Al-Hamra Halal Cafe

When I lived in Redondo beach I used to visit restaurant atleast twice a week and I have tried all of their chicken and lamb dishes. The best thing about this restuarant other than great tasting kabobs and shawarma’s is their friendly service. The new owner did a great job of converting this restaurant from a limited menu when it was with the previous owner to a much wider variety of freshly cooked meat items. The way they cook the items in front of you makes it mouth watering and witht heir friendly service people come back to the restuarant and recommend it to their family and friends.

4.5 stars for good food and good, friendly service. It’s not their fault, but I’m taking a half star for parking and ease of access. Artesia is very crowded and that little parking lot ain’t big enough for the number of businesses there.

I read their lamb was good so I ordered the lamb stew that comes with vegetables on a bed of rice with a big ol’ lamb shank on top. Then I asked the guy what else I should try. He said the lamb kabob. I said sounds good. I thought I was ordering two meals. When I got home, I was thoroughly amused at how large one of their meals are. It was easily four meals, and I personally kinda eat too much. Their lamb dishes are very tasty. I really had a good time eating their food. While I was waiting for my food to go, the guy brought me a piece of baklava. That was very nice of him to do and it tasted good too.

Also, while I was waiting, there was some idiot in there who ordered shawerma. Don’t get me wrong. He’s not an idiot because he ordered a shawerma. He’s an idiot, because after waiting about ten minutes started to complain angrily. He exclaims, "Where’s my order at? It’s been 20 minutes. (Dean thinks, “no a-hole, it’s only been about 10”) It’s only a damn shawerma. What’s the problem?!?" At this point, I looked around, seen the annoyed look on people’s faces, then decided to not intervene. The idiot did deserve to be checked though and I did give him a look to let him know. He just looked away, so I thought karma will follow.

Anyway, this small, friendly restaurant is all about business. It’s business is making good food at bargain prices. I say bargain, because one $9.99 lamb kabob or lamb stew plate is good for two meals easy. I hope they stick around for a long time.

The staff is so friendly. Ask for a recommendation on what to eat they are happy to help you out.

We had a party and ordered food from them. The owner helped us decide how much we needed, we were worried about not having enough and ordered more food, he tried to talk us out of it. He was right, we would have had PLENTY of food with just what he suggested. (The portions here are HUGE!) Everyone loved everything!!! A special comment about their AMAZING homemade hummus, it is beyond good! Everyone should try it.

We have had just about everything on the menu and it is all wonderful!

While we agree with a previous post about the parking being difficult at times, the food outweighs the parking so we gave it 5 stars.