Where to Find Halal Food in San Diego

Like many metropolitan regions across the country, San Diego is a multi-cultural hub and its food scene is a reflection of its diversity. Many Muslims follow a halal diet, and the county’s selection of restaurants serving halal food is vast and varied. From fried chicken sandwiches to Uyghur dishes, kabobs, and more, here’s a roundup of halal restaurants to try now.

Strict halal diners should inquire further to avoid sauces, dressings, or other ingredients that may include alcohol as a result of fermentation.

Casa Lahori

All the meats featured at this Pakistani restaurant, which does not serve alcohol, are certified halal. The menu includes butter chicken, mutton curry, beef tikka kabobs, and lamb chops.

Kabob Lounge

Kabob Lounge does wraps, salads, pizzas (Margherita to pesto chicken and even a gyro pizza), and combo rice plates like chicken kabob and your choice of gyro or doner. Its website lists a ‘secret menu’ that includes a California Gyro Doner Wrap and a Spicy Doner Bowl with a side of hummus.

Dave's Hot Chicken

The growing California fast-casual chain now has locations throughout San Diego. Its chicken sandwiches and tenders — all halal — come in a range of spice levels (Reaper is the hottest), with fries and sides like mac and cheese and kale slaw.

Ma's House

The San Diego outpost of Ma’s Chinese restaurant serves halal dishes like beef or mutton warm pot big enough for two. Specialties range from sesame bread with green onion or red bean, as well as seafood dishes and vegetarian options.

Tahini

This Middle Eastern street food sensation offers a quick-service menu that allows diners to build their own pita, rice bowl, or salad with falafel or chicken or steak shawarma which are both halal. The Esquire pita, which was featured on the Food Network, contains chicken with French fries, herbs, tomatoes, and pickled cucumbers with garlic and sriracha tahini.

Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine

Find kabobs, stews like herby ghormeh sabzi with beans, and lamb, beef, and chicken and rice plates at Sufi in the Balboa Mesa Shopping Center in Clairemont. Falafel, sandwiches and burgers are also on offer. Sufi also serves its dishes within Balboa International Market’s prepared foods counter.

The Purple Mint

This Grantville bistro serves vegan spring rolls, salads, and Vietnamese noodle soups like Hue-style spicy noodle soup, pho’s spicier cousin from central Vietnam. Since it’s a vegan restaurant, its traditional beef and pork broth is replaced with a lemongrass-based broth. Other entrees range from black rice pasta in coconut milk to a sweet potato medley curry with king mushrooms and tofu. Its Thai iced tea is made with almond milk, and Buddhas Delight is a mix of orange and pineapple juices, jasmine tea, and basil seed.

Alforon Mediterranean

Noteworthy items at this Lebanese restaurant and bakery include soujouk, or spiced beef sausage, tomato, and cheese served on flatbread and the restaurant’s signature Chicken Tawook, a flatbread dish topped with chicken, garlic, and pickles.

Cafe Royale

This restaurant in Rolando describes its menu as East African and Mediterranean with a Somali twist. On offer: Generous portions of steak, salmon, and chicken kebabs, lamb dishes, and more, including a lamb shank and goat platter seasoned with house spice blends.

Ali’s Chicken & Waffles

With a menu that hinges around halal chicken, this popular City Heights spot has a second location in downtown San Diego. Known for its fried chicken tender and waffle combos (don’t miss the coconut syrup), it also serves up breakfast burritos and fried chicken sandwiches.

Fatuma Restaurant

All entrees at this City Heights staple, from tilapia or wasla (meaning goat in the Somali language) are served with a side salad and your choice of pasta or basmati rice. Serving primarily Somali dishes, the restaurant also caters.

Shawarma Guys

Parked outside of the Bottle Shop liquor store in South Park, this food truck slings a shawarma wrap made from wagyu beef that’s a standout pick on a menu that also offers egg rolls, wings, and rice plates. It’s been named to many popular food lists, so do expect a wait.