California Pizza Kitchen Expands into the Middle East.

First California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant Opens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

LOS ANGELES -- California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (Nasdaq:CPKI), home of the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, made-to-order pastas, creative salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts, opened its first location in the Middle East today. The new restaurant, opened by CPK franchise partner Gourmet Gulf Company, is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The new 5,500 square-foot CPK seats approximately 200 people and is located in the new, twelve million square-foot Dubai Mall. As one of the world's largest malls, the Dubai Mall is home to over 1,200 retail outlets, the world's largest single volume Aquarium, Dubai's largest cineplex, and the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink. Adjacent to the mall, is the world's tallest tower, the Burj Dubai Skyscraper and The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai, a 63-story property offering a combination of luxury apartments and 5-star resort hotel rooms.

Tastefully decorated with warm colors and rich textures, the restaurant will open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

The open-exhibition kitchen takes center stage where guests can watch as all of California Pizza Kitchen's innovative dishes are prepared. The menu features a wide variety of innovative items including everything from the new Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the popular Spinach Artichoke Dip to Kung Pao Spaghetti and the award-winning Thai Crunch Salad.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain featuring an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts. Of the chain's 251 restaurants, 205 are company-owned and 46 operate under franchise or license agreements. There are currently 27 restaurants located internationally in China, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, South Korea, Guam, Indonesia and United Arab Emirates. There are 9 company-owned CPK ASAP locations and 18 airport locations franchised by HMSHost Corporation. CPK premium pizzas are also available to sports and entertainment fans at three Southern California venues including Dodgers Stadium, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and STAPLES Center. Also included in the company's portfolio of concepts is LA Food Show Grill & Bar, which has locations in Manhattan Beach and Beverly Hills, California. The company also has a licensing arrangement with Kraft Pizza Company, which manufactures and distributes a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen pizzas. For more details, visit www.cpk.com.