Saad's Halal Restaurant began as a halal lunch truck parked at 38th and Spruce in University City, at a time when zabiha halal meat was hard to find in Philadelphia. Saad handled the sourcing and slaughter himself to keep the standard he wanted, and the restaurant that grew out of that truck still runs on an all zabiha-halal menu.
The lineup covers beef shawarma, beef shish kabob, kafta kabob, and chicken shish tawook, each available as a platter over rice with a choice of sides, a pita sandwich, or wrapped hoagie-style "maroosh." Rotisserie chicken and a fried tilapia platter round out the non-vegetarian side, while a full vegetarian menu runs alongside it built on falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, and tabouly, sold as sandwiches, platters, or containers. Everything is made from scratch.
In keeping with the owners' faith, the restaurant closes for Friday prayers and takes a break each year during Ramadan. Locally, it's known as a destination for halal cheesesteak-style sandwiches and generous portions, run with the same family-first approach it started with as a truck.
The lineup covers beef shawarma, beef shish kabob, kafta kabob, and chicken shish tawook, each available as a platter over rice with a choice of sides, a pita sandwich, or wrapped hoagie-style "maroosh." Rotisserie chicken and a fried tilapia platter round out the non-vegetarian side, while a full vegetarian menu runs alongside it built on falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, and tabouly, sold as sandwiches, platters, or containers. Everything is made from scratch.
In keeping with the owners' faith, the restaurant closes for Friday prayers and takes a break each year during Ramadan. Locally, it's known as a destination for halal cheesesteak-style sandwiches and generous portions, run with the same family-first approach it started with as a truck.