Najar's Place — Restaurant in Oxford

This place will literally change your life. Over 4 years I spent in Oxford, Najar's Place was ever-present, the true constant of my student life. The regular falafel, hummus, halloumi and salad wraps nourished me on countless occasions.

Picture this: plump, golden-brown falafel orbs, crispy and aromatic, each one a testament to the culinary prowess of the talented cooks. They cradle within them the essence of the Mediterranean, a fragrant fusion of chickpeas, aromatic herbs, and secret spices—a symphony of flavour that dances upon your palate with each blissful bite.

Next, enter the creamy, velvety embrace of hummus, a silken river of pure satisfaction that flows through the heart of this wrap. Its richness, like liquid gold, infuses every morsel, ensuring a harmonious marriage of flavours that leaves you yearning for more.

But wait, there is more! Behold, the halloumi—grilled to perfection, a revelation of salty-sweet, caramelized wonder. Its exterior is a crispy, golden armour that belies the tender, milky interior, a union of opposites that tantalizes your taste buds and beckons you to savour the contrasts.

And as if this weren't enough, a riot of colours and freshness bursts forth—a vibrant salad, a kaleidoscope of crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and tangy red onions. Each ingredient is a brushstroke in a masterpiece, a testament to nature's bounty, and a refreshing counterpoint to the robust flavours that came before.

Finally, imagine a sauce of fiery passion, crafted with the intensity of a thousand suns. It starts as a whisper, a gentle caress of garlic, its earthy aroma promising depth and complexity. Then, in an explosion of flavour, the chili asserts itself, fierce and unyielding, painting your palate with a blazing tapestry of heat and spice. This sauce, like liquid fire, weaves its way through the wrap, intertwining with the falafel, hummus, and halloumi. It adds a thrilling crescendo to each bite, a crescendo of heat that harmonizes beautifully with the creamy hummus and the salty-sweet allure of the halloumi.

The wrap itself, a soft and supple pita, cradles this epicurean creation, its pliancy and warmth serving as a vessel for this culinary odyssey. With each bite, you are transported to a realm of taste, where the world fades away, and all that remains is the rhapsody of falafel, hummus, halloumi, and salad—the wrap that defines perfection in a single, glorious mouthful.

All this, for the unbelievable price of £4 (£3.50 in my hayday)? Mr Najar,...

If you decide to brave the queue that’s normally outside Najar’s during peak lunch/dinner time, you’ll be in for a true treat, there’s no place quite like it in Oxford. You can get a rich, healthy, filling, and cheap lunch wrap right in the city centre only a short walk away from most university buildings.

The lengthy and parsimonious menu can be a deterrent for some, but fear not, there’s a way around it: if you can’t decide what to get or simply don’t have the time to read through all the menu options (and are feeling very hungry) your best bet is going for the “everything wrap”. For just £5 you can get anything and everything you like from the stall to the point where you start wondering how all of that can fit into one wrap.

The staff are usually super patient and they will explain what the different ingredients are and even encourage you to try more stuff. Of course if you are not extremely hungry and want a cheaper option you can ask for just a few of the fillings that loom good without having to get the “everything wrap”. Some of the fillings that are a must-try according to me are their super crunchy falafel, the homemade hummus, their lamb mufarakeh (absolutely phenomenal), baba ghanoush, tabbouleh (different type of salad, I like it even more than baba ghanoush), and their roasted pepper mix. The only filling I am not particularly crazy about is their halloumi which has an odd rubbery texture. If you like your wraps on the saltier side I’d add something like greek olives or feta as the rest of the fillings can be quite salt-neutral.

Some things to keep in mind: they are CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM next to the Sainsbury’s across the street. They don’t take names and once your wrap is ready just shout out the contents of the wrap so if there is a large crowd you have to remember what you ordered and watch out for it to avoid someone else taking your wrap by mistake. You will probably be best off going in off-peak hours (normally peak times are 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm) as this way you can get your wrap quickly and efficiently (the staff is also way less rushed so you can take your time choosing your meal)

Overall, Najar’s place deserves a plaque on the Oxford lunch hall of fame for its quality, variety, and prices. A...

I purchased the Garlic Chicken Falafel. My first contact with this piece was of a physical touch, handed to me by the lovely chef himself. This was soon followed by a simultaneous impact of both scent and sight - beautiful in each way. The smell of garlic chicken is one which is familiar to me from South Korea, my home, it almost brought tear to my eyes in the reminscense and the glory which it brought me today. My first intimate contact with the said falafel was unexpectedly dry - it turns out that I had bitten all but the chicken itself, my mouth was full of warm falafel bread and I chuckled at myself, feeling somewhat somber. On my second attempt, I was able to secure the desired chicken alongside its salad accompaniments - the various textures and flavours, some cooked and some fresh, some exciting and some dull, created what was an unexpectedly harmonious blend. I was deeply satisfied with how cooked the chicken was, and of the choice of salad (cucumber, tomato, lettuce, onion).

Needless to say, the falafel maintained its consistency in its high-quality delivery, and I was left a full, delighted young student of...