Jaffa Bakery

Good value bagel/​cream cheese combinations for breakfast. Lox sandwich is OK, too. But it ain’t New York. Bagels here they are somewhat rubbery and lack a crackly crust. But they are fresh. The major issue at breakfast is they don’t have coffee. No problem if you’re carrying out since Starbucks is next door. But lousy if you want to eat in.

My husband used to work on this side of the loop and he would talk about this turkey sandwich place all of the time. I just dismissed him as I really hate dry turkey and that is what you get at so many places. So I started working near Jaffa and decided a turkey sandwich sounded good today. They roast a whole turkey and shred the carved meat and store it in a rich broth. I could not believe how good this sandwich was. I got a mix of white and dark meat on french bread plain. It was moist and rich and I will go there probably weekly going forward. I can’t vouch for anything else there, and I doubt I will be able to in the future because I can’t imagine getting anything besides a turkey sandwich when I visit.

The Turkey Sandwiches used to be amazing — seems like lately old Tommy Turkey got hit by the recession. Tell them you would like cheese on your sandwich, it’s worth the laugh. Fortunately, it still tastes good.

Maybe not the best falafel that I’ve had, but definitely one of the best turkey sandies in the loop! For well under $ 10 you get one of the biggest turkey sandwiches you have ever eaten.
My go-​to is the turkey sandwich (half white/​half dark) with mashed potatoes and gravy on the sandwich. Top it off with a little lettuce, tomato, and white cheese, and you have one amazing feast.
If you are looking for a more traditional med lunch, hit up Olive downtstairs or Taza on Franklin. If you are after an amazing turkey sandwich, you won’t be disappointed with the tucked away beauty that is Jaffa.

Location = 2 stars
Restaurant = 5 stars
Overall = 4 stars
So suddenly I’ve noticed I’m becoming a Jaffra Bagels junkie. I’ve now visited 3 locations.
This location has everything the 225 N Michigan location has — turkey sandwiches and falafels. The falafel was excellent, really top notch. The employees are friendly and knowledgeable. For $ 5.25, you can’t beat the price.
The location though has a very old tired suburban mall look and feel to it. The whole place just needs to be cleaned up and modernized. Not sure how I’d do it, but it just has a gritty look and feel which is very rare for a downtown location.

I’ve been searching for «the one»: the mythical falafel sandwich in the loop that has been prophecized to slay hunger and deliver deliciousness to the beautiful princess (me), who’s been trapped in the tower with the evil Corner Bakery for many bleak, weary wintery months. Other falafel sandwiches have tried and come up short– falafels too gritty, wrong/​goopy combination of toppings, too far away from the office, etc.
I’ve passed by this place many times on my quest (it’s easy to miss– downstairs with the Roma Pizza and Dunkin Donuts), although today was the first time that our paths crossed. I asked the Oracle if this falafel sandwich might be the one (read: I ate it). The answer: this is not the one. However, with the right amount of training (use a thicker pita that does not fall apart and get soggy, hopefully with a wheat option also) and I think there just may be hope yet…
The falafel itself is good and true, my friends. The pita is weak and not quite the match for all the fixin’s, but it’s a start, dammit.

Came here for lunch today. I love Middle Eastern food… but not theirs. I got the falafel plate. My baba ghannoush was absolutely vile and inedible, so acidic I couldn’t take more than a bite. I went back to the counter to suggest they may want to check it out, it may have gone bad, but they insisted that is how it is supposed to taste. Ew. The grape leaves were the same, so tart I could barely swallow them. The hummus and falafel were okay, but I have had much better.
I would not go near this place again with a 10 foot pita.

I went there and had an amazing turkey wrap. Since the place is called «Jaffa» I asked if the owners were Israeli to which the worker replied «no, Palestinian» with a smirk. Food was good, but I prefer my lunch without political rhetoric.

I love this place because they advertise their turkey sandwich with a big bright picture of a succulent freshly roasted turkey. It’s got this like religious glow emanating from it, like a Catholic depiction of Jesus.

the turkey theme is weird. The falafel sandwich is barely passable and the veggie plate is ok. i go here on those cold days where i can walk across the walkway and pick up a bite without having to dress up to go outside.
UPDATE: can no longer look past the gruesome dead turkey display. flesh is flying everywhere including into the falafel. ick.

This place makes one heck of a turkey sandwich. They carve the bird right there in front of you and pile it high, real high, on your choice of bread. If you want to go the thanksgiving route, they have mashed potatoes and gravy to put on your sandwich. You can also go Middle Eastern and put some hummus and salad on there. Or, you can go the regular way with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. It’s up to you.
I’ve had their kebabs and falafel and you can do better at other places nearby. Stick with the turkey and you won’t be disappointed.

It’s something different from your usual lunch fare in the loop. It’s fast, pretty cheap and provides a nice, large serving.
I tried the vegetarian plate. I enjoyed that it had quite a bit of variety: Four falafel, salad, a scoop of humus and taboula, stuffed grape leaves and a pita.
I“m not the biggest fan of middle eastern food but it was good, very filling and the whole plate cost less than $ 7, so I’d say that’s a winner.
I do have to say that it seems a little strange to have middle eastern food and traditional american turkey served from the same location. Oh well, I suppose that’s okay… if a bit strange.

I’ve had the falafel here a few times, and we’ve also had food catered in at work. So far, everything has been delicious that I’ve tasted. I especially like this place because it is very close to my work and reasonably priced. The falafel is better at Oasis Café, but if I don’t want to go all the way over there, Jaffa is a good runner-​up.
Update ⁸⁄₁₀: I am changing my review due to the poor experience I just had at Jaffa. The falafel was overstuffed and totally fell apart as soon as I took a bite. I didn’t finish it becaue 1) they put way too much stuff in and 2) I began feeling a little sick. Not going back, despite how convenient it is.

Ahhh… all the glory of the post-​thanksgiving glutton-​fest, without the dirty dishes!
Love the turkey sandwiches here… a little white, a little dark, some dippity-​do on the bread… and you’re all set.
Go for my co-​workers special mix, of all dark meat, the «white cheese», and giardinara, with a splash of the juice on your bread…
It’s awesome. Also, don’t even think about passing up the mashed potatoes… I’m sure they’re honest-​to-​goodness taters… and they taste just like the way my mom used to make.
I think I had them 3 times in a week once…
Rock on Jaffa

I agree that the falafel is good, but the hot turkey sandwich is really good so I’ve been eating lunch here a lot. As Mike says it’s very fresh tasting. The good thing about it is that it’s a pretty cheap meal option as well.

My favorite sketchy lunch place, Yogurt and More, has a new neighbor… Jaffa Bakery. I’ve been here a few times for lunch now and it’s pretty good. So far I’ve tried the vegetrian plate and the falafel sandwich… great falafel! It’s fast and affordable… I usually take it back to the office since the food court area is pretty gross and I’d rather not eat there!

I went to Jaffa Bakery because a few people in my office said it was the best turkey sandwich they ever had. It was a good turkey sandwich, like the kind you make after Thanksgiving, but it was just a turkey sandwich. They have interesting toppings and the turkey is very very fresh, which is a very nice alternative to the other fast food restaurants at this location. However, the cheese looked like it was sitting out for a few days… all dried around the edges.
Here’s a tip: If you’re getting a sandwich with white meat, ask them to pour a little of the gravy over the top of the meat. The white meat can be a little dry. Sometimes they will dip the top of the bun into the gravy for a little moist maker action a la Friends.
Just say no to the vegetarian plate. I like Mediterranean fare and the vegetarian platter tasted a little off to me.

A newly opened satellite location of Jaffa Bagels. It offers up delicious turkey sandwiches along with chicken and standard Mediterranean fare such as Falafel.
On my first visit I had a hot turkey sandwich on wheat with cheddar and tabbouleh. It was excellent. They use very fresh ingredients and the staff is extremely courteous. This place is a welcome addition to an otherwise sub-​par food court.