Ajax and Pickering quietly have one of the best halal food scenes east of Toronto. Durham's halal options have grown from a handful of shawarma counters to a full lineup — Pakistani BBQ, hot chicken, Middle Eastern cafés, and yes, halal chicken and waffles.
We run the Cluck Clucks kitchen on Harwood Ave, so we're biased and well-fed. Here's our honest guide to the best halal food in Ajax and Pickering right now.
1. Cluck Clucks - Chicken & Waffles (Harwood Ave)
Us — Ajax's home for halal fried chicken and the only halal chicken and waffles in Durham. Our chicken is certified halal across the entire menu: hand-breaded tenders, Nashville hot sandwiches, loaded fries and waffle combos, made fresh when you order. Dine in, takeout or delivery on Harwood Ave N.
2. Chainsmoker Urban Halal BBQ
Smoked halal BBQ with real bark — brisket, ribs and smoked chicken that made halal BBQ a Durham thing. If the craving is smoke rather than crunch, this is the move.
3. Habibz Corner (Ajax)
The east-end favourite made it to Durham. Loaded fries, burgers and wraps with a devoted following and the ratings to prove it.
4. Hunter's Spot
Halal comfort food and drinks — a local independent doing burgers, wings and late-ish hangout energy in the middle of Ajax.
5. KarachiXpress (Ajax)
Pakistani classics done fast — biryani, karahi and BBQ plates with big portions. One of the busiest halal kitchens in town, for good reason.
6. Karahi Point (Ajax)
The karahi specialists. When the family wants a proper sit-down Pakistani meal in Ajax, this is usually where the debate ends.
7. Laymoon Restaurant & Cafe
Middle Eastern plates, manakish and a café side with desserts — a broader menu than most halal spots in town, good for groups that can't agree.
8. Halaleez Chicken & Gyro
Exactly what the name promises — halal chicken and gyros, counter-style, no fuss. A newer entry building a loyal base.
9. Al Baik Pizza & Broast
Broasted chicken and halal pizza under one roof — the crowd-pleaser order when the group wants both.
10. Biryani and Beyond
The name undersells it — biryani, yes, but the menu goes well beyond, and the ratings say the kitchen delivers.
A note on halal status
Halal status can change and can vary by location. Our standard at Cluck Clucks is simple: our chicken is certified halal, across the entire menu. For anywhere else, a quick question at the counter is always worth it.
FAQ
1. Is there halal food in Pickering?
Yes — and most of the Ajax spots on this list, including Cluck Clucks on Harwood Ave, are minutes from the Pickering border. The Ajax-Pickering corridor is effectively one halal food scene.
2. Where can I get halal breakfast or brunch in Ajax?
Chicken and waffles is the brunch move — Cluck Clucks serves halal chicken and waffles all day, with real maple syrup and hot honey.
Hungry now? Plan your visit to Cluck Clucks Ajax on Harwood Ave — or read about what makes our halal fried chicken different.
Common questions
Is Cluck Clucks halal?+
Yes. Our chicken is certified halal — we source exclusively from halal-certified suppliers, and that applies to every chicken item on the menu at every Cluck Clucks location, in Canada and the United States. From tenders and sandwiches to our signature chicken and waffles, the chicken is always certified halal, hand-breaded to order, and never frozen.
Is all the food at Cluck Cluck Chicken halal?+
Yes, every item on the menu is prepared using halal-certified ingredients and halal food handling practices from start to finish.