California Chicken Cafe is a popular fast food restaurant known for its grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, wraps, salads and sides. With its convenient locations and affordable prices, California Chicken Cafe has become a go-to spot for a quick meal. However, many health-conscious customers wonder about the calorie content of California Chicken Cafe’s menu items. This article will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the calories in different California Chicken Cafe menu items to help customers make informed choices.
Calories in Chicken Sandwiches and Wraps
Chicken sandwiches and wraps make up the core of California Chicken Cafe’s menu. Here is a look at the calorie counts:
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 440 |
| Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 460 |
| Grilled Chicken Club | 600 |
The grilled chicken sandwiches range from 440 calories for the Classic up to 600 calories for the Chicken Club which comes with bacon and cheese. The Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich clocks in at 460 calories.
Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 670 |
| Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 690 |
| Crispy Chicken Club | 850 |
The crispy chicken versions pack a lot more calories, ranging from 670 calories for the Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich up to 850 calories for the loaded Crispy Chicken Club.
Grilled Chicken Wraps
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Southwest Grilled Chicken Wrap | 500 |
| Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Wrap | 560 |
| Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Wrap | 520 |
The grilled chicken wraps have around 500-560 calories each. Ingredients like guacamole, bacon, ranch dressing and cheese can increase the calorie counts.
Crispy Chicken Wraps
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap | 850 |
| Buffalo Crispy Chicken Wrap | 930 |
| BBQ Crispy Chicken Wrap | 960 |
With crispy fried chicken and full of ingredients like tortilla strips, cheese and ranch dressing, the crispy chicken wraps range from 850-960 calories each.
Calories in Salads
California Chicken Cafe offers several salad options for lighter fare. Here are the calories for the salads:
Grilled Chicken Salads
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad | 490 |
| Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad | 470 |
| Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad | 510 |
| Classic Grilled Chicken Salad | 450 |
The grilled chicken salads range from 450-510 calories. The Classic Grilled Chicken Salad is the lightest option.
Crispy Chicken Salads
| Menu Item | Calories |
| Crispy Chicken Club Salad | 730 |
| Buffalo Crispy Chicken Salad | 660 |
| BBQ Crispy Chicken Salad | 690 |
| Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad | 700 |
With all the crispy chicken, cheese, dressing and other toppings, the crispy chicken salads pack around 650-730 calories each.
Calories in Sides
To complement your sandwich, wrap or salad, California Chicken Cafe offers a variety of sides. Here is the calorie information:
| Menu Item | Calories |
| French Fries | 370 |
| Onion Rings | 350 |
| Fried Zucchini | 280 |
| Mac & Cheese | 400 |
| Coleslaw | 180 |
| Potato Salad | 320 |
| Side Salad | 60 |
| Seasoned Fries | 420 |
French fries, onion rings and mac & cheese top out at around 350-400 calories for a side order. Coleslaw and side salad are the lighter options at 180 calories and 60 calories respectively.
Healthiest Menu Options
If you are looking for lighter fare at California Chicken Cafe, go for grilled chicken, salads and avoid creamy dressings, cheese and bacon. Here are some of the healthiest options under 500 calories:
- Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken Club without bacon and cheese
- Any grilled chicken salad without dressing
- Southwest or Santa Fe salad with light balsamic vinaigrette
- Classic Grilled Chicken Salad
- Side salad with light dressing
- Fried zucchini
Sticking to grilled chicken, vegetables, lighter dressings and avoiding cheese and bacon can keep your meal under 500 calories at California Chicken Cafe.
Highest Calorie Menu Items
On the other end of the spectrum, here are some of the highest calorie options to avoid if watching your calorie intake:
- Crispy Chicken Club
- Buffalo Crispy Chicken Wrap
- BBQ Crispy Chicken Wrap
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap
- Crispy Chicken Club Salad
- Onion rings
- Mac & cheese
- French fries
- Seasoned fries
Crispy fried chicken dishes, wraps with lots of fillings, creamy dressings and fried sides will pack the most calories at California Chicken Cafe.
Tips for Lower Calorie Meals
Here are some tips to put together a lower calorie meal at California Chicken Cafe:
- Choose grilled chicken over crispy chicken
- Skip the tortilla in wraps and get it as a salad instead
- Order sandwiches without cheese and bacon
- Opt for lighter dressings like balsamic vinaigrette
- Load up on veggies in salads and sandwiches
- Get a side salad instead of fries
- Share a side dish or skip it altogether
- Ask for sauces and dressings on the side
- Opt for water or unsweetened tea over soda
With some simple swaps and smart choices, you can enjoy California Chicken Cafe without breaking your daily calorie budget.
Nutritional Information is Available
California Chicken Cafe provides complete nutritional information for all menu items on their website. You can look up calorie counts, fat, carbs, protein and other nutrients for every sandwich, salad, side and beverage. This makes it easy to make informed choices based on your own nutritional needs and diet preferences.
They also have low calorie menu sections for meals under 400 calories and under 600 calories. When ordering in-store, you can ask for a nutrition brochure with all the information as well.
Conclusion
California Chicken Cafe serves up a variety of delicious chicken sandwiches, wraps and salads but many options are high in calories, especially crispy fried chicken dishes and creamy/cheesy options. Your healthiest bet is to choose grilled chicken, load up the veggies, pick lighter dressings and sides, and avoid extras like cheese and bacon if limiting your calorie intake. Taking advantage of the available nutritional information allows you to customize your meal. While it takes a bit of menu decoding to eat lower calorie at California Chicken Cafe, it certainly can be done with some thoughtful ordering.