In a saturated market for Mediterranean lunch joints, restaurants go to great lengths to try to separate themselves from the pack. Naf Naf Grill thankfully forgoes the pretense of trying to stick out, and instead stands out just as simple, delicious Mediterranean food.

First walking into Naf Naf Grill at Oakbrook Terrace, I noticed that the restaurant was very open. The seating and serving areas were very similar to Chipotle: a counter at the front to walk along as the server builds your meal and rings you up at the end. However, this openness also extends past the counter. The entire kitchen and bakery area is in plain sight, a nice change of pace from so many restaurants that hide what goes into the food—plus, seeing pita being made is as entertaining as any TV to hold your attention in line.

That cooking area isn’t as bustling as you might expect. Just like the menu, the kitchen is somewhat pared down. Spinning shawarma roasts and the falafel fryer take up a significant majority of the space, the pita bakery is nestled in the corners and the rest is distinctly open. That said, there’s no shortage of options on the Naf Naf menu. While the centerpiece is no doubt their chicken shawarma and beef kifta, it is served in myriad ways: hummus bowl, pita or dinner plate, and with any of the many extra vegetables or sauces.

The chicken shawarma pita ($6.79) was the centerpiece of my visit. I had heard quite a few recommendations for this pita sandwich, and every one of my expectations were met. The meat was fresh, perfectly seasoned, and the accompanying vegetables filled out the pita to a delicious whole. I tried both the tahini and green hot sauce, and I can’t give either the upper hand—both sauces are fantastic, and shape the whole taste of the sandwich. I leave the sauce to personal preference alone, but the pita is a must-have.

A surprising favorite for me was the Veggie Feast ($9.99). Easily enough to serve two people or for the next day’s lunch, this vegan platter is a bowl of hummus, tabbouleh salad, baba ganoush, purple cabbage, and topped with any sauce and plenty of falafel.  I have never been one for vegan dishes, but the Veggie Feast was by far the most surprising part of my trip. Between the perfectly seasoned salads and sauces, the smooth hummus (a refreshing alternative to the grainy variety found in many shawarma restaurants) and the pita served alongside it made a more full and enjoyable meal than any greens-based dish I have tried in the past.

Pita and falafel are a staple of any Mediterranean restaurant, and at Naf Naf Grill they encapsulate the restaurant’s simple excellence. The pita bread ($.75), served with almost every meal, is baked fresh every hour and is always soft, warm, and savory. Similarly, many meals come with the falafel ($.50). The fried chickpeas and fava beans meld with the wide collection of spices across the hummus or any of their sauces, and I found an unexpected but pleasant taste of cilantro as well. The Naf Fries ($1.99) were yet another hit, more closely resembling chips than fries. The fries were made from scratch, had plenty of salt, and were cooked to just enough crunch to offset the delicious softness of the pita.

Naf Naf Grill is a restaurant company that now has over 10 locations in Chicagoland (the nearest is in Oak Brook), but I was met with unparalleled quality I would never have expected from a chain. Mediterranean food is no rare sight anymore, but Naf Naf Grill’s simple dedication to quality and simplicity sets them a cut above the rest.