Nara Chicken — Restaurant in Fort Smith

I am starting this review by disclosing a Mediterranean food I hate. I hate lentils! I detest the nasty little tick shaped peas, cooked in any recipe. Goat food. Even bacon can’t redeem the disgusting flavorless legume. Well maybe……..

This is the old Eureka Pizza building, repainted, repurposed, and revived to another life. Now serving Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine. The dining area inside is a comfortable size, room enough to handle a lunch time rush, with plenty of tables. Order at the counter, pay at the counter, pick your food up at the counter. They have a drive through window that probably accounts for most of their business. Nothing fancy. Adequate service. The food is incredible.

We ordered a Chicken Kabab Platter (w/ Rice, Salad, Baba Ghanoush, and Grilled Tomatoes, Onion and a slice of Jalapeno.) Also, a Falafel Platter (w/ Hummus, Tahini Sauce and Pita Bread.) Both meals recommended.

The lady behind the counter set the drinks out; then gave a shout to pick them up.

A few minutes later she set two small cups on the counter, then looking directly at me, said “here is a sample of our lintel soup.” This was unexpected. I sure as hell didn’t order any and I didn’t want any sample of lentil soup. Being pleasant though, I obligingly rambled to the counter; at the same time thinking, “You just wasted a little cup by pouring me a sample.” A lady sitting at one of the nearby tables, must have noticed my lack of enthusiasm to retrieve the soup sample. As I walked back to the table, in support of the lowly lentil, she offered, “You will love the soup.”

Well, it was good, and different tasting than any lentil anything, I have ever had. The little tick shaped peas carcasses were pureed to invisibility. The soup was bright yellow, with a consistency thicker than broth. Almost creamy. A mellow curry and dominant chicken flavor. Just like everything else at Nara Chicken it was wonderful. I can eat this. Recommended.

This was such a shock. It set the expectations for the meal.

My wife and I were not disappointed. Delivered next to the counter, was the best, most flavorful Mediterranean food I have ever had. Opening the food container at the table released the appealing aromas. The Chicken Kabab perfectly cooked, encrusted with Mediterranean spices. The Baba Ghanoush was perfection. You could taste both the egg plant and the light smokey background flavor. Crispy Falafels. Creamy smooth, savory Hummus Nothing disappointing. Enormous flavor.

If Nara Chicken can make disgusting lentils delicious, then you can imagine what deliciousness they can deliver when starting with something good.

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My family and I are from out of town and this place caught our eye. We saw the Palestinian flag inside and became excited because we’re a Palestinian family. It was a Saturday, so there were many people in and out of the restaurant, but I noticed only one girl working (she took orders and cooked orders). There was a guy in the back but I have no idea what he was doing. I decided to order the chicken kebab plate and after she took my payment, she informed me it would be 25 minutes. I wish she would have said that before I paid because I would have gone somewhere else. I knew that was the first red flag…I watched as she was grilling my chicken and it caught fire…she saw it and didn’t do anything about it (kept packing other orders). I eventually received my food after 25 minutes and decided to eat it in the car while my husband was driving. All of my chicken was burnt so badly, all I could taste was char. Out of all the charred chicken, there were two pieces that were undercooked and slimy. So I either had burnt, dry chicken or undercooked, slimy chicken. The menu said it came with grilled tomatoes, onions and jalapeños and I received NONE of those items! If it’s on the menu, you provide it…if you have run out of that item, you INFORM your customers first because they might not want to pay full price for a meal that doesn’t include those items. The baba ghanoush was chunky and had no seasonings. The salad was just lettuce and cucumber with tahini and no salt or seasonings (it might have been old salad as well because the cucumbers tasted old and rotten). The rice had a strong cinnamon flavor and was cold. I took a couple of bites of each item and could not handle the absolute horror I was tasting, so I threw all of it away. If I lived in town, I would gone back for a refund because that was absolutely the WORST Mediterranean food I have ever tasted (and I have tasted many). The owner should be ashamed of themselves for letting their business be run that way and also needs to hire more help if they know it’s a busy weekend. That girl that was taking orders and cooking had no customer service skills and I think I know why…(she was being overworked while nobody else helped her). My husband was smart and didn’t order anything for himself or our kids because he said he could tell from the upkeep of the restaurant that it wasn’t going to be good…I should have listened but I wanted to give you all the benefit of the doubt and I was COMPLETELY...

We recently had the pleasure of dining at a Mediterranean restaurant for the first time, and I must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish!

As someone who can only eat fish or poultry, I opted for the chicken over rice, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and tender, served over a fluffy bed of rice that was both flavorful and satisfying. Every bite was fresh and well-prepared, making it clear that the ingredients were top-notch.

My son chose the lamb gyro, and he couldn't stop raving about it. He said it was packed with flavor and the lamb was cooked to perfection, wrapped in warm, soft pita. It was a hit with him, and he finished it in record time!

My husband decided to try the pastrami sandwich, and he declared it to be THE BEST pastrami he has ever had. The meat was incredibly juicy and seasoned just right, nestled between fresh bread that complemented it perfectly. He was thoroughly impressed and can’t wait to come back for another one.

The customer service was as delightful as the food. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. It made for a pleasant dining atmosphere where we felt welcomed and valued.

Overall, this Mediterranean restaurant is a must-try! With a diverse menu, fresh ingredients, and exceptional service, we left feeling satisfied and eager to return. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a...