Nothing was ready when I walked in. Couscous, falafel and chicken needed to be made. Children work here and run it. Tastes good when food is actually available read more

This place is to Middle Eastern food as Qdoba is to Mexican food. I ate a chicken shawarma (no lamb available: strike one) in a pita (no lavash available: strike two) with cucumber salad and hummus. The chicken had a nondescript curry flavor and lacked the slight char that I've come to expect from spit-grilled meat. The pita was too chewy for my taste. I didn't think there was nearly enough garlic in the hummus either. On the positive side, everything seemed fresh enough and the chicken wasn't dry. The shop is also totally ADA accessible, which is what got me in the door in the first place. My original destination was the Mediterranean Cafe a few doors down, but they've got a giant step up to the door from the sidewalk. It was an OK lunch for seven bucks but I won't be back. read more

I really enjoy this place and crave it often. They have really good food and it's reasonably priced. I would recommend getting the app on your phone since it gives you a free entrée just for downloading it. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Bowl with basmati rice, chicken shwarma, red cabbage hummus, sumac onions with both the tahini and garlic mayo. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love coming here! Falafel is good and the fresh toppings really set it off. Fries are made fresh(so you might have to wait a few extra minutes for them) but better fresh than sitting around. They are cut circular so look more like a chip but still have some French fry soft-nest to them. Fries are $2.75, Fries + drink is $3.00. Didn't get a drink since I only realized the $.25 difference after we paid and sat down. Took a star off because it seems like their pitas got smaller from the last time we were here. Maybe just an off batch? ‍ read more

My husband is obsessed with Naf Naf, as he frequently works in Chicago. He was thrilled when one opened in Madison and we were excited to try it the first week they were open. I have eaten Naf Naf a few other times, and the quality of the food at the new Madison location was the same tasty food I have grown to enjoy in Chicago. I always get the falafel pita with cucumber salad, onions, and garlic sauce. I was surprised to see another review complaining about the pita, because honestly, the pita is probably my favorite part of the meal. It is so soft and warm and tasty and...I kind of want one right now!! My husband's standard order is the chicken shawarma pita and an order of his beloved fries. The guys working behind the counter when I was there were super informative and friendly. I asked a few questions and they answered everything with smiles on their faces! I have two complaints about the Naf Naf on State Street. The first is trivial, but annoying enough I feel I need to mention it - the decor is seriously lacking. I totally get that Naf Naf is a chain and they all look the same, but they look boring. State Street is a fun place with a fun vibe, and I kind of just felt like I was eating in a cafeteria. It was just so sterile and boring. I highly doubt there is anything that can be done about the decor, but man, if I were in charge, I would sure try. The more significant complaint I have is one that has been mentioned in other reviews - the overall amount of food that you get for your money is a little disappointing. Again, my husband has eaten at every Naf Naf in the Chicagoland area, (and I have eaten at their downtown location) and every time the pitas come overflowing with so much goodness that they are almost difficult to eat. The Madison location gave me a pita that was only about 2/3 full with a ton of extra pita at the top. I love the pita, so I didn't mind eating it plain, however, it really felt like they were skimping out. I know we will be back to Naf Naf many times to appease my husband's cravings, and I hope that they increase their portions so that patrons feel like they are getting their money's worth! read more

Naf Naf Grill - Pita + falafel. Yum! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is the type of place I'm going to complain about all the time yet still go back very regularly. Despite my complaints, it offers fast food that isn't awful for you. I can only go to Chipotle so often and Freshii is too far away. If Madison had more options for make your own salads and wraps, I might not frequent Naf Naf as often. After trying a few things, my go to will probably be the chicken shawarma bowl with half rice half lettuce. Getting as close to chipotle as possible here. The chicken is tasty, the meal is satisfying and it doesn't make me feel gross when I finish. Things I dislike: - It's pretty expensive. I pay much less at chipotle, even with guac (which we all know is extra). - I don't love the rice, I may switch to just lettuce. - Hummus is a bajillion dollars extra. It's mean. - NO TZATZIKI? Rude! - The "salad" (the tomatoes and stuff) isn't as good as it could be neither is the pita. Obviously not authentic Middle Eastern. -the fries are soggy and just really not good read more

1st visit- very quiet inside for a late Saturday afternoon. Ordered a chicken shawarma. Was able to choose my toppings at the front counter, just like you do at Subway. I chose a tahini sauce, (really wanted the garlic sauce, but decided to spare those who I'd be spending the rest of the day with) cabbage slaw, pickles, onions and probably something else, i forget. I may have gone a little crazy with toppings, because I could barely taste the chicken, which for me is no big deal, I'm not a meat lover, I just love garnishes and veggies. But the pita bread was soft, puffy and delicious, yet strong enough to hold all that my eyes asked for. Need to visit again to try the lentil soup and falafels. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Chicken shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I LOVE NAF NAF!!! It's literally a middle eastern chipotle. You pick what you want in your bowl and they fix it up for you right in front of you. The meat is also freshly carved daily in front of you. There's not much to say other than the food is amazing! No matter what you choose. They give you great portions and it's for a reasonable price. I love NAF NAF and I can't wait to go back. Parking: there's a parking ramp a few stores down. read more

We lived in the Middle East and were very intrigued about this place. It isn't a food option we are accustom to seeing stateside and even more so done right. It started out great when we saw the meat spits were from Germany and they were using the correct shavers. Service was very friendly and quick. The falafel were not the best, but it was inline with how Americans usually eat them. Nice to see Tahini and pickled veggies as options. The rice was just okay (no ghee maybe?) but overall a great/quick snack. We will be back for sure. You should too. read more

SUMMARY: Overall, a very good addition to State Street, but if Banzo's sit-down version added itself to State Street, watch out. Many below have said that this is the Chipotle of Middle Eastern food, and in terms of decor and setup, that's definitely the case. The menu is definitely one of the healthiest (at least before you add things to the items) on State. I have high expectations for shwarma after spending some time in Denmark, and while Naf Naf wasn't quite that level, it was pretty good. Nothing outstanding, but I've only tried one combination once. I still think that Banzo's flavor profile is better, but one can't always get out to Sherman. The falafel was quite good, and overall my pita sandwich was tasty. Skip the fries, they're not the point of this restaurant and they're not great anyway. read more

It's pretty simple, if you like Chipotle then you'll probably like this place. Let's just say if it's too cold and Banzo truck isn't outside on State and there's a line out the door at the Med, walk down to Naf Naf! It's fast and the employees are super friendly. I always get the Chicken Shawarma bowl, but they have a nice menu of other items to pick from. read more

Great food always fresh. Never disappointed. I always go with the pita w hummus, chicken, chopped salad and purple cabbage. Add the tahini and garlic sauce and you gotta a delicious meal read more

I tried Naf Naf tonight and it was...ok. This is pretty much Mediterranean Chipotle. You pick a bowl or a pita and fill it with meat (chicken or beef), rice, veggies, and sauces. Instead of paying extra for guacamole, you pay extra for hummus. I had a rice bowl combo with chicken, pickles, onions, "garlic sauce" (yogurt based?), hummus, the hotter of their two hot sauces, and a size of Naf fries. This came with a nice sized piece of pita bread and a soda. The pros: - it's a nice space. -Everyone was friendly and helpful. We'll see if this lasts. - Their hot sauce is actually hot. Not ghost pepper hot, but definitely hotter than Chipotle or Qdoba's hottest salsas. - It filled me up and tasted pretty good overall. The cons: - It was massively, massively overpriced. The combo came in at something like $13.50. For 7 bucks I can get a falafel and drink at Banzo or a delicious meal at Mediterranean cafe. This wasn't as good as either of those places, so why should I pay almost twice as much? - The flavor was decent, butting was a bit salty, greasy, and lacking in depth. -Naf fries were a disappointment. They're not fries. They're freshly cooked chips. Not bad, but I'd prefer fries. -Nutritionally, it was a disaster. It came in at almost 1200 calories, 54 grams of fat, and 1450 mg of sodium. It was a big meal to be sure, but if I'm wracking up those kinds of numbers, I want to feel like I've indulged in something decadent. This didn't feel like that. I'd love to use this place as a quick lunch option, but I can't unless I want my waistline to expand. The real pity is that it doesn't need to be so damn unhealthy. Cutting down on grease and salt would make it taste better, not worse. Edit: So after giving this place three stars I ended up eating there every day this week. That alone justifies a bump up to four stars. I don't know what it is about their chicken shwarma pita, but I really, really like it. Nutritionally, this is a much better option than the rice bowl, especially if you avoid the fries. I'm also happy to report that they are more than willing to give you extra toppings on request. Just don't get tricked into the combo: it's a total ripoff. read more

Honestly, I love this place! As a vegetarian, they actually give me options. The falafel is AMAZING! I used to have to buy the nasty, slightly dry stuff from the grocery store, but being able to walk into Naf Naf and order good falafel for 50 cents each has seriously improved my quality of life. Reasons it doesn't get five stars include the slightly expensive prices. While the falafel pita isn't that pricey, I did notice that the meaty options were a little high up there. It also kind of annoys me (this goes for "build your own" places in general EXCEPT Pancheros) that the ingredients are not mixed up very well. I don't really like taking five bites of pita and salad, then five bites of pita and falafel, and then five bites of pita and hummus. I'd much rather taste them all at the same time :) read more

The service was super friendly and though they had a line to the door it moved fairly quickly. I ordered a falafel pita. I had a choice of hummus or baba ganoush, I asked for both and got a partial scoop of each. There were 4 falafel balls and then I had my choice of toppings. I had the chopped salad, onions, pickles and tahini for a sauce. No sides or drinks and it came to $6.64. Right in the ball park for a sandwich and no sides at other places, a little less than some even. I didn't find it overly salty as others did. I tried a little hummus plain that fell outside my pita and it was a bit bland, but at home I use alot of garlic and lemon something most resturants are scared to do. The baba ganoush had a flavor I didn't care for, and the cilantro in the onions was off putting. The pickles were great and maybe the best part of my sandwich. While the chopped salad was just that, chopped lettuce and tomato, the falafal balls were mushy. They were crispy on the outside but the texture inside was a little too soft, they did offer a nice flavor though. But again I thought the tahini sauce was somewhat bland and could use more actually tahini add some nuttiness to the sandwich. The pita was nice and soft, and baked in house which was nice. All in all I can get better falafel at Banzo for the same price, Naf Naf does have a softer pita and nice pickles, as well as the eat-in option if the weather is bad. I don't think this will be a regular part of my lunch options, but I wouldn't avoid it either. The "combo" upgrade for $2.99 seems pretty pricey for a fountain soda and a small cup of soup, chips or rice. read more

I would love to give Naf Naf a better review. When the food is prepared correctly and all of the menu options are available, it is great, tasty and affordable and I would give them a five star review. First, we visited the restaurant on a Saturday around 7 pm and they informed us they were out of pita. We didn't stay and picked a different state street establishment. Tonight, they informed us they were out of fries. At 5pm on a Sunday. How is this possible?? read more

Love it. Clean and more place to sit. No parking tho :( Love their Hummus bowl. read more

Yet another new addition to State Street, Middle-Eastern cuisine outlet Naf Naf follows a similar pick-and-choose design that I have associated with my beloved Chipotle. Fresh and modern, I decided to swing by to grab a quick bite for lunch last week. The food was good and the service was friendly, but I did not find myself in a "shock-and-awe" state of mind. Not terrible, but not amazing. But hey, everything is worth a try right? read more

Great for what it is. I've gotten the hummus bowl, salad and rice bowl before and definitely like the rice bowl the best. The hummus bowl was really good but not having something else with substance, it ends as a sloppy mess. The pita is also really good, especially if you can get it right when it gets out of the oven. I feel state street needed a healthier fast food option so it's definitely a nice addition. read more

First time and have been wanting to try it out. Visualize a Qdoba type vibe where you work your way down the food to a finished product. Went with chicken shawarma and it was tasty. Hummus and pita were also good. A healthier option to many fast food selections. read more

If you are getting sick of your routines to Qdoba or Chipotle, this place is the right place to spice it up! It is definitely a fast-food type of service, but not your deep-fried type of dishes. The menu is pretty straight-forward and simple. You can either have a bowl or a pita sandwich. I personally always prefer the bowl. I think it's the best bang for your buck! I really like their yellow rice, especially with their garlic mayo sauce. The sesame sauce is okay, but definitely not my favorite. They are a little bit conservative on the sauces, so I always get two scoops instead of one. The cucumber salad and the onions add a refreshing taste to your bowl, and I highly suggest getting both! Pro-Tip: Get the bowl over the pita sandwich because the bowl comes with pita. Best of both worlds. read more

Naf Naf... Who's there? I'm putting this place into my lunchtime rotation. Good eats for a good price. One of the bowls is really two meals. I've had the chicken coucous bowl, chicken rice bowl, and the veggie plate. So so so good! The side of bread that is baked right there is to die for! and the hummus is so smooth and tasty. I like the pickles, cabbage and tahini on my bowls. There are a lot of options to choose from to add to your bowls. You can get toppings on the side too. I sampled the mango sauce before I put it on my bowl. I'm glad I did. It was not what I expected and was not too good (my tastes may be different than yours). Others in line with me said that they liked it. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Chicken hummus bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Love this place and their Chicagoland locations. The falafel is my favorite plus the pita! This is a great addition to State Street's food choices and it will be a regular stop for me in Madison. Come on over to Milwaukee Naf Naf! read more

I really liked this place the first time I tried it, but unfortunately the last two times have left me really disappointed. I usually get their salad bowl with falafel (and a pita included on the side), but the last two times I visited, they were either out of pita bread or couldn't make me a salad. Now, the salad situation is totally understandable due to the recent romaine scare, but what really disappointed me was the skimpy rice bowl I had to get instead. Today it was pretty bland and a smaller portion than I thought it should be for its price. While the falafel was good (as usual) and the man working was very nice, the food itself wasn't worth the money for me. I will probably choose somewhere else to eat next time I'm on state st. read more

Try it! I I was looking for a healthy option on state street before a school activity. I see falafel, and thought what the heck, I'll give it a try. I had a chicken schawarma hummus bowl. When she asked what I was wanted in it, I said yes to everything pretty much. It was a good choice. I got a huge bowl of food and a great variance if you enjoy like a Qdoba bowl but want something different. At this point, I didn't care if it was healthy or not because it was so tasty. Don't walk past it again without giving it a try! read more

Naf Naf Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I had a steak shawarma in a salad bowl. It was really good. It kinda reminded me Chipotle food but with different kind of sauces and toppings. Pita bread was excellent. read more

Naf Naf Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Having born and raised in the Middle East, my standards on Middle Eastern food are high. In the pre-Naf Naf era, the closest place to Madison to getare tasty Middle Eastern food would have been Chicago. But now Madison has Naf Naf! I have eaten more than 20 times at Madison's Naf Naf and highly recommend the place. Their pitas are the best possible, their falafels are always fresh, large, have delicious texture, and are never too crunchy and surely never soggy. Their hummus is very good, their shawarma (both chicken and beef) is very tasty, and mixing it with hummus and salads in a large bawl is a favorite option. The competing option is to squeeze a few falafels into the pita with a load of hummus, tehina and a hot topping. But there is another reason to head to Naf Naf on State: the people. Service is friendly and generous, always with a smile and always giving you the genuine feeling that you (I mean 'I') are very welcome. And the food is always fresh, which means that it is really well managed. My favorite people are Ramon (he is the store manager, two thumbs up!), Amanda and Andrea, but others are terrific too. Drawbacks? I wish they will expand their menu. How about adding, say, kufta? Or, even better, beef shish? read more

Friendly service whenever I visit. I like middle eastern foods and found this place to be the best. Their rewards program actually rewards customers. Their menus are easy to follow and understad. Their pitas are soft ans chewy. I visit Naf Naf whenever I can find them. read more

When I'm not feeling like eating at the food carts I love coming to this place for lunch on State Street. I especially like ordering the couscous steak shwarma bowl and naffing it up (adding a drink and side). Their portions are big enough to make for a nice light meal for 2. Their fries are in between a French fry and a potato chip, and I really enjoy them (sometimes they are a bit too salty though)! The lentil soup is also a delicious side for a cold day. read more

I really enjoy going here because it's quick, yet fresh. The food is delicious and they have vegan options! Don't leave without trying the pickles on your falafel! I always leave feeling stuffed and satisfied. read more

They advertise themselves as being the "Chipotle of Middle Eastern food" and they are exactly that. Just like Chipotle is not "authentic" Mexican food, Naf Naf is not authentic Middle Eastern food. It's good for what it is. Fast food. Prices are around the same as what you'd pay at Chipotle: about $6.50 for a vegan (falafel) pita wrap, $7 for a chicken shawarma wrap, and $7.50 for beef shawarma. The assembly line and employees still need to work some kinks out (for example, I as asked three times if I'd like to make my meal a combo; I had asked for soup at the beginning of the ordering process and this was not communicated down the line). The food is good, about on par with Chiptle. Portions are also decent. Is it as good as Banzo (as another couple sitting next to me loudly exclaimed)? Nah, but it'll do in a pinch. read more

I'm already obsessed with this place! My friends and I call it the Mediterranean chipotle! I love the chicken schwarma! It's fast and convenient, but it is a little pricey for the portion size. They're a bit stingy with their toppings...even their lettuce! But I usually ask for extra lettuce and they don't give me a hard time with it. read more

In summery: good quality, poor quantity - limited value. Naf naf has some place for improvement - I think the quality of food is great - but the quantity decreases the overall value. I have had shwarma all around the world - and typically they fill the pita with at least 3/4 of the way - with Naf Naf, my pita is typically half way empty, and the limiting factor is the quantity of meat (which is understandable from a business/profit perspective but as a consumer not so great). Also, If you want to supplement with fries or other additions - it becomes even more expensive - which again decreases the overall value. I have been to 2 chicago Naf Naf locations and felt they were a bit more generous (perhaps they had a bit more competition). read more

Naf Naf is like a delicious Middle Eastern Chipotle. The menu is short and streamlined and you order in an assembly line style, making it super quick and perfect for lunches between classes or in the middle of the work day. There isn't a ton of variation in the options, but you can mix and match meats, salad additions, and sauces, so I've been to Naf Naf a few times and gotten a completely different meal each time. The decor is pretty sparse and while it's comfortable to eat in, I wouldn't bring a date here or anything. Overall a solid lunch eatery and take-out joint for a quick lunch or dinner and a nice addition to the burger and sandwich options on State street. read more

I already tried the place twice so far. Overall very nice place. Rice and green salsa are very good. Here are four disappointments. The fries were undercooked both times I was there. I was not the only one who thought that, I was in a group of eight. Secondly, the Pita needs to be heated/grilled. Does not taste good the way it is. Third, I wish there were more choices like Kebabs or lamb. Lastly, for a Chipotle type of concept, it was expensive. Mine was over $13 for combo with hummus (extra charge for that). read more

Friendly service and DELICIOUS food. I had the falafel rice bowl. Highly recommend getting the purple onions and the spicy sauce too. Pretty healthy food that is quick and inexpensive. read more

I used to be able to get Banzo delivered at my old job, but I'm outside of the delivery area at my new job and I really miss the food. I ran across Naf Naf on Door Dash last week and thought I'd give it a try. I ordered a 'Pick 2 Plate' which came with portions of just about everything they have on their menu. It was, almost without exception, fantastic! The falafal were tasty with a soft center and crispy crunchy coating. The hummus and home made pita (to die for) were excellent! The chicken shawarma was somewhat dried out, I'd try the steak instead next time. Altogether very worth it, I shared some with a coworker who is not at all familiar with this type of food and she loved it. read more

The food is really good - love that there are vegetarian and vegan options. Also love the throwback music. The customer service is especially sick - you can definitely tell you're not at Lotsa. read more

I dream of the schwarma bowl more often than I would like to admit. Pro tip: skip out on the spicy sauce...Way to go guys!

I personally LOVE this place- usually get the bowl with rice,steak, and all of the add ons. However, i took some of my friends and 4/5 had the opposite opinion as me. Not sure what it is, i guess if you like different types of food you'll like it, but if you've got a boring pallet, id try a burger place. read more