YAFO Kitchen

My son Roman came here with a friend, and while we were in Charlotte running errands the day before New Year’s Eve, I told him I was hungry. He said, “Mom, you will love YAFO Kitchen.” As a top Google Guide & Contributor with over 233 Million views, I’ve eaten pretty much everywhere, but I have to say this: the food here is incredibly tasty. Every bite is packed with flavor, and the toum (garlic spread/dip) is to die for! I grew up near Detroit, and my mom would frequent the best Mediterranean restaurants, bringing home carry-out on a weekly basis—so I know good Mediterranean food. During this visit, I introduced myself to the GM of YAFO, whose name is Drex, and told him how much I loved the food & especially the toum. He then introduced me to Alfredo, the chef. It was nearly closing time, but we had a great chat. I told them both that I can’t wait to bring my husband, who is the ultimate critic—he had both a Lebanese and a Greek grandmother, and the food in his household was insanely good. I know YAFO will impress him. The best part is that I had so much food in my bowl (I ordered the chicken shawarma with multiple toppings, including tabbouleh, and my son had the falafel) that it was enough for lunch the next day. And let’s talk about the pita bread that came with our bowls. I have never had such fluffy pita in my life. To my Google viewers: I hope this place doesn’t get too busy to the point we can’t get in—but seriously, just go. Trust me! Josephine Local

It was quite overwhelming but exceptionally delicious! The staff were busy with lots of virtual orders and there was a group of folks in front of me. It was hard to see the menu which made it difficult for me to know what to order. The food was absolutely delicious and I appreciate the team effort to confirm which items were vegan and which were not. There are a variety of drink items and I very much appreciate the options. I will definitely come back. It was loud and busy as far as the atmosphere but I think it would be okay for a quick lunch.

Food is really good, but the menu is really confusing. Also not sure they are providing complete bowl and to add protein to your bowl they charge money for it which does not make sense to me . And after adding all stuff the food turned out pretty expensive. If I have to spend $20 for fast food restaurants I will think twice before going.

I went here on a recommendation by my daughter. And I will say that I give it a thumbs up. The food was very good. I had the pita bread with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions tzatziki sauce, chickpeas, and chicken. I had the macaroni and cheese I really enjoyed it.. My husband got the same thing except he had fries and he enjoyed it as well. I like the seating that they had available outside and inside I will definitely be back to visit.

Yafo Kitchen in Charlotte is a fantastic spot for anyone who enjoys fresh, flavorful, and wholesome Mediterranean-inspired food. The restaurant offers a modern yet casual dining experience where guests can customize their meals with a wide variety of options. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels inviting and relaxed, with a clean and vibrant design that matches the energy of the food they serve. The menu centers around build-your-own bowls, wraps, and plates, giving you the chance to pick your choice of base, protein, toppings, and sauces. Popular favorites include the falafel, chicken shawarma, and lamb kefta, all seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. The spreads, such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and tzatziki, are creamy, flavorful, and taste incredibly fresh. The roasted vegetables and pickled toppings add a delicious balance of textures and flavors. What sets Yafo Kitchen apart is the attention to detail in quality and consistency. The food feels both hearty and healthy, making it a great option for lunch or dinner. The staff is friendly and helpful, guiding first-time visitors through the menu. Overall, Yafo Kitchen in Charlotte is a must-visit for anyone craving bold flavors and a satisfying Mediterranean dining experience.

Tried Yafo for the first time on Saturday (12/27) and could not have been more impressed!! Food is amazing - fresh, bold and deliciously flavorful. The chicken was some of the best I’ve ever had and every component of my bowl (as recommended by the young man and young ladies preparing the bowl) was delectable. Five stars to the staff as well - they were all friendly, super helpful and seemed genuinely invested in ensuring that my family and I had a fantastic dining experience. Restaurant is immaculately clean and stocked. Will absolutely return!

The best healthy lunch I’ve had. The combination of flavors make it so good. The colors in the food make it more attractive to eat. And the portion size is huge. It’s so healthy and appealing. Every time I get a chance to eat it I will. Flavors are so rich and it never disappoints

Most excellent! First time, busy at 2pm on a Saturday and staff was attentive to my questions and helped me through the process of making my own bowl. So many good things to choose from, and enjoyed every single bite. Also enjoyed the beef / pita dish, and tasting my daughters bowl that was distinctly different and sweeter. Easy walk from hotel and next to Barnes and Nobles.

For fast casual, this place Rocks! Great service and extensive offerings of middle eastern food. We chose the build your own bowl option. I enjoyed the cauliflower rice and super fresh veggies topped with shawarma chicken. With the endless variety offered, I could eat here every day!

OMG! Ordered a build your own bowl, on DoorDash and it was bursting with flavor! I went with the greens and grains base opting for the cumin jasmine rice and spinach & kale mix. My toppings included cucumber & tomato salad, purple cabbage slaw, Sumac onion, chickpea and roasted red pepper salad, Tunisian hummus and Shawarma chicken as my protein. As a sauce girlie I had to have the tzatziki, Lebanese garlic sauce and the Harrissa yogurt. All the flavors meshed together perfectly! I now have a new fav Mediterranean spot and will be adding Yafo to my weekly lunch line up.

This place was shockingly good. Never really had Mediterranean style fast food but if this place was close to my house it would be in the rotation. Haha We tried the avocado bowl and steak kabobs, freaking delicious. Anyway there's a lot of choices and the sides are great too.

This restaurant is one of my favorite places to get a bowl! I love the Brussel sprouts in my bowl!

Clean quick service place like cava. Served fast and very friendly staff. The ingredients you can tell are fresh and seasoned like Mediterranean food and not bland. Tacos were delicious with it on pita and tender chicken with sauces. The bowls also had more options with Brussels and other veggies for a bowl which I will get next time.

The food was OK I ordered the odd version of spanakopita It was served reheated very very disappointed they re-cooked it, and it wasn't crispy, which is in the name. We also shared steak kebabs. They were very tasty cooked well delicious flavor. The mac & cheese was good. The noodles were actually done. It was tasty. The cauliflower was tasty, but the brussels sprouts were mushy.i was told by I think the manager to get fresh food I had to ask for it. I have never been told such a thing at a restaurant. If I eat there again, I guess I have to order fresh food at the beginning of the line. When the food is fresh fried and crispy, it is some of the best you can order also very disappointing when it's wrong over and over after having such good food

I've had my hopes set high from the great things I've heard and seen about this place, and I was still impressed by the quality of their food and service. Since this was my first time, I had a lot of questions about the process of ordering my food. The workers were extremely friendly, helpful, and patient in answering those questions. The concept is similar to Cava, and they serve Mediterranean fare with Middle-Eastern flavors. I built a bowl, which comes with a choice of spread(s) and 8 cold toppings, but I only got 7 toppings; I wasn't too upset though because of how packed my bowl was already. Everything was so delicious, and my stomach was very satisfied by the end of my meal!

Amazing fast-casual Middle Eastern street food. One of my new favorite casual spots in Charlotte . It's just good ! Everything I tried was fresh and packed with flavor . I really love the fact it's fast food on the go but it's sooooo delicious . I don't know how they manage to be quick and efficient and still offer a quality food product . Just gooooo. The grilled steak kabobs are amazing !! As is the chicken shawarma bowl . Dont skip the sauces !! I tried five sauces and they were all amazing !! My mouth is watering just thinking about it ! I can't wait to go back . Highly recommend!

Yafo Kitchen can be a bit pricey, but the food is always fresh and delicious. I enjoy creating my own bowl with shawarma chicken as my protein, and the pickled onions are my favorite topping.

I really enjoy YAFO Kitchen's illustrious heritage and their middle eastern cuisine. I wanted to sample everything on the menu except the meats, so I opted for the Build Your Own (BYO) Bowl option. Kalamata olives, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, tzatziki, Tunisian hummus, quinoa salad with lemon and cranberries, and cauliflower rice were my cold selections. Macaroni and cheese, potatoes with garlic and oregano, and falafel were my hot selections. I paired it with granch, which is Greek yogurt, and Greek vinaigrette, which is a lemon herb dressing. There was a delightful, new flavor to every bite. According to my kid, the Brussels sprouts were just right. The costs were fair, and the extras didn't break the bank. The parking is terrifying, but the lines for orders are usually short. The meal and service were both excellent. In future visits to Charlotte, FAYO will be my first choice.

Very filling. My significant other loved the baklava. We will definitely return. Next time, I'll try the chicken instead if the steak. Everything had good flavor

If only there was a Yafo closer to where I live! I really love this place, and I'm never disappointed when I go here! Portions are huge! You will not leave hungry! Bowls start at $11, and it is additional to add protein. But, it is well worth it. You could easily make a few meals out of it, depending on your level of hunger. There are quite a few other things on their menu, but I always just build my own ball. My kids got the kids meals, and they also left them! They are six dollars. They got the chicken and potato wedges, and the potato wedges are so delish!! There are plenty of seats, the staff is friendly, and there's also an outdoor space. Great for a quick meal!

Amazing food, the food is so fresh. A must try is the Mac&cheese with Greek yogurt, delicious food especially the chicken salad curry

I recently tried the cauliflower and omg DELISH !!!!!!!!!! Luuuv the mac & cheese. The Tzatki is delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I forgot about this place! Came here to use a birthday reward coupon. The food is delicious and there are lots of options to choose from. good location & great patio. Please check this place out for a nice healthy lunch!

This place has the best bowls I have ever had from any place EVER. You know that everyone loves a good bowl, mediterranean bowl especially, and there's a lot of restaurants that do it but I promise none are like YAFO. I am obsessed and my only complaint is that there aren't stores all across the state. The bowls come out to be a little pricier than most when adding all the good sides but I still think it is very worth it and they give you heaping portions. All the drinks and teas they have are amazing too and it's so hard to just try one. The service here was immaculate and everyone was so friendly and generous with portions. Their meat options include salmon, steak kebabs, chicken shawarma, etc. and vegetarian options include eggplant, mushrooms, falafel, etc. I have tried all and thoroughly enjoyed all. My usual is steak kebabs and mushrooms together. They have so many toppings and sauces you can choose from and also have premium sides which cost a little more but are SO good. The premium sides include turkish corn, yogurt mac & cheese, brussel sprouts with dates, and cauliflower with tahini. I literally can't live without their corn and mac. I get a big side of it every time. The bowl also comes with a fresh pita bread. This place is a 10/10 all across the board and all the food is super seasoned, flavorful, hot, and tastes fresh. I could eat here daily.

Everything was amazing! Can't wait to go back. Best Mac and cheese we've ever had. Great service and flavors.

Great food. Fresh and healthy. I love this place. I've ordered multiple items and I haven't been disappointed.

I just had a very interesting experience. I wemt with a friend and one of the workers sprayed hose water on her without apologizing or checking if she was okay. While the others giggled and stood around watching. Only one person offered to take care of her meal. 2/10 experience

This is by far the best BYO Mediterranean place I've had since moving to Charlotte. I had the chicken shawarma as my protein and the portion was very generous. I really enjoyed the sauces that came on the side as well.

It's been 2 years since my review and my last several visits to Yafo have sadly not been 5 star. The portions are smaller and the prices have increased substantially. I know prices are up everywhere but $20 for a small bowl is just too much. Sad to say Yafo is not on my preferred restaurant list anymore.

This is my first time ever hearing of this restaurant. My coworkers & I stopped by for lunch & I must say, I enjoyed every bite. The ambience, food & service was amazing. Thank you to the kind person who assisted me with the menu and walking me through ordering my build-your-own-bowl. First you choose the "Base" I selected the Kale Crunch Salad, tomato & cucumbers; next "Toppings" I picked quinoa, feta, carrots, corn, cauliflower & brussel sprouts and my "Protein" option was the lemon chicken. DELICIOUS. I will definitely come again. 10 out of 10 highly recommend!

Food was great and the staff very friendly and welcoming. I had the Avocados stuffed with chicken salad. Yum! Highly recommended!!

I'm a huge fan of Yafo Kitchen to get a filling, delicious, and fairly healthy meal. Their build your own bowls are awesome, and the portions are very generous! No child would have to be told to eat their vegetables if everything tasted like Yafo's veggies! My favorites are the stuffed grape leaves, cabbage slaw, and cauliflower, but they're all tasty if you don't have an aversion to a specific vegetable. Their chicken shawarma is decent and the lemon chicken is okay, but I wasn't as impressed with the meats when compared to the vegetable flavors. The spreads were also "just good" for me, although the Tunisian hummus stood out as especially smoky and flavorful. They're a bit slow at busy times, mainly because they receive so many takeout orders that slow them down, but still much faster than a sit down restaurant. The portions for the price are excellent, and I always leave stuffed.

yafo is just such an amazing and solid choice! i've always gotten the build your own bowl and they have a good amount of fresh choices. they also have other items for you to order along with sides. it may be overwhelming at first but once you understand the menu there are endless options for you to try!

Overall great food and service! I enjoy going here when I need something quick and easy but delicious.

We absolutely love this place!! Their fresh pita is so delicious and the hummus is so fresh too. I love the falafels they are not too dense and they are extremely flavorful. My husband gets the chicken Sharma and he says it's the best that's he's ever had. This is a little far from our house but we make sure to come here as much as possible because we love it so much. The only downfall about it is it is a little expensive for the amount of good you get

Delicious healthy food, there's always a long line cuz they're busy but that's expected when the food is that good. It's definitely on a pricy side. Went for the first time for lunch and somehow came out with $28 worth of food. I'll say tho that it was a lot of food. Got me a hummus bowl with everything on it + chicken on the side.

Delicious. On point. Clean. Great lunch! Introduced CAVA to some out of town guests and it didn't disappoint!

Food was fresh and delicious. The service was quick and helpful. It was our first time and we were from out of town. This was a great little find for a not so heavy dinner. Good kids options as well.

We were visiting family in the area for Christmas and I had to try this spot about which they raved. I live for and love a good street food spot, and Yafo is the pinnacle. The food is fresh, specialty, and delicious. You must try the Mac and cheese made with Greek yogurt and the Cauliflower which is often served with Tahini sauce. They have so many delicious offerings that you will not find at any other location. You will be pleased. Check them out for lunch and/dinner.

Great food - fast service Ordered online and had it delivered - food was warm and yummy - especially the dolmades !

I called in to see if this was Israeli owned or Palestinian owned and the person would not awnser I would, stay away from an Israeli resteraunt that is trying to pass off Palestinian food as their own

Overall, Yafo is pretty good. The food is delicious and the variety and creativity of the menu is unmatched for any counter-serve restaurant in Charlotte and maybe anywhere. As a frequent diner, my personal favorites are the chicken schnitzel as well as any of their bowls. Unfortunately I have to deduct a star for a couple things. First issue, the pita. This is a place that sells Mediterranean bowls and dips, offering a half piece of pita to go with just doesn't cut it. Even worse, charging $1 for each additional half piece of pita is so stingy. I know they use Angel pita which is pricier than your average ($5 for a 5 piece package at Whole Foods btw) but there has to be a better way... Second, the consistency is a bit lacking. It seems like with every order, at least one item will have changed in portion and/or taste since the last time. Also specifically when I order bowls online, items that I've selected are frequently omitted. Despite the couple issues, Yafo has really good food, I recommend trying it out if you haven't.

I visit YAFO on Central Ave. often, but I now work in SouthPark and am excited to hit this location more often! And I absolutely have to write a glowing review after my first visit at this location. I had a $15 birthday coupon to use and place my order online, then when I went to pick it up, the manager kindly let me know I had accidentally sent my order to the Central location - but he still made my bowl quickly and didn't charge me for it. Absolutely wonderful customer service (and of course the bowl was amazing).

This is the absolute best bang for buck as a vegan or vegetarian ! For just 10 bucks you can load up on fresh carbs and veggies! I really love eating here because the food is fantastic! The service is quick and the staff typically is pretty friendly ! You can sit in the restaurant but I generally like to take mines to go ! This is casual place so need to dress up !

I love this place, portion size is generous and the service here is always good. Employees are friendly and helpful, which is always appreciated. The food is delicious and healthy.

I would not recommend dining here. The staff seems to be overwhelmed with online orders. We waited in a short line for a good 30min, just to find out the schnitzel they had been passing out to online orders was out. They had us start ordering a bowl instead, and then said they found one. So while one of us waited on the schnitzel, the other was completely finished eating their bowl. Then, the employee tasked with cleaning out the trash was handed our schnitzel plate (still with the same gloves he had while cleaning out the trash) to bring to our table. Very frustrating experience. Will not be back.

We first heard about this place through Midwood Smokehouse (which we love!), as they are owned by the same company. We finally decided to give them a try, and we are glad we did. We stopped in for lunch today. There are plenty of parking spots, and then some. We got there around 1 p.m. and the line was relatively long, especially for the time; however, it did move quickly! This was our first time, so it was a little bit confusing ordering. I think most of the people working on the line were new, so there were a couple hiccups, but to be expected! Everyone was SO friendly, though. I ordered a build your own bowl and my husband got the Kibbeh Pita Tacos. Everything tasted so fresh and was so filling. There was also plenty of seating available. We will definitely be returning!

Love this location! Always great service, good food and portions. The staff has always been super kind every time I come here. And the seating area is well maintained and clean.

Was in the area and needed a quick lunch on Saturday that wasn't fast food. I love Mediterranean so decided to try Yafo. There were so many options and combinations of things to get. I love spanakopita but have only had it the traditional way so I decided to give the chicken spanakopita a try. It was hot and fresh and extremely flavorful. The feta was rich and tasty. The Tzatziki sauce was also very good as a dip for the pita. Choosing a side was hard but I went with the Brussel sprouts and am happy I did. They are fresh and grilled perfectly. I like that they are grilled without a lot of extra add ins because the plain grill flavor is great. The staff was fast and efficient and everyone was nice and friendly especially while I looked over the menu to decide what I wanted.

Tried this place with a friend for lunch and the food was a lot. Large portions so we couldn't eat it all and had to pack to go. Actually you can add certain items on your plate for extra $$.The initial cost of making your plate was about $15. Two plates with 2 drinks cost me about $50. Yeah kinda of pricy. The plating is like a Buffett which the server asks you what you like. Food is flavorful and delish. I like variety on my plate so it's a plus! This food is different from Cava or Zoe Cafe. I have to bring my kids here to experience this food. Atmosphere was hot due to the a/c being out and a bit loud with the music and cooks cooking so gave it a 4 star. Overall I would come back again to this side of town.

Great food! Great atmosphere!! Great service and great experience!! Do not sleep on this place, please give it a try and believe me, you will not be disappointed. I have to come here every time I am in Charlotte.

American junk food version of healthy Mediterranean food. The sodium content is through the roof. Quality ingredients do not need that much salt to taste good. I ordered a bowl with salad greens and hummus base, chickpeas, tabbouleh, red cabbage and olives. My intent was to have a healthy and tasty lunch but instead was served just another fast food garbage meal. I'm sad.

Not a good value. You get a base and basically hummus and sauces included. Too many up charges in my opinion. I paid $16 for a bowl with no protein. Paid extra for avocado and cauliflower. If everything was included at say $12 I'd come back. But not as is.

Food was good, it was my first time there so the amount of options was a little overwhelming for me personally, so I opted to get something off the menu rather than a build your own option. We went on the weekend around lunchtime and it was pretty busy, but we were still served quickly. They had lots of seating both indoor and outdoor.

Excellent - the schnitzel is life changing but everything is amazing. Order ahead and pick up since it gets busy but they hustle! No

First timer and absolutely loved it!!! The lady told me to make a DIY bowl and it was great! Husband got a Pita with lamb and enjoyed it; but, he said next time, it will be a build your own bowl. Kids got a one lemon chicken and One Chicken Shawarma with rice. The Lemon chicken was a little dry. The shawarma was delightful. Kids meals also comes with a drink for $5. We will be back!

I loved how much they put in my bowl, when I ordered. The quality of the food was great, and I am weird about meat so I ordered falafel and it was pretty good for it not being authentically made. They were pretty quick, similar to chipotle or cava with service. Ambiance is alright, nothing extravagant, something super chill and nice to chill at.