Midtown Lunch » NAYA Express

Get Half Off Naya Express

Zach Brooks — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:30:55 +0000

We’re big fans of Naya Express, the Lebanese fast food place on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th. If you are too (or you haven’t checked it out yet) you’ll want to get on this new deal from InBundles: get $10 of food at Naya Express for just $5. The only downside? You can only use the coupon after 2pm.

Naya Express Is Just Like Chipotle… Except the Food is Lebanese and It’s Awesome

Zach Brooks — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:45:26 +0000

As much I hate Chipotle, there is no denying that their model has proven to be incredibly successful. The chose your protein, carrying method, and toppings, assembly line structure allows for the high volume, quick service that a popular lunch destination in Midtown needs to be profitable. Meze Grill (on 8th Ave. btw. 55th+56th) opened their “Middle Eastern Chipotle” back in August, and it looks like Pump Energy Food is moving in that direction as well. But my favorite new ode to Chipotle has got to be Naya Express- the new quick service Lebanese spot on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th. It’s got the same assembly set up, and customizable menu… but with one noticeable difference. The food is really tasty.

I’ve never been to Naya, the fancy sit down Lebanese restaurant on 2nd Ave. btw. 55+56th. But clearly they have somebody serious in the kitchen, because this food tastes really good.

Just like Chipotle, you choose your protein (beef or chicken shawarma, falafel, beef kebab, kafta lamb kebab, chicken shish taouk, or sujuk- a spicy lamb sausage), your delivery method (wrap, bowl, or salad), your toppings (hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, pickled radishes, onions, parsley, and jalapenos), and your sauce (tahini, garlic whip, red sauce, green sauce.) I attempted to try as much as I could fit into my fat face in just one visit…

Falafel Wrap w/ everything, topped with green sauce. ($6.43) Seeing as how Crisp is on the same block, and was my choice for best Falafel in Midtown this year, you’d think I’d have no need for a new falafel spot on 3rd Ave. Not so. Naya Express’ falafel is the perfect balance of crunchy on the outside, but moist in the middle, and the flavor is excellent. It’s got a nice sweetness in the background and while the thin Lebanese style bread they use is not my favorite, it is a tasty wrap (you may say the secret ingredient is 1 minute in a sandwich press!) The green sauce packs a really big punch, so ask for just a little if you don’t like it super spicy.

Also had to try the lamb kafta kebab ($7.81), long tubes of ground lamb meat with spices. They recommend a sauce for each protein, or you can just choose whatever you want. I went with the garlic whip… which could turn out to be the ace in the hole for Naya. Essentially a thick super garlicky mayo, the garlic whip is just out of control good (provided you like garlic) and reminded me of the garlic sauce you get at the Lebanese owned Zankou’s Chicken in L.A. (west coast expats will know what I’m taking about.) The kafta kebab was no slouch either, perfectly cooked with a great blend of Lebanese spices.

Sadly the chicken shawarma wrap ($7.81) was the most disappointing out of everything. The meat was good quality, but completely flavorless (as far as shawarma goes) especially when compared to places like Pick a Pita and Kosher Deluxe. Your co-workers who aren’t into ethnic food will probably love it, but if you’re looking for real Middle Eastern flavors you’ll want to go with one of the other choices.

Wanted to at least try one bowl, which comes with their “vermicelli” brown rice and your choice of protein- plus whatever toppings you want. It’s a little more food, (and they give you bread as well) but I don’t know if it’s worth the extra $2- unless you’re a light eater and plan on saving half for another meal. (Obviously a wrap won’t keep nearly as well.) The beef shawarma ($9.87) was more flavorful than the chicken, but still not as good as the falafel or kafta kebab. But you do get a lot more hummus, which is tasty (although thicker than some people might be used to.) I’m pretty sure the “salad” is exactly the same, but instead of the rice you get you a full salad underneath your meat and toppings.

Everything is a tad bit more expensive that it should be (especially the bowls), but some of the food they’re putting out is delicious. Plus I really want to try their lamb sausage, and all the delicious looks pastries they have at the front of the assembly line. And the garlic whip alone will keep me coming back…

THE +

I love Lebanese food, and this is the only fast food version on the East side

GARLIC WHIP! GARLIC WHIP! GARLIC WHIP!

Their falafel is super tasty

Their kafta kebab is good as well

Their green sauce is super spicy

I like Crisp, and think it’s interesting… but for something more traditional this is better.

Did I mention their garlic whip?

THE -

Too expensive. No way I’m paying $7 for a falafel, and $8.50 for shawarma

The Kwik Meal cart on 45th and 3rd is better and cheaper

The chicken shawarma is flavorless

I prefer pita bread or Isreali laffa to Lebanese flat bread

They haven’t gotten the assembly line perfected yet, so it can take awhile during peak times.

Naya Express, 686 3rd Ave (btw. 43+44th), 212-257-0007

Naya Express, Holey Cream & Baoguette Are All Open

Zach Brooks — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Every year it seems as if a bunch of places open right around X-Mas, and this year is turning out to be no exception. We’re hearing that Naya Express (on 3rd btw. 44+45th) and Holey Cream (on 9th and 53rd) are both open. And for Downtown Lunch’ers it looks like Baoguette has finally opened their FiDi location.

First Look at Naya Express’ Lebanese Fast Food Menu

Zach Brooks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:00:48 +0000

3rd Ave. btw. 44+45 is about to see some more action. Naya Express, the fast food offshoot of the upscale Lebanese restaurant on 2nd Ave., is getting set to open right next door to the new Five Guys. They’ll be offering soups ($4-5), pastries ($2), homemade breads topped with different stuff ($6), salads and cold appetizers ($3-9). But the main event is their roll/salad/bowl options, which can be ordered Chipotle style- as fully formed items that they’ve created, or in a “build you own” situation. If it sounds similar to Meze Grill on 8th Ave. (in a bad way), don’t worry too much… the menu looks like it’s going to be the real deal.

Check it out after the jump…

Click on image to open PDF

Naya Express & New Five Guys Less Than One Month Away

Zach Brooks — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:42 +0000

Photo uploaded to the ML Flickr Pool by lifeaskew

East side Midtown Lunchers are inching closer and closer to two new spots, both on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th Street. The owner of Naya Mezze & Grill (the fancy Lebanese restaurant on 2nd Ave.) checks in to say that he hopes to have Naya Express, his fast food Lebanese offshoot, open by the end of the month. As for their next door neighbors Five Guys, an employee at the 55th Street location says it’s two weeks away.

3rd Ave. Golden Krust to Become Lebanese NAYA Express

Zach Brooks — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:15:24 +0000

We’ve gotten word that come September the now shuttered Golden Krust, on 3rd. Ave. btw. 43+44th, will become NAYA Express- a cheaper version of the fancy Lebanese restaurant NAYA Mezze & Grill on 2nd Ave. From the owner: “It is going to be 80% of NAYA’s Lebanese Menu with some addition and much less expensive. Sandwiches will range from $5 to $8. Appetizers between $4 and $8.” That could be interesting…