The Tastiest Halal in Boston

Garlic 'n Lemons

★★★★☆ 4.1 (665) • $

"This is a solid Mediterranean spot. I tried their spicy beef shawarma plate with fattoush, garlic dip, rice and potatoes, and their spicy garlic sauce. The highlight of the meal was definitely the garlic dip and spicy garlic sauce, which went perfectly with everything! The garlic flavor was super strong. I liked how the spicy garlic sauce had a tanginess to it which balanced out the savory, meaty flavors in the shawarma.The portion was pretty big so I ended up having leftovers. I discovered that the garlic dip completely changes texture when reheated (the oil and garlic split), but it just turned into a very tasty garlic oil.The rice and potatoes were a generous portion but I thought they were just okay. They were good accompaniments to the meat and sauces but were a little plain on their own.We also tried their signature burger which was quite dry and not super impressive. I would much rather get their plates over their burger."

Guru The Caterer

★★★★☆ 4.3 (490) • $

"Have been ordering delivery here fairly regularly during COVID. Happy that they seem to limit the plastic....The food is amazing. Great flavors and perfectly finished. Will warn that the food is fairly spicy....so make sure to order items that will cool the heat (raita). Good portion sizes.....always end up with a lot of left overs, and price is very fair. (Love the samosas, and the biryanis....but beware of the heat...if you can't handle spicy not the place for you.)"

Shawarma Falafel

★★★★☆ 4.3 (481)

"Food was terrific and delicious. There was a little bit of a wait since there were only 2 people working. The man who helped us was very nice. We had the beef platter with rice, falafel and hummus. It was so freakin good! We also had the chicken shawarma with fries and that was also outstanding. First time having Lebanese food and we were totally impressed. A worthy 4.5 star rating!"

The Kebab Factory

★★★★☆ 3.6 (569) • $$

"There are three restaurants I will solidly, loyally return to on every trip to Cambridge because time and time again, their food makes me say "damn, this is good." Kebab Factory is one - hopefully I've reviewed the other two but won't steal KF's thunder by revealing them here. There is so much variety here in the menu, you'd be right to be suspicious. But all of it is actually good. So you score twice: you'll never get sick of the place, and you'll discover new food even if you're very familiar with Indian and Pakistani foods (unless you're of that background and maybe you know more from home than I did in my upbringing). The vegetarian vegetable and paneer korma is super! I love going here for the lunch buffet. Even the chai is extra delicious and reliable. The TV during the meal can be annoying but everything else is awesome. Only have love for this place!"

Gyro & Kebab House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (337) • $$

"Moving from California to Massachusetts was a big change, but finding Gyro and Kebab House made it all feel like home. This chill Turkish spot serves up some of the best food I've ever had, and I knew I hit the jackpot as soon as I walked in.Families sitting around, tucking into their meals, and a décor that's like a passport to Turkey, it just feels right. You order at the counter then snag a table, and before you know it, warm Turkish bread lands with a side of yogurt and hot sauce. Now let me tell you, this bread is next-level. Fresh, puffy, and it's never been anything but perfect. Try it with the spicy dip, and you're in for a treat.When it comes to the main event, I'm a creature of habit. I go for the mixed grill plate, with an extra kick of jalapenos. The gyro is a taste knockout, and the beef and lamb kebabs are seasoned so well you'd think they had a PhD in flavor. Then there's the chicken kebab - tender, juicy, and full of seasoning. The rice is a tasty sidekick, and everything on that plate tastes like it's made with a little extra love.What keeps me coming back, though, isn't just the food. The folks here treat you like family. The service is speedy, the food is always fresh and hot, and I've never left feeling anything but satisfied. The consistency of both the flavor and service here is something special.So, if you're in Massachusetts and looking for a place that'll hit the spot every time, you've got to try Gyro and Kebab House. I can't wait for my next visit. Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

Sams Falafel & Shawarma

★★★★★ 4.5 (262) • $

"So I'm new to the area and glad to see that Sam's Falafel place is quite within walking distance. I ordered through DoorDash but apparently when I got there the owner Sam (I assumed) were quite critical about DoorDash and I definitely understand it can be tough for small business to survive in today's COVID climate. So I would sympathize with him when he gets heated about the situation. Personally I'll definitely be ordering directly with them in the future.I had a wait a little bit when I arrived for food pick up but the wait was definitely well worth it. They were quite amazing. One of the most juicy and tasty Lamb Shawarma I've tasted and the Falafel was really tasty and fresh too and not dry. The garlic does seem a little strong but while they sandwiches are warm and hot they go quite well in my opinion. So I definitely wish them all the success and continue to produce delicious sandwiches."

Azama Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (344) • $

"Updating my review because I had the chicken shawarma and lamb shawarma plate and this place is amazing! The meat is perfectly cooked -- very flavorful without having a raw gamey taste other places often have. Service is solid. I can attest this is definitely one of Boston's hidden treasures and entire menu is Halal. Can confirm there is sitting area -- definitely casual. Will be back very soon, I want to try other parts of their menu."

Falafel King

★★★★☆ 4.1 (273) • $

"Wow that was good. I hadn't gone to FK for years but after a vacation of too much meat, a falafel wrap sounded good. And it was, crispy falafel and lots of salad to make it feel more healthy. I get garlic sauce instead of tahini and it's yummy. It feels like it could have been wrapped a little better but not a big deal, food is ready in a minute and hits the spot."

Ali Baba

★★★★☆ 3.9 (257) • $$

"Small place (seats 10-15) with an unassuming store front, on a busy/trafficky street. Passed by so many times but never thought to come in, till I came across all the positive reviews and think I should give it a go.Walked in right around noon and found the place empty but with frequent call-ins, then few other trickled in to sit down -- seems like all locals who've been there done that.Settled with a couple spread/dip, a salad, and a mixed grill, with baklava as dessert. Lady in the store was very nice, working nonstop to handle front of house from taking orders to wiping tables down. She was attentive enough to tell us to inform her when we are done with our meal so she would then bring us the dessert.Everything on the plate was simply DELICIOUS. Flavorful spread/dip and rice, meat was tender and yum. Definitely a splurge for lunch for 2, but with the variety of proteins and portion size (had enough leftovers for both), that's actually cheaper than each of us getting a regular plate.Wished I had time to try their coffee. Maybe next visit!"

Black Seed Cafe & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (294) • $

"Food was delicious! We tried Black seed based off a recommendation and glad we had it. Good seating available and service was great. Employees were really helpful and brought our order to us when it was ready. We went with the shawarma chicken and rice plate and a chicken kabob and rice plate. It comes with salad and garlic sauce for the chicken. The sauce was delicious, and the rice was so soft and fluffy. The chicken was very flavorful and delicious. Salad was great too and came with dressing. For the price it's a lot of food and we had leftovers which was convenient. Location is right next to Boston commons as well which makes easy to stop by!"

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4 (223) • $$

"I've been meaning to go to Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine for quite some time, given it's in my neighborhood! It's a pretty small spot, with just a few tables, so I think most people do takeout. To see the menu, there's a barcode on the table, and then you order with your phone. At the end of your meal, you pay at the front counter.In terms of food, we ordered the Meat Naan and Dry Fried Noodle. The Meat Naan was quite heavy, but absolutely delicious. I'd recommend splitting it, but even then, you'll probably have leftovers. The Dried Fried Noodle was the star of the show. It had a spicy sauce that was addicting! I just wish there was a bit more meat in the dish. I hope to come back again soon!"

Priya Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (217) • $$

"Urgh.... Disappointing experience on Saturday. I had praised this restaurant so much to my cousin visiting from Canada. We ordered the Gobi Manchuria ($14), and Lamb Vindaloo ($18!). Gobi Manchuria was 'ok', Lamb Vindaloo was really disappointing. As my cousin pointed out too, it felt like cubed lamb in tomato paste. Bleh....And, the white rice was stale! Tasted like old stale rice.Two dishes, over $30. And it wasn't even good anymore. Thanks but no thanks. We're not going back.Plenty of other Indian restaurants to explore closeby."

Falafel Corner

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (283) • $

"We stopped by at Felafel Corner during a quick stop at Harvard Square. I had heard the reminiscences from my fiancé during past visits and had to try it for myself. I ordered the lamb shawarma plate which also came with a side order of salad. The lamb was very well seasoned and the hot sauce was quite hot which I appreciated. The salad tasted very fresh, and paired nicely with the white sauce. And the portion sizes were very generous, enough for 2 meals. I appreciated the requirement for masks before entering the business, and there wasn't much room inside so you could only place an order for pickup. I definitely recommend stopping by whenever you're in the area to satisfy your middle eastern cuisine cravings!"

Darbar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (214) • $$

"Been to this place a lot of times. Good Pakistani and halal food. I love their breakfast buffet on weekends. Great for weekend halwa puri nashta. Their Nihari is great too. Place is cozy and clean. Service is good. This place caters parties and events too."

Mumbai Spice

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (254)

"Vague memory from eating there years ago - I thought the food was well-made, with really pointed flavors that worked well together, and good heat on the dishes. A more recent visit, had the Hakka stir-fry noodle which was less successful; the noodles were both too salty and too sweet ... it tasted like typical lo mein at local Chinese restaurant.Then the chicken tikka masala was more decent ... nice bits of chicken ensconced in a creamy tomato sauce. I would have liked more complexity of flavors in the dish but it was solid. Great accompanying chutneys including a mint ... the lunch special comes with some plain Naan which is hot and chewy."

Fattoush Grill & Bakery

★★★★★ 4.7 (114) • $$

"I've been eager to try Fattoush as I am a big fan of middle eastern-Mediterranean cuisine. We stopped in around 7:15pm on a Saturday night and were promptly seated in a fairly empty restaurant, though the dining room quickly filled up after we arrived.We started with an order of hummus and pita. The hummus was very good, as it was smooth and creamy, with pronounced tahini flavor. Forget that supermarket stuff...this is how hummus should be! Unfortunately, it was accompanied by thin, dry pita, that was oddly served in a plastic bag as if prepared for takeout.We shared a Sampler Platter and Shish Tawook. Both of the skinny grape leaves and meat and pumpkin kibbeh had nice flavor and texture. We preferred those to the mild sambousek and grilled kibbeh, which had a very fatty lamb flavor. We were glad to try a variety, but next time I'd stick to the kibbeh and grape leaves. All of the appetizers were enhanced by dipping in the hummus, so highly recommend getting at least one accompanying dip.The Shish Tawook was flavorful, but not spicy. A few pieces were dry though, and again, without any provided tahini, z'houg or garlic sauce, the hummus was necessary to complete the dish.The atmosphere is hard to describe. It is a step up from a counter service chain restaurant, as there is table service. But, water is only available in plastic bottles for sale, and the only drink options are cans/bottles (no glasses on table). It is very kid friendly...perhaps an understatement...even at 8:00pm on a Saturday night, noisy kids being ignored by their parents were blaring iPhones, etc. Certainly not the dining table etiquette our family practices, so just set your expectations accordingly. They do seem to do a significant takeout business, which might be the way to go. It's also a bit odd that they automatically charge a 3% credit card convenience fee without even asking how you will be paying.I'll likely return to try a shawarma sandwich or something, as they seem better suited for a grab and go casual set up, though the prices are more reflective of a full service dining experience."

Grand India

★★★★★ 4.8 (109) • $$

"Incredible food as always from the establishment! The ambience is great and this is a family place that really value service and it's customers. The food is extremely authentic and the owner here really cares about the quality of it all. Whenever I'm here, I always get a dosa and fry a few of their appetizers."

Turkish Lazuri Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (115) • $$

"A M A Z I N G !!! everything closes shortly after fenway shows get done so we were in a pinch. we went over to model bar for a drink and to find take out that wasn't fast food and saw turkish lazuri next door. i'm so happy we ordered from them. i got a chicken doner. my friend got lamb. both were packed with meat, super freaking delicious. the staff was nice and the pick up time was extremely quick ! food tasted great even the next morning"

Zam Zam

★★★★☆ 4.1 (141)

"I'm soooo happy I found this place! This place doesn't look like much from the outside, but most authentic and family owned businesses are like that around Boston. That's how you know that the food is authentic! The garlic naan was crispy and fluffy with a thin layer of butter! Not too buttery and look at those air pockets! That's what good naan looks like. The chicken achari was flavorful and the chicken was tender and moist. The rice was fluffy and warm and the combination of the achari and rice is a spoonful of warmth. The food tastes homemade and it feels like comfort food.Although the restaurant looks a bit old and needs some renovation, the food speaks for itself! Yum yum yum"

D'Guru Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (151) • $

"Not bad for indian food smack dab in the middle of dtx/south station. I did not get the combo the first time I went, i just opted for the chicken tikka masala with white rice and it was pretty good. I do wish the curry was more thick but it seems to be a trend to be thin. My meal was 7.50 and with a mango lassi included it was $10.50. The mango lassi/ other drinks are in the fridge to the left. The line goes very quick. Some seating if you get here early... the spice level was higher than mild so that got me sweatin'~ They take card which I like. The chicken was sort of dry ..but then some piece weren't..I would definitely return when I crave indian. I cannot even compare this against the food truck in dewey square because it's different than that."

Felcaro Pizzeria

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (205) • $

"Jason was so fantastic. He recommended the slice of pizza and I was so blown away. It tasted amazing. I loved it!! Such, high-quality pizza!!!"

1947 Norwood

★★★★☆ 4 (123) • $$

"There aren't many Indian restaurants (especially good ones) in the Boston area, more so to towards the south. We heard good reviews about 1947 Norwood and it's been on our list for a while. We went for the first time a month ago and by now we've already eaten thrice from there, haha.The first time we got a chai, filter coffee, the 1947 combo, and the spicy Kerala chicken appetizer. The coffee was spectacular with a sweet, milky taste and a frothy top. The chai couldn't compare to it. The chicken appetizer was crunchy and tasty but was served with a mayo sauce, but I'd prefer a more Indian dipping sauce like a green or red chutney. The 1947 combo came with two pieces of idli, one medu vada, sambar, and 2 types of chutney (coconut, peanut). Ooof, so good, comforting, and a delicious meal. The next two times, I ordered the same dish again - that's how wonderful it was. We also tried the rava masala dosa (would also highly recommend) and the dum chicken biryani which was good but lacked salt. It wasn't as spicy as some other restaurants make it, phew.The one thing that is just annoying is that, that tasty coffee is $5 a cup for a tiny tiny cup (smaller than a Starbucks grande) and served in a single-use cup rather than a traditional stainless steel cup. I think more people would be inclined to order if they changed the price structure or the quantity. One star less only for this point.Overall, would return again and again!"

Tarboosh

★★★★☆ 4.3 (103) • $$

"So delicious! If you come here for the pizza please try other dishes! I tried the beef kofta because I love it and I wanted something meaty. Not to mention that it is served with some really good perfectly crispy french fries! They have all sorts of Mediterranean goodness that I want to try and keep on trying. I saw Mansaf on the menu and it looks pretty legit to me! Is it authentic? I dunno I'm Mexican, but who cares, it is down right tasty! The prices are reasonable and the service is friendly!"

Bahnan's Bakery

★★★★★ 4.5 (88) • $

"Can I give this place 10 stars? The food was DELICIOUS and filling. I ordered a chicken shawarma plate with tahini sauce on the side. The plate included fresh and perfectly seasoned chicken, rice pilaf, hummus and a lovely salad that was plentiful with cucumbers. The tahini sauce was a great addition and surprisingly, they don't charge extra for it! Oh my word, this plate filled me right up and left me so satisfied! Staff was super friendly and my meal was completed right on time to pick up as soon as I walked in the door (I ordered over the phone). I'm just overall super impressed, as I came here on a whim with a craving for Mediterranean. I will definitely be returning on my next trip into Worcester!"

Dates and Olives Natick

★★★★☆ 3.6 (125)

"Great Food! Great Staff Delicious Hummus ! Service was excellent, laid back ambiance and plenty of seating !"

Halal Indian Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (144) • $$

"When I need my Indian food fix, I order from here. Their lamb curry is so good especially when you ask for it extra spicy. But the real star here is their coconut naan. Life changing and so good that I must order it every time. Just order it and thank me later, oh and pray that you don't get a burnt batch ."

Royal Punjab

★★★★☆ 3.5 (128) • $$

"We found this great little place just a short walk from the Hampton Inn Boston/Cambridge. They had a great selection of vegetarian dishes, and we chose the vegetable pakora, Paneer Kadai, garlic naan, and chai. All was very good. They appear to be family owned and operated. They advertise a daily lunch buffet for $9.95 which I would definitely try if in this area again."

Cafe Vanak

★★★★★ 4.5 (76)

"My teammate highly recommended me to try the Persian food here at cafe Vanak and it did not disappoint us.My hubby and I had lunch here last weekend and loved our meal.Hole in the wall kinda restaurant, super duper packed with lots of people. The service is quick and very approachable.We ordered the eggplant dip which was out of the world served with freshly baked lavash bread.We got the chicken koobedeh for main course served with flavoured yellow rice and grilled veggies. The meat was so tender it was melting in our mouth. No effort of chewing required. Must visit if you are in the Belmont area."

Punjabi Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (117)

"This place is never open for business, which is frustrating because there food is actually good! Wish I could say the same about the customer service though, or even basic phone manners! Twice now we have called and asked for pick up or dine in options and they say they are closed ( not like other places that close from 3-5, but closed and not taking orders) because they were "busy" !!! The latest incident happened last week . I called and asked to place an order for pick up and was told the same story " we are closed and not taking any more orders...." After getting more info I was told that "if you want, you can come work here on the weekends and i will give me food" I was surprised and didn't know what to say! After some thought, the whole situation makes sense . If the manager/ owner talks to customers this way, imagine how they talk to theirs employees. No wonder he can't get staff to come work for him !! It's a loose, loose, loose situations, owner looses staff, will eventually loose his business and we as customers loose by missing out on some good food! Hope they see this and make some positive changes . 2 stars because the food is amazing, but not worth getting spoken to that way!"

Shah’s Halal- Boston

★★★★☆ 3.8 (96)

"The food is actually pretty good, and they give you a good quantity too. Generous with the meat. HOWEVER, we ordered through postmates and got a staple mixed into our food. That is unacceptable. It wasn't on the edge of the food, it was hidden in the food. Also, there are no staples in the food packaging, so I'm not sure how it even got in there. This is an extremely dangerous food safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately."

Grill 352 & Kabab

★★★★☆ 4.1 (76)

"For whatever reason, England's #1 late night takeaway food hasn't caught on in the US. I am always surprised that Kebob shops never really caught on here in this country. There's nothing better than a plate of spicy rice and grilled meat to help soak up the grease after a long night of drinking. For lunch, it's a tasty and somewhat healthy option.The prices here aren't exactly cheap (in the UK you can get kebob and rice platter for about $7 US) ... here for a plate, you're looking at $13-$15 depending on the meat. They do have gyro meat wraps for around $8 which are pretty good. Just know that you'll get a LOT of food for your money. And there's really nothing quite like Kebob Shop rice. It's fluffy and flavorful. Imagine the best rice pilaf you ever had.The meat is marinated so it's super tender and flavorful. It's halal meat ... so it's sourced in an ethical way. All meat is cruel but you can at least take some comfort in the fact that Halal meat is as humane as you'll find when it comes to that. The white sauce included is the stuff of legend ... basically a hopped up version of ranch dressing. NYC Halal food stands have become legendary and a similar taste can be had here, albeit not mixed together into one plate or 'bowl-style' with white sauce as is more common in NYC.Each dish is made to order, so give yourself 15-20 min. to wait while your order is prepared. This won't be 'grab and go' the way it is in London. The taste is fresh, so what you pay for in wait time, you make up for in quality. You can order online for pick up but twice I've pre-ordered online and I got there and they had no record of the order. So now I just order in person and wait in the car.The menu is fairly extensive and the paper menu has more options than the web menu. There are lot of different combinations. They have currys, such as chicken tikka masala as well but I've not tried those. The inside is very basic ... the outside and kitchen/order area is not for the faint of hearted. While ordering from the window for takeout, try not to look into the kitchen area. Trust me, it's better you don't.Overall, if you are looking for very tasty, fresh and somewhat healthy food ... big portions and a not-so-typical experience ... look no further. If you want a super-spotless, fast service Chipotle-type of experience, this is not your spot. Try it once and you'll know whether or not it's your thing. I had it a few weeks ago for the first time and have been back 7 times since."

Nachlo

★★★★☆ 4.1 (73)

"This place was recommended by multiple people for authentic Pakistani food. I decided to try it out via UberEats. I ordered Chicken Botti, Chicken Biryani, and Beef Nihari.As a Pakistani myself, I definitely questioned the food when I saw the Nihari came with a side RICE and I had to order a Naan separately. Very odd. Eat your Nihari with Naan..not rice! Please owners..if you're reading this.. beef Nihari with side naan not rice. Other than that, the food was great. Probably the best desi food available in the Boston area. The biryani came with Raita that they call Nachlo sauce. The botti spice level can go up a couple of notches. Will definitely be back!"

Ashur Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (66)

"I booked a brunch reservation for 15 people here and could not be happier with the service! Abdullah was so nice and accommodating especially before his Friday after jummah prayer rush. I read reviews and knew I had to get in before! I had also read they don't have menus , but we were definitely given menus. I have to say that the chicken biryani they served was my favorite on the menu. I don't typically eat dark meat so I probably shouldn't have ordered lamb, but the rice, sauce, and salad were delicious. The chicken here is also made very well. My family loved their dishes including the Somalian beef stew with Somalian bread. I would highly recommend this place and would definitely go back!"

Nour Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (63)

"Nour Cafe further explains why I'm never afraid to try a gas station restaurant combination!I ordered the veggie combo plate, prepared by the chef himself. He was super kind and the presentation was on point! He also made sure I got a good picture! 10/10 service! On to the food.Everything about the meal was fresh and packed with diverse and complimentary flavors! Just check the pic! I'm eating less meat these days and I think I'll have to order Nour Cafe over and over again. I highly recommend stopping in and patronizing this business! The dessert options looked so awesome too! Next time..."

Little India Express

★★★★☆ 4.1 (59) • $

"Wow, what a great little Indian restaurant! They have lots of the "traditional" Indian dishes like butter chicken, vindaloo, tikka masala, aloo, gobi, etc. They also have some dishes that have a Chinese influence to them, like chili chicken and Himalayan momos and chow mein. We ended up ordering SIX different main dishes because it all sounded so good and everything was delicious! I like vegetarian dishes and really liked the mixed veg (many different veg in a curry sauce) and the sag chana (I think), which was chickpeas cooked in a spinach and garlic sauce (like saag paneer, but with chickpeas instead of cheese). The chicken vindaloo was excellent and had a bit of heat to it--perfect! The sukuti momos were really interesting and had somewhat of a bitter flavor with the topping. The dumpling was full of meat and flavor and really tasty.Overall an excellent flavor experience and I would definitely go back!"