hummus

If Fred Flintstone  was on Colonel Glenn Highway, he would say “Yaffa Gotta Do !” …and guess what, he would be right.

Yaffa Grill can be summed up as “simply exotic.”   It has worldly tastes of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine that are as authentic as they are delicious.  At the same time they serve the food on paper or styrofoam plates.  You see?  Simple and exotic.  Food Adventures have tagged this as our new favorite eatery, and have been visiting the 2 Yaffa locations with some frequency.

Want an authentic, unique Food Adventure that is affordable and fun?  Then look no further than Yaffa Grill.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— They have two locations, one at 2844 Colonel Glenn Hwy (across from Wright State), and the other at 21 Alex Rd in West Carrollton which features a Middle Eastern Market.  A local family from Palestine, owns both businesses.

 

— The food is Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean.  It is unique and exotic, but delicious!  You will see spindles of meat and flaming shish kebabs.  Yaffa Grill is a great place to experiment and try some new dishes out of your comfort zone.  You will be happy you did!

 

— The prices are right.  The most expensive thing on the menu is a whole grilled chicken for $15, and we know you cant eat that by yourself.

— Very casual atmosphere.  The dining area is almost like a “to go” deli.  Warning: the drink selection is very limited  (cans of pop and bottled water).

 

Don’t know what to order or where to start on such a diverse menu with possibly unfamiliar choices?  No problem, The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax have a list of “must eats” that wont disappoint you.  There are various spellings out there of the dishes below, but we will use the spellings on the Yaffa menu.

 

MUST EATS:

—MUSABAHA : The hardest thing about ordering it, is pronouncing it.  It is a crushed chickpea puree, much like a hummus, with olive oil, lemon juice and spices mixed in.  One of our favorite appetizers for sure.  Dipping the pita bread served into this appetizer is one of life’s golden pleasures.

 

—EGGPLANT SALAD:  The Big Ragu has seen his fair share of eggplant dishes.  This was one of the most unique and delicious ones we have come across.  Served cold, it is perfectly mixed with roasted peppers, tomatoes and vegetables.  Excellent pairing with the pita bread, it is a meal in itself.

 

— YAFFA MIX GRILL: A sampling of 3 of the best shish kebabs in Dayton.  The plate consists of a chicken shish kebab, steak kebab, and a beef/lamb mixed kebab.  It is fun to watch the cooks prepare the kebabs on the huge skewers, over the open flame.  We loved this dish.  The grilled meat and vegetables make it a heart healthy choice.

 

— THE HALF GRILLED CHICKEN:  We don’t know how, but Yaffa Grill made a delicious chicken like we have never tasted before.  The Mediterranean spices were marinated and infused into the chicken in some sort of delicious sauce/rub.  The result was a lip smacking, moist, melt-in-your mouth experience.  A definite ‘must eat.’

 

— BEEF SHAWERMA:  Flame cooked lamb and beef, sliced from the meat rotesserie.   We especially love dishes that are carved off of rotating spindles of meat.   It is a tasty treat that explodes with flavor.   When served in a wrap, it is a “Food Adventure on the go.”

 

Honorable Mention:  Fatayer: a delicious bread stuffed with your choice of spices.  Lentil Soup:  Yeah, we never thought we would ever write this, but the lentil soup is amazing.

 

With so many great choices on the menu, it was hard to limit our ‘must eats.’  Even the “Baba Ghanouj” dip was some of the best we’ve had.  If you like hummus, try it.

 

Yaffa Grill is a perfect place to experience a new culture and have your very own Food Adventure.  It is a fascinating place for true foodies, and a sampling ground for those with an open mind, who are tired of the “same old thing.”  Vegetarians love this place for the flavorful entrees!  They even have a kids menu with hot dog, burger and chicken nuggets option.

Yaffa Grill does not have a website yet, or a Facebook page, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some delicious food.  Don’t forget that the West Carrollton location has a market  with various hard to find imported groceries from far away lands.  Canned goods, baked items, meats, nuts and even dairy products line the shelves.  It is definitely worth a visit.

Make sure you get some grub at Yaffa Grill,  The Food Adventure Crew cherish it as one of their favorite places in Dayton.  We are addicted, and we think you will be too.

Here is something you wont see anywhere else online, the Yaffa Grill Menu —> PAGE 1   PAGE2   PAGE3   PAGE 4

Some of our best photos of the year are in the picture gallery below, so make sure you scroll through them to see all of the dishes that Yaffa Grill has to offer.

What’s almost as good as a freshly grilled Yaffa Kebab?   The answer is “liking” Food Adventures on Facebook, by clicking HERE.

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