What to Order at NAYA, According to a Dietitian

NAYA is a fast-casual Lebanese restaurant chain that offers lots of ways to customize your meal: you pick your base, choose a protein, pile on the toppings, and finish it all with some sauces.

The idea might sound easy enough, but it can get overwhelming fast when you’re standing in line trying to decide between quinoa, chicken shawarma, falafel, hummus, sumac onions, and all the other endless toppings you suddenly spot on the menu.

So, what should you actually order? And is NAYA really healthy? Below, I’m breaking down how to build a balanced NAYA meal, sharing a few of my favorite combos, and highlighting some of the best options to consider, depending on what you’re looking for.

Is NAYA healthy?

NAYA can definitely fit into a balanced diet. It’s one of the few restaurant chains that lets you build your meal exactly how you want it, so you can load up on veggies, pick your preferred protein, and add as much (or as little) rice, pita, dips, and sauces as you like.

From a dietitian’s perspective, I love that it’s pretty easy to put together a meal with a good mix of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Another added perk is that you can easily customize your order based on your appetite. A grain bowl or pita with meat and lots of toppings makes for a hearty meal, while a salad with protein and a few flavorful veggies can be a lighter option.

That said, some of the dips, sauces, and larger portions can add quite a few calories, so your choices really do matter. (More tips on how to make the most of your order below!)

What should you order at NAYA?

Because NAYA is all about building your own meal, you can choose options to fit your preferences and hunger level. My go-to formula for a balanced meal is simple: 1 base + 1 protein + 3-5 veggie toppings + 1-2 dips or sauces.

I really like this approach because it gives you a little bit of everything, including fiber-rich carbs for energy, protein to make your meal more filling, lots of veggies high in vitamins and minerals, plus flavorful dips or sauces to bring it all together.

How to build your NAYA order

Building your own meal at NAYA is pretty straightforward, but a few small choices can make a big difference in how filling and balanced your order is. Here are some tips for what to look for as you order.

1. Choose your base

First up, pick the foundation for your meal. NAYA offers a few different options, including rice, quinoa, greens, and pita, so there’s really no wrong answer here.

• Vermicelli rice can be a classic choice if you want a more substantial, carb-forward meal.
• Tri-color quinoa offers a little more protein and fiber than rice, plus a slightly nutty flavor.
• Romaine lettuce or seasonal greens are both solid options if you want to pack in more vegetables or would like a lighter base.
• Pita is perfect for turning your meal into a handheld wrap. Opt for whole-wheat if you want a little extra fiber!

Choose your base based on what sounds best and remember: carbs are an important source of energy and play a key role in health. That means there’s no need to stick to salad (unless you want to, of course) and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with including some carbs in your meal.

2. Pick a protein

NAYA has a pretty solid lineup of proteins, whether you’re in the mood for chicken, lamb, beef, or something plant-based.

While they do occasionally offer limited-time selections, the options on their core menu include:

• Chicken shawarma is marinated in Middle Eastern spices and is one of NAYA’s most popular choices. It’s also the highest protein option on their core menu, with 23 grams of protein and 200 calories.
• Braised beef shawarma is a type of tender beef shoulder slow-cooked with shawarma spices. It’s the highest sodium meat on the menu and one of the lowest in protein, with about 13 grams per serving.
• Kafta lamb kebab is a flavorful combination of ground beef and lamb with herbs and spices. It’s a bit higher in calories, with 270 per serving, but provides 18 grams of protein and is one of the lower sodium selections.
• Chicken kebab is a particularly lean option, with 20 grams of protein and just 150 calories.
• Falafel is one of two vegetarian options on the menu, made with chickpeas, herbs, and green bell pepper. It provides 13 grams of protein, plus an impressive 22 grams of fiber per serving.
• Cauliflower is marinated and seasoned for another vegetarian choice. Compared to other items on the menu, it’s a little low in protein and fiber, with just 2 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

If you’re looking to make your meal more protein-forward, I’d go with chicken kebab or chicken shawarma. For vegetarians, falafel would definitely be my first choice, but cauliflower is another good option if you’re looking for a more veggie-forward meal.

3. Load up on toppings

NAYA has a long list of toppings to choose from, and since they’re all included with your meal, load up! Adding a mix of fresh and pickled veggies is an easy and fun way to add more flavor, color, texture, and fiber to your order.

Some of the available options include:

• cucumber
• tomatoes
• romaine
• cabbage slaw
• sumac onions
• pickled turnips
• Lebanese pickles
• olives
• grape leaves

You can mix and match based on what sounds good, but I usually recommend choosing at least 3-5 veggie-based toppings to give your meal lots of variety.

Don’t be afraid to get a little adventurous here, either. The pickled veggies and sumac onions can add a big flavor boost to an otherwise simple bowl, while toppings like cucumber and tomato keep things fresh and crunchy.

4. Add sauce

NAYA has several dips and sauces to choose from, so this is really your chance to add even more flavor.

The sauces and dips they currently offer include:

• lemon tahini
• spicy red pepper
• zesty jalapeño
• toum
• hummus
• spicy hummus
• baba ghannouj
• cucumber yogurt
• labne

As a general rule of thumb, I’d recommend sticking to one or two rather than piling on every sauce in sight, especially since dips and sauces can add a significant amount of calories.

That said, you definitely don’t need to skip them to make your meal nutritious. A little tahini, hummus, or another flavorful sauce can add healthy fats and make your order even tastier.

Examples of healthy orders at NAYA

Need a little inspiration before you step up to the counter? While there’s no single healthiest way to order at NAYA, here are a few combinations I’d put together for a balanced meal.

Healthy chicken bowl

• Base: rice or quinoa
• Protein: chicken kebab
• Toppings: cucumber, tomato, cabbage slaw, sumac onions, pickled turnips
• Sauce: hummus and lemon tahini

If you like chicken, this would probably be my idea of the perfect NAYA order. You get a good mix of protein, carbs, fiber, healthy fats, and tons of veggies, plus enough sauces and toppings to keep each bite interesting.

Vegetarian grain bowl

• Base: quinoa
• Protein: falafel
• Toppings: cucumber, tomato, cabbage slaw, sumac onions, grape leaves
• Sauce: cucumber yogurt and zesty jalapeño sauce

Going vegetarian at NAYA doesn’t mean settling for a boring lunch. Falafel and hummus provide protein, whereas quinoa and all the veggie toppings round things out for a more filling meal.

Protein-packed salad

• Base: seasonal greens
• Protein: chicken shawarma
• Toppings: cucumber, tomato, green bell peppers, cabbage slaw, sumac onions, kalamata olives
• Sauce: spicy red pepper sauce

This is an order I’d go for if you want something lighter but still super satisfying. You get lots of volume and crunch from the veggies, plus a good amount of protein from the chicken.

Falafel roll

• Base: whole-wheat pita
• Protein: falafel
• Toppings: cucumber, cabbage slaw, sumac onions, romaine lettuce, Lebanese pickles
• Sauce: hummus and toum

This order is what I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for a roll. The combination of crispy falafel, crunchy vegetables, and hummus makes for a super satisfying handheld meal.

How to order at NAYA for different health goals

One of my favorite things about NAYA is that you can tweak your order based on what you’re looking for from your meal. Regardless of whether you want something extra filling, a more plant-forward meal, or a fiber-packed lunch, a few small swaps can make your order work better for you.

For a high-protein meal

Start with a protein-rich option like chicken kebab, chicken shawarma, or kafta lamb kebab. Add a grain base and a few protein-containing toppings (like hummus, feta, or labne), and then pile on the vegetables to balance it out.

For a vegetarian meal

Falafel is my top pick for a vegetarian protein at NAYA. Pair it with your favorite base, add some hummus, and pile on the vegetable toppings for a healthy plant-based meal. Cauliflower is another vegetarian and vegan option, though it’s a lot lower in protein and fiber.

For a high-fiber meal

Fiber is pretty easy to sneak into your NAYA order. Choose quinoa, seasonal greens, or a whole-wheat pita as your base, then add lots of veggies, cabbage slaw, hummus, falafel, and other fiber-rich toppings. The more variety you can fit into your bowl, the merrier!

For a veggie-packed meal

Start with greens or a smaller grain base, then go wild with the vegetable toppings. Cucumber, tomato, cabbage slaw, sumac onions, pickled turnips, and other veggie-forward toppings bring tons of color, crunch, and variety.

For a calorie-conscious meal

If you’re looking for a lighter meal, start with romaine or seasonal greens, choose a lean protein like chicken kebab, and load up on vegetables. You can still add hummus or your favorite sauce, but keeping an eye on portions of higher-calorie dips, sauces, and grains can help keep your meal a little lighter.

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Conclusion

NAYA makes it pretty easy to put together a balanced, flavorful meal. My go-to formula is simple: choose a base, add a protein, pile on the veggies, and finish with a sauce or dip you love. Regardless of whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch, eating vegetarian, or simply want something that feels a little fresher than your typical fast-casual meal, there are lots of ways to make your order work for you.