The Tastiest Halal in Irvine

Burger Boss

★★★★☆ 4.1 (588) • $$

"Big props to Anthony!!! Super friendly and knowledgeable guy! We ordered the ultimate Boss and original Boss with onions two ways. The ultimate Boss had so much flavor. Two patties, chipotle mayo and pepper jack cheese, (what a combo!) The original Boss was phenomenal. The beef had a nice crispy edge, American cheese, and Boss sauce. The fries and chicken bites were yummy. The fries were fresh-cut goodness! Their shakes are a must order!! We ordered one chocolate shake, then ordered a second chocolate shake. Lots of tables here. They have a few TVs and self ordering kiosks, when it gets busy. This is our new burger spot, can definitely taste the freshness and quality ingredients."

Belacan Grill - Malaysian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"I wish I could give a place six stars sometimes! The food is 10/10. Everything we tried was so good. The mee goreng was incredibly flavorful, the fish fillet was so tender and was perfect with the rich curry sauce, the nasi lemak is such a picture of southeast asian cuisine (but if you're not a fan of shrimp paste beware because it's strong). And I forgot the name of the beef dish but it was so soft and had a peppery umami to it plus the sweetness of the onions made it a perfect balance. The ambiance is so nice and cozy, and it makes sense given the owners. This is a family owned business, and the family cooks and serves and it just made sense why the place was so homey. Ken and Kim, thanks for making our night incredibly fun and memorable. My girls and I will definitely be back We also catered with them for a dinner and the food was just incredible. Our classmates were completely unfamiliar with Malaysian food but I saw them coming back for seconds and thirds! They also accommodated our need to have the food earlier which was just so nice AND they added in a hainan chicken that we did not order??? So kind and generous. Truly a special place in OC, you don't find a lot of restaurants like this :')))"

Charminar Indian Restaurant & Catering - Orange County

★★★★☆ 4 (117) • $$

"We tried to place a phone order for takeout but were unable to for some reason so we had to go in person to order/come back to pick up. Service is otherwise fast and our large food order was ready in 30 minutes. The entrees come with basmati rice which was nice! I'm hoping this location will have lunch specials in the future for lower prices. From what we ordered the Butter Chicken was our favorite but the Chicken Sukka is quite spicy! The flavor is still good but beware if you can't handle spice."

Dave's Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 4 (200) • $$

"I keep seeing Dave's Hot Chicken everywhere in the OC so it got me so curious. I finally decided to try it with my husband when my brother said he was going to DoorDash Dave's. I got the combo with 1 slider and 1 chicken tender. First bite of the slider was delicious! Loved the bread (I normally don't like bread), the chicken was surprisingly juicy (I 'm very picky with chicken because they tend to be dry). The cheese sauce was just OK, I prefer Fudruckers cheese dip (if they're still around) haha!The chicken tender by itself was just okay. It's better as a slider. Fries were seasoned, so I didn't like that. I'd go back to Dave's and actually eat at the restaurant to experience it fresh and maybe there's an option to do plain fries. Overall, great chicken sandwich!"

Sahara Falafel

★★★★☆ 4.2 (916) • $$

"Today once again, I visited Sahara Falafel. The customer service was warm and welcoming. The food was exceptional, well seasoned and portions were great. I ordered the combo sandwich and my husband order a falafel sandwich along with a humus plate. Deeelicious! It was so nice to dine in and pause for a moment from our busy day. Thank you, (JazakAllah khairen) Sahara Falafel for being a halal staple in our community."

Fanous Mediterranean Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (415) • $$

"My first time visiting, I arrived at 5:30 pm on a Tuesday and was the first patron. I was there for dinner specifically as a friend recommend I try this place. The food was fine... average to be honest. Compared to other mediterranean establishments i've dined at, i've had better food. My biggest gripe was the service. NON EXISTENT. After they take your order, then they never check on you. Then they drop your dish and never return or ask if you need anything. I sat there parched needing water most of my visit. They we're not busy by any means so I can't give them the benefit of that. I actually say my original waiter smoking hookah and laughing with friends at another table. I finally flagged down the busser to bring water for the table (which was $3 bottles) and the bill too. This place in my opinion is better served as a lounge or hookah bar, rather than full service restaurant. I will not be returning."

Ma's House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (426) • $$

"The service could have been better. The waiter didn't really check in on us and didn't appear to be too friendly. Aside from that, the food was good! The portion sizes are huge! Two people can share a plate! We ordered the beef with green onions and chicken fried rice."

Win Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4 (384) • $

"Best pad Thai I've ever had and my friend thinks the yellow curry chicken is her favorite dish! Welcoming family business I've been going for the past 6 years and I keep always coming back. Thank you for such wonderful meal"

Street Tawa BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"Had the Jalapeño smash burger & brisket sandwich. Both were amazing! The smash burger bun had a great crispy texture, but soft inside bun, the meat was perfectly cooked.The brisket was juicy & tender, just how brisket should be, with great flavor! It had just the right amount of sauce & toasted sliced bread halves to deliver that delicious brisket."

Pita Pita

★★★★☆ 4.2 (732) • $$

"So good, highly recommend. Rosario was so sweet and helpful as it was first time at the restaurant! My favorite item from the chicken bowl was surprisingly the lemon garlic potatoes! Cooked perfectly! Chicken, Lemon Chicken Pita was also delicious. Hummus and rice good too! Ambiance was chill and large room to dine in. Thank you Pita Pita for a great lunch!"

I Can Barbecue Korean Grill - Fountain Valley

★★★★★ 4.5 (74)

"Tried I Can Barbeque on its second day of opening which is also Valentine's Day. At Brookhurst near Ellis, next to Shin Sen Gumi. The meats were decent, and while the service had some rough edges, they were clearly making an effort to ensure everyone had a good experience. Understandably, they're still adjusting during their soft opening.At $40 per person, the price felt a bit high, though that seems to be the standard for KBBQ these days. One nice touch was the included ramen at the end, which was a pleasant surprise. The host David was very nice and helpful to us, bringing us any forgotten orders or extra utensils. Ordering is done via your phone with a QR code unique to your table, so they bring your raw meats to you as fast as possible. My favorite was the marinated Korean short ribs, the classic 3 bones cross cut with thr sweet soy garlic marinade. It melted in your mouth. The soybean stew was also very good, and the banchan and salad were serviceable. I liked that they give you both the rice paper wraps and the radish wraps here. Wifey and I ended up eating 8 full plates of meat, various vegetables and side dishes, finishing with the ramen together in Lady & the Tramp sharing over the hot grill pot. Overall, the restaurant has potential if they continue to improve. It might be worth revisiting once they've had time to settle in. No alcohol yet as they wait for their ABC license."

M JOY

★★★★★ 4.9 (111)

"Lamb lovers, M Joy is your temple. The lamb double rib plate at first glance may seem simple, but my god what a fantastic ode to lamb. Served on a fluffy bed of carrot studded rice, the ribs are absolutely divine. I honestly can not recall every tasting lamb this tender. It practically melts in your mouth. The plate is accompanied by a clear lamb broth, pickles, pickled carrots, pickled onions, and chili sauce. The restaurant while small, is very clean. The service is friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is quite relaxing. I didn't even notice the pleasant jazz playing at a low volume until I had finished my meal. If you enjoy lamb, make it a point to try M Joy."

Gourmet Burger

★★★★☆ 4 (986) • $$

"I just elevated my tastebuds burger game after this delicious lip smacking experience. This is a Halal friendly spot that has a tasty gem I must tell you about. I ordered the Lebanese burger that came with your basic sesame bun, cheese and beef patty. What made this burger super exciting to my tastebuds was the coleslaw. I'm not sure exactly what it was but it leveled up the burger and with the added fries mashed up inside! Oh Man! I was like Dayuuum! This is like a Ratatouille moment for me with all the elements working together after the first bite. The last time I had a first time winner was my beloved Fatburger and that's saying a lot. The service was great and a big shoutout to Mo! Plenty of seating inside and patio seating also on the side of the joint plus plenty of parking too. And that's my take on this joint, Peace out."

SAJJ Mediterranean

★★★★☆ 4.1 (314) • $$

"I love this healthy fast food restaurant. It is so close to where I swim laps. It is also next to a popular restaurant that I used to go to(Everyday Eatery) who got rid of their vegan options (what shame!) so I didn't go back to that restaurant nor this shopping center. Wow, now Sajj will be my favorite place to go to, here. It is a 'Chipotle' style for Mediterranean food. I know it is a fast food but it is much healthier than most. There are lots of vegan options(marked with a 'V'). A bowl with rice or salad, a wrap, or a pita sandwich is the option for vegans, with Falafels. The price is $11.75 for any of the style. I picked vegan bowl with rice then add eggplant ragout, sumac cauliflower, hummus, cucumbers tomatoes mix, cherry peppers mix, lettuce, and spicy tahini sauce on top. One can add many more from the table that is marked with a 'V' and there are a lot. The rice was tumeric rice. I sprinkled some sumac on top. The lentil soup is included with it. For $11.75 it is a huge deal! I could not finish this bowl as it is a lot of food. There were 4 falafels! These falafels are one of the best I have tried.Unfortunately there is only 1 in SoCal. It is a fast food chain or franchise restaurant and started in Northern California. We need more! Thank you so much for providing so many vegan options. My recommendation is not to go during meal times as it can be crowded. The line never stopped when I was there. It is so popular. The parking can be hard to get too during meal times too. So after 1 pm would be best."

Zach's Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (121) • $$

"Located in the Metro Pointe plaza, this fast-casual eatery is at the far end of the complex. They do the popular Nashville chicken sandwich thing (although they also serve beef burgers).All ordering is done at a kiosk then you take a seat and they call your name when it's ready. A sweet and helpful young woman came out to check on me as I started to order on the kiosk to let me know she was there to help if I had any trouble and sure enough I quickly did. I thought the screen froze up but it just needed to be swiped upward. Quit laughing; I'm old and feeble minded.Lots of indoor seating as well as outdoor seating is available. I sat inside and ate my Zach's Original sandwich (two chicken tenders in a brioche bun with pickles and their secret sauce), crinkle fries, and fresh squeezed lemonade. You can order your chicken at various spice levels but I got mine at the "easy" level. Which is the same a "pretty much none".The chicken had a delicious crispy exterior and juicy, quality, white-meat chicken beneath. These were the best chicken tenders I've had. The brioche bun tried to hold up but was too fresh and soft to hold together for the duration so I was picking up pieces with my fingers before I was finished. The lemonade was superb - I really liked it and would push you to get it as your drink if you like lemonade. The fries would have been good if not mercilessly over salted. After eating several I think my tongue dried up to resemble a raisin. Instead of ketchup I got a small container of their smoky sauce for dipping which I thought was pretty tasty and lived up to its name.I randomly ate here after going to a movie in this plaza and got lucky - I'm glad I tried it."

Tasa2Go

★★★★★ 4.8 (596) • $$

"A small, confusing parking lot lies Tasa2Go. Delicious Egyptian food at a decent price.I love that they offer items you don't normally get at restaurants including brain and liver. These organs are delicious if done correctly, and Tasa2Go does a decent job at it.The Liver and brain we ordered was decent. A little on the dry side for our taste, but the flavor was very, very good. Paired nicely with the rice.The pickled eggplant was not great (barely even pickled?) Maybe I'm just used to Asian pickled vegetables, where the sour is strong. This tasted more like plain eggplant. This goes the same for the mixed pickles. I'd probably try a different side next time.Overall I would love to come again to try their other items including their sandwiches, and fish plates.Also gotta try that Turkish coffee!"

Barbonzai Lebanese Eatery

★★★★★ 4.6 (112) • $$

"One of the best Mediterranean foods I ever had in GA. Highly recommend . Service is a bit on the slower side, ambiance is exceptional."

Hummus Way

★★★★★ 4.7 (552) • $$

"The ingredients here are so fresh, and the chicken was grilled beautifully. I got a bowl with half greens, half white rice, paprika chicken, an assortment of veggies, three dips, and topped it off with sumac and roasted chickpeas. I'm sorry the picture isn't super aesthetic, as I started eating before I took the picture. The roasted chickpeas were so delicious - crunchy and somehow slightly chewy at the same time. It feels like cava but more authentic when it comes to the ingredients and spices. The lady serving us was very kind and helpful as well. There's three tables inside the restaurant, so not too much seating just fyi. I'll be coming back again soon!"

Kababji Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (114)

"I came here twice because I love their kibbeh nayyeh. I love the taste of Mardakoush. I will definitely come back."

I Can Barbecue Korean Grill | Irvine

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"This is our new favorite KBBQ! They have great options to choose from. The staff at this location are great every time as well. Always making sure the bbq's are being switched out and bringing out the food very quick. You get to choose 3 item at a time to order. The wait is never too long either."

Anjappar Orange County

★★★★☆ 3.8 (444) • $$

"Fantastic restaurant. Friendly service, delicious food, and parking was not difficult to obtain. I did find it a bit odd that the menu did not appear to have any lamb options, but they made up for it by having a seemingly greater variety of sweet/dessert options than most Indian eateries I have visited!P.S.Probably a good idea to clarify requested spice levels during ordering, if you palate is used to fare on the milder side."

Zait & Zaatar

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"~ WOW JUST WOW ~It was my first time trying Lebanese food and Zait & Zaatar did not disappoint!! I've tried other MEDITERRANEAN cuisines prior, but oh my, nothing like this! I grew up just down the street from this spot, but they unfortunately opened right when I moved out for college. Thankfully, my mom introduced us to this wonderful spot just recently! I'll for sure be back again when I visit my hometown.~ FLAVOR TOWN ~This spot deserves 5 stars for several reasons. One of them is that the dishes are super FLAVORFUL and the SERVINGS are HUGE. I got the FALAFEL SANDWICH and every bite was just spot on. I also snuck in a few bites of the fresh SAJ BREAD and dipped it in HUMMUS from my husband's plate. You can tell that everything was made fresh. They really got the balance of flavors right with every single dish.~ FRIENDLY STAFF ~I'm a little surprised to see some of the negative reviews here. We experienced nothing but friendly and accepting vibes from the staff. We had a chance to mingle with one of the owners and he even hooked us up with some fresh not-so-MINI ZAIT. I'm already looking forward to my next visit here. Can't wait to be back again!"

I Can Barbecue Korean Grill | Santa Ana

★★★★☆ 4.3 (909) • $$$

"We absolutely LOVE coming here. Ahmet and Mahmut and the rest of the staff have become family. We love coming here with our kids and have even recommended our own friends and family to this place. The food is amazing and always fresh, the staff is friendly and on POINT! They even came to our wedding!! This place never disappoints. A must try if you like quality food and service"

YoYo Burgers and Chicken

★★★★★ 4.6 • $$

"Tucked away in a small shopping center with couple Lebanese places and a drive-through Starbucks. One of my favorite family owned burger places! It's a small place and while there are a few tables to dine in, I usually take it to go. I still remember the first time I came in, the owner was so kind and even gave me a free fountain drink. I opt for the 101 Craft burger (Brioche, Black Angus, White American, Lettuce, Tomato, Garlic Aioli, Grilled Onions, Sautéed Mushrooms & a side of Garlic Aioli. Yum.... I love their Double Deluxe mushroom burgers, crispy onion rings and French fries and all are always hot out the kitchen. Their hand-breaded chicken tenders are probably one of the tastiest and juiciest around! I love dipping them in their many sauces. My absolute favorite is the garlic aioli by far!I drive 15 miles just to pickup their tasty burgers and chicken. There hasn't even been one time where I've been disappointed of the service or the food. Highly recommended!"

Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (824) • $$

"Delicious place! Made a reservation for Saturday lunch. There is a parking structure next to it/street parking. I recommend trying the chicken karahi! We got the goat cheese kulcha, butter chicken, and chicken karahi which were all hits. We also got a mango lassi to share which was delicious. There were plenty of other menu items I want to try that looked delicious so I'm excited to come back"

Fatima’s Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (120) • $$

"I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and finally got the chance to today. We had the birria crunch wrap, beef, tacos, and chicken tender burger. The food was made fresh and was very tasty. The waitress kept asking us what else we would like if we needed anything and kept putting up with all of us asking for different salsas. She was so attentive and I really love restaurants that take care of their customers and that's what I look for when I go into a restaurant. The portions are very generous and definitely can be shared!"

Papa K's Mediterranean Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (334) • $$

"Came in on Friday nite, what a hidden gem! I ordered the chicken and beef plate which was $17.99. It's a bit pricy but kid you not...it's worth the price. The plate is big enough to share with two people. The meats are tender and flavorful. The rice is just cooked right with good taste of salad on the side. My partner ordered the falafel salad which was full of flavor also. Falafel isn't dry and not overly oily or heavy dressing. It came with a basket of pita bread huge portion. We can't wait to go back!"

Dave's Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.9 (418) • $$

"Well, I guess viral ad marketing works because I saw the Dave's Hot Chicken ad like 18,000 times and eventually it did indeed bring me to Dave's. The service was wonderful and the person at the front was helpful and even informed me of a cinnamon toast crunch milkshake that was not yet on the menu so or course I got that. Did it live up to thehype? For me it did. I didn't shout, "Oh my God," like the girl in the ads and my eyes didn't pop out of my head, but it was really good. Our party agreed - it's definitely made it into our rotation. It might just be because we got a little carried away, but the bill was extremely high. It ended up averaging over $26 per person and I don't think we got that much food, so just be mindful when you're ordering. The ambience was of a fast food place but roomier and more hip! I dug the soundtrack. I'll definitely go back, but I'll probably order a little bit less next time. You should check it out!"

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (774) • $$

"Found this place last year when I wanted to smoke some shisha; it never tastes burnt and lasts for a good few hours. Coals are replaced consistently, but sometimes you need to ask them to replace them because it gets pretty busy here. I love that it's a relaxing restaurant where family and friends come to hang out. The servers are all very friendly and the food here tastes great and is decently priced. I'll always recommend this spot to friends when they want some good Egyptian food."

Aleppo's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (970) • $$

"A friend of mine invited me out to lunch and chose this restaurant. It was my first time.This is a Mediterranean restaurant. Since I was a guest, I did not get a chance to take a photo of the menu, hopefully there might be some photos from other yelp reviewers.Isabel, our server explained to me that their specialty are their Mediterranean bowls. They allow you to choose your protein And two sides and two sauces. They also had Mediterranean plates and salads and a variety of soft drinks and other beverages.Isabel was very attentive, and polite. She allowed us time to discuss business when she returned we ordered and within 10 to 15 minutes we had our food.I have visited other Mediterranean restaurants and I would have to say this one ranks as one of the best. What I liked about my bowl was that the rice was fluffy? The chicken was very tasty and tender. The house sauce was smooth and creamy and of course the avocados and beets were a great addition.My host and his colleague had been here before and they rave about how good it is.Along with our bowls, we ordered french fries and pita bread.Although the restaurant appeared to be small in size, it was not too noisy in spite of the fact that they were quite a few guests. As I stated before, I would definitely come back to this with my wife."

Mito's Doner Express

★★★★☆ 4.4 (90) • $$

"This hidden gem in a strip mall food court is open 24/7! Actually ate here because another close by establishment was closing soon and couldn't guarantee seating. Amazingly no one inline at this food stand and the waitstaff was super friendly, patient, and helpful in answering questions. They even had samples!I went with the Iskender which was enough for two meals, but was so delicious could've eaten it all in one sitting! It made for a wonderful breakfast the next morning too!Although the strip mall food court atmosphere doesn't add a lot of ambiance, you won't notice it once you take your first bite!I wish I could've returned for additional dishes, but time was limited, so I recommend you put this Turkish treasure near the top of your list if you're in the area!"

Utopia Caffe

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"Fun experience on Saturday afternoon Place serve wonderful coffee with Turkish dessertAll the staff was super friendly and ready to serve.We had fun conversation with Carlos. He was friendly and informative.Love to come back to try other menus."

Taboon Mediterranean

★★★★☆ 4.3 (152) • $$

"Always great quality food and today I called in my order about 10 minutes before they were scheduled to close.Thanks to the manager Mo for hooking me up with a birthday dinner for my son - okay it was for takeout but he's still getting celebrated tonight!Few tables inside and must cater more to the high school lunch crowd. Thanks for still taking my phone order, Mo!"

Crispy Chicken and Kabob Halal

★★★★☆ 3.7 (39) • $$

"Food is absolutely amazing. Always freshly made and the best ingredients. Highly recommend"

Café America & Hookah Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (195) • $$

"Excellent middle eastern food. Love the spices. I tried their "keftah" sandwich and loved it so I went back! I'm going to try other things too. Very clean and nice ambiance and friendly service."