California Pizza Kitchen Reimagines Entrée Salads with a Bold New Lineup

Brand expands popular menu category with three new permanent salads and a limited time seasonal offering

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the iconic restaurant brand that revolutionized casual dining with its elevated twist on familiar foods, is making salads craveable again with a new menu that tosses out the rules.

Available starting today and perfectly timed for summer, CPK’s new menu introduces three bold, permanent dishes that challenge the salad status quo, along with a limited-time seasonal salad inspired by the flavors of an Italian summer. Each salad is hand-crafted with premium proteins and toppings, fresh produce and vibrant flavors that reflect CPK’s signature approach to culinary innovation.

“Building on the momentum of our recent 40th Anniversary brand refresh, we’re leaning even further into the differentiated menu innovation that has made CPK a guest favorite for decades,” said Dawn Keller, Chief Marketing Officer at CPK. “We are boldly adding four new entrée salads to our menu, each one more inventive and craveable than the next.”

New Permanent Menu: Big Flavor on a Bed of Greens

• The Charcuterie Salad: Your favorite snacking board, reimagined on a bed of mixed greens and fresh basil, tossed in our housemade mustard herb vinaigrette and topped with generous cuts of applewood smoked ham, salami and Brie cheese, along with cubed Parmesan, green apples and candied walnuts. Served with housemade toasted sesame crackers for creating the perfect bite.
• Crispy Chinese Dumpling Salad: This colorful appetizer-inspired salad starts with golden and crispy Chicken dumplings, which bring a warm, savory bite to the cool bed of shaved Napa and red cabbage, cucumber strips, carrots, scallions and fresh cilantro. Tossed in our housemade honey-miso dressing with toasted sesame seeds and topped with a drizzle of Mr. Bing Chili Crisp for an extra kick.
• Steakhouse Salad: This satisfying salad doesn’t disappoint. Tender pieces of grilled filet mignon, crispy smashed potatoes, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, red onions and creamy Gorgonzola cheese over baby arugula and chopped lettuce, tossed in our housemade Dijon balsamic vinaigrette.

Limited-Time Only: A Summer Stunner

• Burrata Panzanella Salad: A fresh and vibrant dish featuring rich and creamy burrata cheese on top of colorful summer heirloom tomatoes, toasted garlic ciabatta croutons, crisp cucumbers, garbanzo beans, thinly sliced red onions, basil, and wild Greek oregano, on a salad of baby arugula and fresh basil. Tossed in a lemon-herb Vinaigrette.

"Our new entrée salads are a delicious twist on the ordinary,” said Chef Paul Pszybylski, VP of Culinary Innovation at CPK. “Salads have always been a hugely popular category at CPK, so we’re proud to expand and diversify our menu to help guests find their newest favorite dish. You won’t find salads like these anywhere else.”

CPK’s new permanent and limited time salads join its current lineup of the BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, Thai Crunch Salad, California Cobb Salad, Italian Chopped Salad and Caesar Salad. All salads are available in full or half portions for dine-in, take out, or delivery and can also be ordered in catering sizes for group events. Available at all participating locations nationwide.

For more information, visit www.cpk.com and follow @cpk on Instagram, @calpizzakitchen on TikTok or @calpizzakitchen on X.

About California Pizza Kitchen

Founded in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) revolutionized casual dining with its first restaurant in Beverly Hills, introducing the world to gourmet, California-inspired pizza. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, CPK is a beloved global brand, serving creative California cuisine across 26 states and in nine countries and U.S. territories. CPK continues to redefine casual dining, fueled by a passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold global flavors. From iconic hearth-baked pizzas like The Original BBQ Chicken and California Club, to inventive salads like Thai Crunch, unique pastas like Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and industry firsts like Cauliflower Crust and Take & Bake Pizzas, CPK combines familiar foods with a fresh, imaginative California twist that guests continue to crave.