California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a popular American pizza chain known for its wide array of menu items, including specialties like BBQ chicken and wild mushroom pizzas, as well as a variety of pasta dishes and salads. While CPK does not typically offer vegan cheese, there are several vegan-friendly options available on their menu, making it a potentially appealing destination for vegans and those with dietary restrictions.
Overview of Vegan Options at CPK
Starting Points
When dining at CPK, it's important to communicate your vegan status to the server to ensure that your meal is prepared appropriately. CPK serves as a popular spot for large groups, which may make ordering in advance advantageous for larger events.
Appetizers
CPK acknowledges the need for dietary flexibility by offering vegan-friendly appetizers such as 'Smashed Avocado Focaccia' and vegetable lettuce wraps, which can be made without cheese or meat.
Smashed Avocado Focaccia
A vegan-friendly appetizer with fresh avocado, baby greens, basil, and chili.
Vegetable Lettuce Wraps
Featuring Shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, and scallions, these lettuce wraps are a good source of plant-based protein.
Salads and Soups
CPK's commitment to offering vegetables extends to its culinary creations. The Roasted Veggie Salad and Dakota Smashed Pea + Barley Soup are both vegan-friendly and include seasonal ingredients and minimal animal products.
Roasted Veggie Salad
A vegan-friendly option made from roasted artichokes, asparagus, eggplant, red and yellow peppers, corn, and seedlings.
Dakota Smashed Pea + Barley
A hearty vegan soup that combines green peas, barley, carrots, onions, herbs, and scallions.
Pasta
CPK's pasta dishes can be customized to a vegan diet by replacing the cheese and meat with vegetarian alternatives. The classic choice is spaghetti with marinara sauce and cooked garlic and fresh basil.
Tomato Basil Spaghetti
A vegan-friendly pasta dish without cheese, using tomato basil sauce and sautéed mushrooms.
Half Grilled Veggie Sandwich
A good source of vitamins from grilled bell peppers, cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and house-made sun-dried tomato aioli.
Side Updates
At CPK, the use of gluten-free plant-based alternatives like "Don't Call Me Chicken" allows for a vegan-friendly experience on the popular BBQ Chicken Pizza.
###While CPK might not have a comprehensive range of vegan menu items, it does prioritize diners who prefer plant-based options. Communicating your dietary preferences to the server is necessary in order to ensure that you receive the appropriate vegan-friendly dishes. By offering a few key vegan-friendly options, CPK is able to satisfy the growing demand for vegetarian and vegan-friendly meal options.
