Sahar Sander and Elan Burger established Naf Naf Grill in 2009, in Naperville, Illinois. Although the building that first hosted many hungry customers had no air conditioning and was run down, it didn’t stop the kitchen from doing what they loved. Not long after Naf Naf Grill was founded, lines started forming. Their award-winning falafels and shawarmas, complimented by their oven-baked pitas made daily, fresh, hand-cut salads, and freshly prepared sauces and potato fries, became the talk of the town. Naf Naf Grill earned the name “The Chipotle of Middle Eastern Food”, due to the freedom that customers have when customizing their order, like you would see at a Chipotle.

Naf Naf Grill’s passion for great cuisine and commitment to high quality forced them to expand. With help from David Sloan and Justin Halpenny, the four men opened 12 additional locations in the Chicago market. Shortly after a visit to Minnesota, they decided it was there that the company would set sails to next.

Now for the first time in company history Naf Naf Grill will be crossing the state border. The vibe from the people and the unique atmosphere of Minnesota sealed the deal for the new location. Chicago’s hottest Middle Eastern joint will open its doors in Minnesota July 31^st, in the sky level of U.S. Bank Plaza at 200 South 6^th Street. According to Sloan, “their goal is to help people explore different foods and define Middle Eastern Cuisine for the great residents of the Twin Cities.”