18 Best Halal Restaurants In Los Angeles

Halal refers to what is permissible under Islamic law when it comes to preparing meat, covering all aspects of the process from how the animal is raised to how it is slaughtered. Though devout Muslims generally follow halal guidelines when eating food for religious reasons, there are actually a whole host of reasons to prefer halal meat, ranging from humane to taste considerations. 

Sourcing meat according to halal principles means not giving livestock hormones or GMOs, raising them on a healthy vegetarian diet, and killing them as humanely and painlessly as possible. This creates conditions for happier animals and tastier meat, and satisfies the moral qualms of meat eaters against factory farming and ill-treatment of living beings. 

Thanks in part to the diversity of cuisines and long-established immigrant communities in Los Angeles, halal dining is easy to come by in the city in almost every neighborhood. Whether you're looking for a fast food joint or gourmet dining experience that caters to halal dining, you can easily find it in LA. However, you will also find a whole lot of halal restaurants outside of the traditional cuisines of Muslim-majority countries, including burger joints and taco stands.

So whether you have a hankering for Indonesian street food, Arabian specialties, or some late-night halal tacos, this list has got it all.

This South Indian chain has locations all over Los Angeles, including Culver City, Downtown LA, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, and South Redondo, with a new one coming to the San Fernando Valley soon. The eateries strike a great balance between serving classic Indian dishes like Tamarind Leaf Dal and a more experimental, modern take on Indian cuisine, including a wide variety of both traditional and internationally inspired biryanis.

Banana Leaf always tries to cater to the tastes and preferences of its surrounding communities, which is perhaps why it is also known for being the first place in Los Angeles to serve organic chicken tikka masala. Nosh on some delicious samosas, and then finish your meal with one of the many delicious South Asian desserts available on the menu, like Rasmalai Cake flavored with cardamom and saffron.

Jerusalem Chicken is one of the few places in town serving Palestinian cuisine. For those who want to eat halal food, it's a great place to both dine-in and get takeout, as the speedy counter service makes it easy to get in and out. 

Located on West Slauson Avenue in Windsor Hills, this casual Palestinian chicken joint serves classics like the lemon garlic chicken and falafel pita, as well as Musakhan, the unofficial dish of Palestine. Musakhan is a slow-cooked roast chicken, covered in spices, on top of a caramelized onion flatbread. Even though it's called a chicken eatery, vegetarians shouldn't worry as there are plenty of meat-free options available on the menu, like fasoulya and Palestinian salata.

This Somali eatery in Inglewood serves generous portions of all-halal food, including rice and goat meat, and rice and chicken suqaar. If you haven't heard of chicken suqaar before, you're missing out on a flavorful combo seasoned with cumin, coriander, and some other spices that make up the Xawaash spice blend.  As is usual in classic Somali cuisine, most main courses are served with a banana, tea, and water. 

Banadir Somali Restaurant only serves a handful of main courses, so don't expect a long list of options, but the few mainstays they focus on are cooked to perfection. If you're visiting the eatery with pescatarians in your group, both salmon and tilapia options are available instead of the traditional halal meat dishes. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a daily basis, so you can even pop in for breakfast if you choose. 

Founded by immigrants from Pakistan, Zam Zam Foods prides itself on serving authentic Desi dishes with strong, spicy flavors, based on recipes taken directly from Pakistan. Of course, in order to cater to their clientele and represent their region, all the food served at Zam Zam Foods is halal. In addition, the meat is all hand-slaughtered Zabiha meat.

All the biryanis served in this establishment are prepared Karachi-style, so if you've only had these dishes in Indian restaurants, you might be surprised by some different tastes here. Heads up — the Karachi version is much spicier than most Indian versions, so have some water at the table before you try this biryani for the first time. While you're at Zam Zam Foods, be sure to taste the signature chandan kabab, one of the most popular items on the menu.

Located just a stone's throw away from downtown LA on East Washington Boulevard, Soriana offers one of the most traditional Arabian experiences in the city. This halal eatery focuses on Yemeni and other Arabian dishes, such as Lamb Mandi, a kind of aromatic rice usually served with meat during Eid and other large family celebrations in the Middle East. The meat is supposed to be so tender that it falls right off the bone as you eat it. 

Soriana is a wonderful choice for a delicious dinner. In addition to more specific Middle Eastern dishes, you can also find food from a variety of neighboring countries, such as hummus, gyro wraps, and chicken shawarma. The restaurant also offers traditional floor seating in addition to more American table seating for a fully authentic Arabian experience.

Halal food doesn't necessarily have to be associated with Middle Eastern or Asian cuisine, as Hiho Cheeseburger very well proves. This local burger chain serves one of the most quintessential American foods halal-style, so people with religious or other dietary restrictions can settle down to eat a juicy, delicious burger.

Hiho has four locations throughout the city, including one of the best-rated in Santa Monica, as well as Studio City, Marina del Rey, and Mid-Wilshire. Part of the reason their burgers are so mouthwatering is because they focus on using the best meat available — 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef. Best of all, they source from First Light Farms, a group of farmers focused on sustainability. In addition to making sure their meat is halal and humanely sourced (they have a Certified Humane certificate), the cows are fed no hormones, GMOs, or antibiotics.

With two branches in the Little Bangladesh section of Koreatown and downtown, Biriyani Kabob House brings authentic Indian and Pakistani halal cuisine to the streets of Los Angeles. Choose from a variety of options like fish and chicken tikka masala, a variety of kabobs and biriyanis (as the restaurant's name would suggest), and mouthwatering curries. 

One of the best parts about eating here with friends and family is that, unlike most restaurants in LA these days, Biriyani Kabob House serves low-cost, yet still delicious food. Many of the specials and main courses cost under $15, making a visit to this establishment both a budget and halal-friendly excursion. This affordability makes it a great place to host an event or even provide catering for a private party — both services that the restaurant offers.

On the other end from Biriyani Kabob House, price-wise, sits Matū in Beverly Hills. This elegant, upscale steakhouse may cost a pretty penny, but it's also one of the few places in the area where those who eat halal can enjoy a beautifully cooked steak while following their dietary restrictions. 

Much like the more casual Hiho Cheeseburger eatery listed above, Matū sources its meat from First Light Farms, which sells premium 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef that's halal. As a lot of ardent meat eaters know, Wagyu beef is widely considered one of the most delicious cuts of meat available on the market, though it definitely comes at a price. 

In order to pay homage to the Japanese lineage of the Wagyu beef the restaurant uses, they serve a type of "steak omakase", as they call it. Customers can order items like the picanha or ribeye dinner, which includes several courses showcasing various aspects of the meat. Reservations are strongly recommended to eat at one of the best Japanese steakhouses in LA.

Order any of the curry dishes, Tandoori sizzlers, or samosas available at Al-Noor and you are guaranteed not only halal food but also some pretty spicy and delicious dishes. Known for its South Asian cuisine, Al-Noor also serves specialties you may not easily find elsewhere, like pakoras. These are small, tasty fritters filled with a mix of vegetables.

Don't worry too much about the spice level if you generally find South Asian cuisine a little too fiery for you. Al-Noor provides its customers with the option to choose dishes made with mild, medium, or spicy levels of flavor. So when you try something traditional like chicken tikka masala or nehari (beef shank with spicy sauce), the sauce can actually be as mild or spicy as you prefer it to be — a great relief for those who love Desi food but find their eyes watering while eating.

Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine ventures to a different area of the Asian continent altogether, away from South and Western Asia. The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group that lives in the westernmost part of China, mostly in the province of Xinjiang. They are predominantly Muslim, and have a very distinct culture as well as all halal food thanks to their religious and ethnic differences.

Whether you visit Dolan's Alhambra or Rowland Heights location, try one of the many unique specialties on the menu like the manta or Uyghur polo. The manta is a Uyghur dumpling filled with beef and onion, while the Uyghur polo consists of braised rice with onion, lamb, and a smattering of other ingredients. No matter what main course you order, be sure to accompany it with one of the flavorful teas on the menu, like the Uyghur Milk Tea. 

Serving food from all around the Mediterranean basin and Western Asia, Naab Cafe is a great destination for both vegetarians and halal eaters. You will find a mix of offerings like tabouli salad, hummus, dolmeh (grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs), and Ash Reshte, a Persian vegetarian soup. No matter your culinary preferences, you will likely find something to nibble on here.

This is in addition to the classic Eastern Mediterranean specials the cafe serves, like kabobs and falafel. Order a side of Persian hot tea or Turkish coffee with your halal meal, two items that aren't often found on most LA menus. The best part of a meal here is the dessert menu. Whether you prefer sweet and sticky baklava, Persian ice cream, or faloodeh, a classic Iranian dessert composed of rose granita with frozen rice noodles, Naab has you covered.

Shawarmas, kabobs, and, of course, hummus, are all widely-known staples of Turkish cuisine. If you want to find great Turkish food in LA, head to Hummus House in Hawthorne and experience the authentic flavors and friendly service this family-owned eatery offers its customers, many of whom have now become regulars.

Not only is all the food in Hummus House halal, but it is also specifically Zabiha halal. This means that it goes an extra step towards following the recommended halal method of preparation, in that all the animals used for food are hand slaughtered in as humane and painless a way as possible without machine involvement. For those who find this part of the meat preparation important, both for halal and humane reasons, Hummus House is a great place to eat tasty meals while adhering to halal principles.

Speaking of Zabiha halal, there's a burger joint in Los Angeles that sources all its meat this way called Urban Skillet. This cool, laidback restaurant in the trendy NoHo Arts District serves burgers that have been reviewed by some customers as the best burgers in the city, so they have to be doing something right. 

Though Urban Skillet serves its food fast and the dress code is most definitely casual, the ambiance is warm and inviting, with heat lamps dotting a charming wooden patio area full of outdoor seating. Drop by NoHo or the restaurant's Santa Monica location for some halal burger takeout or have a nice evening out with your partner, your friends, or the entire family. Our favorites include the Smac N' Cheese Burger and the Truffle Banger.

Thanks in part to a large population of Mexican and Central American immigrants in the city, Los Angeles definitely knows how to do a taco right; you can't walk more than a few blocks without hitting a taco truck or stand. Now, Cedar's Tacos is here to serve this LA staple Zabiha halal style to satisfy customers who have been looking for halal Mexican cuisine.

Head down to Bell between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight or 1 a.m., depending on the day (except when it's closed on Mondays and Sundays), to try the carne asada tacos and birria quesadillas, two of the most popular items on the menu. You know the restaurant uses the freshest meat available, as it's actually located just outside a halal meat market.

According to Eater LA, one of the best restaurants in the San Fernando Valley happens to be a halal Sri Lankan restaurant in Tarzana by the name of Apey Kade, meaning "our store" in Sinhalese. Thankfully, it's also one of the more affordable options in this part of town, so you can sample great halal food at a budget-friendly price. The food is incredibly authentic as owners Hashim and Rodrigo, who run this family-operated eatery, immigrated directly from the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. 

Though you can't go wrong with any item on the menu, the fish curry and string hoppers stand out. Sri Lankan string hoppers are thin noodles that have been pressed into flat discs, combined with sambal and a protein of your choice. After you are served, you will get a kind of coconut gravy known as kiri hodi to pour over your meal, creating a delicious sweet and savory mix that sits beautifully on the palate.

Papi founded his taco and churro stand after realizing he missed the street food of his childhood in his native Mexico, and couldn't find anything to completely replace it in Los Angeles. Today, he uses a traditional wood oven and top-notch halal meats sourced from Mexico to impart the same flavors he recalls growing up with into the Mexican street food he cooks in his restaurants.

Over time, Papi upgraded from a stand to several storefronts all around LA, from Santa Monica to Vine Street, but the authentic quality of his street food hasn't changed at all. Order a mulita or quesataco bite, or stick with Papi's original entrees like the sampler plate, which includes a taco, quesadilla, quesataco, mulita, and consomé. This is a great option for someone who wants to get a taste of most of what Papi Tacos and Churros have to offer.

Simpang Asia brings Indonesian street food to life at its locations in the Venice and Palms neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Though the vast majority of the menu is halal, be sure to check the description of items before ordering as there are a couple of dishes that contain non-halal ingredients. Try snacks like lemper, a sweet rice roll that contains coconut chicken, or the fried fish and egg cake known as pempek.

Other than street food staples, the menu has a list of rice and noodle dishes that customers can order. Nasi Goreng is the Indonesian take on fried rice and the Indonesian national dish. You also can't go wrong with an order of Laksa, a curry noodle soup with shrimp, squid, fish balls, and a whole lot of vegetables.

This Mediterranean restaurant serves classics like kebobs, wraps, and gyro, including a surf & turf kebob plate that combines chicken, beef, shrimp, and salmon kebob skewers to create a truly unique combination. Though a well-frequented place for dining on La Cienega, Quebobs has also become a popular spot for take-out and delivery thanks to its delicious flavors, unfussy meals, and fast service.

With a classic LA attitude towards food, Quebobs takes pride in sourcing all its meat from local farms, ensuring it is sustainable and fresh as well as delicious and, most importantly of all, halal. As is the story with quite a few other LA restaurants, Quebobs started as a food stand and became a restaurant after its vast popularity convinced the owner to buy a permanent restaurant location.