Our History
Naf Naf means to “Fan the Flame”
The expression is used as an invitation for friends and family to gather and share a meal together. Back in 2009, Sahar Sander, our late founder, opened the first Naf Naf in Naperville, Illinois, and invited the community to try his authentic handmade recipes true to his Middle Eastern upbringing. We still serve those recipes today at every Naf Naf and invite you in to share a meal with us.
Our Values
When it comes to how we operate our restaurants and grow our brand, these fundamental values are non-negotiable:
Elevate Every Bite
Our commitment to authentic and superior food quality is evident in every aspect of our cooking process from hand-made Shawarma towers, fresh shaped falafel and daily baked pitas in every restaurant.
A Table for Everyone
The name Naf Naf (literally translated as “Fan the Flame”) implies a heartfelt invitation to gather around the table to Share A Meal. At Naf Naf, we believe in the power that food has to bridge differences and bring everyone together, to embody the spirit of “sharing a meal.”
Together we Kindle
We are profoundly committed to supporting our team members, our partners and the communities that serve us everyday.
Innovate with Purpose
At Naf Naf, we believe that keeping things simple requires innovative thinking. Our innovation must always result in three outcomes – help our operators execute, help our store performance and elevate customer engagement.
Industry Awards
Proudly recognized by our industry for our culinary, hospitality and operational excellence and the work our teams do every day.
Inc 5000 – America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Fast Casual – Movers and Shakers 2024
Greg Willman – Power List Most Influential restaurant CEO’s 2022- Top 50 Movers and Shakers 2021
Top Workplaces 2019- Top 100 Movers and Shakers 2019
40/40 Hottest Start-Ups 2018