California Pizza Kitchen Reports Second Quarter Same Store Sales Increase of 5.1%.

Business Editors

Management raising earnings guidance;

Presenting at the CIBC World Markets Consumer Growth

Conference on July 9, 2002

California Pizza Kitchen Inc., (Nasdaq: CPKI) announced today that same store sales increased 5.1% for the second quarter ended June 30, 2002 versus 3.3% in the same period a year ago. Accordingly, the Company expects total revenues to grow by approximately 25% in the second quarter to approximately $75.6 million. The same store sales growth for the quarter was due to several factors including an approximate 2.5% increase in menu pricing that took effect in May and November 2001, changes in menu mix, and traffic growth.

During the second quarter ended June 30, 2002, California Pizza Kitchen opened four new restaurants in Detroit, MI; Louisville, KY; Seattle, WA and Wayne, NJ. To date the company has opened seven new restaurants and anticipates opening a minimum of 10 additional restaurants this year.

On its April 23, 2002 first quarter conference call, the Company had forecast same store sales growth of approximately 1% and earnings per share guidance in the range of $0.19 to $0.21 for the second quarter ended June 30, 2002. Based on the second quarter same store sales results, management is increasing its earnings per share expectation to the range of $0.21 to $0.23 for the second quarter.

In addition, based on the current development schedule and economic outlook, management is increasing its full-year fiscal 2002 earnings per share guidance by three cents to a range of $0.85 to $0.88. Implicit in this assumption is same store sales growth in the second half of the year of 3.5% to 4.5%, slightly higher labor expense, and the possibility of 1 to 2 additional store openings in the fourth quarter. Additionally, for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2003 management anticipates earnings per share to grow by approximately 20% with a corresponding earnings per share range of $1.01 to $1.05.

Management will specifically address full year 2002 and 2003 guidance along with growth assumptions on its second quarter earnings call to be held on July 23, 2002 at approximately 5:00 pm ET. The Company intends to release its second quarter earnings earlier that same day. A webcast of the conference call as well as a copy of the earnings release will be available at http://www.cpk.com.

Additionally, management will address the investment community at the CIBC World Markets Consumer Growth Conference on July 9, 2002 at 2:55 pm EST. The presentation will provide an overview of the Company, new restaurant development pipeline, same-store sales outlook and earnings prospects for the remainder of the year.

Interested investors can listen to an audio replay of the CIBC World Markets Conference presentation by going to www.cpk.com. The replay of the presentation will be available by the end of the day and will be archived for thirty days.

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the expectations referred to herein. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on our operating results, performance and financial condition are the execution of our expansion strategy, the continued availability of qualified employees, the maintenance of reasonable food and supply costs and numerous other matters discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. California Pizza Kitchen undertakes no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain in the premium pizza segment. The Company's full service restaurants feature hearth-baked pizzas, salads, soups and sandwiches. The chain operates, licenses or franchises 137 restaurants of which 106 are Company-owned, and 31 operate under franchise or license agreements. The California Pizza Kitchen website is http://www.cpk.com.