California Pizza Kitchen: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

California Pizza Kitchen gives vegetarians more real choices than almost any casual chain, led by the California Veggie pizza and a build-your-own pizza that goes fully vegan. The produce-forward menu that made CPK famous works in your favor here, since salads, pastas, and small plates all lean on vegetables rather than meat.

What to order at California Pizza Kitchen

Order the California Veggie Pizza, piled with broccolini, eggplant, mushrooms, sun-dried tomato, corn, and red onion, or ask for it without cheese to make it vegan. The build-your-own pizza on Original or Crispy Thin crust lets you skip cheese and meat entirely. The Roasted Veggie Salad and White Corn Guacamole with chips are both easy vegan picks. Tomato Basil Spaghetti and the Dakota Smashed Pea and Barley Soup round out a full vegan meal without much substitution.

What to watch out for

Skip the Caesar salad, since the dressing carries anchovy. Most salads need the cheese pulled and a dairy-free dressing swapped in to go vegan, including the Mediterranean Salad’s feta and the Thai Crunch Salad’s fried wontons. The cauliflower or gluten-free crust isn’t vegan, since it’s made with egg and cheese baked into the crust itself. Menus vary by location, so confirm specifics with your server, especially after the chain’s late-2025 ownership change.