Naf Naf Grill

Have gotten tired of getting cold falafels and dirty tables at our former CSO cheap eats Falafel Island so have been wanting to try Naf Naf, just down the street from the Palmer House.
Really enjoyed our 2 meals, a little over $ 20. Went with the Veggie Bowl and a Steak Sharma bowl. Ingredients seem very fresh and we were told they are all prepared on site. Falafels were average to a little smaller and HOT. Both bowls were lined with hummus (you pay extra for the hummus with the Steak Sharma), you can choose rice, and very colorful. Liked it much more than we expected.
They make the bowls for you similar to a Chipolte line and you choose certain options including sauces. Green medium hot sauce was hot enuf for me and I like hot, you might want to watch out for the super hot, get the little side cups. The chopped pickles were a great crunchy bright add. Liked the sumac onions and chopped purple cabbage a lot. Good crunch and very colorful. Pitta was fine.
Well lit. Long High School style tables and bathrooms were clean. Pretty quick too.
We’ll be back.

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?!

This place is like a Mediterranean version of Chipotle. You get a ton of food if you order the hummus bowl or rice bowl — for me it’s enough for 2 meals. The garlic sauce is the best.
Don’t be frightened by the long line at lunch time — the crew here is super quick and efficient. Even when going here at the peak of the lunch hour, I probably only waited 7 – 10 minutes in line before placing my order.
Overall, this place has fresh, tasty food, quick service, and doesn’t break the bank.

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.

WHy is it that you can have 100 great experiences at a place and never write a review, but the minute you have a bad experience or two or three on one visit will get the review? Well, I hope someone from Naf Naf is looking at these reviews and will fix the problems…
FIrst off, if someone takes a few minutes to order ahead of time and prepay prior to pick up, and a time is selected, then you shouldn’t keep those LOYAL customer’s waiting an extra 10 or 15 minutes because someone wasn’t doing their job or paying attention to the order queue.
Second, your fries are USUALLY top notch, not today, too much, too overcooked and the package you usually stuff them into should not be filled only half way, especially if they are oversalted and overcooked.
Lastly, if said customer pre-​orders and prepays for their meal and they get the combo and your going to have them wait because said order is not ready, maybe you should give them the cup to fill up their drink, clearly not the case here.
Again, I hope when I go back, some of things issues are fixed. With the growing number of Middle Eastern type fast food places popping up all around the area, Naf Naf can easily be replaced with another place that offers the same type of cuisine.

I like Roti, but this place is definitely above Roti. It has the same assembly line concept as Roti, Chipotle, and Subway and the line is out the door at noon. I was stuck taking a late lunch and it was empty at 2pm. I wonder if that applies for 11am or 1pm.
Anyways, being vegetarian, I always get the falafel hummus bowl. They spread some hummus on the bottom of the bowl and it’s hit or miss as to how much. I want a biiiiig scoop. Depending who’s there, you can ask for a scoop of rice, too. Then, they lay down the falafel and you get a choice of cabbage, pickles, and a tomato salsa type thing (really showing my knowledge of Mediterranean food, right?). They also have some onion condiment that I don’t get. The final touch is one of the four sauces. I always ask for a scoop of garlic and fire.
The pitas are fluffy and delicious. You can rip them open and they easily become a pocket for stuffing your bowl ingredients. I usually rip in half: one half to stuff with goodies and the other half to wipe the bowl clean!

Fast food done right. Wish there was one in my city. Chicken shawarma rice bowl was great. Fast and efficient service. I would return if ever in the area again.

Been here a few times now for lunch. If you are having lunch during the weekday expect a line. They have their system down. Pretty fast for a long line. Their food is delicious you can’t go wrong. In my opinion portions are pretty big usually my boyfriend and I share the salad bowl. We both get filled. Good job naf naf!

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 Unilocal 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.

Naf naf is a great lunch or quick take out dinner type place.
Their pita bread is really really really soft. I got the bowl with basmati rice, shawarma chicken and some sumac onions and my dinner was made! I don’t need saucy things with my chicken and rice but if you do, they have a lot of sauces you can choose from. I would hold off on getting the onion if you are doing a work lunch but since I was going back to my hotel room and watching reruns of project runway, i thought why not! The basmati rice and chicken shawarma were amazingly flavorful, the basmati rice was a little oily so i might do a lettuce bed next time. Their fries are interesting, they are chips actually but some crunchy, some soggy. I am not sure about the chips, but if you are into soggy fried potato type things, you might like these.

I stopped in for lunch here and had an enjoyable meal.
Décor: It has a true fast food restaurant feel to it, which is not a terrible thing, because you order your food, they make it, and you’re out. In fact, I’d compare it to a Chipotle-​style place where you can see them making your food every step of the way. There are plenty of seats, and even a bar along the window if you’re rolling solo (like I was). Additionally, there are even some outdoor tables if the weather is nice. Keep in mind that the line does get long during the lunch rush…
Bathroom: unknown
Staff: Everyone was nice and friendly.
Food: I had the Chicken Shawarma pita with a side of their homemade chips. Everything was very tasty and it is a solid place to get some schawarma if you have a craving. The homemade chips were especially scrumptious as they are literally thin slices of potato. Finally, they do have free water. The portion sizes are decent for a normal person but for me, the next time I’m in, I think I’m going to have to go w/​a double sandwich.
Value: Prices are not bad and you can get away with a small (er) lunch for under $ 10.
This is a good go-​to place when a schawarma craving hits. I’ll certainly remember it for the future.

I was initially intrigued by the fact that roughly ¹⁄₃ of my office comes back with bags from Naf Naf every day at lunch time, and then someone told me it was basically the Mediterranean version of chipotle and I was sold.
We arrived around noon and the line was out the door but moved quickly. Once at the front, there isnt much direction or information about the menu, you are just asked whether you want rice, hummus or pita. it would be great if there was more information while waiting in line so you could actually understand the idea instead of it being thrust upon you when you get to the front.
The toppings selection is quite limited and I wouldn’t suggest asking them to explain anything or they’ll bark out options faster than they did the first time, before you even noticed they were talking.
That aside, the food was quite good, healthy, quick and easy. I opted for a hummus bowl with chicken and the veggie salad on top with garlic sauce with a free pita on the side for just under 10 $. a solid lunch and I’ll definitely be back. but don’t forget the breath mints or gum or your office mates will not be pleased

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.

The menu is a little limited and the ordering process is a little rushed (per my two experiences) but the staff are friendly, the prices are good and the flavors are really outstanding.
Nice little space — very clean!
You can customize your food kind of like you do at a Subways — add or delete veggies, etc.
I’ve just had the chicken shwarma to date but have changed up the sauces and veggies, etc.
Their pita is really wonderful!

I’m convinced Naf Naf serves up the best pita in Chicago. It’s always fresh baked, warm, unbelievably pillowy, and just slightly sweet. A chicken shwarma bowl with baba ganouj or hummus and one falafel hits the spot with their amazing pita whenever I’m in the area for a quick lunch.
The chicken is sliced thin from a giant mechanical spit, quite fun to watch. It’s tender and juicy, just the way shwarma should be, if a little underseasoned. But that’s remedied by either their incredibly smooth, tahini-​heavy hummus or very smoky, tasty babaganouj. I love the falafel, which are unusually fluffy and light. I don’t know what Naf Naf is doing to their falafel and pita, but they’re doing it right.
Top it all off with some tangy garlic sauce and hot sauce that is actually hot.
Skip the steak, it was a little too oily and a bit gristly, just OK. Naf Naf has fewer options than your typical Mediterranean fast-​casual joint and it’s annoying that they nickel and dime you for all the extras unlike Roti/​BenjYehuda, but I think it’s generally worth it for the superb chicken shwarma, pita, and falafel. Tied with Oasis for my favorite Mediterranean spot in the Loop.

I was surprised how good the Middle Eastern food was at Naf Naf Grill.
It has a similar theme to Chipolte, but Mediterranean style.
I really liked the Hummus Chicken Shawarma bowl with all the toppings. I’m not sure what the green spicy sauce was called but what I do know is that it’s awesome! The pita you get on the side might actually be one of the best I have ever had.
The «fries» were more like soggy chips and I’d recommend skipping these.
I will DEF come back though, I loved the main dish!
I’m updating my Review from 4 to 5 stars because the more I come here the more I love the food… It’s official I may have become obsessed with their Chicken Shawarma Hummus bowl!

Stopped here for a late lunch. I had the steak swarma and the Naf Naf fries. The steak swarma was served with rice and I had it topped with assorted vegetables and a spicy cilantro (?) sauce. It was delicious. The fries? Meh. They look like thick potato chips and were soft and barely lukewarm. I’ll skip those next time since I barely ate half of my order.
I prefer IDOF but this was a solid competitor.

WTF! As in, what the falafel!
Hands down, the falafel at Naf Naf Grill is king. These spiced balls of chickpeas are filling and standalone without the addition of meat. It’s flavorful and moist in comparison to other Middle Eastern places that tend to be dry. At some places, they taste stale since they have been sitting out for a while and crumble apart easily. This is not the case at Naf Naf Grill since they are made frequently throughout the day. The pita bread is also amazing. These soft pillows of dough go excellent with the falafel.
The one set back to Naf Naf Grill is the limited number of sides. There are only a couple to choose from in comparison to Roti which has an array of side dishes to accompany your meal. Since the prices are comparable between Naf Naf and Roti, Roti seems to be the better value but the falafel and pita are better at Naf Naf Grill.

Yummy!
This place has the best food in this Mediterranean niche of quasi-​fast food places in the loop.
Delicious pita and the best falafel in town!!! My new go to spot when in the mood for this kind of food.

While the «camel crossing» logo deserves 4 stars alone, I had to try this place after I got word that it was better than Roti. Better than Roti??? (Which is apparently the best lunch in DC). I thought it was not possible but this place is a strong competitor. The bread is the bomb (SO soft) and the fries (thin like potato chips) aren’t half bad either. Only gripe — no kebab meat? It’s straight shawarma and falafel all the way. On the mega plus side, the hot sauce is not white girl hot, it’s brown girl hot — which made me very happy. Not sure why they charge extra for hummus but overall wonderful experience. I want to open one in DC!