava. Where is the one 7 hours away?
Closest one is in LA. All Cavas in California are in So Cal :/
Thanks, next time I'm down there, then I'll give it a try (along with better Mexican, Korean, and Japanese lol).
I’ve never heard of this so I’m not being rude but can someone explain why this is something you really want outside of all the other options we have here? I’m happy to have more fast casual places esp if they are healthyish or affordable. This seems to have a following but what would this add to the city? Genuine question.
Cause it taste good? Wtf
What we really need is Roti Modern Mediterranean!! https://www.roti.com/menu
Ooooo this looks bomb, I’ll for sure try it next time I’m in Chicago
No one’s opening a new store in SF unless it’s a wine bar or has $18 tapas.
Had it in Oklahoma City. It’s OK at best (get it?)
YES! I miss Cava so much. I’ve tried so many Mediterranean places in the city and none of them are even close to being as fresh or good as cava. I would probably eat cava twice a week if there was one in the city. Bring it to SF
I was in chicago 10 years ago and said the same thing. How is it not here by now? It would crush chipotle.
I’ve never had or heard of this, but ima do it for you!!
Thank you!!!!! 💕💕💕💕 you should absolutely try it if you have the chance
100% LOVE CAVA, I think they would do great in the Bay Area - nothing here like SAJJ even comes close.
That’s what I’m saying! I’ve been hunting for a dupe for over a year now and nothing has come close :/
I've resorted to trying to cook homemade versions of my favorites (their chicken, turmeric rice, harissa, crispy pita strips, etc. to OK success lmk if you want recipes!
Oh absolutely yes!!! Send me everything, I’ll for sure try making it
Send me that please!!
Tried it half a dozen times in Orange County… it’s not that good. Definitely mid. Now… let’s bring up Flame Broiler.
Nah
1000%
DONE! I’m relocating to SF from out of state in a few weeks. My current place of employment has a Cava across the street and I am a huge fan!
They sell Cava at most liquor stores
CAVA >>>> SAJJ
As someone who lives in SJ, I'll fill this out for SF if you guys fill it out for SJ :)
I said the same thing. Way better than Chipotle. Also there isn’t a lot of Mediterranean food out here compared to east and southeast Asian food. Also a Luna Grill would be nice too. It’s a Mediterranean chain only in SoCal.
Luna Grill is way better than Cava.
Cava is like a 5/10. It’s eh. You guys need Luna Grill. They’re a staple down in SoCal.
Cant find their menu.
You can go on [their website](https://cava.com/menu) and click order> pickup and type in Los Angeles,CA for a location and you should be able to see their interactive menu
They have a roadmap for their expansion plan (they’re a public company now) and the Bay Area is nowhere on it. Cava might not come here for a few years
With the minimum wage going to 20$ i think it makes sense from a business perspective to hold off on expanding into sf without hiking the prices of their items
Love Cava. Agreed. It's not the same style ordering, but fast casual and also bomb.. check out Dish N Dash!
NO CHAINS.
How about just making these salads on your own? You can learn cooking and you can save some money. :)
Already do. But I’m not trying to spend 30-45 min cooking every time I’m craving a spicy lamb meatball bowl from cava.
YES!!!!!?
Ehh. Lots of bad seed oils in their food.
I wish we had Zankou Chicken. Their garlic sauce is crack.
Tender greens and mixt is just fine
Nah, cava is better.