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Overhead view of two Somali dishes on a pale peach tablecloth with white accents. One dish is chapati strips cooked in a tomato sauce with chunks of beef; the other is a beef biryani with multi-colored rice in shades of yellow and orange.
Tawakal plate (left) and beef biryani at Tawakal Halal Cafe.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

13 Excellent Halal-Friendly Restaurants Around Boston

Offering partially or fully halal menus, these restaurants serve the cuisines of Pakistan, Somalia, Turkey, and beyond

by Rachel Leah Blumenthal and Erika Adams Updated
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Tawakal plate (left) and beef biryani at Tawakal Halal Cafe.
| Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston
by Rachel Leah Blumenthal and Erika Adams Updated

The Greater Boston area is home to a bounty of restaurants that cater to halal dietary restrictions while covering a broad range of cuisines from Caribbean, Mediterranean, East Africa, and beyond. One might eat rotisserie chicken from a casual Indian restaurant in Medford Square, the best kebabs in town from a Pakistani counter hidden inside a Somerville convenience store, big plate chicken from one of the rare Uyghur restaurants in the region, and Somali food in Roxbury and East Boston.

Here’s a look at 13 excellent local restaurants with halal-friendly menus (either partially or fully halal). Note that halal restaurants in the United States may seek certification from one of several organizations — or may decide against certification but self-report the use of only, or some, halal ingredients — so it’s best to check directly with a restaurant to confirm whether its menu meets your needs.

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Zam Zam Restaurant

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Zam Zam, an Indian and Pakistani restaurant, is a solid halal-friendly option in Medford Square. The slow-cooked nihari dishes are a must, as are the flavor-packed biryani dishes.

42 MA-60, Medford, MA 02155
(781) 391-1200
(781) 391-1200
Takeout containers feature a thin brown beef stew, a seasoned biryani dish, and a sesame seed-studded flatbread.
Lamb biryani (left), beef nihari (center), and til wala naan from Zam Zam.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Kushari & Grill

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Egyptian restaurant Kushari & Grill features a fully halal and scratch-made menu, owner Mohamed Hassanein told Eater in late 2021 upon opening the restaurant in Medford. A native of Alexandria, Egypt, Hassanein previously ran the Mr. Kushari food truck in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Located right by Tufts, Kushari & Grill serves the namesake koshari, a popular street food in Egypt; hawawshi, dough stuffed with a spiced mix of ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and parsley; shawarma; kebabs; and more. Try the spicy falafel roll-up.

321 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155
(781) 874-1536
(781) 874-1536
Overhead view of takeout Egyptian food — a pita stuffed with ground meat sits in a pizza box, and there’s a container of grape leaves.
Hawawshi and grape leaves from Kushari & Grill.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Man-O-Salwa Kabob & Grill

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Pakistani restaurant Man-O-Salwa, a counter hidden inside a Union Square convenience store called S&S Market, has erratic hours, very little seating, and not much in the way of an up-to-date web presence. Still, it’s worth the effort the venture in; its kebabs, in particular, are among the best around.

66 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 764-5965
(617) 764-5965
Two kebabs, each made of a single long piece of ground meat, sit aside a big piece of naan.
Kebabs and naan from Man-O-Salwa in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

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One of the only Uyghur restaurants in the region, Silk Road is the place to go for big plate chicken, dry fried hand-pulled noodles, and lamb-stuffed naan.

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 945-1909
(617) 945-1909
A white plate holds a tangled pile of long, medium-thick noodles with beef, bell pepper strips, sesame seeds, and a bit of a brownish sauce clinging to the noodles.
Dry-fried noodles at Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine’s original Cambridge location.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Tawakal Halal Cafe

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East Boston’s acclaimed Tawakal Halal Cafe highlights Somali food with influences from other East African cuisines, as well as Middle Eastern and Mediterranean. The beef or vegetable sambusas are a must, as is the Tawakal plate — strips of chapati cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with beef, chicken, or spinach and chickpea stew. Try the shaah, the sweet and spiced house tea, hot or iced, and be sure to grab a bottle of the popular house hot sauce.

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 418-5890
(617) 418-5890
A close-up photo of a white plate filled with greens, yellow rice, and chicken.
Chicken biryani at Tawakal Halal Cafe.
Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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The Chicken & Rice Guys

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“We knew our halal grub would be a hit,” says the Chicken & Rice Guys team, which launched the food-truck-and-restaurant-and-catering mini empire back in 2012. As the name suggests, the rice plates are the highlight — seasoned rice topped with seasoned and grilled halal chicken or several other protein options, along with lettuce, toasted pita, and sauces. (The creamy garlic sauce is a fan favorite.) Currently, there are two restaurants in downtown Boston, one at the Seaport, and one in Everett.

280 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 423-0490
(617) 423-0490

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Darbar

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This Brighton favorite for Pakistani and Indian food, over a decade old, serves dishes such as magaz masala, haleem, and nihari; all meats are halal.

130 N Beacon St, Boston, MA 02135
(617) 779-8800
(617) 779-8800

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Shah's Halal Food

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This casual chain, which got its start as a food cart in Queens, is a reliable option, especially convenient for Berklee and Northeastern students. The menu features gyros such as lamb, platters such as falafel with rice, sandwiches such as a Philly cheesesteak, and more.

1124 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 936-3955
(617) 936-3955
An aluminum container of chicken and rice, topped with white sauce, sits on a bright red tray on a bright red table. A plastic fork and can of Coca-Cola are visible in the background.
Chicken over rice platter at Shah’s Halal Food.
Noah Fecks/Shah’s Halal Food

Ali Baba

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Ali Baba, sibling and neighbor to Mexican restaurant El Triunfo, is a popular spot for Turkish in the South End, and it offers late-night hours. (A newer Charlestown location under the Ali Baba name serves both Turkish and Mexican cuisine.) Diners will find dishes such as adana kebabs, doner, pide, and more.

145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 482-0654
(617) 482-0654

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Sufra Mediterranean Food

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Sufra, a casual Mediterranean spot in Fenway, offers a fully halal menu from lunch through late-night every day — shawarma wraps, falafel plates, manousheh, and more. Watch for daily specials, like mansaf and rice on Fridays. There are fresh juices, too.

52 Queensberry St, Boston, MA 02215
(781) 645-8080
(781) 645-8080
A cheesy flatbread cut into quarters sits in a pizza box on a casual restaurant patio on a sunny day.
Manousheh from Sufra.
Karen Wilber/Eater Boston

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Nachlo Mexican & Pakistani Cuisine

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Located on the edge of Mission Hill and Roxbury, this restaurant serves an unlikely combination of Pakistani and Mexican food. The menu leans more in the Pakistani direction, but on the Mexican side, there are tacos, nachos, burritos, and more — with Pakistani fillings among the options. Have a chana masala quesadilla, for example, or an aloo gobi taco. The restaurant describes its food as “100% halal.”

1443 Tremont St, Roxbury, MA 02120
(617) 397-3200
(617) 397-3200

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Ashur Restaurant

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Steps from the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury lies Ashur Restaurant. It is a popular spot for halal Somali and Middle Eastern food, served in heaping portions of meat and rice. Lamb dishes, such as a cumin-spiced braised lamb and a lamb shank, are the bestsellers here; the Somali chai is also popular, made with clove, cinnamon, cardamom, and optional sweetened condensed milk.

291 Roxbury St, Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 427-0599
(617) 427-0599
A single lamb shank sits on a white plate with a floral border next to a big pile of yellow rice and a small side salad.
Lamb shank at Ashur Restaurant.
Korsha Wilson/Eater Boston

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Ali's Roti Restaurant

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Ali’s is the stop for unfussy plates of tasty West Indian fare, from curry goat and stewed oxtail to chicken and beef wrapped in flaky rounds of roti. All the meats are halal, according to shop employees. (There’s a second location in Roxbury.)

1188 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126
(617) 298-9850
(617) 298-9850

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Zam Zam Restaurant

42 MA-60, Medford, MA 02155

Zam Zam, an Indian and Pakistani restaurant, is a solid halal-friendly option in Medford Square. The slow-cooked nihari dishes are a must, as are the flavor-packed biryani dishes.

42 MA-60, Medford, MA 02155
(781) 391-1200
(781) 391-1200
Takeout containers feature a thin brown beef stew, a seasoned biryani dish, and a sesame seed-studded flatbread.
Lamb biryani (left), beef nihari (center), and til wala naan from Zam Zam.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Kushari & Grill

321 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155

Egyptian restaurant Kushari & Grill features a fully halal and scratch-made menu, owner Mohamed Hassanein told Eater in late 2021 upon opening the restaurant in Medford. A native of Alexandria, Egypt, Hassanein previously ran the Mr. Kushari food truck in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Located right by Tufts, Kushari & Grill serves the namesake koshari, a popular street food in Egypt; hawawshi, dough stuffed with a spiced mix of ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and parsley; shawarma; kebabs; and more. Try the spicy falafel roll-up.

321 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155
(781) 874-1536
(781) 874-1536
Overhead view of takeout Egyptian food — a pita stuffed with ground meat sits in a pizza box, and there’s a container of grape leaves.
Hawawshi and grape leaves from Kushari & Grill.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Man-O-Salwa Kabob & Grill

66 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02143

Pakistani restaurant Man-O-Salwa, a counter hidden inside a Union Square convenience store called S&S Market, has erratic hours, very little seating, and not much in the way of an up-to-date web presence. Still, it’s worth the effort the venture in; its kebabs, in particular, are among the best around.

66 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 764-5965
(617) 764-5965
Two kebabs, each made of a single long piece of ground meat, sit aside a big piece of naan.
Kebabs and naan from Man-O-Salwa in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

One of the only Uyghur restaurants in the region, Silk Road is the place to go for big plate chicken, dry fried hand-pulled noodles, and lamb-stuffed naan.

645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 945-1909
(617) 945-1909
A white plate holds a tangled pile of long, medium-thick noodles with beef, bell pepper strips, sesame seeds, and a bit of a brownish sauce clinging to the noodles.
Dry-fried noodles at Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine’s original Cambridge location.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Tawakal Halal Cafe

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

East Boston’s acclaimed Tawakal Halal Cafe highlights Somali food with influences from other East African cuisines, as well as Middle Eastern and Mediterranean. The beef or vegetable sambusas are a must, as is the Tawakal plate — strips of chapati cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with beef, chicken, or spinach and chickpea stew. Try the shaah, the sweet and spiced house tea, hot or iced, and be sure to grab a bottle of the popular house hot sauce.

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128
(617) 418-5890
(617) 418-5890
A close-up photo of a white plate filled with greens, yellow rice, and chicken.
Chicken biryani at Tawakal Halal Cafe.
Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Chicken & Rice Guys

280 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108

“We knew our halal grub would be a hit,” says the Chicken & Rice Guys team, which launched the food-truck-and-restaurant-and-catering mini empire back in 2012. As the name suggests, the rice plates are the highlight — seasoned rice topped with seasoned and grilled halal chicken or several other protein options, along with lettuce, toasted pita, and sauces. (The creamy garlic sauce is a fan favorite.) Currently, there are two restaurants in downtown Boston, one at the Seaport, and one in Everett.

280 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 423-0490
(617) 423-0490

Darbar

130 N Beacon St, Boston, MA 02135

This Brighton favorite for Pakistani and Indian food, over a decade old, serves dishes such as magaz masala, haleem, and nihari; all meats are halal.

130 N Beacon St, Boston, MA 02135
(617) 779-8800
(617) 779-8800

Shah's Halal Food

1124 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115

This casual chain, which got its start as a food cart in Queens, is a reliable option, especially convenient for Berklee and Northeastern students. The menu features gyros such as lamb, platters such as falafel with rice, sandwiches such as a Philly cheesesteak, and more.

1124 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 936-3955
(617) 936-3955
An aluminum container of chicken and rice, topped with white sauce, sits on a bright red tray on a bright red table. A plastic fork and can of Coca-Cola are visible in the background.
Chicken over rice platter at Shah’s Halal Food.
Noah Fecks/Shah’s Halal Food

Ali Baba

145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

Ali Baba, sibling and neighbor to Mexican restaurant El Triunfo, is a popular spot for Turkish in the South End, and it offers late-night hours. (A newer Charlestown location under the Ali Baba name serves both Turkish and Mexican cuisine.) Diners will find dishes such as adana kebabs, doner, pide, and more.

145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 482-0654
(617) 482-0654

Sufra Mediterranean Food

52 Queensberry St, Boston, MA 02215

Sufra, a casual Mediterranean spot in Fenway, offers a fully halal menu from lunch through late-night every day — shawarma wraps, falafel plates, manousheh, and more. Watch for daily specials, like mansaf and rice on Fridays. There are fresh juices, too.

52 Queensberry St, Boston, MA 02215
(781) 645-8080
(781) 645-8080
A cheesy flatbread cut into quarters sits in a pizza box on a casual restaurant patio on a sunny day.
Manousheh from Sufra.
Karen Wilber/Eater Boston

Nachlo Mexican & Pakistani Cuisine

1443 Tremont St, Roxbury, MA 02120

Located on the edge of Mission Hill and Roxbury, this restaurant serves an unlikely combination of Pakistani and Mexican food. The menu leans more in the Pakistani direction, but on the Mexican side, there are tacos, nachos, burritos, and more — with Pakistani fillings among the options. Have a chana masala quesadilla, for example, or an aloo gobi taco. The restaurant describes its food as “100% halal.”

1443 Tremont St, Roxbury, MA 02120
(617) 397-3200
(617) 397-3200

Ashur Restaurant

291 Roxbury St, Roxbury, MA 02119

Steps from the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury lies Ashur Restaurant. It is a popular spot for halal Somali and Middle Eastern food, served in heaping portions of meat and rice. Lamb dishes, such as a cumin-spiced braised lamb and a lamb shank, are the bestsellers here; the Somali chai is also popular, made with clove, cinnamon, cardamom, and optional sweetened condensed milk.

291 Roxbury St, Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 427-0599
(617) 427-0599
A single lamb shank sits on a white plate with a floral border next to a big pile of yellow rice and a small side salad.
Lamb shank at Ashur Restaurant.
Korsha Wilson/Eater Boston

Ali's Roti Restaurant

1188 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126

Ali’s is the stop for unfussy plates of tasty West Indian fare, from curry goat and stewed oxtail to chicken and beef wrapped in flaky rounds of roti. All the meats are halal, according to shop employees. (There’s a second location in Roxbury.)

1188 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126
(617) 298-9850
(617) 298-9850

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