I ordered build-your-own bowls from Cava and Sweetgreen. Both tasted delicious, but the winner didn’t charge for as many add-ons.

• I visited rival salad chains Cava and Sweetgreen to get build-your-own bowls.
• Both restaurants offered an extensive choice of bases, vegetables, sauces, and toppings.
• But Sweetgreen charged extra for many of its tastiest add-ons.

Salad-bowl chain Cava has ambitious expansion plans. It opened 72 net new restaurants in fiscal 2023 and expects to open at least 50 in 2024.

As of 21 April, 2024, Cava had 323 restaurants, while Sweetgreen had more than 225 as of May.

It’s been a tough few years for salad chains, which have traditionally relied on city-center office workers for their peak lunchtime trade. But, like other fast-food and fast-casual chains, Cava and Sweetgreen found ways to adapt their business and are both reeling in digital orders: they make up 37% of sales at Cava and 59% at Sweetgreen.