Let's start with the basics. I do this because I had to look it up (in my mind Halal is the Islamic Kosher, but what does that mean?). What is Halal? "Meat that has been slaughtered in the manner prescribed by the shari?a". shari'a: "The code of law based on the Koran." I need to make this clear because, ignorantly enough, the first time I walked into this restaurant I had to ask, "Does the Ma Po Tofu have pork?" And the Chinese guy, wearing a very ethnic looking hat, looked at me really funny. I mean, Chinese food without pork?!? I felt at a loss.But even without pork, this place is suprizingly good. It looks like one of those cheap places that woul have bullet proof glass (BPG), dirty tables, have gangsta types hanging around, server kung pao chicken and fried chicken wings. And in fact, it IS a cheap place with BPG, dirty tables, has gangsta types hanging around, kung pao chicken, and fried chicken wings! But, maybe cause it's Halal, the food just seems really clean and quite tasty. They give good portions and, did I mention, way cheap. The decor, tables &BPG forced me to give them a Service rating of 2, but they people part of the service is fine. Definitely a great place for take out, if you live in the neighborhood, when you really don't want to eat out because food is so dirty & bad for you (really nice restaurants included!) & you don't feel like cooking. The vegetarian Ma Po Tofu IS good, as well as some of their crab dishes and standard Chinese fare is really good too. Nothing to travel for, but a good neighborhood eat often joint.Halal no-no review:Swine/pork and its by-products Animals improperly slaughtered or dead before slaughtering Animals killed in the name of anyone other than ALLAH (God) Alcohol and intoxicants Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears Blood and blood by-products Foods contaminated with any of the above products
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