Chicago has a thriving halal food scene centered around Devon Avenue’s South Asian corridor and Bridgeview’s Arab-American community. With over 500 halal restaurants, the Windy City offers excellent options from authentic ethnic cuisines to halal versions of Chicago classics. Compare with halal. Explore halal certification for more information.

Halal Food Accessibility in Chicago

Chicago has excellent halal accessibility:

  • 500+ halal restaurants across the metro area
  • Devon Avenue: Mile-long halal food corridor
  • Bridgeview: Concentrated Arab halal community
  • Downtown options: Growing halal scene
  • Suburban halal: Naperville, Schaumburg, Skokie

Best Areas for Halal Food

Devon Avenue (North Side)

Chicago’s premier halal destination:

  • Location: Between Western and California Ave
  • Cuisine: Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi
  • Highlights:
    • Sabri Nihari: Famous for nihari
    • Ghareeb Nawaz: Budget-friendly Pakistani
    • Usmania: Late-night biryani
    • Khan BBQ: Grilled meats

Bridgeview (Southwest Suburbs)

Arab-American community hub:

  • Location: 87th Street corridor
  • Cuisine: Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese
  • Highlights:
    • Al Bawadi Grill: Middle Eastern banquets
    • Naf Naf Grill: Fast-casual pita
    • Jerusalem Restaurant: Palestinian classics
    • Numerous shawarma shops

Downtown Chicago

Growing halal options in the Loop:

  • Noon Mediterranean: Halal deep dish pizza
  • Roti Mediterranean: Fast-casual
  • The Halal Guys: Multiple locations
  • Food trucks: Various halal options

Other Neighborhoods

  • Albany Park: Middle Eastern options
  • Rogers Park: Diverse halal restaurants
  • Skokie: Suburban halal choices

Must-Try Halal Foods

South Asian Specialties (Devon Ave)

  • Nihari: Slow-cooked beef stew
  • Biryani: Fragrant rice dishes
  • Seekh kebab: Grilled ground meat
  • Haleem: Wheat and meat porridge
  • Paya: Trotters stew

Middle Eastern (Bridgeview)

  • Shawarma: Rotisserie meat wraps
  • Mansaf: Jordanian lamb and rice
  • Maqluba: Upside-down rice dish
  • Knafeh: Sweet cheese pastry
  • Fresh pita: Baked on-site

Chicago Classics Made Halal

  • Deep dish pizza: At Noon Mediterranean
  • Chicago-style hot dogs: Some halal vendors
  • Italian beef: Halal versions available
  • Gyros: Many halal gyro shops

Top Halal Restaurants

Fine Dining

  • Arun’s Thai: Some halal options (verify)
  • Al Bawadi Grill: Upscale Middle Eastern

Casual Dining

  • Sabri Nihari: Devon Avenue institution
  • Ghareeb Nawaz: Generous portions, low prices
  • Jerusalem Restaurant: Authentic Palestinian

Fast Casual

  • The Halal Guys: Downtown locations
  • Naf Naf Grill: Mediterranean bowls
  • Roti: Build-your-own meals

Late Night

  • Usmania: Open until 4am
  • Various Devon Ave spots: Late hours

Halal Grocery Shopping

Devon Avenue

  • Patel Brothers: Indian grocery with halal section
  • Tahoora Sweets: Pakistani sweets and groceries
  • Devon Market: General halal grocery

Bridgeview Area

  • Holy Land Bakery: Fresh bread and halal meat
  • Middle Eastern Bakery: Groceries and prepared food

Chain Stores

  • Walmart: Halal sections in some locations
  • Costco: Halal chicken available

Practical Tips

  1. Devon Avenue: Park and walk - restaurants are close together
  2. Weekend crowds: Devon gets busy Friday-Sunday evenings
  3. Bridgeview: Best for large group dining
  4. Downtown: Use Halal Guys for quick reliable halal
  5. Verify pizza: Not all deep dish is halal
  6. Cash: Some Devon Ave spots are cash-only
  7. Portions: Pakistani restaurants serve huge portions
  8. Ramadan: Extended hours at many restaurants
  9. Delivery: Most restaurants on delivery apps
  10. Weather: Indoor seating limited at some spots