Pizza & wings
Halal pizza, wings, fried chicken and barbecue in Dearborn
Where Dearborn gets its halal pepperoni pizza, Nashville hot chicken, wings by the fifty and smoked brisket: the counters, what each one says about its meat, and the story of how American fast food went halal here.
How American food went halal here
The Arab American News described the pattern in 2016: halal versions of American dishes emerged in Dearborn as both a religious accommodation and an assimilation strategy, because the children of immigrants wanted what their peers were eating. The examples then were shawarma poutine, kafta burgers and falafel burgers. A decade on, the same logic produced halal pepperoni, Nashville hot chicken and Texas-style brisket, and in 2024 the Canteen at Midtown opened as what the Detroit Free Press called Michigan's first fully halal food hall.
The demand is big enough that chains chase it. A franchise partner announced a combined Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza at Michigan and Telegraph with all-halal meat, planned for early 2026. And it is big enough to end up in court: the 2017 Little Caesars lawsuit over a pizza labeled halal was filed under Wayne County's Halal and Kosher Anti-Fraud and Truth-in-Labeling Ordinance, and dismissed that September.
Pizza
Pizza shop at 1035 Mason Street in west Dearborn opened by Moe Zahr on October 1, 2025; the 1977 in the name is his father's birth year. It serves seven round styles and two Sicilian styles with dough and sauces made in house, plus pizza by the slice, pastas and salads.
What to order: New York-style pies, Sicilian squares, Margherita, Barbecue chicken pizza.
Zabihah lists it as fully halal with no alcohol, based on staff verbal assurance; no certifier named.
1035 Mason St, Dearborn, MI 48124DirectionsDetails
Long-running carry-out pizza shop at 15029 West Warren Avenue in east Dearborn, with Zabihah reviews going back to 2003. Besides pizza it sells calzones, subs, traditional and boneless wings, burgers with fries, and fish and shrimp dinners, with online ordering through Slice.
What to order: Specialty pizzas with halal pepperoni, Wings, Chicken dinners, Shrimp dinners.
Menu states 'All meat is halal', naming pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, chicken and turkey; Zabihah notes a halal certificate on file. Certifier not named.
15029 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallDetails
Carry-out pizza and wings counter at 10509 West Warren Avenue in east Dearborn, listed on Zabihah since 2011. The menu runs to specialty pizzas (Golden Supreme with turkey bacon and ground beef, Alfredo chicken, Hot Cheetos), calzones, subs, burgers, wings and chicken dinners, with family-size deals.
What to order: Golden Supreme pizza, Alfredo chicken pizza, Hot Cheetos pizza, Wings.
Zabihah lists all food as certified halal with a halal sign on the premises; the Slice menu uses turkey bacon and halal beef. Certifier not named.
10509 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallDetails
Late-night sub, pizza and burger counter at 26515 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights, with a sister shop at 10626 W. Warren Avenue in Dearborn. Subs come in 8- and 12-inch sizes with chicken, steak, turkey, shawarma, fish or shrimp; the menu also has hot dogs, burgers, falafel, shawarma plates and fresh juices.
What to order: Philly cheesesteak sub, Chicken shawarma pita, Basha Burger, Fresh juice cocktails.
Shop states 'We only serve Halal meats'; Zabihah lists both locations as fully halal with no alcohol. No certifier named.
26515 Ford Rd, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127DirectionsCallDetails
Tiliani is a halal Italian restaurant that opened in 2023 at 1002 S Military Street in West Dearborn, led by chef and owner Hisham Diab. It makes its pasta in house and serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Fox 2 Detroit covered it in 2024 as a newer West Dearborn eatery serving halal Italian food.
What to order: Short rib pappardelle, Spicy rigatoni with house-made ricotta, Sourdough pepperoni pizza, Dry-aged ribeye.
Restaurant's website states 'All of our food is halal' and its Instagram bio says halal; no certifier named.
1002 S Military St, Dearborn, MI 48124DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
JT's Halal Pizza is a takeout pizzeria on Schaefer Road in Dearborn. The menu covers classic and specialty pizzas, calzones, cheese bread, tenders and wings.
What to order: Pepperoni pizza, Deep dish pizza, Cheese bread, Wings.
The business carries halal in its name and its site describes it as "doling out halal food"; Zabihah lists JT's as fully halal with a halal sign on the premises. No certifier named.
6532 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Alanos is a counter-service spot on Michigan Avenue in east Dearborn with a menu of pizza, burgers, subs, shawarma, wings and salads. It offers online ordering and catering.
What to order: Chicken fajita pizza, Smash burgers, Subs, Shawarma.
Zabihah lists it as fully halal on staff's verbal assurance and describes the food as made with halal ingredients. No certifier named.
14212 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Tiliani is the outlier: a sit-down halal Italian room in West Dearborn whose sourdough pepperoni pizza sits next to house-made pasta.
Wings and chicken
Halal wing counter at 5854 Schaefer Road in east Dearborn, the Dearborn store of a small Michigan chain that also has locations in Dearborn Heights (2227 N. Beech Daly Road), Belleville, Wyandotte, Flint and Ottawa Lake. The menu is bone-in and boneless wings in a range of sauces, tenders, burgers, wraps and Philly cheesesteaks, with delivery through the major apps.
What to order: Bone-in wings, Boneless wings, The Don steak sandwich, Chicken tenders.
Chain's website tagline is 'Fresh Wings. Bold Flavor. 100% Halal.' and it states everything is 100% halal; Zabihah notes a halal certificate on file. Certifier not named.
5854 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Counter-service burger and chicken sandwich shop at 22099 Michigan Avenue in downtown west Dearborn, with a second location at 8175 N. Telegraph Road in Dearborn Heights. The menu is smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and wraps, Buffalo chicken, salads and hand-cut fries.
What to order: Double Smash Burger, Nashville Hot chicken sandwich, Nashville Hot wrap, Hand-cut fries.
Website describes its food as halal ('Amazing HALAL burgers and food'); Zabihah lists it as fully halal on staff assurance. No certifier named.
22099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48124DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Hot & Puff is a late-night American counter on Michigan Avenue in east Dearborn. The menu covers smashed burgers, loaded rice bowls, wings and fries served with a house HP sauce.
What to order: Smashed burgers, Loaded chicken over rice bowl, Chicken wings.
Menu lists halal beef bacon; Zabihah lists the entire menu as 100% halal on staff's verbal assurance. No certifier named.
14651 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Golden Chicken and Meat Market is a rotisserie chicken and shawarma counter on West Warren Avenue in east Dearborn. Its website stresses that it is not affiliated with any other location of the same name.
What to order: Rotisserie chicken, Chicken shawarma, Yellow rice plates.
Zabihah lists Golden Chicken on West Warren as fully halal, with owner confirmation and a certificate on file; the shop's own page does not state it. Certifier not named.
13127 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsCallWebsiteDetails
Hot dogs
Halal hot dog and burger counter started in 2013 by chef Sal as a hot dog stand in Dearborn. For years it operated inside the Mobil station at 15430 W. Warren Avenue, where Hoodline rated it Dearborn's top hot dog spot; BridgeDetroit's 2024 Ramadan guide lists it at 5624 N. Telegraph Road in Dearborn Heights and credits it with pioneering late-night Ramadan service in east Dearborn. A dozen signature dogs, eight burgers and loaded fries.
What to order: Volcano Dog, Cheesy Dog with Doritos, BLT dog with turkey bacon, C.E.O. Burger.
Hoodline and ClickOnDetroit identify it as a halal eatery; the menu uses turkey bacon. No certifier named.
5624 N Telegraph Rd, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127DirectionsDetails
Barbecue
Halal barbecue restaurant at 27310 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights, opened in 2019 as A.B.'s Amazing Ribs by Ali Bazzy, who started by smoking ribs for friends and family. Metro Times reported its opening as a halal brisket and barbecue spot, and ClickOnDetroit notes it also sells its raw meats wrapped to cook at home. It now trades as A.B's Smokehouse and sells its own rubs and sauces.
What to order: Beef back ribs, Brisket, Short ribs, Smoked chicken.
Restaurant states all of its meats are 100% certified halal, including beef from Creekstone Farms, and that it carries no pork.
27310 Ford Rd, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127DirectionsWebsiteDetails
The food hall
Halal food hall and food-truck park at 720 Town Center Drive, between Fairlane Town Center and UM-Dearborn, opened August 9, 2024 by Hassan Chammi in the former Big Fish restaurant. The Detroit Free Press reported it as Michigan's first fully halal food hall; it opened with six trucks that had been favorites of the Ramadan Suhoor Festival, including The Munch Box and The Terry Melt, plus indoor stalls such as Nami Sushi and The Bistro Box. It hosts the late-night Ramadan Village each spring.
What to order: The Terry Melt sandwich, Munch Box burgers and sliders, Sushi from Nami Sushi, Shawarma and kunafa.
Described by the Detroit Free Press and WXYZ as a fully halal food hall and truck park; individual vendors' certifications not reported.
720 Town Center Dr, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsDetails
Burgers
Dearborn's halal burger counters are a guide of their own: Famous Hamburger, Taystee's, Zo's, Brome, Burgeratti and the rest are in the halal burger guide.
The Detroit-style question
Detroit-style pizza was born in 1946 at Buddy's Rendezvous on Six Mile and Conant, when Gus Guerra adapted a Sicilian sfincione recipe and baked it in rectangular steel pans that came from an auto plant, where they had held parts. The hallmarks are a thick, airy crust, Wisconsin brick cheese pushed to the edges so it caramelizes against the pan, and sauce ladled on top. The Dearborn counters above sell rounds and Sicilian squares; ask which they have on the day.
Sources (8)
Background from the sources below. Each place's halal wording and facts are sourced on its own page.
- arabamericannews.com/2016/05/26/Authentic-%e2%80%94-Arabic-food-evolving-locally/
- whatnow.com/?p=354153
- arkansasonline.com/news/2017/may/26/muslim-man-sues-little-caesars-over-pizza/
- foxnews.com/food-drink/muslim-customer-sues-little-caesars-for-100-million-over-halal-pizz
- 953mnc.com/2017/09/24/michigan-lawsuit-tossed-halal-pepperoni-case/
- wdet.org/2022/11/10/curiosid-who-made-detroit-style-pizza-first/
- Buddyspizza.com/history-of-detroit-style-pizza
- aol.com/dearborns-favorite-eats-now-featured-100842959.html
Questions people ask
What is halal pepperoni?
Pepperoni made without pork, from beef, turkey or chicken, by a halal supplier. Lions Pizza's menu names its pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, chicken and turkey as halal; Golden Halal Pizza's supreme uses turkey bacon and ground beef. Ask the counter what theirs is made from.
Is Little Caesars halal in Dearborn?
Some Dearborn-area locations have advertised halal pepperoni. In 2017 a Dearborn resident sued the chain for $100 million alleging a store served pork pepperoni on a pizza labeled halal; a Wayne County judge dismissed the case that September. Treat any chain location as halal only if that store says so today. See the brand pages under Is it halal?
What is Detroit-style pizza, and can I get it halal?
A thick, rectangular pan pizza with crisp caramelized cheese edges, invented in 1946 at Buddy's on Detroit's east side and baked in steel pans borrowed from auto plants. KRÜM in West Dearborn bakes Sicilian squares; ask any of the pizza counters here whether they run a deep-dish square that day.
Why is there so much halal American food in Dearborn?
The Arab American News traced it in 2016 to immigrants' children wanting the food their classmates ate, so restaurants built halal versions: kafta burgers, falafel burgers, shawarma poutine. Pizza, wings and hot chicken followed the same path.
