Best Halal Restaurants in Ann Arbor, MI
Jerusalem Garden's Middle Eastern classics, Palm Palace, Cardamom for upscale Indian, Times Square Kitchen with HMMI-verified zabiha, plus Kabab N Curry, Khan BBQ, and U-M's halal dining hall program.
Ann Arbor punches well above its size when it comes to halal food, thanks to the University of Michigan's large Muslim student community and a long history of Lebanese, Palestinian, and Yemeni families running kitchens in town. This guide rounds up the best halal restaurants in Ann Arbor, MI, plus a few essential picks across the river in Ypsilanti, with what to order and where to go.
Where to find the best halal restaurants in Ann Arbor, MI
The downtown core around State and Liberty has the casual student favorites; Carpenter Road, Stone School, and Washtenaw Avenue have the more substantial sit-downs and family-friendly Mediterranean spots. The University of Michigan also offers extensive halal-certified options in its dining halls, which is unusual for a college campus and worth knowing about for prospective students.
Jerusalem Garden
The downtown Mediterranean classic, run by a Palestinian family for decades and a fixture of student life. Order the falafel platter with hummus and warm pita, the chicken shawarma sandwich, and a small fattoush. The falafel is crisp outside, fluffy and herbed inside, and the toum is the right amount of garlic-aggressive. Counter ordering, casual seating, fast lunches. Address: 314 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor. Price: $. Halal per the restaurant; confirm meat sourcing on visit.
Palm Palace Restaurant
A Lebanese and Mediterranean sit-down on Carpenter Road that has been voted Ann Arbor's best Mediterranean for over a decade. The chicken shawarma in hummus is the signature, the lamb chops are tender and well-seasoned, and the Moroccan chicken or lamb tajine is the move on a cold night. The fresh-squeezed mango and orange smoothies are popular in summer. Family friendly, larger dining rooms than the downtown spots. Address: 2370 Carpenter Rd, Ann Arbor. Price: $$. Halal per the restaurant.
Cardamom
A small Indian kitchen on State Street with a strong vegetarian and vegan menu and clearly labeled halal meat options. The momos (Nepali dumplings) are the off-menu favorite, and the goat and lamb curries are well-spiced without being overwhelming. The naan is fresh and the dining room is cozy and well-decorated. Address: 1739 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor. Price: $$. Halal meat per the restaurant; confirm at ordering.
Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill
A casual Mediterranean grill on Packard Street, popular with the South State and Burns Park crowd. Order the chicken shawarma wrap, the kafta plate, or the falafel sandwich, with a side of fries and toum. The baba ganoush is house made and a notch above the standard. Quick service and good for takeout. Address: 601 Packard St, Ann Arbor. Price: $. Halal per the restaurant.
Khan BBQ and Grill
A Pakistani barbecue house with charcoal-grilled meats, big platters, and weekend specials. The chicken boti, beef bihari kabob, and lamb chops are the signatures. Best for groups and families who want to share a mix-grill platter. Price: $$. Halal per the restaurant.
Haifa Falafel
A small Levantine spot focused on falafel, hummus, sabich, and shawarma, with a casual counter format and quick service. The falafel sandwich with pickled vegetables, tahini, and amba is the signature. Best for a fast lunch or takeout near downtown. Price: $. Halal per the restaurant; confirm meat sourcing on visit.
Shalimar Cuisine of India
A long-running Indian sit-down on East William Street with a halal meat menu, full bar separate from the meat program, and a reliable lunch buffet. The tandoori platter and the lamb biryani are the dishes regulars order. Casual upscale dining, good for groups. Price: $$. Halal meat per the restaurant; confirm at ordering.
Pita Kabob Grill
This halal kitchen is the closest thing to a one-stop halal Mediterranean and grill spot in downtown. The mixed grill platter with hummus, rice, and salad feeds two; the chicken shawarma platter is the safe single order. Halal per the restaurant. Price: $$.
For most visitors, two stops cover the city: Jerusalem Garden for the downtown classic and Palm Palace for the more substantial sit-down dinner. If you are visiting U-M with halal-observant family members, lock in Cardamom for the strictest zabiha compliance and variety.
A note on halal status: We do our best to identify halal-friendly restaurants based on publicly available information, reviews, and restaurant descriptions. However, halal certification and sourcing practices can change. We strongly recommend confirming directly with each restaurant before dining, especially if strict zabiha compliance is important to you.
