I really dont get the hype over Naf Naf grill - yes its like a Mediterranean style Chipotle and yes it has soft pita and nice salad and ok shwarma but it is nowhere as "good" or representative of Mediterranean food as Chipotle is of Mexican food. I still stick by Pita Inn in Evanston as the best place in Chicago for a good shwarma or falafel sandwich More practical advice is to not get the baba ghannoush - too salty here read more

Regardless of location, this chain never lets me down. For a little more than 6 dollars, you can get a nice little falafel pita or a pita bowl (akin to burrito bowl). There aren't any plates here, but that makes sense due to the clientele. I would highly recommend the pita bowl and the pita. Staff is also friendly and there are a decent amount of tables. Be warned, though, that lines get ridonklously long for lunch. read more

I used to work at a building just down the street from this place. As I look back on my time with that company, my biggest regret is not visiting Naf Naf more often. Just like countless other restaurants in the Loop, Naf Naf serves fast casual mediterranean eats. Chicken shawarma, falafel, pitas, it's got the staples. But it takes these staples, and add something to the mix that puts it leaps and bounds beyond any other mediterranean place I've visited in the Loop. From the fresh-baked pitas to the well-seasoned rice to the just spicy enough hot sauce, Naf Naf delivers a product that is undoubtedly greater than the sum of its parts. I always consider Naf Naf an option, even though it takes a good 12+ minutes from my current office - an eternity for lunch in the Loop. But it's more than worth the travel for me, and a place I enjoy going to on a regular basis. read more

We here in the office went twice so far, once on their free opening day and the second "get an entree for free if you wear the free t-shirt" that was given out on opening day. The food is tasty, but not outstanding. I thought the pita was amazing, though it's more like bread than a traditional pita - very fluffy and enjoyably chewy. Schwarma is good, but you get a lot more rice than any of the other ingredients. And I'm sorry, but 50 cents each for the falafel is a rip off. Sure, they're very, very tasty, but they're also very, very small. With places like Taza and Benjyahuda on our regulars list, it'll be hard to justify hitting Naf Naf for anything other than a change of pace every once in a blue moon. read more

The falafels here are amazing and really the best in Chicago. Got them fresh from the deep fryer, so hot and crispy on the outside, with the perfect blend of spices and chickpeas inside. So addicted to these. read more

Ok, this is a fast food type joint, and I should be more forgiving. Still - this place leaves me wanting. Chicago seems to be inundated with Mediterranean style food all over the place - having fresh made and tasty pita is not enough anymore. I've had the shawarma here and it doesn't seem to stand out, other than feeling a little greasy... I've been here twice now, and I think it's enough. read more

My son and I are in Chicago for some baseball games and museums. He picked this place out of all the plethora of eating opportunities that Chicago offers, and it absolutely did not disappoint! The chicken Schwarma was fresh, the pita was soft and delicious, and the hummus and baba ghanouj were out of this world. If you told me that I could eat this well for under $10 a person I would not believe you! Service is very quick, and the meal is nothing short of fantastic. Be careful of the Harissa, maybe even ask for it on the side. It's as spicy as they say! read more

I love food. I hate myself afterwards because I love it so much. Especially middle eastern and mediterranean food, because of my upbringing I'm very accustomed to it, and let me tell you Naf Naf is the real deal. Let's start from the ground up. The Restaurant - It's clean, functional, and simple. You have plenty of space to eat and move around. The design is set up in a way that makes new customers feel welcomed. The Food - When I try new places I like to just get the, barebones. The reason for that is that so many places mask the flavors of their food in sauces. So to get an accurate feel for the quality of the food I try to get it plain, just to taste if they can get right without a sauce. The food here is simply fantastic. I had Chicken Shawarma. The chicken was beautifully seasoned, it was tender, and juicy. The pita was warm, and oh so very very good! It reminded me of my moms home made bread. It brought back memories of my childhood. I felt like I was home. The X-Factor - The staff at Naf Naf really made the meal. With their hospitality, and generosity. Because at the end of the night they give away any leftovers, instead of throwing them out. That speaks volumes to me, because it tells me how much pride you have in your product that you don't want it to go to waste, and tells me how much appreciation you have for your customers and your community. Because of that Naf Naf has made a life long customer. So if you get a chance go, this place will not disappoint. read more

As you may know by now, I love me some Naf Naf. And so when I heard there was one open in the loop, I had to lead a field trip. It's not so far from the office that I can't see frequent visits in the future. But unfortunately, I think it's missing a little from the two editions in the Naperville/'Aurora area. The menu is reduced, I'm sure to facilitate quicker service. They offer basically items in a pita, or in a bowl - imagine the Qdoba tortilla vs. naked options and you'll get the idea, although it's important to note that while the Qdoba flour tortilla is kind of a throwaway with the naked (if they even give it to you), there's not a jury in the land that would not sanction your jumping the counter and physically accosting a Naf Naf employee to get that heavenly pita. They are also missing some of the great menu options from the suburbs - specifically, the chicken schnitzel that I'm so fond of was missing from the menu when I was there. Hopefully that gets added because it's awesome. Those differences aside, the place is still delicious. Their hummus is my favorite - some of the smoothest I've ever had, their shawerma is well seasoned and tender, and of course, the pita is to die for. And the price is still very reasonable for the loop lunch. And the best part is, this is pretty different from what I get at Benjyehuda, so I don't have to swear allegiance to Naf Naf and completely skip Benji. There's room for both in this town. read more

Despite my 3-star review, I'm a fan of Naf Naf Grill -- it's a good attempt at introducing Middle Eastern food to the masses. Today, I had a falafel at Naf Naf and liked it, but not enough for me to return. We arrived at Naf Naf around 12:30 on a Friday and the line was about 20 people deep. They moved us through pretty quick, I'd say we got our food in about 15 minutes. The whole process is pretty much like an assembly line -- tell one person what you want, he'll get you started then move to the next person, and so fourth. The process was a bit annoying as one person couldn't reach over and put something in that is the other person's responsibility. Whatever, I'll live. The falafel itself was tasty - probably one of the tastier ones I've had, but not the best. The one thing with falafel's is the pita breaking apart and making a huge mess. This one didn't and that's an incredibly good thing. The dining area was decent - not incredibly huge, but they probably could do a bit better job in making sure people move through it during lunch hours. Overall, Naf Naf is good, but a bit pricey for my taste. There are some other places that are a bit cheaper that I will likely return to in the future. read more

I've been on this need to try every single Mediterranean place around me. So this is kind of a summary on all of them and Naf Naf in comparison. In order of best to worst: Oasis, Roti, Sultan's, Naf Naf, Benjyhuda, Falafil, Nesh The goods about each place: Oasis- meat quality, meal quantity, price, bursting flavors, variety of items per dish, hummus, many options beyond the Americanized "schawarma plate" Roti- balanced plate of entree and sides, sides are flavorful, they aren't strict about how many sides per dish Sultan's- amazing lamb schawarma, blaklava, priiiiiice, they cut up your falafel before putting it in the pita so they can fit more stuff in there Naf Naf- falafel are delicious and big and they give you 5!, housemade pita, pita/bakery window Benjyhuda- flavors Falafil- tons and tons of sides, salad bar style so you can pack it on Nesh- nothing The bads: Oasis- location Roti- pricey, portions vary by location and server, long lines but fast service, falafel not as good as others but still good Sultan's- poorer quality of chicken and beef Naf Naf- all of the sides are sub-par, your basic plate doesn't come with hummus, their entire menu is basic/lacks options, long lines and slow service Benjyhuda- no sense of wow wow so good, but it's good Falfil- pitas are kind of small; always opt for a bowl Nesh- everything, including price, long lines and slow service, penny pinchers PS- I'm not an expert in this realm of food, but I like it for sure! So just some thoughts. read more

I just started work by the Washington Street location; we were hit on our last day of training that lunch would not be provided, how sad. So I of course turn to yelp for help, "Where is something new and delicious?!" The other people in training were apprehensive, but we go anyway and there is a huge line. I should be upset right, WRONG! This means I made an awesome choice, because everyone clearly wants it. Also, the line was moving quick, they have the lunch rush down. Food: Great options for either a pita or salad, so a gluten free person can be satisfied here (unless contamination is a no go, then this will not work). I was really satisfied with my food and even saved half of it for leftovers! I'm not huge on fast food and I would rather pack my lunch but this was a good alternative and definitely a reasonable price! Reminded me of Chipotle but with a Mediterranean twist! Oh only sad part, everyone gets pita when you go to check out, killed my insides getting this delicious looking pita I couldn't eat. I wish there was some other alternative for GF people, but I wish this at about over half the places I go. read more

The chicken and steak were dry and lacked flavor. Had high expectations but overall it was very average. I thought the falafel was quite good though and would probably stick with that next time. The "chips" are pretty tasty and you can upgrade your order for $3 to include a side and drink, which I thought was a good deal! read more

Naf Naf Grill is an easy lunch. I can fool myself by thinking I am eating healthy (somewhat) and it is TASTY! There is a slight issue-I tend to lose my vocab and have no ability to speak the local lexicon. Let me explain. I know I want the bowl, not the sandwich, with chicken. Is it the schwarma? God, I don't know! I'm hungry, tired, about to be poor and want food. I am forced to point to the item and say things like- "I will have that" and am not alone. They guy in front of me today was reduced to the same neanderthal grunts and points. Here is a big hint!! LABELS and PICTURES, PEOPLE! This is not fine dining! Ok, that is now out of my system. The food is, as described above, worth the walk and lines. The pita is fluffy heaven and the hummus, well, yeah, drag it back to the office for dinner with a falafel or two and thank me later. A welcome addition to loop lunching! read more

Wow what a great place. Naf Naf is like a Chipotle but with Mediterranean food. You decide whether to build a bowl, or a pita and then stuff in either rice or hummus and then your protein (chicken, beef or combo or falafel) and then get your salad toppings added (cabbage, onions, cucumber-tomato salad mix, etc) and finally which dressing (garlic, spicy, yogurt, etc). If you make your meal a combo, you get a drink and a side; either a) thinly sliced potatoes (round not sticks) that are deeper fried and salted or b) side salad or some other option. If you come during lunch, there will likely be a huge line (wrapping out of door). But I only had to wait 5-10 mins to order and get food, so it moved pretty fast. read more

Naf Naf is a fast food Mediterranean restaurant. There are several locations, but I frequent the one in the loop during lunch. You order your food assembly line style and the service is very fast and efficient. I normally order the Steak Shawarma Hummas bowl and pile it on with toppings (Tahni sauce, onions, cabbage, salad). I really like the Falafel's and it's nice you can order one on the side for an additional 50 cents. Sometimes I don't even need to order extra Falafels on the side because the owner (I'm assuming he's the owner) gives me 3 or 4 for free. :) read more

Line goes out the door during lunch time. I showed up at 12:15 and the line was already starting to form inside. By the time I finished eating, the line was literally around the block. Food is good. I really like the falafels here. However, I felt that they are skimping on the meat. I ordered a chicken shwarma plate and they could have definitely given me more chicken. However, the food is still very tasty. read more

I can't speak to the lines at lunch because we went there well after the lunch rush. The menu is simple with just a few choices. I ordered the falafal bowl which is served on a bed of rice and topped with your choice of salads, vegetables, and served with a fresh warm pita bread on the side. I would say the portion is substantial (to me) for lunch. The order came with 5 pieces of flavorful falafals which were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. My complaints with falafals is that they could be small and hard hockey pucks, but this one is definitely not. My friend ordered the chicken shawarma which was delicious as well. The chicken was tender and had a hint of curry. It complimented well with the veggies and tahini sauce. I'm a fan of this place, but since I don't work in the loop, getting here is a bit of a trek for me. Can you open another location in River North? read more

Naf naf is the stuff of midnight Mediterranean cravings. Designed in the build a bowl format, popularized by Chipotle, except without a side of e-coli, the decor at Naf Naf is snappy ("Get a Shawarma for yo Mama"). What do I love most about the place? Hands down the pita bread; a freshly baked, pillowy pocket of goodness. I've searched high and low in Chicago for a pita this good, and every other place falls short. What do I hate most about this place? The line. Seriously, forget about going here between 12-1 30. You're not going to get a place to sit, and you'll spend half your lunch in line. Kudos to the staff though, for keeping their sanity during the crazy lunch rush, and for always being so patient, and for never rushing you. I usually get the rice bowl with rice as the base, a generous helping of tandoori chicken, a couple of salads (super colorful and fresh!) and the spicy red sauce mixed with the garlic sauce. The potato chips are a solid addition to any bowl. Oh, and the pita! You'll always be back for the pita! read more

Better than Roti, I dream of Falafel, Haifa Caffe, Benyehuda! I'm Israeli....so i should know. The one down fall is that hummus is $1 extra for your dish. Otherwise, this place is great portion and has true flavor to what I know from Israel. Def worth the walk. read more

Order online, pickup from this location with pita sandwich, my pita should be with purple cabbage and hummus...but nothing inside except Chicken.... read more

Naf Naf Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everyone at the office raves about this place..........I thought it was just so-so. Had the chicken schwarma in a pita- decent, but nothing to rave about. The pita fell apart and the chicken was pretty greasy. The spicy sauce was good though. Not in a hurry to go back. read more

YES. Yes yes yes. - Great steak. - Perfect basmati rice. - The hot sauce (S'khug) is killer...just enough flavor and the perfect amount of heat for someone who loves spice. -The pita bread...oh, so perfect. So soft and fluffy. Probably the best Pita out of any Mediterranean place I've had in Chicago. Toppings are pretty limited compared to Roti but I do appreciate the simplicity...AND it's delicious. Also the line at this location is CRAZY long during lunch hours...out the door and curves onto the sidewalk. So go early or go later. read more

Portions are pretty big, and food is delicious. I usually come around 12:15 on weekdays and there's a line until the door. Fortunately, the line moves quite quickly. I usually get to-go because the restaurant is so packed. The place is run like a Mediterranean Chipotle, with simple menu choices to get the line moving. Usually get the steak or chicken schwarma bowl because I can't justify the up-charge for hummus. You can't go wrong with either, but chicken is slightly cheaper fyi. I like that the meats don't taste greasy/oily, but are still juicy and flavorful. All of the sauces are yummy, but I'm not sure how much my opinion on that counts because I'm not a Mediterranean food veteran--haven't eaten it enough to earn my stripes. The hot sauce is delicious, and adds a great kick to the bowl. The bowl also comes with a pita on the side, which is delicious by the way--very soft and fluffy. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to get this, but this makes working in the Loop a lot more enjoyable, knowing that I can get Naf Naf during lunch :) read more

So, I love the Naf Naf out in Aurora. My friend and I go everytime I come back into town. The two stars is not for food, but for the service. I come in and I am polite as usual. The guy putting together the food says "Hi" and I'm guessing he's been here a while. I ask for a falafel in a pita. The guy makes the pita, and puts hummus in it...and then throws that away, and makes another. I didn't know what he messed up. Everything is okay until I get to the cash register and the cashier rings me up automatically for a shawarma pita (which is $2 more). I have to tell him I got a falafel pita and he just shrugs and changes it. What bugs me is that he didn't even ask what pita I had and no one told him, either. Why did he just presume? It was weird. And then they kind of side-eyed me on only getting the pita and nothing else. side comment: they don't have basmati rice here. Which is pretty much the only reason I would get a combo. I don't think I'll be back to this one. read more

I didn't hate the naf naf grill and I certainly didn't love it. There are so many fast casual Mediterranean options downtown that I do have the luxury of trying a place once maybe twice then deciding not to go back. My only issue was the chicken was dry and not very flavorful. I was extremely underwhelmed I say go to Roti or Naansense or Nesh or Bombay Wraps or .... You get my point read more

This is my favorite place ever! I'm a vegetarian so definately a right place for me, but what I love the most about this place is the good vibes!! It seems they have my playlist! 311 rebelution and bob marley while eating the smoothest bread and most crispy falafel? Not bad for a break!! Finally an affordable fast food restaurant with perfect environment. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Rice plata falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

WORST. CHICKEN. KABOB. EVER. My taste buds and body have never been so offended. How dare they use fatty dark meat and call it healthy! Chicken kabob sandwiches should always be white meat. Likely they are trying to cut costs and serve less quality meat. Don't waste your time here when there are so many better alternatives such as Roti or I dream of falafel. read more

I'm never disappointed by their falafel. I try to come here at least once a week..it's one of the best falafel shops in the loop! I'm a bit skeptical of their meat, as a friend of mine once had raw chicken in his bowl, but their falafel is just amazing that I've never been tempted to have their meat! I always get the falafel rice bowl and put EVERYTHING they have on it. Including the hummus (which is an upsell, unfortunately). It's so filling that you don't really need dinner afterwards read more

One word to describe Naf Naf Grill: YUM! This was my first time trying Middle Eastern food, and I will certainly be back for more. My co-worker and I decided to try it out for lunch and couldn't have had a better experience. The food was fresh, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful (which put me at ease since I was unsure of what to order), and the service is fast. It's perfect for a quick lunch, yet laid back enough so you can hang out and chat if that's what you're looking for. I ended up trying the chicken shawarma bowl, which I was told is their most popular item, and I can see why! Flavorful, fresh and unique. Forget the monotonous sub shops and lunch joints....Naf Naf is where it's at! read more

AWESOME GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS!! This is my favorite place to get food before I get on the train. They have some killer gluten free stuff. Even their falafel is made without flour, which is hard to find. Its relish. I always get the steak schwarma rice bowl. MMMMM. Im salivating right now. They load it up with all this delicious cabbage, jerusalem salad, pickles (my fave part), tahini, spicy sauce, and cucumber sauce. So good. I always devour it and then feel terribly full but I can't just eat half! Great place, very fast and efficient service, consistent food. You know it won't take long so you won't miss your train. LOVE naf naf. read more

best place to grab lunch in downtown. Shawarma, kabab, chicken (snizel or whatever you say it) are all great but the PITA is amazing... Great job guys.. will come again next week :) read more

Great fast food middle eastern food in the US. This is a place you go on your lunch break. The atmosphere is not dinner friendly. It's not five stars because I've been to the Middle East and the food is much better. read more

Hands down my favorite lunch in the loop except the monster line that runs outside during peak hours. I eat vegetarian so the Falafel hummus bowl is my favorite thing to get. The pita bread here, is probably one of the best I have ever had, freshly made right in front of you. All ingredients are super fresh and the balance of flavor is on point. I always ask for extra salad, cabbage and onions. The sauces they have are impeccable too. If you don't mind the wait, this is top notch middle eastern food for a low price. read more

Naf Naf in the loop? No way! This location is no lesser than the other two (that I know of) excellent locations in Chicagoland. Dat pita, man. You can eat like an olympian god when you get a meal with that pita -- it's like swallowing delicious, fluffy clouds of bread. I think Roti has a slight edge in the flavor department since they offer a variety of distinct sauces and toppings but I think Naf Naf stands out above many of the rest of the falafel and shawerma pushing joints downtown. read more

This is one of my favorite spots for lunch. Better come before 11:30am or after 1pm to avoid super long lines. Though I must say their service is always exceptional and quick. I really love to see how they make their pitas right there while you wait in line. Everything is really tasty. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The chicken is questionable. Don't believe its chicken. Wonder what it really is because after examining it closely, it appears not to be chicken. read more

Oh my God! What is this hardened, orange paste in the bottom of my salad bowl?! Did they give me a dirty bowl!? Nasty!! I hope this doesn't make me sick. I'm not going to Naf Naf again. Good grief, people! I have a picture of this garbage I'm glad to show. What is this stuff!? read more

Naf Naf Grill - Orange, dried paste at the bottom of my salad bowl. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fresh homemade pita. Less than $10 for a loaded bowl. The chicken is juicy and tender, seasoned delicately. Rice is fluffy and lightly seasoned. There's a cucumber salad mix you can add to your bowl, which is absolutely delicious. Their pickles isn't overwhelmingly vinegary. Garlic and tahnini sauce is beautifully balanced. Love this place. read more

Got the custom pita which was quite good. A large variety of toppings creates a Chipotle like Med experience.