Love A.
Yelp
Extremely Disappointing - Never Felt So Unwelcome at a Halal Restaurant
I usually go to Ma's Kitchen in Laguna and have always had a great experience there, so my uncle and I decided to try Ma's House for a change. We checked online beforehand--Google, Yelp, and other listings all said they close at 9:30 PM on Saturdays. We arrived at 8:40 PM, fully expecting to be able to dine in since the kitchen typically closes about 30 minutes before closing time.
But the moment we stepped in, we were met with an unexpected and very cold welcome. Instead of greeting us, a woman from across the restaurant shouted that they were closed, without any explanation. We were confused and asked politely if we could order just one dish, since we had driven 40 minutes to get there. She said dining closes at 8:30, and only takeout was available--something that is not stated anywhere online.
We told her we preferred to eat fresh food at the restaurant and would order immediately and leave quickly, by 9:15 or 9:20. Still, she refused and was extremely rude and dismissive in tone. It didn't feel like we were being turned away due to a policy--it felt personal and unkind.
I've eaten at many Muslim Halal restaurants over the years and have always felt welcomed and respected--until today. The way we were treated made us feel like we were being kicked out before we even had a chance to sit down. The energy was negative, the staff showed no hospitality, and we left feeling deeply disappointed and uncomfortable.
Sadly, no matter how good the food might be, bad energy and poor customer service ruin the entire experience. We won't be coming back to this location.