Is CAVA Halal?

The short answer

CAVA is not halal-certified, and none of its meats are confirmed to be zabiha. That means its chicken, steak and lamb do not meet halal requirements. What makes CAVA different from most US chains is that it serves no pork at all. Its falafel and vegetable bowls are plant-based and halal by ingredient.

Why isn't the meat at CAVA halal?

CAVA is an American fast-casual chain that serves Mediterranean food. Like most US chains, it buys its meat from regular suppliers, not from halal-certified ones. Its grilled chicken, harissa honey chicken, grilled steak, spicy lamb meatballs and braised lamb are not halal-certified. CAVA also does not state that any of them are slaughtered the Islamic way.

For meat to be halal, it must come from a permitted animal that was slaughtered according to Islamic rules. Without certification or a clear statement from the chain, you cannot assume that the meat is halal.

Does CAVA serve pork?

No. Unlike many burrito and burger chains, CAVA has no pork on its menu. There is no bacon, no carnitas and no other pork product. This removes the biggest worry about contact with pork, which is what makes some other chains a firm "avoid." It does not make the beef, chicken or lamb halal. But it does mean that a meal with no meat at CAVA is cleaner than at a chain that cooks pork on the same line.

What can a Muslim order at CAVA?

At CAVA, you build your own bowl or pita. That makes it easy to put together a meal with no meat that is halal by ingredient:

• Falafel is made from chickpeas and herbs. It is the natural halal protein choice.
• Grains, greens and RightRice make a good base.
• Roasted vegetables, hummus, tzatziki, dips and toppings are made from vegetables or dairy.

If you skip the chicken, steak and lamb, a bowl of falafel and vegetables avoids the meat question completely. The one remaining concern is shared preparation. The meats are handled on the same line, so if you want to avoid any contact with meat that is not halal, ask the staff how the food is prepared.

Is the lamb at CAVA halal?

Some websites claim that CAVA's braised lamb comes from a halal-certified supplier. We could not confirm this from CAVA itself. The claim does not appear on CAVA's official nutrition or allergen pages, and CAVA does not advertise any location as halal. So treat the claim as unverified. If the lamb matters to you, ask your local CAVA to confirm the supplier and how the animal was slaughtered.

How can you check your local CAVA?

• Call the store and ask whether any meat is halal-certified, and who supplies it.
• Read CAVA's official nutrition and allergen guide for the current ingredient list.
• If contact with other meats matters to you, ask how the meats and falafel are handled on the line.

Common questions

Is CAVA halal-certified?

No. CAVA is not a halal-certified chain, and none of its locations are advertised as halal.

Is CAVA's chicken or lamb halal?

Neither one is halal-certified or confirmed to be zabiha. CAVA has not confirmed the online claims that its lamb comes from a halal supplier.

Does CAVA serve pork?

No. CAVA's menu has no pork, so its vegetarian options are cleaner than at chains that cook pork.

What can a Muslim eat at CAVA?

The falafel, grains, greens, roasted vegetables, hummus and dips are made from plants or dairy, so they are halal by ingredient. Just keep in mind that the kitchen equipment is shared.

The bottom line

CAVA is not halal. It has no halal certification, and its chicken, steak and lamb are not confirmed zabiha. Still, it serves no pork and offers a plant-based falafel option. So a Muslim who is comfortable eating at a restaurant without halal certification can build a meal with no meat that is halal by ingredient. If you only eat certified halal meat, treat CAVA's meats as off-limits.