Came here from Socal and was looking for interesting halal spots to try. Got the ribs Castillo and it was really good. The meat was super tender and fall of the bone. I agree with some of the other reviews that I wish it was more seasoned, but they did give some sauce which gave it some flavor as well. Super filling for me and I like how they put some meat on the bottom too in addition to the ribs. The place was pretty busy with people going in and out, but service was super fast, got the food in like 5 minutes but I went right when it opened on a weekday lunch Inside its okay, but I do wish they didnt have loud music. They have plenty of seating and seating outside as well. read more

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I had a bad experience at a visit to El Halal Amigos. It was a Friday evening months back and my wife and I stopped by for food. We'd previously ate here and the food is pretty good. Back the story, we walked in and it was about 10 min to close and the gentleman behind the counter told us they were closing and we'd need to order food to go. After a long week, we really wanted to sit down and enjoy our meal but hey, we understand the rules - to go it was. The attendant completed our order and asked if we wanted guacamole. We agreed and knew it wouldn't be free. We were fine paying for it. As we finished ordering a couple walked in behind us and the gentleman told them the same - only serving orders to go. The couple immediately threw attitude and the attendant quickly changed course and agreed to provide them sit down service. What the?! You just told us that it wasn't an option and we ordered before the rude couple. As we waited for our order, staff brought the other couple chips and salsa, it felt like we were getting it rubbed in our face. Also, staff never offered us anything. Nada. You see, by then, they'd removed the free water so we couldn't even serve ourselves agua. Anyway, we got home and unpackaged our meal and the guac was missing. Not cool. That really ticked us off. But it gets worse. About two months later and after we'd sorta moved passed the ordeal, we decided to stop by for a meal. I told the person at the counter that I'd ordered guac months back but it never came in our order. I carried the receipt in my wallet and was hoping I wouldn't have to pull it out. Anyway, one person had to talk to another and another and after "running it up the chain", the manager came over and said "even though it's been a few months, I'm gonna go ahead and give it to you". What?! I immediately told him we'd had a bad experience and that the guacamole was just me getting what was already mine. I pulled out the receipt and showed him. No apology. Just whatever. They acted like they were doing me a favor. Wait wait wait, you ain't given me nothing, it's mine. I paid for it. In hindsight, I should've asked for a refund. All someone had to do is say was "Sorry about the mistake", or, maybe offered something small or a little extra, to make up for the bad experience. Most customers don't expect perfection, but we do expect you to acknowledge the mistake - take accountability. Do the right thing and make it up to the customer. Do better El Halal!! read more

The service from the gentleman working as cashier, on Cinco de Mayo around 12:30, took this review from a 4 star to a 5. If I was only basing it on food alone it would've gotten a 4. The food was fresh and well presented. However, I prefer a bit more flavor, and an $18 burrito, even in 2026, is a bit pricey for my liking. I do like the fact that they offer indoor, and covered outdoor seating, that their chairs are cushioned, and even though it is not a large seating area it isn't crowded. read more

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My boyfriend and I got take-out from this spot that we found on Yelp. We ended up eating there as he wanted to walk around since he's never been to Willow Glen. We sat outside in one of their tables since we had his doggie with us. I got the Narchos while he got the Birria Plate. Both were pretty delish, but I do love his Birria tacos abit more. We also got a couple agua frescas- Jamaica and Horchata. I enjoyed my Horchata drink- it was perfectly sweet and creamy. We would definitely return again. :) read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Loved the food here. The slow cooked barbacoa costillas plate was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Staff was welcoming and the restaurant had a casual, laid back feel. read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Just another love post to one of our top faves in all of San Jose! Listen, friends, as a Mexican American, this place is LEGIT. It is like being transported to Mexico City with the amazing food. It's all the authentic flavors of Mexico but without the grease. I am also a health foodie and their kale and sweet potato filling is the bomb.com The staff are fabulous as always- it says so much about this place and that is that they make it with love. The jams playing are always on point and we always leave with our bellies full and happy. I have tried almost everything and it is all absolutely delicious! read more

El Halal Amigos - Taco trio- far left is the sweet potato kale filling, center is barbacoa and then chicken al pastor - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

They were promoting a great taco Tuesday special so I figured it was a great time to check them out - boy, I was so disappointed. For as much color and toppings as they put on, you wouldn't be able to tell by the flavor. Even the salsa. Nothing had a distinguishable flavor. It all just fell flat. Not sure if it was just a bad night...I will say the staff was super friendly and even checked in on us a couple times after we received our meal. Appreciate them very much for such a pleasant and warm welcome! read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

I traveled an hour just to try this place and it was worth every mile! The restaurant is spotless and has such a vibrant atmosphere; the music and overall energy brought so much comfort on a rainy day. Service was incredibly quick, and the staff was so attentive, checking on us periodically to make sure we were taken care of. We loved the food so much we finished every single plate! I highly recommend the birria plate, the burrito, and the brisket barbacoa. Also, a great tip for families: on Wednesdays, kids 11 and younger eat free if you order a plate and dine-in. It's the perfect spot for a delicious, welcoming meal, and I'll definitely be making that drive again soon. read more

El Halal Amigos - Brisket Barbacoa - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

I use to love El Hala Amigos and go out of my way from Oakland to dine here. Over the past two years their quality has been slowly declining and today was enough for me to update my review. First off--service and staff are still sweet, kind and attentive as always. This was and is never an issue here. Sadly what really mattered the most was the food and I can almost pinpoint the exact moment things changed--when they removed the mahi mahi from their menu. The mahi mahi was replaced by the grilled shrimp but you also get less of it in your burritos. That was the first strike. Strike two--the mahi mahi was the closest thing you could had gotten to an authentic southern california style burrito. Now the search restarts for an authentic place that can rival SoCal's fish burritos. The final straw for me, was the complimentary chips and salsa. The past couple of times we've been here, they have been absolutely salty. We're talking someone just opening a lid on a salt shaker and pouring the entire thing on the chips. Today's experience was the worse of it because more than 3/4 of the chips were inedible. We even tried wiping each chip down with a napkin hoping to save them but they were sadly past the point of no return. Sad to say this isn't the same El Hala Amigos I fell in love with years ago and this was not the review I wanted to write. Hope you guys figure things out because I would love to return. read more

El Halal Amigos - Burrito Super - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Unfortunately not what it used to be. The chips were so salty they were basically inedible. This has happened the last two visits. The rice was kind of mushy and bland today in the carne asada burrito which was a bummer. We used to come out here for the fish burrito but they've since gotten rid of it from the menu and the quality and consistency of their food has sadly fallen. I think the food (minus chips) is just decent at best but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here anymore. read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

We've had this place on our list for a while and we're happy we got to try it for Taco Tuesday! It's $2 tacos for al pastor chicken all day. Topped with raw onions, cilantro, and pineapple with a side of grilled onions, radish, and lime. There was so much meat filled into each taco, it was spilling out of the taco. The flavoring of the pastor was okay, lots of spices but not really blown away. The salsas were tangy and spicy. The service for the tacos were super quick with takeout. Those are definitely some beautifully constructed tacos though. read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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First and foremost their staff is amazing!! Very friendly & lots of smiles! Diego a manager is top notch!! He was working so hard bussing tables & serving food I did not think he was a manager. He is a true leader who works right along side his co-workers. That's integrity! It's always great when young people learn good worth ethics before they go into the great big world! Their chips and salsa are off the hook! I personally love the green salsa. I've had excellent food here and I've had good food here. It depends on what I get. They were super busy tonight but got the food out very fast! read more

I went here on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't busy. The food came out fast. We ate outside which was nice, they have plenty of seating. I got a taco plate with chicken Al pastor and carne asada. The asada was alright, but I wasn't a fan of the chicken. The chips they gave us were really good, but all 3 salsas I tried were pretty bland. I would have given them more stars if 2 orders of taco plates wasn't $40. Not worth that much in my opinion. read more

El Halal Amigos - Taco Plate with Pollo Al Pastor and Carne Asada - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Yummy!!!! Been coming here for couple of years now and they never disappoint. Staff is nice and the service is fast. Tends to get busy on weekends but will always be coming back for more. read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Food good Service good Ambiance nice It's 100% Halal so you know the Barbacoa Castillas beef rib was fall of the bone tenderism. The birria tacos was also great. Staff is very friendly. We sat by a handicap customer and the owner ended up buying his dinner. The owner also jumped in the cooking line and helped out his staff pump out orders. So awesome to see the owner care about the quality of his food, his team and the community. If I was in the area would definitely come back again read more

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Stopped by El Halal Amigos on a Saturday afternoon. For service, you walk up to the counter to order and then seat your self with a number to place on the table. Food was good! We got the barbacoa costilla plate to share between two people since we weren't too hungry. Very good! The meat was fall off the bone, the Spanish rice was done right, and the refried pinto beans were good too. Meat was juicy, and NOT dry!! Staff were very kind and refilled our chips and salsa when we asked. No wait time when we went. Good food and nice staff! Would come back again if in willow glen area. read more

El Halal Amigos - Chips and salsa on the house - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Severely over priced. Tacos are double the price of any Taco in San Jose (with less flavor execution. Ribs are not worth the price...flavor+execution is not worth their asking price. Service was non existent. You order like fast food, you get your own water,you order and pay ahead....sad part is that they also charge a California Living Cost Fee something of that nature. C'mon now, just pay off your employees better instead of overcharging for food and unnecessary fees. Ambiance was non existent, it's like a fast food place. PS. I guess you pay x2/x3 of the normal place because it's halal. But if you do not need Halal food, stay away read more

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The food was absolutely delicious. We got their chicken al pastor tacos ($2 per taco on Tuesdays), carne asada tacos, and barbacoa plate. Everything was flavored perfectly and the barbacoa meat fell off the bone. There was also plenty of sauce to go around and we left stuffed. The staff was very kind, they helped move chairs around the patio for us to sit and provided complimentary chips and salsa. I also really like the effort put into the decoration. I went with someone who eats halal, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

El Halal Amigos - Our spread - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Tried El Halal Amigos in Willow Glen. I was excited about this place specifically because I've had their food before when it was catered in events. I got myself the Birria Taco Plate ($18). It came with complimentary nachos. The nachos were amazing! Perfect crisp and oil. They put a lot of thought into their salsa too. You will have enough salsa for the chips offered. As for the quesabirria tacos, I'm highly disappointed. I haven't had these kinds of tacos in forever, so this was going to be a huge deal. The staff legit forgot the cheese! How are you going to advertise QUESA-birria and forget the cheese?! The taco shell wasn't crispy enough. Not enough oil and too much liquid. It was falling apart the moment I tried to pick it up. I've definitely had better tasting birria, but I think it does not help that again, there was no cheese to work with the birria. Nope, I'm not coming back. read more

El Halal Amigos - Nachos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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After wanting to try this place for over a year, I finally tried it and so happy I did. My sister in law was fasting for Ramadan and wanted to do Iftar here. They were so amazing and brought dates to everyone to break fast. It was so beautiful to see people of all backgrounds joining for Iftar. The food was amazing, everything we tried was so fresh and flavorful. Will definitely be back! read more

I loved their tacos so much. I actually tried them at a yelp event and was left wanting more tacos! We went and decided to just get a family plate of ten tacos. Their famous tacos are the barbacoa because of how tender they are. I ordered that and al pastor. The service was nice and the ambiance was great. We originally sat outside, but it got too warm. We moved inside and they had the tvs on available to us. I will be returning for their tacos for sure! read more

El Halal Amigos - outside patio - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Really WONDERFUL catering experience for a big party we hosted. Everything was perfect and the staff and owner went above and beyond to make sure our experience was perfect. Totally recommend! read more

I've had this restaurant bookmarked for a while, but never got around to eating here. Full disclosure, my family and I came here on a Saturday where they were celebrating their 3-year anniversary and selling $3 soft tacos. The tacos are T-I-N-Y. I get that this is DTWG, but even at $3/taco, it's pricey for what you get. I can't imagine paying the regular menu price of $4.95/taco. You're better off going to Super Taqueria and getting a Super Taco that comes with freshly sliced avocado for that price. FYI - A 4% Living Wage Surcharge is tacked onto your bill. I ordered 2 Mahi Mahi tacos and 3 Carne Asada tacos. The fish was nicely battered, but very thin. The beef had a cornstarchy coating and not the typical char that you get with carne asada. The tacos do come with a nice orange salsa that isn't spicy. A bowl of thin tortilla chips is served along with salsa in a little plastic container. We didn't eat much of the chips as they were just ok. Note, there was not a single Hispanic person dining here when we visited. Although, it is popular amongst those that eat Halal, hence the name. read more

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I spent $18 for the smallest quesadilla in the world.. three small cuts of a tortilla with a few pieces of meat. :( I am so upset! read more

El Halal Amigos - Quesadilla - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Had their tacos at a Yelp event and they were out of this world! So yummy! And the staff seemed very professional. I would hunt down this place and go again! read more

El Halal Amigos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

My mom only eats Halal food so it's hard to find a good mexican spot with halal options. We decided to try this place out and it was definitely really tasty. But as someone who eats non halal food, it's not the best Mexican food I've had for sure but it does hit the spot and for a halal joint is pretty solid. I got the brisket burrito which was not bad, however the brisket was a little tough to chew. My mom got the chicken quesadilla which was very flavorful. The chicken here is marinated very well and if you're debating on which protein to get I'd advise you get the chicken. We also got the chips and queso. The queso was seasoned well and had some tomatoes in it which was a nice touch. The interior is on the smaller side but there's still a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was very friendly and brought us out what we needed ASAP. The food also came out fairly fast!! Overall, if you're nearby and or looking for a new halal place try I would recommend you try this place out. Get something with their chicken, you wont regret it. read more

El Halal Amigos - Chips and queso - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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This was an amazing burrito. I personally like a saucy burrito, and this was perfect. I got the super burrito w barbacoa, and the meat was perfectly tender and melt in your mouth. The narcho sauce was also a great addition. It had a hint of spice and really put everything together. The nachos? Such a large portion as you can see in the pic it looks like a literal nacho mountain. A good amount of seating both inside and outside, and the perfect place to meet up with friends! They were also playing reggaetón when I went, so great food and a great playlist. Definitely recommend this place! read more

El Halal Amigos - Super Burrito w/ Barbacoa Brisket - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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I was really excited to try this restaurant since my close friend had such a great experience when he visited with his family. I ordered a barbacoa verde enchiladas, 3 tacos (carne asada, al pastor and shrimp), the barbacoa castillos plate and a kids bean, cheese, rice + al pastor burrito. Good: 1. Barbacoa Castillos beef ribs were fantastic! The beef was juicy and fall off the bone delicious 2. Enchiladas were tasty and they gave a good amount of beef barbacoa filling which I appreciated. The pinto refried beans and rice was also tasty 3. Shrimp taco was delicious, however, they only give two small shrimp. The sauce and coleslaw compliments the shrimp well. This was our favorite taco out of the three. 4. My daughter enjoyed her bean burrito, no complaints! Bad: 1. Both the carne asada and al pastor meat were incredibly dry and the flavor was lacking. Maybe it's because we came on a slower Thursday night but my husband and I were shocked at how dry the taco meats were compared to the barbacoa meat. We would come back for the other dishes above but unfortunately the carne asada and al pastor tacos did not deliver. Perhaps you can stick to the barbacoa meat which seems to be the most tender, flavorful and juicy. read more

El Halal Amigos in Willow Glen has really tasty, flavorful food. The chicken shawarma is juicy and well-seasoned, the lamb gyro hits all the right notes, and the rice and sides are fresh and satisfying. Definitely a go-to spot for a hearty, flavorful meal. read more

There are a lot of food options in this neighborhood and this is a really good one. We ate a little light as we wanted to go to dessert nearby afterwards. Street Tacos: 4/5. I got the brisket barbacoa and carne asada meats on my two tacos and the flavor was rich and satisfying. Really well done. read more

We have been regulars at El Halal Amigos since we discovered it last year. Restaurant is always busy but it is still relatively easy to get seated. My go to is the Super Burrito which has excellent flavor combination. At this visit, they cut the burrito in half while aluminum wrap is on, so unfortunately there were some aluminum pieces left on burrito. They give complimentary chips but the salsa was in a little bit smaller bowl compared to past visits. I read on menu that they do a birria taco special on Sunday so I can't wait to visit again to try that! read more

El Halal Amigos - Super burrito - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food here was pretty good... I think for Mexican food I'd give it a 6/10 which sounds harsh but it's not considering I live around 10/10 places! I feel like this place was good for a quick stop in for people not from the area, like me. The food was good, but it didn't blow my socks off -- I always love trying the salsas/hot sauces at New Mexican restaurants and I got their hottest one and it wasn't that hot, good flavor, but not the spice I was hoping for. I got the 3 taco plate and tried chicken, carne asada, and barbacoa. All three were good, the beans and rice were tasty too. I got an ice cold Jamaica too and enjoyed that. The service was quick, the restaurant was clean and they were cleaning up after people very quickly after they finished so they were operating like a well-oiled machine. read more

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Visited El Halal Amigos earlier this week and loved it! We showed up around 5pm & the downtown area wasn't super busy - we were immediately helped & seated. The restaurant has a good amount of indoor seating as well as some tables outside - once you order you pick your seat & they bring out your food. We got our drinks immediately (house made Horchata & Fresca) which were SO GOOD!! We tried the Chile Relleno Burrito, Mahi Mahi NAR-chos, Barbacoa Costillas, and Tacos which were all great. The burrito and costillas were 10/10, I would highly recommend these and will definitely be getting the again. read more

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Very good food and you leave feeling very clean afterwards. You have to appreciate the consistency + it's halal! Restaurant is cleaner than 98% of Mexican restaurants. My personal favorite is the chile relleno and barbacoa burrito. read more

I ordered the mahi-mahi tacos and an jicama Agua Fresca and it was delicious and refreshing. I was really happy. It wasn't too sweet since sometimes certain places put extra sugar into their drinks. I had three mahi-mahi tacos and I was actually very surprised to find so many pieces of mahi with each taco! I was also excited to know that this particular Mexican restaurant does not use any monosodium glutamate/MSG when they make any of their rice or beans or anything! I know a lot of restaurants use MSG for easy flavoring. Which is fine, but I am highly allergic to it! I was really excited to eat mahi-mahi tacos, which I haven't had since Hawaii at least not on the mainland since most restaurants use mono, sodium glutamate. The server was very helpful and friendly, and he went in the back to ask the chef what the gradients were for the rice and other toppings. As he went to get the answers, I was able to check out the scenery, and I really like the loud modern style along with the upbeat music, the Restaurant had!! Very inviting, warm and exciting! I will definitely check this restaurant out again and try other items especially since my boyfriend loves Mexican food and I can never eat it at restaurants because they usually put MSG and everything. Lol. read more

El Halal Amigos - Mahi Mahi tacos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

Delicious food, quick and friendly service. The salsa has the right amount of spice and the tacos had the best flavor! We were so pleased! read more

El Halal Amigos - Brisket barbacoa taco plate - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

I heard about the tacos at El Halal Amigos through a recommendation from a friend; however, my experience has been a bit disappointing. This location in Willow Glen opened up recently, but the tacos were on the expensive side. We ordered the lunch special (carne asada tacos with the rice and beans) as well as the brisket Nar-Chos. While the salsa and the guacamole were decent, the carne asada was as tough and grainy as if it had never seen a grill. The pinto beans were cooked well with a nice bite to them, but the tomato rice was very mushy and overcooked. The Nar-Chos had a generous portion of guacamole, but the brisket barbacoa was lackluster, being on the bland side. Maybe the birria tacos will be better, but it looks to be available only on Sundays. Pros: Service was quick and friendly. The plates were made of clay which was really interesting. The salsas are decent and each order comes with chips/salsa for dine in. Cons: Food was pricey and lackluster for what it costs. read more

El Halal Amigos - Barbados Brisket Nar Chos - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great Mexican place that serves Halal meat and chicken in all their traditional Mexican dishes . The beef burrito was finger licking good . So were the tacos . A good option when you are craving for some good Mexican food at a reasonable price. Service was equally good . read more

They scam you on the spicy queso. It's literally just movie theater nacho cheese for $11. Other food is great. read more

El Halal Amigos - Shrunken guacamole appetizer. Shrinkflation at its best - Halal Near Me - San Jose, California

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Food looks great. Happy staff . But, enchiladas were more like soft tacos. No oven time, melted cheese over the top. Hot sauce leaves something to be desired. Pico would have helped. I get it. Halal, but let's get it straight, its Mexican food. Not bad meat, good seasoning. Just confusing. read more