How Many Restaurants Does Cat Cora Have?

Cat Cora Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Cat Cora operates around 18 restaurants worldwide, with 15 in the United States and 1 in Asia.
Her portfolio consists entirely of casual dining concepts, with no Michelin-starred restaurants.
Signature brands include Olilo by Cat Cora, a Mediterranean-inspired health-focused chain with around 500 locations, and Mesa Burger, a fast-casual gourmet burger concept.
Cat Cora’s restaurants are often located in airports and urban casual dining spots, emphasizing fresh, organic ingredients and approachable menus.

Chef Cat Cora is a celebrated American chef known for her approachable Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and emphasis on health-conscious eating. Her restaurant empire primarily consists of casual dining venues located mostly in the United States.

This article explores the extent of Cat Cora’s restaurant holdings globally, from casual airport eateries and gourmet burger joints to street food-inspired concepts, highlighting her brands and unique venues around the world.

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Cat Cora Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

As of 2025, Cat Cora owns and operates approximately 18 restaurant locations worldwide. The vast majority of these are located in the United States, with around 15 venues, and a solitary presence in Asia.

Her portfolio consists exclusively of casual dining concepts, fast casual chains, and unique venues often situated in airports and urban centers, reflecting her focus on fresh, healthy, and accessible dining experiences.

The overall breakdown of Cat Cora's restaurants by region is as follows:

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States	15	Cat Cora's Kitchen (SFO, SLC, IAH Airports), Cat Cora's Taproom (DTW Airport), Mesa Burger (Santa Barbara area), Olilo by Cat Cora (various locations)
Asia	1	The Ocean Restaurant (Sentosa, Singapore)
Total (Global)	18	(Approximately 18 restaurants worldwide as of 2025)

Note: The count includes owned and licensed operations; Cat Cora holds ownership stakes and licenses but does not franchise her brands.

Cat Cora’s restaurants are notable for their convenient locations in airports across major U.S. hubs, catering to travelers with fresh, organic meals, as well as stand-alone fast casual venues focused on Mediterranean and American comfort foods.

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Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

Interestingly, Cat Cora’s restaurant portfolio does not currently include any Michelin-starred establishments.

Her culinary reputation is built less on haute cuisine and more on approachable, health-conscious dining accessible to a wide audience.

Although she is an award-winning chef with a strong media presence, Cat Cora prioritizes scaling casual brands that emphasize flavor and wellness rather than traditional fine dining accolades.

This strategy has allowed her to reach a broader customer base across many locations without the stringent requirements of Michelin-level service and pricing.

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Notable Cat Cora Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Cat Cora’s diverse concepts showcase her passion for Mediterranean flavors, fresh ingredients, and approachable casual dining spread across notable venues.

Her brands serve varying customer needs, from airport travelers to fast casual guests, all emphasizing quality food without the formality of fine dining.

Cat Cora's Kitchen

Cat Cora's Kitchen is a casual dining brand situated primarily in airports, specifically the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas.

The concept focuses on fresh and organic ingredients, presenting a healthy dining option for busy travelers at a moderate price range of $15–$30 per person.

These locations highlight Chef Cora's commitment to convenient yet wholesome dining experiences in high-traffic environments.

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Cat Cora's Taproom

Located at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Cat Cora's Taproom pairs casual dining with a focus on local craft beers, spirits, and innovative specialty cocktails.

This single-location venue fits into her casual portfolio by offering refreshing drink options alongside approachable food, all within a $15–$30 price range per guest.

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Mesa Burger

Mesa Burger is a fast-casual concept specializing in gourmet burgers and classic American comfort food.

With three locations in the Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Montecito areas of California, Mesa Burger offers affordable dining at around $10–$20 per person.

The brand prides itself on quality ingredients and a relaxed atmosphere, attracting both locals and visitors.

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Olilo by Cat Cora

Olilo is a major Mediterranean-inspired, health-focused casual dining brand with an impressive footprint of approximately 500 locations across the United States.

This widespread concept delivers affordable meals ($10–$15 per person) emphasizing fresh vegetables, grains, and balanced flavors.

Olilo represents Cat Cora’s core culinary philosophy of bringing wholesome Mediterranean cuisine to casual, everyday diners.

Wicked Eats by Cat Cora

Wicked Eats is a street food-inspired casual dining spot located in Brooklyn, New York.

This venue blends Mediterranean flavors with street food culture in a fast-casual format, catering to the urban crowd at a budget-friendly price of $10–$15 per guest.

Unique International Ventures

Cat Cora’s international presence includes The Ocean Restaurant in Sentosa, Singapore.

This unique venue, located on a popular island resort, exemplifies her expansion beyond the US, offering a distinctive dining experience in Asia.

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Cat Cora Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In total, Cat Cora owns and/or licenses approximately 18 restaurants globally, predominantly casual dining and fast-casual venues largely concentrated in the United States, with a foothold in Asia through a unique restaurant.

While she does not operate any Michelin-starred restaurants, her empire thrives by focusing on accessible, health-conscious, and flavorful dining options spanning airport concepts, gourmet burgers, Mediterranean menus, and street food-inspired spots.

Her partnerships with entities such as Aramark, Hojeij Branded Foods, Disney, and Macy's bolster her ability to reach diverse markets with consistent quality.

Cat Cora’s restaurant group stands out for its strategic presence in high-traffic areas like airports, and its ability to deliver fresh, affordable meals that resonate with a broad demographic of customers.

This approach has cemented her status as a chef-entrepreneur who champions wellness and variety without relying on the traditional fine dining model, making her restaurant brands widely accessible and sustainable for long-term growth.

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01. How involved is Cat Cora in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Cat Cora maintains a strategic role in her restaurants, focusing on overall brand vision, menu development, and quality standards.

She is not involved in daily kitchen activities at each location; instead, local management teams and experienced chefs run daily operations, particularly in her widespread Olilo locations.

Cora often participates in high-profile openings and promotional events but leaves everyday management to trusted partners and licensed operators.

02. Are Cat Cora’s restaurants expensive—and which ones offer the best value?

Cat Cora’s establishments fall into the casual and fast casual price range, generally between $10 and $30 per person, making them affordable for a wide range of diners.

For best value, concepts like Olilo by Cat Cora and Wicked Eats offer health-focused and flavorful meals at $10–$15 per person.

Mesa Burger provides accessible gourmet options around $10–$20, while airport concepts typically range $15–$30 to accommodate convenience and travel pacing.

03. How does Cat Cora choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Expansion decisions are informed by strategic partnerships and market demand for approachable, health-focused casual dining.

Locations with high foot traffic such as airports and urban centers are prioritized.

Collaborations with large operators like Aramark and Hojeij Branded Foods help Cat Cora penetrate multiple markets efficiently while maintaining brand consistency.

International ventures are selectively chosen, focusing on unique destination venues such as The Ocean Restaurant in Singapore.

04. Are Cat Cora restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

Sustainability practices vary across Cat Cora’s brands and locations.

Many restaurants emphasize fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients, especially in airport venues like Cat Cora's Kitchen.
Casual concepts such as Olilo stress health-conscious menus that often incorporate seasonal and sustainable produce.

However, the brand does not uniformly advertise a sustainability certification program, and sourcing practices can vary by location and operator.

05. Can you book Cat Cora restaurants online—and are there loyalty programs?

Most Cat Cora casual dining and fast-casual restaurants do not require reservations and typically do not offer loyalty programs.

Airport and fast-casual concepts like Olilo and Mesa Burger primarily operate on a walk-in basis.

Specialty venues or unique international locations may allow online booking through hotel or venue websites.

There is currently no unified loyalty program spanning all Cat Cora restaurants.