The crowd along the Jersey City waterfront is about get another lunch option as New York City’s Naya Middle Eastern Counter & Grill will be opening their third New Jersey location sometime next year.
The brand, which launched in Manhattan 13 years ago and made its New Jersey debut in Paramus earlier this year, is officially opening their first location in Hudson County. Naya will be setting up shop on the ground floor of 15 Exchange Place inside space on the south side of the building that formerly housed a Potbelly Sandwich outpost.
Naya’s fast-casual dining has drawn accolades for its authentic ingredients, bold flavors, and attention to detail. Owned and operated by Hady Kfoury, the Lebanese restaurant allows diners to customize their experience via a roll, bowl, or fresh salad with sumac pomegranate vinaigrette.
Proteins like chicken shawarma, shish taouk, kafta lamb kebabs, or falafel give customers a nice variety of combinations, and an epic mixture of 17 toppings can be added to the mix. Selections include classics like hummus, baba ghannouj, or lemon tahini alongside the tang of toum garlic whip, pickled Lebanese cucumbers, jalapeños and sauces.
The appetizer menu at Naya has lighter fare like tabboule or grape leaves plus unique dishes like kibbe (fried beef dumplings) or rekakat (three Mediterranean cheeses wrapped in phyllo, deep-fried). Desserts like nutty baklava or nammoura round out the menu.
Naya launched in Montvale earlier this year with a Grand Opening celebration that included an appearance from Top Chef contestant Charbel Hayek.
The company has not yet announced a launch date for their Jersey City location, but they can be followed on Instagram at the handle @eatnaya for future updates.
