Jaffa Mediterranean Grill

Delicious, Healthy, and Halal in the Maine Mall

When my friend suggested Jaffa for my birthday lunch treat it was a resounding yes. Any restaurant serving rotisserie meats, I’m all in. I was surprised to find that the restaurant is located at the South Portland Maine Mall. You may not think of the Mall as a delicious-dining-experience-destination, but after eating at Jaffa Mediterranean Grill (formerly Gyro Express), that will most likely change. More than just a segment of the mall food court, Jaffa has its own “brick and mortar” restaurant with outdoor patio seating, roomy interior dining room, and exterior doors leading directly to the parking lot. The menu offers an impressive array of Middle Eastern, Greek, and Mediterranean flavors. With delicious options such as chicken shawarma, hummus, falafel, and fresh veggies and herbs, you will crave to return. Not sure about Mediterranean food yet? Start with something new yet familiar - the loaded chicken shawarma fries. They are absolutely delicious and will introduce you to some new and enticing flavors on a familiar comfort food.

I chose the classic gyro and was not disappointed. There was a variety of sauces and seasonings to choose from to customize my dish. The portions are generous and my gyro was the size of a football. My friend built a chicken shawarma bowl with falafel and pickled veggies. Both were delicious. Baklava made the perfect sweet ending to the meal.

All the ingredients were fresh with the exception of the potatoes, which was an annoyance for the owner. To address that issue, he was currently setting up to source and process potatoes from local Maine farms (which may already be finalized when you visit next!).

There were so many drink options, more than just your typical Coke or Pepsi. They were all certified organic beverages with fun flavors like pomegranate green tea, mandarin cardamom, lemongrass, cucumber, and coconut along with the traditional, cola and root beer options. You can also order a fresh mint lemonade at the counter which was so thirst quenching on a hot summer day.

The staff were pleasant and friendly, actually interacting with their customers. They made me feel special for my birthday, but I saw that they treated all their customers in the same manner. Each customer was important.

We had a delightful experience, and I will be back for the variety of vegan options with my daughter.