CAVA is a new popular chain restaurant that serves customizable Mediterranean bowls, giving customers the freedom to design their bowls to their liking. With over nineteen CAVA locations all across Southern California, The Shoppes at Chino Hills has become one of them, providing a place for students to study and socialize while enjoying flavorful bowls of Mediterranean food. 

“It’s like a Mediterranean Chipotle,” junior Allison Wong said. 

CAVA sets themselves apart from other restaurants in the area by placing a heavy emphasis on their devotion to sourcing fresh ingredients according to their website and social media, which has brought even more customers to their tables. 

“I’ve seen some of my friends eat it and it seems really healthy,” senior Winston Wu states. 

CAVA is also one of the few Mediterranean restaurants in Chino Hills, spreading diversity in the area. The restaurant allows customers to explore varieties of Mediterranean cuisine that weren’t readily available in Chino Hills. 

“I feel like people should or people are giving it a chance,” Wong said. “They’re trying it and seeing if they like it.”

Previously, the closest CAVA locations to Chino Hills were in Anaheim or Los Angeles, bringing customers more than an hour away. However, CAVA recently opened in Chino Hills, and ever since, the restaurant has been packed with customers. 

“I got really hooked in the first place because I’ve heard of it many times and I know they have a spot in LA and I tried it, it was really good,” senior Alexandra Sacramento said. 

Besides their food, many recognize CAVA from their refreshing atmosphere and attention to detail. With vibrant coloring and bright lights, the restaurant provides a welcoming feeling to all customers. 

“The atmosphere is very upscale and clean,” Wong said. “It does have a more futuristic modern look because mostly everything is white and they have really simple light fixtures. It’s very simplistic, but not too boring.”

Prior to CAVA’s opening, Panera and Klatch served as primary hangout spots for students before and afterschool. And although CAVA doesn’t open until the afternoon, it quickly became the go to place for students to get food and do homework after school. 

“A lot of the seats that are provided there will allow you to kind of just hang out whenever and wherever. So, me personally, with my friends, we kind of hang out there anyway because we just chat and we eat at the same time,” Sacramento said. 

However, with CAVA quickly attracting so many customers, some students struggle to see CAVA live up to the hype that everyone has been giving it so far, providing mixed reviews. 

“It was definitely a little overrated,” Wong said. “It was very tasty, but it is on the heavier side.”

Despite a few critiques, CAVA is still visited by many students on a daily basis, so much so that some are even interested in getting a job there.

“I might get a job there, and I want to work there, because, if I go there a lot and if I understand what’s given at CAVA, I might as well join the experience,” Sacramento stated.

CAVA has truly made an impact in Chino Hills in just under a month and continues to gain popularity as more people try it. So the next time you’re craving a bowl of hearty Mediterranean food or just simply want a good place to chat with your friends, consider going to CAVA at The Shoppes.