DUNYA fresh halal food

It was my first time visiting, the staff were very welcoming and patient. I enjoyed walking around the store and seeing the variety of different ingredients, while the food was being prepared. The food was out in no time and the stuffed grape leaves were phenomenal!

Ate here a number of years ago driving back from a wedding in Boston. Run by a very nice Kurdish family. Didn't expect both food this delicious and an excellent selection of middle eastern groceries (far better than I've seen elsewhere)

Falafel wraps are fantastic! I try to stop here a few times a year to get my fix. The staff are great and the food comes out very quickly. They also have a great selection of Middle Eastern snacks and groceries.

Best falafel I've ever had! The food was so delicious but the Styrofoam takeout containers and almost gas station vibe of the rest of the building takes off a star for me. Still highly recommend though!

Got the Beef Shawarma wrap. Shy on veggies.. meat was tough. Decent for the price/ a quick bite but nothing too special. I’d rather to try Sultan’s next door if I’m in the area again than come back x

Phenomenal food. The place is a middle eastern grocery with a small seated area. It is unassuming, but boy is the food memorable. We got the chicken shawarma on salad, Dunya fries and falafel sandwich. We couldn’t stop eating, despite being so full. This is a must-visit!

I don’t usually leave bad reviews, but I feel obligated to warn others. I ate here recently and unfortunately ended up with food poisoning shortly after. It’s incredibly disappointing and concerning from a health and safety standpoint. I won’t be returning, and I strongly urge the management to take a serious look at their food handling practices.

I really enjoy the rice over lamb and the lamb gyro—they’re both excellent choices. The service is quick and efficient, and while the space isn’t huge, it’s comfortable enough to relax and enjoy your meal. I also appreciate the variety of food available, and the addition of a mini grocery store makes it a convenient spot for grocery shopping.

Such a delicious spot. The restaurant is great - the Iraqi wraps will easily be the best thing you eat in a day. The market is really well stocked with all kinds of goodies. And everyone who works here has been so kind. Come here if you need a tasty, flavorful and fairly priced unique meal.

Everytime we come back to visit family and near where we used to live we have to swing by Dunya. Always reliable for the best tasting middle eastern food in the area. Dunya fries and meat pies are always the OG order, we also went for the spinach feta phyllo and lamb kebab over rice. Service is great and everyone is just so friendly and willing to explain any of their menu items or even the items within the retail section of the store. It's very cluttered and product is always coming in. Sliding down the aisles for tahini or dates is just part of the fun, looking for spices to bring home or trying something new.

Everything tasted fresh and was cooked well. The staff was friendly and the food didn't take long to prepare either. I just wish the meat had a little bit of flavor. I would go again, the man who took my order was nice

Ordered the lamb with rice. Got beef jerky with salad. The shop was interesting with lots of cool stuff to look at from overseas. The service was pretty good, very fast. Food was just not good at all.

Dunya is a small Middle East grocery with fresh made takeout. You can even eat there as they have some small tables outside and in on corner inside. I always get to go. The Iraqi wrap is delicious lamb, middle Eastern Veggies and tzatziki type sauce. They have good Yalanchi (rolled grape leaves stuffed with rice), but they call it something else. They have chicken too which as I recall was excellent as well, but always get the lamb. If you don't want a wrap, you can get it as a platter which is also excellent. But the best part of getting lunch or dinner to go, is the wait time. You can peruse the grocery aisles and find things like Turkish coffee, halva, dried fruits, a variety of fetas in the fridge section, etc. I always find something extra to bring home. The people who own the store are extremely nice and welcoming. Highly recommended.

Such an unassuming exterior containing untold wonders within. This is a go to place if you're looking for halal products, conveniently located right off of I-84. The range of imported grocery goods belies the small footprint the store occupies. Take some time to explore! But for me the highlight is always the freshly prepared meals. My personal favorite us the chicken shawarma wrap. Unfortunately, I love it so much I always get it to the exclusion of anything else. I really must try another meal! Service is always warm and friendly. [editor's note: I don't want to hype up the chicken shawarma to unreasonable levels, but it's so good I ate it before remembering to photograph it!]

My go to meal is chicken shawarma with light hot sauce. So good. Feels like I'm eating healthy... I hope it is. Service is always nice. And they carry my favorite apple tea.

Flavorful authentic food. Great customer service and teamwork. The groceries store has great breads and confectioners. A must try!

Still one of my favorite local stops. I shop in the small grocery section in the store. All kinds of stuff. Great pita bread, cherry juice and Turkish items. They make great baklava , spinach pies, hummus and so much more !!

Our lunch plates were a nice portion of a variety of middle eastern classics, including lamb kabobs and falafel. The lamb was a bit salty and overcooked, and the rice was a bit bland individually, but both were good when mixed together or combined with the creamy hummus or garlicky eggplant. Food is cooked to order, so I wouldn't consider it fast food, though it is promptly prepared and fun to browse the market while waiting.

Dunya is GREAT!! We found this little restaurant/grocery store by accident and we've been enjoying meals here ever since. The Iraqi Chicken plate is my go-to. The hummus is the best in the area and the dunya salad is my fav! I love the grocery store, especially the mango juice! Service is always great!!

Casual Mediterranean "restaurant" that is equal parts grocery store and restaurant. They have a ton of Mediterranean staples and you order up at the counter and then take a seat in a very casual space with a few tables They are famous for their falafel, however I tried their mixed Shawarma and a small desert. All of the food had great flavor, but I do not think that the meat was the highest quality. 8/10

This place is addicting. My favorite is the Falafel platter. Delicious. This is the best when dipped in a mix of their hummus (dipping chick peas into chick peas is the best thing you'll ever do) and the Tahini/hot sauce. I usually get hummus and the dunya salad as my sides and comes with perfectly cooked basmati rice. The falafel are so good and the parsley really shines through. They are crispy on the outside and bright green on the inside. The texture inside is perfect, not to moist and not dry at all. Nobody in the valley is doing Middle Eastern food better than this place.

It doesn't look like much but it does pump out good food. Falafel the Shawarma are all tasty and and even a little bites of baklava are delicious. The price is great too for a quick bite on the girl.

This is one of my top favorite places to eat! Everything is always so fresh and hot, even if ordered through a delivery service. The customer service is fantastic. I love trying new things from the grocery section. The baklava is delicious. 10/10 recommend every food dish especially the chicken shawarma platter/wrap. The falafel is amazing.I have to stop myself from ordering multiple times a week!

A gem off Route 84. Make sure you give yourself enough time to wander through the grocery area where there are so many cultural treats to choose from. Sevice is fast and the ingredients are so fresh!!! We had the falafel plate with hummus and eggplant. The generous portions are cooked to perfection and the sauces create a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I would ask for my eggplant to be heated next time but even cold, it was heaven. Don't be mistaken by the casual ambiance. This place is special find that we found on Yelp!

I can't pass Waterbuty without stopping here. Lamb kebob wrap is the go to with a side of falafel. You won't be disappointed

So glad my sister introduced me to Dunya! Food is always delicious! Love the chicken shawarma. Will be back soon!

While the ambience of DUNYA is barebones- it feels more like a grocery store with a restaurant than a restaurant with a grocery store- the food is really good! We ordered the mixed Iraqi kebab plate and a falafel wrap. The mixed Iraqi kebab plate came with a skewer of Iraqi chicken kebab, a skewer of Iraqi lamb kebab, two sides (we chose hummus and tabouli salad), and rice. Overall, it was delicious! The Iraqi spin on the food makes it quite unique. The only other place I've found authentic Iraqi kebabs was Michigan, so that's really cool to find in Connecticut. The portion is also quite large and it's awesome that they let you select the sides that come with the plate. That is definitely rarer and more unique than most Middle Eastern restaurants I've been to. The falafel sandwich was also quite good, but I'd certainly recommend the Iraqi kebabs for something more unique and filling! We also purchased a few groceries while at DUNYA that you cannot really find in your typical grocery store (like Turkish sausage/soujouk), so that was nice to have access to. The service here is also super quick, and they've got a private parking lot which is great. I'm not usually in the Waterbury area, but when I return I'd definitely stop by DUNYA again!

The food is fresh and delicious. Prepared on the spot. Their salads are a must if you enjoy eating clean.

The place is filled with the essentials and lots of unique food and items. The food was delicious and the owner was wonderful. I didn't know this place was here but definitely worth the time to check out.

Honestly never would have gone if a friend hadn't recommended. Right off of 84, this little middle eastern restaurant and shop has a lot to offer. The food was fresh and had lots of flavor. The price is very reasonable. It is better to do takeout as there is a small seating area. I can't wait to try more!

Phenomenal food and service. Incredibly fresh salads, flavorful falafels and Dunya fries and tender chicken kebab. Love love this place.

So yummy. My fave lunch spot when I'm at work. I always get the falafel plate w the two sides and I eat the whole thing. I could eat here everyday it's so bomb. Staff is friendly too

I think this place serves the best Mediterranean food I've ever had! Thanks Yelpers for steering me in the right direction. I live about 30 mins away and will still drive here to get their food. I usually get their mix schwarma plate (includes 2 sides so I usually get babaganoush and tabouli) which is so delicious and the price is decent! The babaganoush is so smoky and flavorful while the tabouli has the perfect amount of zest to it. DUNYA is also a Middle Eastern grocery store too and it looks like they sell plenty of goods (hookah included). The staff there is friendly too which is always a plus to any establishment that serves great food. I have not tried their famous falafel yet, but I was standing in line another day and one of the other customers told me she would drive 40 mins just to get their falafel wraps. Now, I am very curious...

I loooove this restaurant My favorite Love the service, the food Yummmmyyyy

Always excellent food... just make sure that you have time to wait as they have one counter with one person handling phone, deliveries. register for groceries and food. Amazing falafel!

Love this place! Excellent shawarma always and all the wraps are great! You can find pomegranate molasses if you're a foodie like me. Anything midfle easyern.. and the baklava!!! Off the chain.. try it

Oh yum!! I've driven by here tons and needed something fresh and quick. This was the perfect solution. A chicken schwarma that was full of chicken veggies and flavor! Wrapped up in a fresh, well, wrap, it was the perfect fit for a long drive. Lots of Mediterranean dishes to choose from at great prices, this is a big hit for me. I'll be back.

Love the food here! They also sell exotic hard to find ingredients and products which is very cool. Doesn't look like it from the outside but definitely a hidden gem thats well worth a visit!

The lamb is so delicious. Since stumbling across Dunya we have fallen in love with the menu. Staff are very kind and helpful. Food always fresh!

This is the first time I am coming across an Iraqi restaurant. This place has food as well as a small convenient store. I loved the food here. Falafal was the best. Never miss it. Pistachio baklava was my second favorite. Iraqi kababs were good as well. For drinks I loved the Extra Frutti Melon Uluday the most. Mint Ayran tasted more or less like Ayran. I got some Oodh, thinking it is perfume. But it was to burn to keep house with good fragrance. I had to buy a oodh burner from Ebay to burn it. Turkish coffee packet I bough produced good flavorful coffee. I also liked the pistachio chocolate.

A nice little place that I wish I'd had more time to explore. I met up with an author of mine for lunch but had to run out to a meeting before I could explore the store side or take any pictures. Lunch was delicious!

I ate at Dunya a few years ago and it was good but never ventured back. Decided to try it again and well... I'm shocked and hooked, ordered there three days in a row! I usually cook but can't stop craving it! So far I've had the chicken shish kabob- The marinade is phenomenal and it's always cooked perfectly, chicken is juicy and flavorful. The chicken shawarma - well seasoned chopped chicken, the Iraqi kebab- ground chicken with unique seasoning. The Baba ghanouj is out of this world, with a smoked flavor and fresh warm pita bread, better than mine and I'm Middle Eastern! The lentil soup was not at all what I expected - it was better. Very light thin texture with unique spice blend that I'm still trying to figure out. All meat options can be put over salad, wrap or a platter with rice, or a side dish. I love it over there dunya salad which has spices, mint and parsley, tahini sauce and a little bit of hot sauce. Everything is super fresh, flavorful and healthy. Reasonable prices, great service. Thanks Dunya, I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow!

Really good, really fresh. Excellent food, well priced. Good service. Tables in an Arabic store. Kurdish people run the place. Excellent hummus and mixed shawarma. This is one of those places I should go to more often. It's outstanding. No alcohol if that's what you are looking for. Very casual too with local families eating.

Wonderful, flavorful food prepared quickly!! My full meal was inexpensive (I got a falafel wrap with a side of hummus and pita--amazing!), and the staff was helpful and kind. The restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but if you're looking for delicious halal food, definitely pay a visit!!

I love to shop here for interesting foods and condiments that I can't find anywhere else. As an added bonus, their falafel's and shawarma are prepared fresh and are delicious! I suggest you head on over, order yourself some lunch or dinner, and while they are preparing your meal you check out their unique grocery selection.

Yes! Thanks Yelpers for recommending this place!! We were on I-84 heading to MA and looking for a quick bite to eat. We love Mediterranean food. Half grocery store and half deli/tables to order and sit down. Fresh food!! I think of all the times we've passed this place on 84 and didn't realize this existed!! A must try if you're looking for delicious food!

Found this place on Yelp I was driving through. It's not really a restaurant per say. It's like a restaurant/ specialty grocery. Unique atmosphere and directly next to another Turkish place. Wrap was yummy though. Not what I was expecting but good!

Delicious, fresh halal food is what this place should really be called! My fiancé and I were in the mood for some middle eastern food before a long ride home. We pass this place on 84 EVERY time we are headed to western CT and I can't believe we just stopped here! Staff was extremely friendly. I'm very familiar with this kind of food so I knew exactly what things were and what I wanted. I ordered 2 #8s which is the chicken shawarma platter (chicken shawarma on rice with two sides) the two sides we picked were hummus and tabouli. Waited about 10 min and explored the store a bit. TONS of middle eastern goodies I was so overwhelmed. Tons of tea, cheeses, meats, deserts and of course a whole section of pickles veggies. I ordered the food to go so we devoured it once I got in the car. Food came with nice warm pita, their pita is the thicker kind which I'm not a fan of but my fiancé loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by the tabouli! Very very fresh parsley not too much bulgar wheat (some places put WAYYY too much) and the perfect amount of lemon. Over all delicious, we basically licked our containers clean. I hope to stop in next time and dine inside I think next I'll try the falafel or kabob! I had very high expectations for this place as they had 5 stars and over 200 reviews here on yelp but it lives up to the hype!

No white tablecloths, no waiters in black tuxes. But I am so happy to have found this treasure. The food is absolutely fresh and delicious. I never had rice that was so flavorful, and I love the hummus. The prices are very reasonable. The owner is friendly and helpful and interesting to talk to. Also, in addition to the restaurant, the store is filled with delicacies and goodies from the middle east. I can't even list them all. We brought home goodies enjoy later. Please don't let the outside of this place deter you from trying it. The inside will make you glad you visited.

Fresh food.....excellent....love the falafel....nice grocery store too....baklava....

Small Middle Eastern market with many authentic shopping options. But the best part is the restaurant offering many Middle East dishes from falafels to kabobs of all types. Really good hidden gem.

I'm here on business for a couple of days, and BOY am I glad I found this gem! I've been eating the chicken shawarma salad for 3 days straight now. I love this, and I'm so sad it's not close to home in SC!! The flavor is unbelievable, and it fits into my low carb diet. My husband is also obsessed with the chicken shawarma wrap.

The falafel were delicious with a taste of cardamom; crispy hot shells enclosing a moist interior...a surprisingly difficult feat in falafel. The lamb kabob wrap was also terrific, filled not only with the juicy skewer but also pickles and vegetables. Even the bits of onion were sweet and flavorful. As much as I like zaatar, the bread that his came on wasn't great...a bit pasty. This place isn't a bakery so they're not baking the breads. It's also a fantastically supplied market with a number of Turkish and other products. (We picked up a white round of "Syrian cheese" that's especially good).

While living in California, I had access to a number of great, local Mediterranean establishments. In fact, Mediterranean cuisine became a staple of my diet. Upon moving back to the east coast, I did not have high hopes of finding Halal food on the level I was a custom to in California...that is until I found Dunya. First, let me say that technically, Dunya is more of a middle eastern grocery store than a restaurant. Dunya has a small kitchen and dining area in the corner of the store in addition to a small amount of seating outside. They also offer hookah for the full middle eastern experience. The Dunya kitchen is the real deal. My fiancee and I have quickly become regular customers. They have exceeded our expectations. A few thoughts about the food. Dunya has a full halal menu that appears to have an Iraqi influence. Their falafel is amazing, very flavorful topped with a wonderful sauce that has a bit of a bite. The Shwarma is also very, very good. Hummus is on point. Kabobs are on-point. Also, I have sampled the kibbeh and it is very addicting. Absolutely love this place. Looking forward to trying the baklava which looks AMAZING! Dunya is authentic Halal that I cannot get enough of. If you are a fan of middle eastern food and are looking for a go to spot in CT, Dunya is your place!

I've seen this spot while driving on I-84 and have always wanted to stop by. So glad I did after a work training I had in Waterbury! The place is a little unassuming since it's mainly a grocery store filled with tons of unique and hard to find Middle Eastern foods and drinks. There's a deli-esque counter at a corner of the store with a huge menu of different wraps, platters and appetizers you can order from to eat in or takeout. There are several tables indoors & some seating outside. The eating area was very clean and decorated beautifully with Arabic calligraphy. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap and I am not kidding that it is one of the best chicken shawarma wraps I have ever eaten. The wrap was filled with tahini, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and their special spices which added a ton of flavor without being too spicy. I thought I would have leftovers but I easily devoured it in 10 minutes. The service was great and the ladies behind the counter were super sweet. I ordered some tabouleh to go and the portion was more than generous. I ate it when I got home and it was perfectly tart with the heavy amounts of lemon juice and so fresh. I loved it! I will definitely be back again!

Great delicious food! I never really had this type of food before but I was looking to try something new & super glad i did. I have been there at-least 10 times in the last 3 months. If your not sure what to order I would try the Schwarma wrap with the Dunya Fries!

Dunya has the best food. I always get the chicken over rice with dunya fries Highly Recommend their food to any one that's interested in trying something different than what we're used to. Best place in Waterbury, for sure, plus price is so reasonable.