MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee's Halal Restaurant Week is kicking off this weekend, featuring more than a dozen Milwaukee-area restaurants.
Halal Restaurant Week will take place from Saturday, July 9 through Saturday, July 17, beginning with Eid ul Adha on Saturday.
WATCH: Halal Restaurant Week event organizer Bushra Zaibak
In just a couple of days, Bushra Zaibak's dream will become reality: To have a week dedicated to Halal cuisine in Milwaukee.
"This is for the entire community, not just the Muslim community," said Zaibak.
Zaibak says she came up with the idea about two months ago. After weeks of planning and preparing, 18 different restaurants throughout the area will be offering Halal food.
"The word Halal in Arabic essentially means permissible. So, when you're using it in reference to food, it would mean this type of food is permissible," said Zaibak. "We are permitted to eat beef and lamb and chicken and poultry. Any of those types of things, but it does have to be processed within Islamic guidelines."
Businesses like the spy-themed restaurant Safe House will be taking part in Halal Restaurant Week, offering everything from gyros, different chicken cuisines, and more.
"It's exciting to educate all of our employees and our kitchen staff like, hey you know this is Halal prepared food, we can't cross-contaminate," said Safe House assistant general manager Arlene Kirkthink. "I think that Safe House is a great place for fun and we are willing to accommodate all cultures and walks of life."
Zaibak adds that just as restaurants update their menus to provide gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free options, it's important to accommodate other cultures as well.
"This is just one additional accommodation that a business can have in order to attract more diners and business tourism," said Zaibak.
Halal Restaurant Week kicks off on Saturday, July 9, and will run until July 17. For more information, click here.
Here is the list of restaurants participating:
- Amilinda
- Carini's Southern Italian
- Chuchos Red Tacos
- Cuppa Tosa
- Giuesspe's Pizza
- Five O'Clock Steakhouse
- Guadalajara
- Safehouse MKE
- Sobelman's -MU (Marquette)
- Sobelman's - WKA (Waukesha)
- Onesto
- Iron Grate BBQ
- DanDan
- Tomkens
- Top Corned Beef
- Merge
- Mr. B's - Mequon
- Mr. B's -Brookfield
The restaurants taking part will also continue normal business operations during Halal Restaurant Week.
Correction: Eid ul Adha is on Saturday, not Eid al-Fitr.
