I had one of the best customer service experiences ever at Halal Food Market. I was planning to purchase a whole lamb for Easter. Hizam, one of the two young men that run the store with their father, walked me through the cost and process. I put a deposit down and then decided agains the whole lamb. Hizam was so kind and understanding and allowed me to hold the credit for a future purchase. So I came in one morning... Hizam and his brother created me with cheerfully! The store has a tremendous variety of middle eastern grocery items. I was able to find all sorts of goodies such as fresh pita, pomegranate marmalade, olives from all over the world, delicious and fine teas and more! I had Hizam's wonderful brother walk me through the best choices for teas and olives. He was absolutely right and I am in love with the choices we made together! The Al-Kbouz fine black tea is amazing as is the Ahmed earl grey! This is a family run store that is run proudly by these young men and they have high quality ingredients for any meal you may want to make! They are gracious and helpful and will make suggestions if you ask on the highest quality items and the ones they enjoy in their own home. I look forward to returning soon!! read more

Nice Halal Store 2 buy ' Halal Frozen Goods '. Halal Lamb Kebabs , Halal Frozen Samosas, Pita Bread ( White & Whole Wheat ), Halal Meats, Baking Essences, Oils & Bottled Juices. Plus Pakistani Biryani Masala & other Curry Masalas packaged !!! Enjoy browsing their ' 3xotic Selection ' !!!! read more

Warning, there is something going on w how they handle meat. As I walked toward the door coming in, a very strong rancid meat smell hit me. The meat counter looked pretty bare but I can't help but remember that smell - something is very wrong here. I see google reviews of them selling old meat. Be careful not to risk your health here. read more

this is a certified halal store and has good product the owners are very nice and best customer service experiences ever at Halal Food Market read more

Great people great food, some of the men can be a lil rude but it's not personal. I have come here since I was a child. Big inventory. Ask for something if they don't have it read more

I try to ' support ' local Small Busunesses. What the 'Small Business Owners need to Be in Touch ' with - is that we're trying to " SIOPPRT THEM " as opposed to Big Box Retailers. Thus - Reciprocally Offer us Ceanliness & Quality !!! +++++ Friendliness !!! The last can be ' Lacking Here ' !!! The Ex-Owners , The Filisthini Family , were Very Nice & Friendly !!! This can bring in More Business & $$$ For Survival !!! Read Your Reviews ! Halal Market - this is Feedback !!!!!!!!! read more

Great place to buy cooking ingredients. I love kashke bademjan and this is the only place I know of that sells pasteurized Kashk near me. They carry Yanni halloumi cheese. If you've never grilled cheese and paired it with watermelon, you're missing out. They also have a huge selection of dried herbs and they're bigger bags than the little bottles you get at Target or other specialty stores. If you cook a lot and use dried herbs, check it out. Sometimes, they even carry raw pistachios - definitely a must-try if you've never had it raw. You can also order food here and I've had their kebab koobideh with rice. It wasn't bad, but not the best I've had. I think they cater as well. They have a small dining area inside the market, but it's not a sit-down kind of an establishment. You'll have people walking in and out and people milling around to shop. This place is definitely pricier. The guys behind the counter aren't always warm and friendly but they're not out to beat you up or anything - they'll take care of you but not sure you want to start something with these guys. They look like they have connection LOL. Parking can be a pain in the ass and that's the worst part. read more

The butcher quoted a price for the meat, then ticketed it $1.50 higher per pound. I only noticed when I got home. It's one of the oldest ways to cheat customers---I should have noticed but was in a rush and did not check... If you do want to patronize this store, make sure to (1) ask for the price of each meat item and (2) double check that the tickets they give you match those prices. More than disappointing. read more

Best place for meat and fish! They carry different smoked salted and dried fish - Herring and trout are my favorites! And it is wild caught and kosher certified!!! Love this place))) Thanks read more

Halal Food Market - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

I accidentally stumbled at the place looking for another one. Went in and first thing I noticed was a disgusting swarm of flies in front of the inside of the store. Tried to let that go because he had the front doors wide open. Then no one greeted us, no employees were to be found. We go deeper into the store where we find one man in the back cutting meat. There was not a lot of meat in the glass fridge to choose from so I had to ask him if he had certain things and he would have to go check in the back. Anyways, he was by him self and had to do that and check us out on the other side of the store because there was no one else there. The store seemed so unorganized and dirty. There were cut up boxes stacked high that needed to be taken out. It was such a mess. He needs more people working for him. Only reason I gave him a star was he was friendly. On a side note, when we got home and opened our bags of meats, we noticed these 2 HUGE pieces of steak we didn't ask for and he most likely charged us for! When we looked at the receipt it only had a total and not broken down so we wouldn't know. If I didn't live half hour away I would have went back and returned it. I will NOT be visiting this store again! read more

This is my favorite Halal food store!! The meat is always so fresh and very cheap. Lamb for 6.99lb, or chicken for 1.99lb, fresh, there is nowhere close to me that sells meat like this. It is delicious and the butcher always is so helpful and cuts all your meat to your liking. Thank you and see you soon Lavina read more

Great lamb quality and clean. Also their own sausages are the best ! I drive a whole hour to buy lamb there.

Great place, but beware, they sell Sabra products, which are israeli!! I have alreay brought this to their attention. Hopefully they stop selling Sabra products!!! read more

One of a handful of halal markets and eateries in the so-called "International Marketplace." Like the others of its ilk, it's not exactly a treat for the eyes, but for certain items the prices the quality is kosher. By this I mean legit. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.) Regardless of your creed, the getting's cheap and the offerings are fresh off the camel. What you should be procuring here begins with B(ee)s: local honey. They've got an impressive selection which may outshine even Berkeley Bowl's. Then onto M(eats): lamb, chicken and goat in various cuts piled up haphazardly. Definitely not your sterile grocery environment where everything comes in layers of plastic wrap, but I find that refreshing. Next up brings us to S(spices). There's a reason why food from this part of the world tastes so much more robust, and at this market that reason comes cheap and in two pound bags. Similarly the T(ea) is budget, though a little experimentation is required in finding the best quality. And of course, should you be of the Muslim faith, there's a place out back for salat. Ahhhh, Berkeley. read more

There's plenty of halal markets in Berkeley/North Oakland, but this one stands out. They carry organic chicken along with regular, which is a plus. It's much better priced than Whole Foods or other organic markets, and it's just as good. There's also a good selection of lamb, goat, and beef. An added bonus is that since everyone seems to blindly go to Indus next door, they don't get too busy, so you can very calmly give the butcher special instructions and what have you, without feeling rushed. The whole meat section is pretty clean too, which again, seems to be hard to find at halal stores. The grocery items, which include grains, spices, and refrigerated stuff, are pretty well-stocked, and you don't get the feeling that stuff has been sitting around for months collecting dust. Their customer service is above par for these types of stores. The owner is super nice and helpful on the phone, and the butcher always has a smile on his face. He even told me to "have a nice day" last time I was there. I definitely can't recall that ever happening at a halal store before. read more

a good sized market for middle eastern and halal foods. there's also a meat shop in the back. also, if you're in the area and need to do a salat, then you can go to this room upstairs in the back... obviously, out of courtesy, you should ask the cashier if it is ok for you to do so. wudu might be a bit problematic though you could always just buy a bottle of water and do it... the market itself carries various dry goods, canned foods, as well as frozen and refrigerated foods... you can also find sweets and an assorment of beverages like non-alcoholic flavored malt beverages. they have a tiny selection of clothes and scarves by the cashier too. staff was friendly and accomodating :) read more

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For those who have given poor ratings based on cleanliness, smell and customer service, perhaps you should revisit because your reviews and remarks are false and dated. This is my merguez sausage go to spot! Also the primary reason we travel the distance just to buy the sausage. No where else can you find real merguez in the bay area. The market also has a great selection of Arabic spices and other grocery items like dry beans and couscous. I even found Tunisian Harissa, which I thought was pretty awesome :) :) When in the mood for sweets, I also like to get these almond biscuit cookies and dates. Great go to market for Halal products and the owner is super nice. I've pre-ordered to guarantee walking away with several pounds of sausage :) read more

My family (over 20 people) has been coming here for years, mostly because there isn't many options for Halal food in the Berkeley area, and it's some how better (not by much) than the place next door and in San Pablo. Won't be receiving our business anymore. Will buy our Halal meats from Hayward and Oakland. First off, the kid with tattoos pretended not to notice me standing at the counter, I made some noise, jingled my keys, *cough*, nothing. Received a call then he turns around like he didn't know I was there. Yeah okay... I knew you could see me from the corner of your eye over your shoulder. I came in for some ground beef. Saw the kid grab a couple kidneys, I was sitting on a chair so maybe he didn't think I saw him. Stood up to check what he was doing and he quickly grabbed all the meat and headed off to the grinder. Checked the table, and no kidneys. Rather than fight about it and ruin my day, I said nothing and left. Not sure what his problem was, I was polite and patient the whole time. If the little man is reading this and you have some problem with me, message me. I'll happily meet up elsewhere and put you in check boy. The taller guy has always been nice to us, giving us advice on grilling and such. The rest have been okay, so a part of me hates leaving a bad review but I want others to know what's going on. The store is also quite filthy, blotches of pooled blood that have been laying around on empty plastic tubs, grime, dust, etc. It seems like they've given up. Oh and I also came in at 9am since that's what they have listed on Google, but they open up when they feel like it, sometimes 9:30, sometimes 9:45, etc. So I changed their open time to 10am on Google. Blatant disrespect for their customers, knowing it was incorrect and not fixing it. Also no open/closed times on the outside of the building. Now that I think of it, I don't feel bad for this place. They should go out of business. read more

While they lack some ambiance and decor, their meat is always excellent here and that is why I choose to frequent this market.. Fresh, halal chicken, lamb, goat and all with organic options. I know that this meat has been raised humanely and killed humanely and I agree with that philosophy which has been traditional Islamic practice since the 1600's, which is also what "Halal" means. Aside from that, I shop here because the store owners are friendly and eager to help, which has not always been my experience in other local halal shops. They have a great selection of unique spices, arabic coffee and teas and breads. The market could use some updating and freshening up, but I would highly recommend this butcher shop to any friend. read more

The store is unclean and the owner and his sons are not friendly and very argumentative. Stay away from this store. Next door is a cleaner halal food and grocery store with friendly people. read more

There are goods from the Mideast that are hard to find in regular grocery stores, even Berkeley Bowl. The first time I came here, I was happy to find what I wanted, at their nice selection. I made a sizable purchase. My return trip was far below acceptable. Was there a change in ownership or management? Filthy store. It even smelled vile. Much expired food, and some of it obviously spoiled. Non-existent service. Neither of the people at this store felt inclined to put down their cell phones and converse with a live person with actual questions. I guess they don't need or want the business. Biggest gripe: when I needed help after locking myself out of my car, I was treated like a criminal. I understand we're in Berkeley, and that lots of creepy people will try to rip you off. But I just asked someone to call AAA. That's all. I had no phone, no purse, no way to get into my car that didn't involve finding a brick and knocking out a window. I hope someone treats both of these people badly next time they find themselves in a bad situation where they are helpless. They deserve nothing less. read more

Be forewarned the young cashier wasn't wearing a face covering. Sadly the customer in front of me didn't have one either. Remember that coverings are to protect others around you. If your customers get sick that surely can't be good for business. Probably won't go back inside if we are still in pandemic and cashier(s) still aren't wearing face coverings. read more

The owner is completely jerk don't go there, please go to the next door. I asked the guy about chicken leg and thigh price and he told me is $1.99, then I told him others shop is cheaper and but I went to the other shop next to him address probably 1950 San Pablo Ave but they're closed. I'm came back to the shop and ask him to give me 25 chicken leg but he refused to sell and call me name in front of my kids and wife. This Arabic man his halal business haram. Please don't go there . This is haram not to sell anything because you complain about pricing. read more

Another piece of art filthy place to get meat on top of that guy behind the meat counter is more interested in your personal life then to get your order right he try his best to give you every single relationship advice he ever read! Big No No! read more

I've dropped by this place several times and I got to say, I'm not a fan. A little bit dirty and a lot of products I found on the shelves were expired. I would recommend you go to the store (Indus Food Center) a couple doors down instead. They have similar products and the store is overall much better. read more

Their costumer service is great. Staff smile when you talk to them. There, you will find most of the products you're looking for. Their prices are balanced. read more

This is just my one time experience at this place but I definitely will not be going back here. I wanted to make some goat over the weekend and since this was one of the few places that sold goat and was also relatively close to our apartment I decided to give it a try. When I reached the meat section there was person in front of me placing his order so I waited. There were two people handling the meat but for some reason the other person (who was free) would not attend to me. I did not mind so I waited, for literally ten minutes. By that time another gentleman had joined the queue behind me. Finally when the person in front of me was done the man behind the counter turned to the gentleman who got in after me (completely ignoring me) and asked him what he wanted. The gentleman was kind enough to tell that I was here before him so I finally got to place my order. I felt the person serving me was being quite rude for no reason but I didn't complain, I just wanted to buy my meat and leave. I asked for two pounds and he cut a huge chunk, weighed it and gave it to me. Surprised, I politely asked him if he could cut it to smaller pieces. He grunted and got to it but when bagging the pieces up I noticed that he threw back a huge chunk into the freezer. I wanted to give him the benefit of the don't so did not ask him to weigh the bag again but I did go home and check. It was lighter. And on top of all this, the meat was disgusting. I assume it was very old and it smelled so bad. Be careful if you're buying meat here, they will try to rip you off. Also, the meat might not be fresh. read more

We always buy goat meat and lamb brian from this place. Always fresh and nice. But there is only one person in the meat section and we have to wait. read more

Halal specializes in certified Islamic ingredients. I"ve read that the lamb, goat and beef sold here are raised and slaughtered according to Muslim strictures. There are several similiar places in the area so you can make an entertaining afternoon of cruising food shops. read more

They carry a nice selection of varied foods from everywhere in the Middle east. They even carry clothing and some toiletries. The meat area could be cleaner. The staff is nice. I always worry about hygiene in these small markets but I have so far been satisfied with the food and with the quality here. read more

My kids love coming here with their Papa, the owner usually gives them a piece of gum and jokes around with them before chatting with my husband. Going to this shop always makes me think of the shops back home, friendly, a little crowded, and full of yummy food like olives, pickled veggies, dolma, feta cheese, fresh pita bread, bins of spices, dates, sweets, olive oil, tea, etc. My favorite things are the little spicy fried potato snacks from India, and all the imported German candy bars. I like that I see all kinds of folks shopping here, and lots of locals too. Everyone should check it out, not be shy to go into an "ethnic" store!! We always get whole chickens from here because they cut them up for us and remove the skin so it's ready for boiling or baking. If I need chicken breast for breading and frying they will cut them into thin slices for me. read more

Excellent selection of traditional indian spices. This store also stocks quick indian dinners as well as spice mixtures for creating a easy flavorful dinners. On my first trip here the butchers area in back was very empty but it was also a Sunday at the end of the night. read more

I love this store. Whenever I come to Berkeley, I have to come to this store. I love their meat especially goat, lamb and free range chicken. They will grind your meat, beef or lamb, right in front of you. They provide such great customer service. read more

I have coming to halal food market for few years now. Yes I agree the building is old so that is not appealing, but Halal food Market is such a warm place to visit. They carry products from Turkey, Brazil, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and all parts of the world. The meat is fresh, halal and moist. My fav's products are freshly made "Merguez susages" (rare to find in bay area), honey, dates and different grains- so much yummy food! I love the customer service and the warmth of the people who own this store and they always so cordial and pleasant. I would give it 4-5 stars !! read more

This place has great lamb merguez sausage. If you have tried other places and been disappointed with their lamb merguez I think you will be pleasantly surprised by Halal Food Market. They make it themselves and they don't use coloring -- it's the real stuff. You can taste the quality. The rest of the meat selection looks pretty good, too. The two people that are always there are very friendly. read more

I shop at this place couple times a month because it's close to my place. Half their products have expired dates on them. There were at least 3-4 times I forgot to check it and had to go back there to complain. Shame on them for selling expired food products. They are compromising people's health for couple more bucks. read more

I love this store. I always go there for tea, because they have an amazing selection. Also chutneys and spices, rice, grains-- wonderful kalamata olives in jars much cheaper than elsewhere.-- Yeah, it looks like a 3d world store (which I like), but it's absolutely right for the culture. It's clean, most things are bagged, etc. Haven't tried the meat, but I will. read more

If you enjoy braising, roasting, bbqing, or eating, this is your place for excellent quality beef, chicken, lamb, and goat. I also enjoy shopping here because of the vast selection of spices and seasonings and other hard to find ingredients [like rose water and pine water] that can make a regular meal something unique. Halal Market has a very helpful and knowledgeable staff who take the time to help you get what you need. They also have a good selection of teas! read more

Great for spices and Middle-Eastern ingredients, however they don't sell toiletries like soap, toilet rolls, washing detergent etc. The staff are nice, although I'm afraid of talking to them too much for fear of someone getting punished for violating a religious code. read more

very clean, honest, and affordable and all of the meat is Halal and they also carry organic meat.