Mediterranean fast-casual chain Cava opens new location in Carson

Mediterranean-inspired bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings are coming to the South Bay with the opening of a new Cava restaurant this month.

The latest spot for the fast-casual chain opened Friday, Oct. 18 in the SouthBay Pavilion Mall at 20700 Avalon Blvd.

The new location will employ about 40 people and before opening the company partnered with the Office of Samoan Affairs to donate meals prepared throughout the restaurant’s training period to local community members.

Cava was founded in 2011 by first-generation Greek American childhood friends Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos and executive chef Dimitri Moshovitis. The company also produces a line of dips and spreads from a Culver City kitchen.

Menu items include restaurant staples like the garlic ranch pita chips, steak, chicken and lamb pitas, several bowls such as steak, spicy chicken, Harissa honey chicken, Greek salad and others. The chain is also known for house-made juices that include flavors like pineapple, blueberry and cucumber mint.

The new spot joins other restaurants at the mall including Charleys Philly Steaks, Smash Burger, Pieology and others. CAVA has more than two dozen locations in California with local restaurants in places like Costa Mesa, El Segundo, Culver City and Hollywood.