Strongly agree with the other excellent reviews. We ate there on a very busy Saturday night and had the lamb couscous, lamb gyro along with five mouth watering sides (called mezzes) which included falafel, brussel sprouts, mac & cheese, baked cauliflower and hummus. Everything was superb except the lamb was shredded and seasoned in such a way that my wife and I did not prefer. Service was provided by a bevy of teenagers whose enthusiasm ranged from disinterested to giddy. We'll definitely return (but will order the chicken next time). read more

Since my first review I have been back several times and have been continually impressed by the quality of the food and service. The prices are a bit steep for a fast-casual place but you get what you pay for with good quality, fresh food. My favorite is the build-your-own grain bowl with falafel and almost all the toppings! I love that they are willing to let me have a little bit of each of the spreads instead of only choosing one, and I typically like a drizzle of the mint vinaigrette on top. The roasted potatoes topped with Granch aka Greek ranch are such a guilty pleasure! I crave Yafo regularly. My only complaint is that its often difficult to know which of the toppings are included in the price of the bowl and which are extra (i.e. beets, brussel sprouts) as you're going through the line. read more

It saddens me to leave this review today, but after my family's recent (and fourth) visit to Yafo's resulted in a food-borne illness that included chills and severe diarrhea for four of my family members, I felt it was time I shared my experiences eating here. In fact, my husband and two children and I are still trying to recover from whatever we contracted from Yafo's food as I type this; our symptoms of food-borne illness began within 12-48 hours after eating Yafo's, and continued for 4+ days. If you like Mediterranean food, which we do, you will LOVE the food here. We enjoyed our first meal at Yafo's around 8 months ago and on that occasion, we had a great experience, overall. However, both our second and third meals were ruined by hair in the food, and when I reported this to management, I was not initially believed, which added even more insult to injury considering I had spent nearly $180 on those two meals for my family of six. Additionally, we were offered a very pitiful refund after 3 weeks of back-and-forth discussion for the contaminated (hair) food we purchased on our second and third visits. Despite being put off with the hair incidents, my family and I decided to give Yafo's another chance at redemption this past week. We went to the restaurant on a weekday evening and spent around $90 in food to go. Unfortunately, this last visit resulted in four family members contracting some sort of food-borne illness that has spanned the past 4-5 days straight. I'm talking cramps, severe diarrhea, intermittent fever, vomiting for one person, and chills. And yes, this is the only food my four family members and I have eaten (together) since the onset of symptoms; the two family members who did not eat the food have been 100% symptom free. I'm submitting a stool sample to my doctor if the illness does not resolve by tomorrow and if so, I will post an update. Bottom line - this illness has been so horrible, my husband and I both had to take off from work, one of our kids also had to stay home from school, and we had to reschedule two appointments. A couple concerns I noticed while visiting the restaurant this last time: one of the line associates (guy who serves food at the bar as people walk down the line) picked up a couple things off the floor but never changed his gloves; he also served food (touched the serving spoons and bowls, etc.), as food moved down the order line. I also saw a couple guys walk into the food prep area and come back out to serve food without changing gloves. Another staff member left the food aisle to do something in another area of the restaurant (used a soiled white towel to wipe up something and brought the used towel back into the serving line area), and also maintained the same pair of gloves. The young lady who handles the bread always seems to have a clean space so no complaints there. Staff was friendly on this occasion, but it certainly seems there could very well be some cross-contamination going on given employees were doing multiple things without changing gloves. I truly hope whatever contamination occurred is both discovered and addressed so no one else becomes ill, especially since the food is unique and delicious. For the above reasons, I'm giving Yafo's a single star. Sadly, our family will not return to this restaurant in the future given how sick the food made us this past week. Foodies beware. read more

I went here for the 1st time last week and while the food was good, I think the method for ordering could use some refinement. There aren't any signs for any of their items so I decided to get one of their predefined bowls to make it easy on myself. I tell the 1st worker that I want the Kafo Schwarma bowl and the order starts. Then I have to tell the next person the same thing. Once I get to the 3rd person, I get asked about my addons. I ask them what each one is and tell them I would like some falafel. I don't realize til after I pay that there was no chicken and I was charged a build your own with falafel. While I have no problem with that and I wasn't incorrectly charged, I feel that the process could be just a bit better since I might as well just make my own bowl every time if it's going to get lost in translation. Besides that, the food was good and fresh so I'll still give them another shot. read more

Love Yafo.... fantastic food, fast and healthy. Can be busy during peak times so the line can be long but goes pretty quickly. It's a family fav. read more

I've had this bookmarked on my yelp app for such a long time and I'm SO glad I finally checked out Yafo Kitchen. I mean, have you seen the pictures? Nothing is more exciting than eating with your eyes and your mouth! Such incredible, fresh Mediterranean flavors. I'm going to keep this review short. Eat at Yafo. Your tummy will thank you. read more

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One word excellent. Ok another word. Fresh! Everything was perfect I can't wait to have it again. And the portions were amazing! I couldn't stop dancing while eating this. :) read more

Yafo is really good. The options are wide and varied and all are fresh. We love the bread and really enjoy all the options for a picky family with diverse tastes. When they have the special "shakshuka" it is really delicious for the egg eater. (be ready to wait for it to come out). I would like if they had a Meze platter or a plate of side dishes that was less expensive than individual sides. read more

Amazing food every time I come here. I can never decide what to get because it's all good. Love the chicken in hummus bowl. read more

YAFO Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place is awesome. I wanted to try it all. Had a bowl with veggies, cauliflower and chicken. So many choices. My daughter added the brussel sprouts. Ingredients were fresh and sooo good! read more

I ate at the Dilworth location recently. Bowl was not as tasty. The food options seem to be declining and the quality is not as good. Staff was not very helpful and not very friendly. Must be harder to get good help. read more

Always great food and excellent service! Huge portios, so always leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Love this place, food and ambiance is amazing. Best Mediterranean food spot ive been to in Charlotte. read more

YAFO Kitchen - Rotisserie chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

It was fun to put together my own bowl, going down the line and picking exactly what I wanted in my bowl. But not sure it was worth what I ended up paying, AND the bread wrapped in foil that accompanied my bowl was so tough, I could hardly tear it apart or chew it. Undecided whether to give it another go round..... read more

Love this place. I cant say anything bad about anything ive tried. Getting the mac n cheese is a must.

Been twice, both times excellent. Busy, but attentive and engaged service. Food is extremely fresh, and I love the numerous amounts of options. Perfect place to go when you're not really sure what to get. It's all great and you can see the food options as you're ordering. Love it. read more

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Perhaps I've had the wrong items on the menu...I had a wrap on the first visit and an entrée on my second visit...not impressed, though the bread and falafels were good. Do not park in the reserved spaces near the dumpster (between yafo and Firebird's) you will be towed. read more

My wife and I found this place on Yelp. Been there just once and love it already. I am a heavy meat but flavor is still as important. Everything thing we tried was very fresh and very delicious. The smooth almost creamy baga gnoush yielded a smoky and deep flavor. The house made pickled cauliflower balanced spiced and sour notes, a must try. The hummus and tabouleh were so good too. Do yourself a flavor and try this place. read more

Wow! I wanted to try something new and this place delivered. Food was fresh, fast; space was clean, staff was courteous and ensured the tables were clean. The line was intimidating at first, but worth the wait. read more

The food is always amazing. Employees always seem very energetic and happy. Store is very clean and food is always fresh. Great spot!

We had high expectations and were not disappointed! I got a kafta bowl & the BF got a shawarma wrap. Everything was super fresh & tasty! We'll definitely be back again. read more

YAFO Kitchen - Kafta Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

There were about 15 people in line not wearing a mask and leaning over the counter to order (didn't even have a mask in hand and were coughing and sneezing). Of the 6 employees that interacted with them zero requested that they put on a mask despite the indoor mask mandate and customers alerting them. read more

really poor service. food didn't come out all together. asked red head cashier to check on it and was told "we'll bring it to you ". when asked how much longer she said "I don't know". needless to say they forgot to make it. read more

Food is good, 94 health rating. Wednesday night 6pm and a staff member was sweeping (very fast and hard) near tables with people sitting at. I could smell the dust. I don't care to come back!!! read more

Food is amazing every time. Always fresh. I love the coconut limeade. Even their cookies are always fresh. So fast, casual, clean, and healthy! read more

The following review if written by a 9 year old who loves restaurants and going out to eat with her family. Yafo is one of my favorite places in town. I love going there whenever we can. They have great rice (My favorite food there) and awesome potatoes, too! I love the chicken, and always enjoy my free cookie ( I would recommend snickerdoodle). They have pretty good seating. Yafo is kid friendly and everyone in my family loves it. I also like the macaroni, but prefer the chicken and rice bowl. I would recommend Yafo to anyone looking for a good place to eat. The lines aren't to long, and I think it's good how you immediately get your food (Unlike other restaurants where you have to wait). So, everyone, get in the car and head to Yafo Kitchen! read more

Omg this place is amazing. I've been i the area a few times and I never went in because the line is always pretty long and I low key looked at the menu online and realized that I'm poor. Lol. I waited until I had some extra funds and decided to treat myself. This is a Mediterranean restaurant and they have things like hummus and falafel. Up until now I've never had hummus that I truly liked. I never understood why people went crazy for hummus. THIS PLACE MADE ME A BELIEVER!! I ordered the build your own bowl because this was my first time. The workers were very helpful in explaining how the build your own bowl worked. There were many different varieties but I opted for something simple. I got a rice bowl with hummus, chick peas that were seasoned to perfection, purple cabbage and falafel. I didn't add a protein on this trip but next time when I'm not poor I will. They also had a seasonal coconut limeade drink and I was super upset when it was gone. The bowl and drink came to about $15. Good quality food and the workers there are all nice. I had a great experience. I can't rave about this food enough. I will be making this a regular spot. You know except when I'm eating ramen noodles lol read more

YAFO Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Best Mediterranean food I have found in Charlotte! Fresh food and fresh atmosphere. This is a place where you walk to the counter and place your order. When you get to the counter, the selections are vast and there's a million different hummus flavors and sauces and dressings. I built my own salad and had the most delicious beets and garbanzos and chicken and finely chopped cucumbers and tomatoes. I topped it with a lemon vinigarette. Lip smacking good. I loved the beverage selections too. I would suggest trying the lime cucumber drink. It was yummy and I refilled three times! My only recommendation to management would be to turn down the music a notch or two. While we were eating, the music became more of a distraction than an enhancer of ambiance. The vet called me to give me some lab results for the pooches, and I had to struggle to hear what she said. And no, I don't think it's because of hearing loss. This restaurant is a keeper on my list and I would happily tell the world about it. Go! read more

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I enjoyed YAFO Kitchen and everything to choose from salads, bowls and wraps. Finally got the chance to try it and I was very surprised with the vegetarian/vegan options that were available. You cannot go wrong with the food here. I got even more excited when I got down to the toppings (not your average toppings). The Lemon quinoa was a favorite of mine. Will definitely be going back for more. read more

Love Yafo! Great food and the best Hummus. Very reasonably priced for a great meal. Now my husband is a major fan of Yafo

What a nice surprise this restaurant turned out to be. I was definitely skeptical since franchise ethnic food tends to be average and not authentic. The food was excellent and the bread was made by hand as we waited in line. I had the salad bowl with lamb, my husband had the salad bowl with the spiced beef, my son had the mac n cheese with chicken, and we ordered a side of falafel. Every dish was well spiced, full of flavor, and held up to authentic dishes we've had elsewhere. I would definitely visit again and actually really like the concept of the cafeteria line once we tried it. read more

I'm not entirely sure how this place has gone under my radar in Charlotte but, damn. I ordered a build your own bowl and it was DELICIOUS (a lot of options). A little modernized on the menu side and definitely to-go friendly. I'd ordered through Door Dash (if that helps). Came with delicious home-made dressing and bread. Also gigantic portions and these FREE DELICIOUS PICKLED VEGGIES. Guys, do your mouth a favor. read more

I have been a fan of YAFO since they opened years ago. The food is fresh and I love the options. My favorite is the build your own bowl that you can start with a base of rice, quinoa, salad or hummus and top with so many delicious options. The Greek yogurt Mac and cheese is also amazing. On my last visit I did have one major disappointing qualm though. One of my favorite things was always the fresh made laffa bread that was served warm and wrapped in foil so it stayed warm even if you were talking it home. It was made in house and had such a soft, chewy texture. Like nothing I could find in stores. Well to my dismay it had been replaced with a cold half cut piece of pita. Bland and also something I can walk into any grocery store and find. Super disappointing! I know it sounds like a small detail but it definitely will make me make less visits to YAFO and maybe try some of the other Mediterranean style spots around more. read more

Everything on the menu is good. My favorite today was the falafel. I liked the chocolate cookie better than the snickerdoodle. They also have baklava. Tried the citrus IPA, good, mellow yet bright, a little sweet, which I like. Met the chef today, more locations may open in the next few years, they are proceeding smartly. read more

Great food, rude staff. Asked to sub tzatziki instead of hummus and was told there was no up charge. Asked at the till to make sure and they nodded. Charged me anyway. I would not have bought it if I had been told it did not come with the family meal. read more

Their food is so fresh, very flavorful, & the service is fantastic! This local restaurant is now one of my family's favorites for sure. We haven't tried anything we didn't like & highly recommend!! read more

YAFO Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I was thrilled after my first visit but I still get this happy feeling every time I make it here. The hummus is simple and it's my favorite hummus of all Charlotte. The falafel should be available in popcorn size tubs from the movie theatre. It's divine and packed with great flavor. I love the sprinkled salt on it too! It is definitely addicting for me! I enjoy this place because I'm such a picky eater and I basically want everything. Yafo lets me choose any "mezzes" combination. I mean you can get their Greek yogurt Mac and cheese as a side along with the healthy choices of roasted cauliflower, mixed veggies, and their soup du jour. The lemon chicken and shredded lamb are moist and tender and goes great with the bowls. I have to try their wraps along with the Shwarma. I love this place! read more

I am totally in love with this place. Every time I'm back in Charlotte, I crave Yafo's food. Have never had a bad dining experience here. Service is prompt and efficient, and the workers are always warm and responsive. I typically order the hummus bowl with chicken, and add a few veggies such as diced tomatoes, avocados, and tabbouleh. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who may be seeking a nice sit-down restaurant serving authentic, delicious Mediterranean cuisine. read more

YAFO Kitchen - hummus bowl! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I enjoyed my visit to Yafo Kitchen immensely. Everything looked wonderful but with a bit of encouragement from the fellow behind the counter, I went with the special of the day- stuffed cabbage. Like so much of the food at Yafo, this is something I grew up on. It was superb. Hearty, comforting and delicious. For my side, I chose the mac and cheese which was also fantastic. I was with my sister and brother in law and sampled some of what they had, and it was all great. It seems like you can't go wrong with whatever you choose here. If I lived or worked nearby, I would be a regular. Highly recommended! read more

Israeli/Mediterranean quick-serve at its best. The ingredients seem super fresh and the tastes are DELICIOUS. There are so many options for veggies, salads, grains, proteins and sauces. You can have them in a wrap or bowl. The restaurant looks VERY CLEAN and the staff is friendly. With 2 fountain drinks, the total for the two of us was $27. I'm already looking forward to going back! read more