Quick answer
- Most of CAVA's menu is vegan: all the greens, rice and lentils, four of the six dips, Falafel and Roasted Vegetables, and nearly every topping and dressing.
- Skip Tzatziki, Crazy Feta®, Crumbled Feta, Yogurt Dill. They contain dairy.
- For protein, build on Black Lentils (17g). It's the highest-protein vegan item on the menu.
CAVA is one of the most vegan-friendly fast-casual chains in the US. The Mediterranean staples of hummus, tahini, lentils, falafel and olive-oil dressings are plant-based by default. The main thing to learn is which few items contain dairy and how to get enough protein.
What's vegan at CAVA
These ingredients are listed as dairy-free and vegan-friendly. We cross-checked CAVA's allergen guide against an independent dairy-free menu review updated in February 2026:
- Bases (greens + grains): Brown Rice, Saffron Basmati Rice, Black Lentils, SuperGreens, Arugula, Baby Spinach, Romaine, SplendidGreens®
- Dips + spreads: Hummus, Roasted Eggplant, Harissa, Red Pepper Hummus
- Mains: Falafel, Roasted Vegetables
- Toppings: Shredded Romaine, Tomato + Onion, Persian Cucumber, Tomato + Cucumber, Kalamata Olives, Fiery Broccoli, Pickled Onions, Salt-Brined Pickles, Fire-Roasted Corn, Avocado
- Dressings: Balsamic Date Vinaigrette, Lemon-Herb Tahini, Tahini Caesar, Greek Vinaigrette, Skhug, Hot Harissa Vinaigrette, Garlic Dressing
Not vegan: Tzatziki, Crazy Feta®, Crumbled Feta, Yogurt Dill (all contain dairy), plus every meat main. Harissa Honey Chicken also contains honey.
Check before ordering: RightRice®, Pita Crisps, Cabbage Slaw, Side Pita, Pita Chips. We couldn't confirm these as vegan from current sources, so they're not marked vegan in our calculator. Ask in the restaurant or check CAVA's current allergen guide.
4 vegan CAVA bowls
1Lentil + Falafel Classic
Open in calculatorBlack Lentils · Falafel · Hummus · Red Pepper Hummus · Tomato + Cucumber · Pickled Onions · Lemon-Herb Tahini
The most filling vegan bowl here: 27g protein and a huge 24g of fiber. It's also 785 calories, because falafel is fried.
2Best Vegan Protein per Calorie
Open in calculatorBlack Lentils · Roasted Vegetables · Hummus · Red Pepper Hummus · Tomato + Cucumber · Pickled Onions · Lemon-Herb Tahini
Swapping falafel for Roasted Vegetables saves 250 calories and loses only 3g protein. That's 24g protein for 535 calories.
3Light Vegan Veggie Bowl
Open in calculatorBlack Lentils (½) · SuperGreens (½) · Roasted Vegetables · Hummus · Harissa · Fire-Roasted Corn · Fiery Broccoli · Pickled Onions · Lemon-Herb Tahini
Half lentils and half SuperGreens keep this at 535 calories with 20.5g fiber. Harissa and fiery broccoli bring the heat.
4Vegan Grain Bowl With Avocado
Open in calculatorBrown Rice (½) · Black Lentils (½) · Roasted Vegetables · Red Pepper Hummus · Roasted Eggplant · Avocado · Tomato + Onion · Hot Harissa Vinaigrette
For a more classic grain bowl: brown rice and lentils, roasted vegetables, avocado and Hot Harissa Vinaigrette. 715 calories.
Highest-protein vegan items at CAVA
| Vegan item | Calories | Protein | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Lentils | 260 | 17g | 15g |
| Brown Rice | 310 | 8g | 5g |
| Saffron Basmati Rice | 290 | 6g | 2g |
| Falafel | 350 | 6g | 5g |
| SuperGreens | 40 | 3g | 4g |
| Baby Spinach | 20 | 3g | 2g |
| Roasted Vegetables | 100 | 3g | 5g |
| Arugula | 20 | 2g | 1g |
CAVA doesn't have a high-protein plant main like tofu or tempeh. Falafel has just 6g and Roasted Vegetables 3g. So most of your protein has to come from the base. A full scoop of Black Lentils gives you 17g, more than the falafel. Realistically, a vegan CAVA bowl lands around 20–30g protein.
Build and adjust any of these in the CAVA nutrition calculator, or set the diet filter to "Vegan" in the bowl finder.
Source: CAVA Nutrition + Allergen Guide (Summer 2024, CAVA-MKT-GID-0524). Values are per serving as published; portions made in restaurants vary. See how we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
Is CAVA falafel vegan?
Yes. CAVA's falafel is listed as dairy-free and vegan. It contains wheat. One serving has 350 calories and 6g protein.
Is CAVA hummus vegan?
Yes. Both the Hummus and the Red Pepper Hummus are vegan, as are Roasted Eggplant and Harissa. Tzatziki and Crazy Feta® contain dairy.
Which CAVA dressings are vegan?
Balsamic Date Vinaigrette, Greek Vinaigrette, Hot Harissa Vinaigrette, Lemon-Herb Tahini, Skhug, Tahini Caesar and Garlic Dressing are listed as dairy-free. Yogurt Dill contains dairy.
How do I get more protein in a vegan CAVA bowl?
Use a full scoop of Black Lentils (17g protein) as your base, add hummus and red pepper hummus, and choose Lemon-Herb Tahini dressing. Expect around 20–30g protein in total.