Cava could be the next Chipotle. I've tried both chains and the battle is close.

I spotted at least three people working behind the counter. They were either prepping food or assembling meals for digital orders.

Takeout and delivery orders are big business for Chipotle. In 2022, Chipotle's digital business surpassed $3 billion in revenue. In the second quarter of 2023, digital sales represented 38% of the chain's food and beverage revenue.

Still, that's no excuse for not having an employee immediately available to help a customer waiting in line. Especially as I was the only person in line at dinnertime.

My in-restaurant visits to Chipotle don't reflect a lack of popularity for the chain. Chipotle is still a hot brand. In June 2023, visits were up on average 8.4% per Chipotle store compared to June 2022, according to data by Placer.ai.

Last year, the company increased its revenue by 14.4% to $8.6 billion. I must be visiting stores that cater to a mobile-order crowd.

I've visited Cava about four times over the past year. At lunch and dinner, each location commands crowds. And like the early days of Chipotle, customers don't seem to mind waiting in line.

This is carne asada's third time on the Chipotle menu after first debuting as a limited-time offer in 2019.

The fan favorite is top sirloin and tri-tip steak strips seasoned with cumin, coriander, and oregano. It comes at a premium price - $11.85. Other proteins on the menu ranged in price from $8.85 to $10.60.

After selecting your beans, rice, and protein, Chipotle offers eight toppings for free to customize your bowl: fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili corn salsa, tomatillo-green chili salsa, tomatillo-red salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, fajita veggies, and romaine lettuce.

I chose all the free options except the tomatillo-red salsa, which is too spicy for my palate.

Customers can add guacamole ($2.65) and queso blanco ($1.70) for an upcharge.

If you eliminate the salsa options, there are only four free topping choices at Chipotle. That's underwhelming when compared to Cava.

The Chipotle bowl did not meet my expectations because the ingredients didn't taste fresh.

The chain describes the carne asada as juicy strips of steak seasoned with spices and topped with a squeeze of lime. But I couldn't taste any of those craveable flavors. The steak was dry and lukewarm to the touch, underscoring my suspicions that I was getting the dregs of the carne asada sitting in the bin.

While Chipotle has two base grain options (white or brown rice), Cava offers nine different choices of grains and greens. Almost all of them are irresistible, making it hard to choose.

Cava's base choices are black lentils, saffron basmati rice, brown rice, arugula, Supergreens (a blend of raw cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and kale), baby spinach, romaine, Splendidgreens (a mix of chopped romaine, radicchio, escarole, chicory endive, and cabbage) and RightRice. The latter is a high-protein veggie rice available for a $1.35 upcharge.

These ingredients are super appealing to anyone looking for healthy high-fiber choices in their diet. I've tasted nearly all of these options except the spinach. I'm not a fan of Popeye's fave greens.

The RightRice is a solid, lower-carb grain that's better in taste and texture than Chipotle's cilantro-lime cauliflower rice. The alt-rice is no longer on the menu after launching nationwide for a limited time in 2021.

Cava knows its choices are tempting, as the chain allows you to choose two options as one base. I chose black lentils and brown rice.

Cava's main entree options include harissa honey chicken, spicy lamb meatballs, grilled chicken, braised lamb, spicy falafel, falafel, and roasted vegetables. Customers can choose one main, or two with the portion sizes split in half.

I chose the braised lamb and falafel. A custom build-your-own bowl or pita cost $11.75. Unlike Chipotle, the base price doesn't change for most main entrees chosen. There is an upcharge for the harissa honey chicken and the spicy lamb meatballs.

Customers can choose up to three of the six different dip options. They come in melon baller-size scoops. I got hummus, tzatziki, and roasted eggplant. I passed on the other three options - crazy feta (whipped with jalapenos), red pepper hummus, and harissa - because they are too spicy for me.

For no extra cost, Cava offers 12 unlimited topping options.

"Choose as many as you want," according to the sign on the window display.

Avocado is also available for a $2.45 upcharge.

The topping choices are much more compelling than anything offered at Chipotle. I chose salt-brined pickles, kalamata olives, pita crisps, tomato and onion, crumbled feta, and Persian cucumbers. The result is a hefty bowl filled with crazy-good ingredients.

Winner: The Cava bowl wins on value, taste, and freshness. Even though Cava is more expensive than Chipotle, I am willing to pay a couple of extra bucks for the sheer volume of flavors packed in the chain's bowls. It's a better bang for my buck.

When you choose a lot of toppings for a bowl at Cava, it doesn't impact the presentation of the meal.

But, when you select numerous toppings for the pita, you end up building a messy monster of a wrap. When biting into the unwieldy pita, ingredients on the other side of the wrap ooze out.

While the pita is delicious, I end up eating it with a fork like it's a bowl or salad because it's too hard to pick up and eat.

The base price of the pita was $11.75. But because I chose a premium protein - lamb meatballs - Cava charged me an extra $2.30. I also added guacamole, bringing the total price of the pita to $16.50.

The burrito was amazing. Barbacoa is one of Chipotle's best proteins.

With the upcharges for the premium sides, the $10.60 burrito turned into a $14.95 meal. My burrito was big and much easier to handle compared to Cava's pita.

Tip: If you're trying to save a buck, steer clear of the premium proteins and sides at both chains.

Winner: My Chipotle burrito was delicious and easy to eat. Cava's pita was also delicious, but it fails on presentation. It's just too messy to order. So Chipotle wins this round.

Chipotle has been accused of shrinkflation, making their burritos smaller even though they've been raising prices. I did not find that to be true. My burrito, while smaller than Cava's massive wraps, was still big.

And, I asked for no rice, a filler that makes the burritos bulge even more.

A spokesperson for Chipotle, which recently said it would raise prices for the fourth time in two years, told me: "We haven't made any changes to our portion sizes."

Cava, as I mentioned before, offers an assortment of bold-tasting dips and dressings.

I'm a big fan of Cava's tzatziki and roasted eggplant. But Chipotle's guacamole and queso blanco are outstanding sides, as well.

So this one turned out to be a tie, as well.

As I was mulling over who should win this contest, a young man walked into Cava. His T-shirt immediately struck me. It said, "As real as it gets," indicating he was a Chipotle employee.

I asked him why he ate at Cava when he could get free food at Chipotle. He said he "eats so much Chipotle."

Besides, he said of Cava: "I like their food better."

The Chipotle employee-turned-Cava fan tilted the scale for me. He represents a desire by Chipotle fans for a change of pace. As the 280-location Cava expands across the US, I suspect more Chipotle customers will eventually abandon the fresh-Mex chain for Cava's bright, good-for-you meals.

So, Cava beats Chipotle. But just barely.

Nancy Luna has been covering the restaurant industry from her home in Southern California for 18 years. Got insight to share on the industry? Got a tip? Contact her via email at [email protected].