How Much Sodium Is in a CAVA Bowl? (Full Breakdown, 2026)

The typical CAVA bowl lands somewhere between 800mg and 2,500mg of sodium. That's a significant range for something that looks like a healthy salad bowl. Knowing where the sodium actually comes from makes it much easier to manage — whether you're following a low-sodium diet or just trying to be more aware of your daily intake.

This guide breaks down sodium by every ingredient category at CAVA, identifies the biggest contributors, and shows you exactly how to build a bowl well under 600mg of sodium.

Why sodium in a CAVA bowl varies so much

CAVA uses seasoning in their rice, proteins, and some dips. A greens-based bowl with steak and tzatziki can come in under 600mg of sodium total. The same bowl swapped to brown rice, falafel, harissa dip, and hot harissa vinaigrette pushes past 2,600mg — more than the recommended daily limit for most adults in a single meal.

The two biggest levers are your base and your protein choice. A grain base adds 520–770mg before you've added anything else. Falafel alone contributes 810mg. Those two decisions can account for over 1,500mg of your bowl's total sodium without touching a dip, dressing, or topping.

For a broader look at how sodium fits alongside the other nutrition metrics in your bowl, try our CAVA Nutrition Calculator, which tracks all 11 nutrition metrics simultaneously.

Sodium by ingredient category

All data from official CAVA nutrition information, sorted from lowest to highest sodium within each category.

Bases

Proteins

Dips + Spreads

Dressings

Toppings

The biggest sodium sources at CAVA

The highest-sodium individual items on the menu are:

• Falafel — 810mg. The biggest single-item sodium contributor at CAVA. More sodium than many full bowls built with greens and steak.
• Brown Rice — 770mg and Saffron Basmati Rice — 770mg. Both grain bases add a large sodium load before you've selected a protein. This surprises most people — grain bases look nutritionally neutral but carry significant sodium from preparation.
• Spicy Lamb Meatballs — 680mg. The highest-sodium protein option after falafel.
• Grilled Chicken and Harissa Honey Chicken — 670mg each. Even the leanest, most popular protein at CAVA carries substantial sodium from seasoning.

To see the complete sodium count for any ingredient or bowl combination, browse the full CAVA menu where every item displays its complete nutritional profile.

How to build a low-sodium CAVA bowl

Here's a specific build that keeps sodium well under 600mg — a good target for sodium-sensitive individuals or anyone trying to stay under the 1,500mg daily limit often recommended for heart health:

• Romaine base: 10mg
• Grilled Steak: 280mg
• Tzatziki dip: 60mg
• Persian Cucumber + Avocado toppings: ~110mg combined
• Garlic Dressing: 90mg
• Total: approximately 550mg sodium

That's a full, satisfying bowl with steak and a creamy dressing that comes in well under 600mg of sodium — lower than a single slice of deli cheese at some restaurants. Garlic Dressing, counterintuitively, is the lowest-sodium dressing on the menu at 90mg, making it a smart choice for sodium-conscious diners despite its calorie density. For a full comparison of how all 8 dressings stack up on calories, fat, and sodium, see our CAVA dressings calorie and sodium breakdown.

For contrast, a bowl built with Brown Rice + Grilled Chicken + Hummus + Tahini Caesar dressing hits approximately 1,780mg of sodium — more than three times the sodium of the low-sodium build above, even though it looks like a healthy choice on the surface.

For the complete macro picture beyond sodium — including how protein, carbs, and fat stack up across your full bowl — see our CAVA macros guide.

Questions people ask

How much sodium is in a typical CAVA bowl?

A typical CAVA bowl lands around 1,200–1,800mg of sodium, depending on whether you use a grain base and which protein you choose. A greens-based bowl with lean protein can come in under 600mg. A grain base with falafel, harissa dip, and a high-sodium dressing can exceed 2,500mg.

Which CAVA items are lowest in sodium?

For bases: Romaine (10mg) and Arugula (25mg) are essentially sodium-free. For proteins: Grilled Steak (280mg) is the lowest among mains. For dressings: Garlic Dressing (90mg) is counterintuitively the lowest-sodium dressing on the menu. For dips: Tzatziki (60mg) is the clear winner.

Is CAVA good for a low-sodium diet?

It can be, with the right choices. Sticking to a greens base, lean protein like Grilled Steak or Braised Lamb, and Tzatziki or Garlic Dressing keeps sodium well under 800mg — much lower than most restaurant meals. The danger zone is grain bases (770mg each) paired with falafel (810mg) and high-sodium dips or dressings. Knowing which items to avoid makes CAVA quite manageable for sodium-restricted diets. If you're ordering for children, sodium considerations are especially important — see our CAVA kids meal nutrition guide for parents, which covers sodium alongside protein and sugar for every kids meal item.