Someone call the fire department, because College Area is heating up—big time. Kinchana is coming this summer. Love Letters Pizza is on track as well. The Mesa Bar & Grill is bringing pub life back to the Boulevard. And by the end of this week, Halal Burger Co. will be firing up its grills at 6353 El Cajon Blvd. in the former Juicy Burgers spot.
Ahmed Hagisufi, who co-owns Halal Burger with Abdullahi Salim, says he hopes to offer the surrounding community a better tasting burger with lots of Mediterranean and African influence. “It’s not just your regular burger,” he explains. Halal is an Arabic term that means “permissible” in Islam. To qualify as halala, animals must be slaughtered and processed in a very specific way, which Hagisufi describes as ethical, humane, and free from forbidden ingredients like pork and alcohol.
“[The meat] has a lot more taste to it… you’re not just eating the meat, but you’re eating a lot of different spices into [it],” he says. “You [can] tell there’s a difference.”
Originally from Somalia, Hagisufi grew up in Switzerland before coming to San Diego around 25 years ago. After seeing the popularity of halal dining in Europe, and especially the U.K., he realized the nearby Muslim community doesn’t have enough halal options to meet potential demand. When the Juicy Burgers location came up for lease (which sits near multiple mosques), he knew it was the perfect spot for both those who follow a halal diet, as well as an introduce to non-Muslims who might not be familiar with the practice. He hopes to be open by Friday, April 18 to accommodate Muslims observing Jumu’ah, considered the holiest day of the week in Islam.
Halal Burger’s menu will also include pizza and chicken wings, which Hagisufi says is Salim’s specialty. It’s the first time either of them has run their own restaurant, so they’re open to feedback from guests. But Hagisufi promises that no matter what, guests are in for something a little different. “As an American, we’ve been eating burgers all our lives, but it’s always the same thing,” he says. “We have a little twist.”
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Bite Into The Bayou At Gator By The Bay
San Diegans are getting a second chance at Mardi Gras this year. (And on Mother’s Day weekend, no less!) The 22nd annual Gator by the Bay music and food festival returns to Spanish Landing Park across from the airport, with zydeco and rockabilly music (with Grammy-award winning artists like Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys) paired with 10,000 pounds of Louisiana crawfish trucked in directly from the bayou. It’s such a vibe that the event runs for four days, and an experience that talent director Peter Oliver calls “unforgettable.” I’m not sure about that last part—I’ve had a few frozen Irish coffees from Erin Rose in the French Quarter and there are definitely some gaps in my memory. But hopefully, the family-friendly nature of the event will keep deviants (like me) in check.
Beth’s Bites
- Fans of Sandbox Pizza in Pacific Beach can keep getting their fix of pizza, beer, cocktails, and more, despite new owners taking over on May 1. The team is also behind Best Pizza & Brew and knows a good thing when they see one, and are (for now) keeping the name and menu the same. I’d say keep an eye on its Instagram for more news, but like I said, it seems like things are staying pretty much as they were (hopefully including its Monday through Thursday happy hour specials that start at 11:30 a.m.).
- Zen Modern Asian Bistro is nearly set to open its second location at the Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Once they do, it’ll bring its menu of Chinese specialties and fusion dishes like a pork belly quesadilla, sashimi salad, kimchi fried rice, chow mein, and much more to guests in a double suite that once housed two restaurants (J’s and Ziziki’s). Plenty of room for that second—or third—order of dumplings.
- Speaking of dumplings, it looks like an outpost of Super Dumpling is headed to 3870 Valley Centre Drive in Carmel Valley next to Gami Sushi. Huge if true—and by huge, I mean my appetite for dumplings.
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