Is Naf Naf Grill Halal?

Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill is a fast-casual chain known for shawarma, pita and hummus bowls. Because the food is Middle Eastern, many people assume the whole menu is halal. It is not.

On its nutrition and allergen page, Naf Naf says its menu includes both halal-certified and non-halal meat options ^[1]. The one item it calls certified is the Halal Crispy Chicken Tenders. The company says an independent third-party organization certifies them, and it links a 2025-2026 halal certificate from that page ^[1]. The page does not name the certifier in its text, so open the certificate if you want to know who it is.

Naf Naf also notes that people interpret halal rules in different ways ^[1]. That is a fair point: some diners accept machine slaughter, and others want hand-slaughtered zabiha meat only. The certificate tells you who checked the product, so you can look up that certifier's standards yourself.

The official Naf Naf allergy guide, dated January 2025, lists five proteins: Chicken Shawarma, Steak, Falafel, Crispy Chicken and Crispy Chicken Tenders ^[2]. Only the Crispy Chicken Tenders carry the halal symbol. The guide's key says the halal tenders are available at some stores only, not every location ^[2].

Here is how the main proteins compare:

• Crispy Chicken Tenders: halal certified, but not sold everywhere ^[1][2].
• Chicken Shawarma: not marked halal ^[2].
• Steak: not marked halal ^[2].
• Crispy Chicken (not the tenders): not marked halal ^[2].
• Falafel: marked vegan, so it has no meat ^[2].

Many bases, sauces and sides are also marked vegan, including hummus, basmati rice, couscous, baba ghanoush, pita bread, tahini, harissa and the lentil soup ^[2]. These do not contain meat, which makes them a simple option if your branch does not carry the halal tenders.

Naf Naf's allergy guide says foods may touch each other during preparation, and that the chart does not reflect this ^[2]. It also says some items are cooked in shared oil ^[2]. The guide is written for allergies, but the same point applies to halal: a halal or vegan item can still be prepared near non-halal meat.

If you avoid any contact with non-halal meat, ask the staff a few questions:

1. Does this store sell the halal tenders?
2. Are the halal tenders fried in their own oil?
3. Are separate tongs and surfaces used for halal and non-halal meat?

The answers can differ by store, so ask each time you visit a new location.

Start with the official Naf Naf nutrition and allergen page, which links the current halal certificate ^[1]. Check that the certificate is still in date. Certificates expire, and the one posted online covers 2025-2026.

Then confirm with your local store. Since the halal tenders are sold only at some locations ^[2], the store is the only place that can tell you what it has today. You can also email Naf Naf customer care through its website with questions ^[1].

If you want a broader guide to these dishes, read our pages on shawarma, gyro and falafel.

If your Naf Naf does not carry the halal tenders, compare other Mediterranean chains. Pita Way says every protein it serves is halal-certified. Luna Grill says it has no halal options right now, and our CAVA page covers that chain's status.

Local family-run Middle Eastern restaurants are often fully halal, but always look for a posted certificate rather than relying on the cuisine alone.