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Soju BBQ’s meats are halal.
Soju BBQ/Facebook

Chicago’s Top Spots for Creative Halal Street Eats

Find fun pizzas, barbecue, tacos, and more

by N.A. Mansour
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Soju BBQ’s meats are halal.
| Soju BBQ/Facebook
by N.A. Mansour

Halal or Zabiha meat can be eaten all over Chicago, but the spots that usually come to mind are the foods of Muslim-majority countries.

Middle Eastern, North African, West African, and South Asian food are usually the first that come to mind when it comes to halal or zabiha cuisine as its typically enjoyed in Muslim-majority countries. The truth is Chicagoans can find items all over the are, especially with on famed Devon Avenue and suburbs like Bridgeview that has everything from Yemeni to Palestinian food, all halal.

An uptick in vegetarian and vegan options are also accommodating to Muslims who keep halal. But increasingly, halal pepperoni, steak, and wings are available to Chicagoland Muslims as higher-end meat-producers, like Creekstone Farms and Demkota Ranch Beef, are becoming halal-certified. Often, a restaurant won’t advertise that its steak or chicken is halal and it’s up to the consumer to know what questions to ask about meat-sourcing. These higher-end beef options are also making their way into chains, like Epic Burger and Dog Haus. It’s also about a growing number of Muslim restauranteurs knowing the Muslim and greater Chicago markets and introducing halal meat to their burger and taco joints. Below, find the most unexpected halal food Chicago has to offer, from the city’s classic thin-crust pizza with pepperoni to the gyro, as well as high-end steaks.

As of August 20, the city has mandated that everyone wear facial coverings while indoors. For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Halal Peri Peri Chicken & Grill

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Chicago’s Devon Avenue is bursting with halal meat options, from the plentiful South Asian options to Iraqi and Lebanese cuisine. But if you’re in the area and are looking for something a little different, Halal Peri Peri Chicken serves  chicken in a variety of ways from wings to a whole chicken in the increasingly popular Portuguese style, with the heat ranging from mild to extra hot. 

2350 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 754-7700
(773) 754-7700

Slim's

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Very much your typical burger joint, Slim’s entire menu is halal. Their special — the Slim’s Burger — is an homage to Chicago classics, with a burger patty topped with Italian beef. The dark horse MVP is the gyro: the meat is smothered in a pickle-ey and peppery sauce reminiscent of harissa or shatta, served with a side of tzatziki. Slim’s also has amazing sides, like corn fritters, and a long milkshake menu.

2020 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 878-7546
(773) 878-7546

Tandoor Char House

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Don’t underestimate this Lincoln Park restaurant. While Tandoor Char House features traditional South Asian cuisine with all the staples most Americans expect, it’s the burgers, wings, tacos — and even pasta with chicken tikka — that differentiates it from the competition.

2652 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-2652
(773) 327-2652

Also featured in:

Dog Haus

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More and more chains are subtly introducing halal meat at all of their branches: if you’re more in the mood for a hot dog, especially a Chicago-style dog, check out LA import Dog Haus. All of their beef dogs are made of  Creekstone Farms meat, although a few options are made with bacon, which you can ask to have omitted. There are several locations in Chicago, including near DePaul in Lincoln Park.

2464 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-3647
(773) 935-3647

Also featured in:

Wazwan Supper Club

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Headed by Zubair Mohajir, Wazwan is South Asian inspired, but they also serve what’s considered by many to be the best burger in Chicago, made of both Angus beef and brisket served on a brioche bun with beef bacon. It’s currently a pop-up in Wicker Park, but they’re working on getting a permanent location soon, so follow along.

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Also featured in:

RPM Steak

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If you’re looking for something extremely upscale, RPM Steak features a filet mignon menu sourced from Creekstone Farms. The Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurant  also stands apart for its extensive sides menu, which is both creative and classic: mushroom mac and cheese, hasselback potatoes, onion rings, and more.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Also featured in:

Asada Mexican Grill

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If you’re downtown and looking for a halal option that’s not veggie, Middle Eastern or South Asian, Asada might be the place for you, with tacos, burritos, salads, quesadillas, and even chicken soup. The chicken, asada steak and barbacoa are all halal.

180 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 631-3802
(312) 631-3802

Green Street Smoked Meats

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Most Muslims know Creekstone Farms as a major source of halal meat, but Demkota Ranch Beef is also a halal player. Green Street Smoked Meats makes its excellent Texas-style brisket and pastrami from Demkota products, both of which you can buy by the pound or in a sandwich, If you order it by the half-pound, check out Green Street’s creative sides, including its broccoli salad and cole slaw. You can upgrade to brioche for a dollar if you feel like it. Do talk to the management if you’re worried about cross-contamination; they’ve confirmed they will change their boards, knives, and gloves for Muslim customers.

112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 754-0431
(312) 754-0431

Also featured in:

SoJu BBQ

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If you’re looking for halal meat options, normally a restaurant only has a limited number of halal offerings. Korean barbecue joint Soju in West Loop however has both halal beef and chicken: try both their bulgogi and their Korean fried chicken. It’s also a great place to take a group for the full grilling experience.

36 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 877-5206
(312) 877-5206

Also featured in:

Epic Burger

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Epic Burger is a Chicago chain — with locations in Skokie and Evanston — whose take is a ‘more mindful burger; they source their beef from Creekstone Farms and you can mix and match with toppings. If you’re around the Loop or the North Side, Epic is your best bet for a good halal burger, especially with their sweet potato fries.

550 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 382-0400
(312) 382-0400

Also featured in:

Chocolat Uzma

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Marshmallows can be another minefield for anyone trying to keep halal; they either need to be made vegetarian or with gelatin made from animals killed in a halal manner. Pilsen-based chocolatier Uzma Sharif makes halal marshmallows that can accompany her rich hot sipping chocolate or be used with her chocolate bars in s’mores. Keep an eye out for seasonal varieties, like peppermint marshmallows.

1900 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 674-6984
(312) 674-6984

Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream

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Having recently become a strong addition to Bridgeport’s numerous pizza options, Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream is also one of the best halal bites in the city: halal pepperoni  is an optional topping for their thin-crust pizza. Customers had called in a few times to see if halal pepperoni was an option and it was soon added to the menu.  The pepperoni cups are  laid thick upon the wafer-thin pizza, so thick, there’s really no need for any other topping (although you should add giardiniera, which Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream sells if you don’t have any at home). Their vegetarian chicken fried mushroom is also a great dish.

964 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 565-4192
(773) 565-4192

Also featured in:

Cafe 53

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Well known for their vegan and vegetarian sandwiches, all of Hyde Park’s Café 53 meat offerings are halal. Although Café 53 has the classics, like the turkey sandwich and the Reuben, they’ve also got extremely creative takes on the deli sandwich, from the meatball and eggplant panini with a sesame dressing to a kufta sandwich.

1369 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 493-1000
(773) 493-1000

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Halal Peri Peri Chicken & Grill

2350 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60645

Chicago’s Devon Avenue is bursting with halal meat options, from the plentiful South Asian options to Iraqi and Lebanese cuisine. But if you’re in the area and are looking for something a little different, Halal Peri Peri Chicken serves  chicken in a variety of ways from wings to a whole chicken in the increasingly popular Portuguese style, with the heat ranging from mild to extra hot. 

2350 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 754-7700
(773) 754-7700

Slim's

2020 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Very much your typical burger joint, Slim’s entire menu is halal. Their special — the Slim’s Burger — is an homage to Chicago classics, with a burger patty topped with Italian beef. The dark horse MVP is the gyro: the meat is smothered in a pickle-ey and peppery sauce reminiscent of harissa or shatta, served with a side of tzatziki. Slim’s also has amazing sides, like corn fritters, and a long milkshake menu.

2020 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 878-7546
(773) 878-7546

Tandoor Char House

2652 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Don’t underestimate this Lincoln Park restaurant. While Tandoor Char House features traditional South Asian cuisine with all the staples most Americans expect, it’s the burgers, wings, tacos — and even pasta with chicken tikka — that differentiates it from the competition.

2652 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-2652
(773) 327-2652

Dog Haus

2464 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

More and more chains are subtly introducing halal meat at all of their branches: if you’re more in the mood for a hot dog, especially a Chicago-style dog, check out LA import Dog Haus. All of their beef dogs are made of  Creekstone Farms meat, although a few options are made with bacon, which you can ask to have omitted. There are several locations in Chicago, including near DePaul in Lincoln Park.

2464 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-3647
(773) 935-3647

Wazwan Supper Club

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Headed by Zubair Mohajir, Wazwan is South Asian inspired, but they also serve what’s considered by many to be the best burger in Chicago, made of both Angus beef and brisket served on a brioche bun with beef bacon. It’s currently a pop-up in Wicker Park, but they’re working on getting a permanent location soon, so follow along.

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

If you’re looking for something extremely upscale, RPM Steak features a filet mignon menu sourced from Creekstone Farms. The Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurant  also stands apart for its extensive sides menu, which is both creative and classic: mushroom mac and cheese, hasselback potatoes, onion rings, and more.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Asada Mexican Grill

180 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60606

If you’re downtown and looking for a halal option that’s not veggie, Middle Eastern or South Asian, Asada might be the place for you, with tacos, burritos, salads, quesadillas, and even chicken soup. The chicken, asada steak and barbacoa are all halal.

180 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 631-3802
(312) 631-3802

Green Street Smoked Meats

112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Most Muslims know Creekstone Farms as a major source of halal meat, but Demkota Ranch Beef is also a halal player. Green Street Smoked Meats makes its excellent Texas-style brisket and pastrami from Demkota products, both of which you can buy by the pound or in a sandwich, If you order it by the half-pound, check out Green Street’s creative sides, including its broccoli salad and cole slaw. You can upgrade to brioche for a dollar if you feel like it. Do talk to the management if you’re worried about cross-contamination; they’ve confirmed they will change their boards, knives, and gloves for Muslim customers.

112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 754-0431
(312) 754-0431

SoJu BBQ

36 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

If you’re looking for halal meat options, normally a restaurant only has a limited number of halal offerings. Korean barbecue joint Soju in West Loop however has both halal beef and chicken: try both their bulgogi and their Korean fried chicken. It’s also a great place to take a group for the full grilling experience.

36 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 877-5206
(312) 877-5206

Epic Burger

550 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60661

Epic Burger is a Chicago chain — with locations in Skokie and Evanston — whose take is a ‘more mindful burger; they source their beef from Creekstone Farms and you can mix and match with toppings. If you’re around the Loop or the North Side, Epic is your best bet for a good halal burger, especially with their sweet potato fries.

550 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 382-0400
(312) 382-0400

Chocolat Uzma

1900 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608

Marshmallows can be another minefield for anyone trying to keep halal; they either need to be made vegetarian or with gelatin made from animals killed in a halal manner. Pilsen-based chocolatier Uzma Sharif makes halal marshmallows that can accompany her rich hot sipping chocolate or be used with her chocolate bars in s’mores. Keep an eye out for seasonal varieties, like peppermint marshmallows.

1900 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 674-6984
(312) 674-6984

Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream

964 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608

Having recently become a strong addition to Bridgeport’s numerous pizza options, Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream is also one of the best halal bites in the city: halal pepperoni  is an optional topping for their thin-crust pizza. Customers had called in a few times to see if halal pepperoni was an option and it was soon added to the menu.  The pepperoni cups are  laid thick upon the wafer-thin pizza, so thick, there’s really no need for any other topping (although you should add giardiniera, which Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream sells if you don’t have any at home). Their vegetarian chicken fried mushroom is also a great dish.

964 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 565-4192
(773) 565-4192

Cafe 53

1369 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Well known for their vegan and vegetarian sandwiches, all of Hyde Park’s Café 53 meat offerings are halal. Although Café 53 has the classics, like the turkey sandwich and the Reuben, they’ve also got extremely creative takes on the deli sandwich, from the meatball and eggplant panini with a sesame dressing to a kufta sandwich.

1369 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 493-1000
(773) 493-1000

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