There's nothing quite like indulging in the tastes of Tel Aviv with humongous portions at relatively cheap prices. But Middle Eastern grub, served in the relic of an old Taco Bell? It doesn't get any better than that.
Enter Naperville's Naf Naf Grill, one of the suburbs' best and quickest options for kababs, shawarma and falafel, and all in the middle of a mission-style Taco Bell building, circa 1993, painted red and white.
Major entrees start at $9.99, but these are so massive that two people could easily make a meal of it. The chicken thigh kabab serves two huge skewers of char-grilled tender dark meat, and the marinated chicken shawarma, when served with two sides, pita bread and olives, constitutes an outright feast for one person. The more moderately priced offerings are excessively large as well; a bulky mound of hummus topped with falafel should easily fill you up at only $4.99.
For a fast food joint, Naf Naf knows good presentation, and very artfully lines its homemade hummus with spices. Baklava lines the counter, tempting anyone who isn’t completely stuffed with meat or chickpeas. Wash it all down with a Snapple (presumably a Middle Eastern delicacy).
Thankfully, the interior is much cleaner than a typical Taco Bell, though seating is somewhat limited if you hit the joint during peak hours. Middle Eastern music seems to be the norm as well, so if you’re looking to groove to Arabic pop jams, there's no better place to be.
Average cost: <$10
Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert