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Alhambra Halal Meat - CLOSED
Category: Food Specialty Food Meat Shops Meat Shops [Edit]
3111 24th St(between Folsom St & Shotwell St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 525-4499
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
37 reviews for Alhambra Halal Meat
Review Highlights
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"Tons of middle eastern foodstuffs abound here, as well as..." In 9 reviews -
"It has a great selection of beef, lamb and chicken." In 16 reviews -
"I love goat and I don't care who knows it." In 11 reviews
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Oaeza P.
Greenbrae, CA
6/30/2010
If you like alhambra for the Halal aspect go to Salama on Geary. Try to work with Ali-- younger owner, i believe. He's friendly and patient. Call ahead for orders. Although you won't find the same sort of butcher shop feel that Alhambra had (this place is much smaller and can get very claustrophobic when it's busy), the meat is certainly good quality and there is a lot of middle eastern/southeast asian foodstuff. Just be sure to specify how you want your meat cut and packed. Also, since I hear Restaurant Depot halal meat is questionable, this is one of the few Halal butcher shops I know of.
Go Halal! It's much better for ya! -
Review from erik h.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2008
I'm definitely glad to have a clean place for ethical meat in the hood. However, what really got me excited about Alhambra are the other groceries.
They have Sabra, easily my favorite pre-packaged hummus, and of course tasty flat breads. To go with your ground lamb, they have a nice range of blugur in various grades of coarseness. Best of all is their cheese selection... they have Haloumi for just under $5, nearly half the price of anywhere else I've seen in town. This alone is going to make me a frequent customer here. -
Review from Ian M.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2008
One morning, a few weeks ago, while I was walking from Philz at Folsom and 24th to the BART station I noticed a sign advertising organic, grass fed goat. I love goat. When I was growing up we had goats that we kept for milk, cheese and occasionally meat. It's a beautiful, healthy meat that tastes incredible.
Today I finally found an excuse to go back to Alhambra. Unfortunately my wife won't eat goat with me (she's never even tried it!) but Alhambra's beef is also organic and grass fed, so I bought a roast. They didn't have any roast cuts out, so I asked. This is why a real butcher is so much better than the shrink-wrapped meat at the grocery store - they went and grabbed a big piece of cow and cut off a piece the size that I asked for. I cooked it this evening and it was amazing.
I can't wait to go back to try their chicken and lamb and get more beef. They have a great selection of offal which I've never cooked but love to eat. Perhaps now 's the time to learn. They also carry a great selection of middle eastern food and a small selection of general groceries. -
Review from ellen c.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2008
I went here today for the first time and was mightily impressed.
The place is immaculate. There is no funky smell, no flies, you could literally eat off the floor.
I have been looking around for goat meat for some time (to not avail) Guess what? They got it. The guy chopped up fresh goat cubes for me to make my Jamaican curried goat recipe. Score.
Next, I saw some paper-thin chicken slices for making some fabulous sauteed chicken in some sort of sauce-thing. I asked the guy for a few of those. Instead he went for the fat chicken breast. No, I tried to tell him, I want the razor thin ones. No, he tried to explain to me- I will cut them fresh for you. He then took the fat chicken breast and sliced it in thin slices so I could make my floured-sauteed-in-some-sort-of-sauce dream come true. See. he wanted it to be AS FRESH AS POSSIBLE. Major score.
I was able to pick up some SABRA hummus there, which happens to be the hummus of the gods, not that horrible hippy hummus you get at Trader Joe's and Rainbow Grocery. Triple score.
Tons of middle eastern foodstuffs abound here, as well as tons of organic dairy products. I am so happy this place is in my neighborhood, I could cry.
No more scary meat from Mexican butcheries. No more overpriced Whole Foods meats. There is a third way.
Allahu Akbar! -
Review from Candice L.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2008
A nice selection of lamb and goat, plus the usual assorted cuts of meat and chicken. The far case holds the exciting bits, lamb spleens, testicles, tongues, hearts and so on. The shop is kept very clean and has a small assortment of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sundries such as pita, lavash, canned favas, grape leaves for dolmas, and a few cheeses.
There was a bit of a language barrier with one of the guys that helped me originally although after we sorted out what I wanted, he was happy to chunk up the lamb shoulder to save me the trouble. It's nice to see sides of beef hanging up and how meticulously clean everything is. Prices are fair, cheaper than Whole Foods for most things, with some bargains out there.
A welcome addition to the neighborhood. I'm pleased that they're open 7 days a week, it's much more convenient than trekking out to the Tenderloin or wherever for some good lamb to braise. Can't wait to try their merguez sausages too. -
Review from Dan W.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2008
Meat is good, but is often hard to know if it is clean and healthy.
Halal meat helps solve this problem by having strict rules and inspections.
I found Alhambra Halal Meat today. The store has only been open a couple of weeks. It has a great selection of beef, lamb and chicken. There is a wide variety of cuts of meats as well as whole sections that can be butchered to order.
They also have a pretty selection of spices, marinades, sauces along with a small selection of good looking vegetables.
The meat is less expensive than most grocery stores in spite of the beef and lamb being organic and grass fed (I prefer my beef to have a wider range of food choices, bu grass fed is fine).
I am just happy to be able to buy clean meat from a local source. -
Review from EDW L.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2008
Alhambra fills me with a special joy every time I stop by. First and foremost, I can thank them for my newfound love of goat. I love goat and I don't care who knows it. It tastes better than lamb, its better for you, and they will take a whole goat over to Mr Bonesaw and cut to order if you want something in particular. Try the goatchops at $5/lb and I promise you will be on the GobbleTrain to Goattown, population: you.
Their beef has an intense beef flavor (its both grassfed and local), so if you're used to Safeway corn-fed antibiotic sadness beef, be prepared for a brave new world. The lamb is fantastic and absurdly cheap, and the chicken looks lovely. No pork though-something to do with a 1,500 year old religion.
To top it all off, the place is as shiny and lovely smelling as the meat section at Whole Foods, but at a fraction of the price and with a fraction of the Yoga Moms. -
Review from Mari C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/11/2009
WHY?
I don't get it, it was so much better than anything else around here. Service, quality, hygiene...
I'm pretty bummed. You were a candle that burned out too soon.Listed in: The Clearance Rack
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/3/2008
If your butcher shop smells like rotting, rolling death, find a new source for your carnivorous… Read more »
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Review from Jenn C.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
8/12/2008
Wow. Am I ever glad that I found this place. (Actually Renee P. told me about it!) I just moved to the 'hood and I needed a butcher.
My first venture out for meat in the 'hood, and I didn't make it past Low Cost Carcinera (sp - the name should have been an indication) Its not that bad...
The second time I needed meat - I ventured just past Folsom and the 'angels of meat' descended upon me as I stepped foot into this well lit, clean, and delightful butcher shop.
Alhambras has all the meat I need (and no nasty pork!) I can not wait for Thursday to come as I am having a dinner party and going to try out their lamb. -
Review from Art A.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2009
4.5 stars (-.5 for timeliness)
Got 15 lamb shanks from here on NYE. Staff was very helpful through the ordering process. But when we arrived, our shanks were not ready. The butcher had gone on a 2hour lunch break and we didnt know when he would be back.
Fortunately he arrived after about 5minutes and they had the shanks ready within 25minutes. The shanks were amazing. Hopefully next time they are more timely. -
Review from Shelley C.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2009
After watching all of those terrible videos from factory farms, I'm always on the lookout for the best places to buy meat.
My priorities are humanely treated animals, grass fed and carefully handled.
Alhambra is fabulous! They're super clean, informative and very nice.
We made a Bolognese Ragu for a dinner party and the flavor was incredible. Everyone asked for the recipe afterwards but, I had to say it was definitely in part to the high quality and care that Alhambra offers. -
Review from Omer K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/23/2009
So sad :-(
Wish you the best Suleiman.....inshallah you will have better success soon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2009
I figured I had better post since i have been here pretty solid for my carnivorous needs for at… Read more »
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Review from heathen h.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2008
I cannot rate this place highly enough. Finding this gem of a butcher has completely weened me and my family off of grocery stores. For our produce we make a weekly trip to the farmer's market, and for meat we come here!
As noted in most all of the other reviews, this place immaculately clean. The butchers, while there may be a bit of a language barrier for me, are charming and cheerful and amazingly helpful.
We tried the goat and made a very delicious stew out of it, though we couldn't quite get over the mental hurdle of eating goat. Oh, my narrow American palate. Why must you be so difficult?
We've been back every week for the last month and couldn't be happier. It's also something of a rarity in this day and age to develop a relationship with the people who provide your food, and I'm finding that I like it quite a lot! -
Review from Raja R.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2009
Today I sat down and decided to research online information about Alhambra.
For several weeks I have driven past the market to find it closed, thought something is wrong with this picture.
Today I would also like to add how sad it is for me to learn my biggest fear is true.
This was a really nice place to shop. I am not a red meat person, but I do eat chicken. Totally agree with others, food was fresh, everyone was friendly, the place was clean and had no bad smells.
It would be great to hear they have reopened.
I wish them the very best. -
Review from JeFF T.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 3/19/2009
I barely got to know the store, but I'm sad that they're gone. :(
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/4/2009
I had read an old Gourmet article over the weekend about some foodies that wanted fresh goat meat in… Read more »
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Review from Atousa F.
1/16/2009
Hell yes! A legit meat market in the Mission (no pun intended). This place is solid, and Mohammad and his sons rock this shit. The meat is quality and they have all sorts of other Middle Eastern goodies that's a refreshing change in the neighborhood. Come here often enough, and Mohammad will you usually hook you up with free stuff (usually sausages). These people rock!
Listed in: Stuff in the Mission...
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Review from Kosmonaut K.
7/14/2008
This place just opened a few weeks ago, and they said they are going to add more items, but in the meantime there's a large butcher counter with organic, grass-fed halal beef, lamb, chicken, and sausages. I bought a ribeye steak ($8.70/lb) and it was extremely delicious and tender. A+++ WOULD BUY AGAIN. Service is cheerful, friendly, and quick. The place is very clean. Prices are very cheap for organic grassfed meat. They also sell Middle Eastern sundries such as pomegranate molasses, ful medammes, grape leaves, baklava, Greek yogurt, and they have a big display case of Middle Eastern cheeses, fresh fruit juices, and an olive bar. There's a small selection of organic produce.
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Review from Jason M.
Charleston, SC
11/26/2008
This place is solid. As others have written, it scores points in numerous ways: nice staff, big unique selection, fresh as hell, clean, the no additives, and they claim the animals are humanely treated. I investigated the issue of whether the animals are truly treated humanely. I think it's a little ambiguous, since Souleiman has not actually seen the habitat of the animals, but, I think with a little faith, it's possible to believe that he is accurate and is as concerned with such things as he claims. Below are the emails between Souleiman and myself:
#1
"I was just reading about animal treatment and wanted to look you guys up online. I believe a note on your wall notes that the animals are treated humanely. I know that the method of butchering according to halal principles is "humane," but do you know of the way in which the animals are raised? For example, do they have a natural existence, or are they, say, caged in small, crowded areas, restricted of normal movements, and so on?"
He responded the next day:
"Thank you for contacting us. Yes, we are extremely conscious about only dealing with meat processors and companies that only deals with farmers who treat their animals humanely and feed Hormone free, No antibiotics, No Animal feed in the food NO steroids in addition every animal is tested very young and raised under the very strict guideline to insure the absolute best meat in taste and safety."
#3 and I responded back:
"If I may inquire, please, with "processors" and "companies" that deal with numerous farmers, isn't it pretty likely that someone's cutting corners and making a few extra bucks by crowding the animals? I mean, do you believe they are treated humanely because of literature that is passed on from the farmers to the processors to you, or have you visited a farm, or?
The reason I am so concerned is because it is SSOOOO important to make sure that the meat purveyor that I buy from (and that I "yelp" about on http://yelp.com and the friends I tell) think it is important to ensure that if we are going to eat animals in a time like this (when we can easily get all our proteins from non-animal sources if we wished to) then they should at LEAST not be tortured. I myself don't care too much about the process of killing. I'm worried about the years before the killing - what is the quality of life of these animals that we raise solely for the purpose of eating. I myself believe that the only permissible way for us to do so is to treat them humanely (letting them live a mostly natural existence) during their lives. Otherwise, we are inhumane, and that is not something that Jesus or Allah would smile upon, if you will.
So, this is why I am so concerned about your method of verifying your sources' claims. I'm not saying that your customers have any reason to doubt your claim, but, "verify and believe" is superior to "simply believe." I myself owned a restaurant once and made sure to inquire carefully from my purveyor about the farm they buy from. I might have only been 90% sure, and maybe that 10% was an error, but at least, this is how I know the right questions to ask.
So please enlighten me as to how you know that the processors do buy from farmers who care about humaneness even at the price of profit."
#4 his reply:
I totally understand and appreciate your valid concerns which I share.
I am a seller of the Halal Pride Beef, Goat, Lamb. Now Have I seeing
how the animals are treated? The answer is NO. BUT, let me assure you
as a person of deep faith and an activist in the Muslim Community for
many years I know something about dedication and commitment to what
you believe in. As a graduate with a BA in Activism and Social Change
I am a committed person to honesty and truth. I will not sell meat
that is not Halal, Humanly treated, No Hormones, No Steroids, No
antibiotics, and No animal in the feed NO MATTER HOW much profit I
will make as a result. People I am buying from I TRUST I know after 40
years of commitment to Halal meat they are absolutely working in this
field not for the money because they are not rich by any means, but
they BELIVE in something so deeply that led them into going to the
halal meat market. Of course people can cheat and lie and the only way
to verify that is you your self spending a week to 2 weeks with Aslam
Sheikh on the road to see what this man goes through to keep his
commitment to the best Halal meat in the world. another issue is the
label on the package in our walkin cooler we have the boxes of meat
with all info on the label state every claim we make concerning the
quality in our advertisement and poster we say that we deal with
committed and dedicated country farmers and we mean it in the best of
possible verified manner. Look as you can tell I am not much of an
English Major quality but come by I will try to guide you as much as
possible to put you at ease and hopefully answer all your questions. -
Review from Sarah G.
San Francisco, CA
3/4/2009
I just heard that they up and closed last night. I am so so so sad. I have had their meet a couple of times and the meat was incredibly delicious and cheap for the quality. I loved their little shop with a nice selection of middle eastern foodstuffs and produce. Everyone who worked there was very nice. I really hope they are just moving to a bigger store.
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Review from Tracie B.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2008
this place rules. natural meats at low low prices, organic produce, an olive bar, and a friendly staff who cut lamb chops to order and make their own Merguez sausage. FABULOUS.
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Review from Z A.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2008
Thanks to my fellow yelpers I found this place yesterday!! My very religious brother is coming to town and he only eats halal meats. Lucky for me I found Alhambra Halal Meat Market!!!! Nice people and very fresh meat and its' only 5 minute drive from my place!! Although I don't always eat halal meat I am going to start shopping here on a regular basis because their prices are so much better than Whole Paycheck aka Whole Foods!!
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Review from Ross M.
Berkeley, CA
10/22/2008
Awesome rib-eye, amazing prices, good selection. This place is my new favorite meat shop.
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Review from Zainab K.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2009
Please open again-I need you!
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Review from J P.
Oakland, CA
9/24/2008
goat! goat! goat!
and the staff are friendly and helpful, to boot! -
Review from Matt S.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2008
The merguez sausage is great and I should also note that I am glad to know where to get pomegranate molasses, pickled turnips, bulgar wheat and other great middle eastern sundries.
I have not tried the beef yet, but the lamb and chicken were both very good for the price.
My complaints originate with an experience I had a few weeks ago. I was very pleased to see they had Lurpak Danish butter in the fridge case (and plenty of it-at least 3 or 4 dozen packages). I picked up a pack only to find that it had expired SIX WEEKS earlier. Butter lasts a long time. The only white man I had ever seen working there (whom I presumed to be the owner) was taking inventory and I said: "Excuse me sir, but this butter has expired." "So it has" was his reply and he turned his back to me. I gasped at the lack of an apology or a "Let me see if we have some more in back" and was given a very dirty look.
I wonder when and how they got that butter for it to have been sitting there. -
Review from Steve G.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2008
AHM is a real butcher shop that doesn't give off the scary vibe. Sure, it's lame to buy your meat at a super market, but some of the little shops around here.... well, you gotta wonder about cleanliness. AHM is small, clean, neat and organized. And if want a particular cut, they can hook you up.
Is it the friendliest place? Okay, maybe not. Do you really think butchery attracts the most outgoing people? I think not. Get over it.
The lamb is tasty, the sausages are fresh and everything looks really good. The non-meat products? Well, they look tempting, but I'm after meat. And for meat, they're good. So check 'em out. -
Review from Sha B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/6/2009
I wanted to add that all the meat I have bought from Alhambra has been particularly delicious!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2009
I went to Alhambra for the first time today and I will definitely be going back for the following… Read more »
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Review from Paul J.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2009
Very sad to see this place go. I have no idea where else to get reasonably priced cuts of goat meat in the area.
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Review from Jane S.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2008
It's everything you want in a butcher shop - it's clean and the meat is fresh, fresh, fresh and organic and reasonably priced. The service is excellent, helpful and friendly.
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Review from Adam W.
San Francisco, CA
11/25/2008
I love having this place in the neighborhood! They are so friendly, the space is super clean, it attracts folks of the diverse cultures of the neighborhood, they carry some organic produce including eggs and the meats are all fresh and 100% natural. Booyah!
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Review from Justin G.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2008
Please shop here! If there is one business you want frequented more, it's your meat market. I've only been in there once and it was a little dead. They said they have been open for about 4 months.
In all honesty, I haven't bought anything yet, but I was very impressed with the cleanliness, selection, prices and service. I am really excited about the variety of cuts from lamb and goat (they have the whole critters hanging in view).
The offal selection was excellent. How often do you see a tray full of fresh testicles (lamb fries)? They had great looking liver, kidneys, pancreas and more. -
Review from Jeffrey G.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2009
Fyi.
Telephone has been disconnected and store has been closed for several days.
I hope nothing serious happened.
Anyone have any information ? -
Review from Tamsen S.
San Francisco, CA
3/29/2009
I am so sad they closed! I loved their delicious, fresh meats at great prices. I had to go to a grocery store to buy meat the other day after drove to alhambra and saw it was closed. The quality at the grocery was sub-par compared to alhambra. Boo.
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Review from Barry G.
Seattle, WA
12/29/2008
I'm a fan! Nice selection, and all organic.
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Review from Dave S.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2008
Great lamb, goat, offal, beef, and chicken, nice people, good prices, and a clean shop, what more could you ask for? They've also got great harissa, halva, and all sorts of other north african/middle eastern dry goods.
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Review from Don M.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2008
I love this place, great lamb, great prices and sooooo clean.
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Review from Richard F.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2009
I tried to stop in tonight and yes it was closed up. The quality of the meat here was so high and the prices so low that I didn't like shopping anywhere else. In a city like this there is surely a demand for stuff this good, maybe the owner will try another location? I would bus and BART, it would be worth the trek.
