What oil does CAVA fry in?
CAVA cooks with Olive oil (primary cooking oil for proteins, vegetables, dips); canola/vegetable oil blend for falafel frying; tahini (sesame) contributes PUFA in spreads and lemon herb tahini dressing; grapeseed oil used in Greek vinaigrette.
The 5 cleanest things to order at CAVA
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Harissa | 1.0g |
| Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | 1.0g |
| Tzatziki | 1.0g |
| Braised Beef | 2.0g |
| Roasted Chicken | 2.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the CAVA report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does CAVA use beef tallow?
No. CAVA cooks with Olive oil (primary cooking oil for proteins, vegetables, dips); canola/vegetable oil blend for falafel frying; tahini (sesame) contributes PUFA in spreads and lemon herb tahini dressing; grapeseed oil used in Greek vinaigrette, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.