In Fort Worth, Texas, at Goldee’s BBQ, Zain Shafi stands ready to smoke briskets for the eager crowd. By 9 a.m., nearly 100 people are lined up outside the wood-paneled restaurant. Thanh Huynh, 30, has been waiting since 6:30 a.m., eager to order a variety of meats and sides. Goldee’s opened in 2020, quickly earning accolades, including being named the top barbecue spot by Texas Monthly and receiving a Bib Gourmand from Michelin Guide. The restaurant offers both classic Texas barbecue and halal options, including brisket, turkey, and lamb.
Barbecue restaurants offering halal dishes are thriving in Texas, a state where Muslim presence is increasing. These pitmasters, while embracing traditional Texas barbecue, add halal twists, reflecting their heritage. Restaurants like Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice and Levant Mediterranean BBQ also serve halal meats, gaining popularity among diverse clientele.
Haris Ghaffar, who grew up eating limited halal options like McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, appreciates the wide selection available today. Halal food has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry, a mainstream part of American cuisine, according to food writer Farhan Mustafa.
Texas barbecue, traditionally centered around brisket and pork ribs, is seeing innovations from halal pitmasters using family recipes. Zain Shafi, formerly of Sabar Barbecue, brought flavors like tandoori smoked turkey to Goldee’s, using spices like bay leaf and coriander for unique dishes. Halal meats represent the highest quality for Shafi.
“My goal at Kafi BBQ is to make the best barbecue in Texas,” Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi, owner of Kafi BBQ in Irving, asserts. His menu includes halal Wagyu beef and Iraqi spices, showcasing a departure from traditional Texas barbecue. Previously a Silicon Valley tech worker, Abdul-Kafi moved to Texas, seeking community, and later opened Kafi BBQ after perfecting recipes.
His restaurant, packed with diners, features dishes such as Wagyu brisket, pomegranate-glazed beef belly, and spicy beef sausage. Customers praise the unique and high-quality offerings.
Despite political rhetoric against Muslims in Texas, with some lawmakers proposing bans on halal food, figures like Abdul-Kafi view the popularity of halal barbecue as a counterexample. It showcases integration and contribution to Texas’s famed cuisine. Raul Ali, dining with family at Kafi BBQ, notes the diverse clientele at the restaurant as evidence of its broad appeal. Mustafa sees the success as resilience of Muslim American communities, stating that despite efforts to marginalize them, their food and culture remain integral to American society.