Al Salam has closed.
Hi. Its a Saturday night and mmm-yoso is tired. This is a short post on a favorite place Cathy and The Mister like to go to when they want something healthy and tasty. Kirk isn't posting anything tonight anyhow.
Hi. This will be short; I don't have a photo of the menu- it is one piece of paper kept at the cash register. Also, the camera died…well, the batteries did, anyhow.
Joseph E. asked me about my favorite place or two when I responded to a question about Mediterranean foods on a Forum earlier today. I pretty much have kept this one to myself for a very long time. They have good business mostly from the same local families and walk ins. There are many Mediterranean places in El Cajon, due to the large Chaldean population (when Iraq was having elections, one of the four places in the USA to vote was right down the street from this restaurant on Main Street in El Cajon). There were a lot more places on Main Street, seemingly one on top of another, but they have now spread out over the City of El Cajon. Nonetheless there are many small markets that are very ethnic and I saw a few that are both Arabic and Mexican in inventory on Main Street. (Main Produce Market as 1255 East Main, near Second has a "Coming Soon" sign and writing in Arabic and Spanish).
So, this little place…Most people come in here and get food to go, or just buy some Halal meats from the one refrigerator case, filled with Halal meats (I think the easiest way to describe Halal is "Muslim Kosher".) The menu is mostly written in Arabic with two columns for prices- it is less expensive to get something to go than to 'have service' as the owner says. Nevertheless, we are willing to pay the extra dollar or two per item and sit down at one of the 8 tables.
The building used to be a Doctor's office.
If the lady is working, she speaks good English, if it is all men in there (as it was on Saturday night), be patient. They speak broken English but they cook very well. They have a hard time explaining things if you ask a question-(we tried asking about the ingredients in the salads)- so order something simple (hummus appetizer, lamb kabob, Greek salad) or point and say "yes, I want that". It will be good.
It is clean inside, no air conditioning. They will bring you a pitcher of ice water.
The menu has appetizers, salads, main courses and kabob sandwiches.
We ordered the Shawarma (lamb/beef cooked on a spit with spices, shredded . The taste and texture is a little different than Gyros) and a Greek salad and one hot tea. The hot tea is served in a small glass and there is no refill; it is nice mint flavor and goes well with the food.
You get this GIANT piece of bread- round and hollow like pita, whole grain in texture. A good 12 inches plus in diameter, toasty warm and cooked on one side and folded into a basket.
The condiments on the table are salt, pepper, sugar, olive oil and sumac. (Sumac is a powdered spice, kind of lemony/tart in flavor so it sort of also substitutes for salt). You know my camera died, don't you?
Here is the photo of the Shawarma plate. $8. A good pound of shredded, cooked, nicely flavored and still lightly game-y tasting lamb/beef served with sliced raw onion, tomato, parsley and pickled turnips.
The Greek salad was $6- chopped tomatoes, sweet Persian cucumbers, lettuce and a good amount of a very nice salty, fresh Feta cheese. The dressing is a red vinaigrette. Nice and thick, but not too much; you can toss it more so it spreads over the ingredients. I sprinkled sumac on everything- the salad, my pieces of bread…
The Mister gave me a lot of his lamb to put onto the salad, made himself lots of little bites on top of pieces of the torn bread and I had a lot of the bread also and there was still some leftover. Total bill was $15.70
The men were all there tonight and did not interfere with our meal, even to ask how it was going. When we were leaving, all of them asked us how we liked it and when were we coming back…so, don't be offended if you go and they seem to be staring at you. They are more used to the 'to go' orders, and having the lady working there.
Down the same block two stores West is the El Cajon International Foods Market. They sell cooked kabobs inside the store. You could get a kabob at Al Salam and then one at the Market to compare…
Al Salam Halal Meat and Restaurant 550 East Main Street El Cajon 92021 (619)585-5374
Thanks Cathy!
That plate of meat is impressive. I imagine they prepare it themselves, rather than buying the industrial processed “Gyros” mix that most pseudo-greek places use? We will have to check it out.
I just wanted to do it for you, Joseph. Literally, we stopped cooking dinner last night (making ribs and we cook in oven first then on the grill; we wrapped them up and put in the fridge and had them for lunch today-and it will be documented in a future post)and drove down to Main Street, camera in tow.
They do sell meat inside the front door; you’ll see a lamb leg wrapped in Saran Wrap, as well as other parts of lamb and chickens and beef when you walk in. Everything is always fresh, nothing frozen. Always good. I would think if they have to, they pull the meat from the counter to cook.
I know you are busy and it is sort of a drive for you, but do think you’ll like it. I really have kept this one quiet. It is really not processed food at all…it is way more wonderful home made quality.
Thanks for the info Cathy! We live pretty close to this place – sounds like a good place to get some takeout. We will have to check it out. Enjoy your ribs!!
You will like the food here, Alice.
The ribs turned out better by baking one day, refrigerating overnight and then grilling. Tender…nice Sunday lunch.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Freaken “A” I always wonder what the heck that red powder flake was that I sprinkle all over my basmati rice. LOL.
No to mention took my wife out to Darya – Persian food and it was yummy.
I’ll catch the plane over from the Islands just to try the restaurant, Cathy. That “not speaking english good” thing might carry over to more authenticity in their ethnic dishes, though that’s never a for certain thing.
Anytime, Bill, anytime. You made me laugh out loud. I didn’t know I was being graded… 🙂
Oh, it is way authentic, Ron. You’d like it. It has been in that same location for more than 10 years, although I think ownership has changed within the family.
This place sounds great. Small point though–‘halal’ is ‘Muslim Kosher’, not ‘Christian Kosher’.
Thanks, PGS. I just corrected the post…my initial and subsequent experiences with Halal meats has been with Chaldean Catholic families…and I sort of went that way in my explantion. I appreciate your correcting me. This is a great place. Try to go if you get a chance.
Asssalamualaikum, my name is Talha the grocery store near my house claims they sell Halal and they buy the product from your market if you could verify they buy it from you i would be very grateful. The store is call Irvine Halal or Al neezam in Irvine, Ca. They claim they buy the meats from your store in El Cajon and from the store in New York plzzzz verify immediatly. I also want to know if you hand cut your meat and if you do how could I know for sure, plzzz forgive me for being a skeptic but lately around here at least we have had lots of betrayal from our fellow Muslims when it comes to Halal meat. Thank YOu very much, Wailaikumusalam.
Hi Talha. I sent you a private note. I am only blogging here, but I do know the meats at Al Salam are all cut by hand and that many Chaldeans shop for their meats at Al Salam after going to one of the grocery stores on the same block. I am unsure who Al Salam sells to individually or in Ivine.