The Halal Project

Brutally honest. First impression was okay but then I saw the floors. Not swept or mopped daily. Outside entry steps filthy. Tables clean. Trash not full. Not empty. Staff very little English. No management on duty. Chicken Shwarma is spicy and tasty but not traditional spit style. Fries were hot and fresh. Decent beverage selections. Dog friendly but I had to keep Cassie away from food debris all over floors. Overpriced Shawarma. Chicken $4. Veggies and flatbread $10😳. Extra chicken $4. Fries $5. Total $27 w/(tax). Friendly customers. I shared my abundance of fries.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND GREAT FOOD. I went here and ordered the beef shawarma and it just slaps. The place ain’t lying, it is very fresh and authentic and made with real soul and flavor. Many vegetarian and gluten free options for people, and the customer service is amazing as well. I heard that the employees don’t speak much English and this is a lie the owner is very nice and has good English AND this place has sauce from overseas that adds so much flavor. And the place is friendly and open to Christian’s and non Muslims but it is true that this place has a 100% halal menu. So highly recommend. Oh and IM NOT A BOT

My dad is a on a quest to find the best shawarma/gyros/falafel where we live in SF Bay Area, so we came to Halal Project during our San Marcos stay Grand Prix weekend. It was fantastic! My dad said as good, if not better, than some of our favorite halal spots in the Bay. The gyros were so flavorful and juicy, and the falafel was fluffy and delicious. We loved their white sauce and hot sauce, too. We came in around 6pm on a Friday and there was no wait. Food came out fast after ordering from the kiosk, and staff were friendly and helpful. Halal Project shares space with a dessert shop (also great), and there are plenty of tables and seating. Since the restaurant is in a small strip mall, there's tons of parking as well. We might even return to Halal Project back to back nights!

Portion is no joke. I wanted to try both chicken shawarma and steak kabobs on my first visit so I added the protein. At first I had sticker shock but when I got the order, it immediately flipped to "value". After eating it it flipped to "awesome" :). The chicken and steak were both filled with flavor, tender, and not dry in anyway. I certainly look forward to trying all the other proteins! Great KETO option. I recommend getting the sauce on the side to adjust how much you want as well do dial in your heat tolerance with the red sauce.

So I loved the falafel, the white sauce, the hummus, and the crepe. What I didn’t like was it was my first time in the place and no one even acknowledged me when I came up to order. I was looking menu and waiting for someone to say hello, or how can I help, but no one said anything and that is a bad first impression. There were two people working the area and both looked at me in the eye, but neither said ANYTHING. I finally realized I had to order myself. When I got my falafel I had to ask for white sauce, which they did give me. My order was to go. The pita was not great because it got hard super fast. The stuffed grape leaves were good. I lived in the Middle East for 4 yrs so I judged accordingly. The other area, where the crepes are sold…the guy was super nice and answered all my questions. Again, you have to do the ordering on the screen, but I saw that right away because it was the same as the other. You can pay cash. I’d go back just for a crepe!!

The place was being cleaned when I arrived. Saturday at 11:40am. No customers in sight. Self ordering was easy but no customer service experience 😕, not a fan. No hello. Ordered a combination plate with 3 falafel came out to $19.47....... heading to Austin to Kismet or Hala Bros next time....let's see how the food is......25 min to get my 20 dollar meal and if you order with falafel ask for it on the side (due to the heat of the plate they get soggy) and unfortunately the falafel were over cook and all burnt. Food was good except the bits of chicken that had excess fat left (see pic) on them and some hard pieces of gyro that almost chipped my teeth. Overall taste was ok. I'll order lamb only next time. Hopefully it's real lamb not gyro (minced meat combination)

Halal Project is absolutely exceptional. The food is fresh, flavorful, and prepared with real care. You can taste the quality in every bite, whether it is the chicken, lamb, or their rice and sauces. The portions are generous and the service is consistently friendly and welcoming. It is rare to find a place that delivers this level of flavor, cleanliness, and hospitality all at once. If you are in San Marcos, this spot is a must. Highly recommended.

Needed a quick healthy option vs fast food. Soooo worth it. Probably cheaper (15) and just as fast (<10 min wait). Got the Gyro and Falafel wrap. Comes in layers - with falafel topped by fresh salad, diced tirm tomatoes, cucumber, salad with their made fresh daily White sauce (like a homemade Taziki) and a line of Red sauce (hot). Layers of shaved gyro all on a warm Pita. So fresh. With a fresh cold Waterloo berry soda.

Craving something quick but legit good, I went hunting for an over-rice dish--and accidentally struck gold. Stumbled into this spot and wow... it did NOT disappoint. Portions are full-on Texas size, and the flavor matches the energy. If you're in the mood for a quality rice bowl that actually delivers, this is the place.

This place is a must!!! We were in the area and were in the mood for some good food and noticed that this place had great reviews! Once we arrived parking was good since it was in a shopping center and the business is easy to find since it is in the corner. The menu is on the wall and we both got the combination plate with chicken and lamb, along with loaded fries and falafel balls. While waiting for the food we loved the ambiance and the artwork on the wall. They also had a dessert side. The food came out quick and it was delicious and at a reasonable price. So if you ever in the mood for mediterranean food then this is the place! We are definitely coming back!

Good bang for your buck! Gyro and chicken shawarma are flavorful, this is my go to late night meal!

I work in healthcare in San Marcos and a drug rep brought us Halal Project one day and now we can't get enough!! Our doctor orders us lunch from here now almost once a week. The gyro is fantastic but I am currently obsessed with the chicken schwarma bowl. They also give you enough food that you have leftovers and the schwarma heats up wonderfully. Their food is seasoned to perfection and they always get our order right.

I've been in a serious food funk for the past year--nothing really hits the spot, and everything just feels kind of blah! I usually try to bring my own food to school, but even that gets old and honestly, a little annoying to keep up with. The other day, I was desperate for a coffee and walked over to Crater Coffee, which has now moved into the Halal Project space. I was just there for caffeine, but as soon as I stepped inside, I was hit with the most amazing smell coming from the kitchen. I knew right then and there that I had to come back for whatever was cooking. So, on my next school day, I skipped packing lunch and went straight for it. I got the Chicken Shawarma over Rice, and let me tell you--this is the best meal I've had in forever. The balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, paired with perfectly cooked lean chicken breast and fresh veggies, was just chef's kiss. It was so good, I didn't even have leftovers (which is saying a lot). The employees are amazingly friendly, and it's a great place to camp out, do some homework, read a book, and even grab a delicious dirty chai from Crater Coffee. If you're in San Marcos, do yourself a favor and check this place out. Seriously, go eat there today!

We got a Kofta pita, dolmades, and a baklava. The dolmades were delicious, and with a bit of lemon juice, even better. Likewise, the baklava was flaky and delicious without being overly sticky. Sadly, I had one issue with this order, to wit, the pita was extremely tough. It might have simply been because it was after ten, but at a place so consistently delicious, it was a disappointment. The rest of the pita, though, was tangy and delicious, particularly the sauces on the kofta meat. The kofta itself was delicious. So all told, delicious, but with a rare miss.

26 April 2024 We weren't sure how busy Industry would be after a not-as-late-as-usual flight home so we decided on this reliable place. It was near empty about 10pm and the food came out swiftly but not suspiciously/microwave fast. We split a kofta wrap. Plenty of sauce throughout but my half had more of the spicy. Hard to say if it's better this way or over their excellent rice, except this time around the pita was the toughest either of us could remember getting in a restaurant in a while. The only ding this trip and the only solid complaint we've had here ever, in fact. The dolma were tasty, and the baklava as crisp and delectable as ever. I'm glad they come in smallish servings because I am pretty sure I could eat a sheet pan full of either one if left to my own devices. Places I go often, it's not unusual I have a list of things to not order again just because not everything's for everybody and I'm happy to try variety on the menu. Not here--everything we have tried we have enjoyed.

The food and service are exceptional! Not to mention you can get dessert after dinner all in one spot.

Nicely decorated spot. The food is hot and made fresh, great to eat with the sauce and customizable.

Adam was a great host. He made sure we had a fresh serving and great portion of food. The ambiance is super chill. 10/10 overall. The food is absolutely delicious. We had the chicken shawarma and lamb shawarma over rice. Topo Chico and Mexican sprite both in a glass jar.

Delicious food. Highly recommend it. The portion was pretty large. I had the shawarma chicken over rice. Full of flavor.

Great place for salads and fresh coffe and Dubai desserts and coffee. Fresh food and salads, topped with beef and chicken shawarma

Whoa! Soooooooo good!!!! I used to absolutely love Halal guys! The only problem was it was sooooo dang far in Austin. Now that I found this place- I can go here to get my fix!!! The chicken wrap was sooo good. The only gripe I have, is they do not do grilled onions. Major bummer. But it had soooo muchhh flavorrrrrr!!!! The fries were hitting too! Nice and crispy like I like em. The inside has some pretty funky graffiti art on the walls. Provides a real nice vibe. The service was on point too. Can't wait to go back through San Marcos to try it again!!!

Great food. Quick service. The rice with the lettuce and tomatoes and any choice of meat is always a great choice. The meals are very filling with lots of flavor and nutrients. Love this place.

Halal Project has become my go-to spot in San Marcos. The location is right next to campus and the food is much more high quality/diverse than most food in San Marcos. I usually get the combination plate. Combination Plate - It is a mix of succulent chicken and perfectly seasoned lamb/beef with rice and some veggies. I love the sauces they use on this dish, although I wish it came with more. I will say that this dish is more on the salty side, but I love the diversity of this Middle Eastern restaurant in San Marcos! Overall, I would definitely come here again, and I recommend getting the combination plate. My friends have gotten other items on the menu and all loved it!

Very clean spacious eating area. Close to the college and off campus dorms. The service was friendly. The food was fresh and delicious. Everything everyone got was sooooo good, very well seasoned. Veggies fresh and cut small. The fries were really good and crisp. We will definitely be back!!

I don't have a pic but the gyro wrap was the bomb!!!! So delicious, definitely will go back to try other entrees, wraps and desserts!

Super friendly staff and very fresh food. The falafel was next level. Thanks for a lovely meal guys!

We really enjoyed our meal here. We ordered a Beef Gyro, a Combination Plate over rice, and fries. It was all delicious. The presentation was just as good. The meat was not overcooked and was served fresh off the grill. The meat and vegetables were chopped bitsize. The sauces were excellent, especially the slightly hot red one. The rice was cooked perfectly - light and fluffy. The fries were cooked just right, not overfried, dry, or overseasoned. I was impressed with our server. He was the only one working the grill and taking orders. He still managed to take our order with a smile and even gave us free drinks. We will definitely come back.

It was 8:45pm, I've had a long day without eating and all I want is some solid, delicious, gluten free food that's relatively healthy. I love Mediterranean food and but am picky. I walked in and was greeted by the cook and clerk and immediately started asking questions regarding gluten free items. Those two guys (I wish I got their names!) were so incredibly kind, patient, helpful and sincerely accommodating... I could not have been more thankful and appreciative. But then I got the food and ooooooh my gosh, the falafel is supreme, the dolmas are delicious and the hummus was good! I will absolutely be back, and this will be my Mediterranean spot in San Marcos!! Yay! Thank you!

The halal project makes delicious gyro and baclava. I've been a regular since they opened. The food deserves 4 stars, but the service is terrible. I always call or order online for pickup. Often my order takes 20-30 minutes longer than quoted, even when the restaurant isn't busy. Not a big deal, but the last two times I picked up the person working the counter was as rude as they could possibly be. My order was paid for, ready this time and sitting by the register. I could see my name on the receipt. I stated my name and the order I was here for. The server said he didn't have any orders ready (even though it was right there) and demanded to see confirmation of my order. I showed the confirmation email and he got even more mad. He stated again that he didn't have my order and I was wasting his time. I was shocked. I pointed at the bag of food next to him and said "I think that's mine, it has my name." He picked up the bag and shoved it in my hands saying "here then!" I left as quickly as possible and haven't been back. No baclava is worth that treatment. I'm still baffled as to why they would treat a customer like this. I won't be back. The pita shoppe is better really.

Thanks for the shawarma I loved it it was the best thing I ever ate besides the kofta kebab

Fresh, delicious and authentic food! We got a rice plate with gyro, kofta wrap, loaded fries, regular fries, falafel and an order of hummus. All were absolutely delicious. The loaded fries were outta this world! We really enjoyed the white and spicy sauces on everything. We will definitely be going back!

If you in the closest parking spaces, you will get told to park further. The owner thinks he owns the parking lot. He assumed I wasn't a paying customer and told me he only wants people who really need to closest spaces to have them. Mind you, there was multiple open spaces next to me.

The quality of food was subpar and it will scratch your Mediterranean itch in a pinch but it's really not worth the money. The falafel was overcooked and the proportion was trash. Their lamb kabob was garbage and the standard gyro was underwhelming.

Amazing lamb, loaded fries, falafel and chicken schwarma! A must eat in San Marcos! I haven't had a gyro this good since I was in Paris!

I just had to give this place 5 stars on another review because their food is so consistently good, orders always accurate and minimal wait on orders. I love this place and have turned friends in and they really like it too. Keep killin it Halal P!

Love this place. Staff walked around to make sure we were okay. The combination plate was really good. This was my first time trying baklava and I really liked it. Definitely will be coming back.

Not bad for late night food when everything was closed. Flavors were good, chicken was well seasoned and the rice was delicious. Would pop in here for a late night meal for sure.

The food is absolutely amazing here, the service is amazing & they have vegan options! 10/10 would recommend

Service was good. Place was clean. They use mayonnaise in their tahini. I was trying to eat vegan and the falafel wrap seem the best option. Plus it was skimpy on the falafel.

Low quality ingredients with high prices. Paid almost $17 for a terrible wrap. Tough fatty meat, chewy wrap, etc. ton of other better options in the area.

I am so glad this restaurant opened in San Marcos with authentic middle eastern food. The lamb shawarma is extremely tender and seasoned well, and the tabouleh is certainly the best tabouleh I've had in years. The whole vibe is immaculate and I hope they keep it up.

The combination was the best food I've tried 10/10 would recommend and the chicken wrap was delicious as well

I may have arrived around 2PM. Three guys sitting at one table and one female sitting by herself at another. When I came in I didn't see a cashier just the self checkout computer. I put in my order, waited about 20 minutes to get my order. Now when I say it was worth it. Prepare to take it to the bank and get some interest off it. OMG the food is amazing!

Delicious! Must go try this place. Chicken and beef shawarma were so good, not dry like some other places and sauce was amazing. Everything made fresh. Very friendly staff, 10/10 would recommend

We went to look at Christmas lights & on the recommendation of my Son we stopped here. It was late but the staff welcomed us with smiles. I have not had Mediterranean food before and I realized what I have been missing all these years after the first bite. Staff was welcoming & treated us like family. The Food was AWESOME! The Service was terrific and we will be going back for more. I highly recommend this restaurant as very family oriented & FOOD was FANTASTIC!

Their falafel wrap is addicting. I also love their baklava and cookie butter dessert! The fries are good and a large enough portion to share with a friend. The staff are super nice and friendly to talk with too :) The murals are weird but memorable, it's always been a good conversation starter with friends. The only thing that could make this place better is some softer materials or plants that break up the metal and concrete floors and dampen the echoes. Overall, totally recommend it! Great place if you have visitors and want to try something new.

Food is very good. Got the Garo wrap with the white sauce and it was amazing. Service was good even though I came in late

After yesterday's experience at The Halal Project, I felt compelled to write this review of my first and what is to be last visit. I too must concur with other reviews pertaining to the lack of customer service being completely off-putting. My party of 5 entered and approached the counter to find a couple running the place on their own. One man was busy cooking and a woman too busy stuffing her face in plain view, that she couldn't be bothered to stop and walk over to the counter to tell us to place our order on the automated screen. After standing there a couple of minutes the man finally points out the screen for ordering. During our ordering process as is common at a new restaurant, there were questions, to which we had to keep yelling at the one man busy cooking for answers (since the woman could not stop eating). "Baklava is not listed on the screen (the only dessert, which was listed on the blackboard upon entry)?" He responded by letting us know they were out. "Hummus, we don't see it on the screen?" Again, they were out. One of the most essential menu items at any middle eastern restaurant, unavailable. That was a major disappointment! Nonetheless, after placing an over a one-hundred-dollar order, we stood there several more minutes waiting for our fountain drink cups which were never handed to us. We finally gave up and sat down another five minutes or so until the woman must have been done eating and approached the counter to help an UberEats or some type of food delivery person. I then walked up to ask for our five drink cups with my receipt in hand and was dryly handed them over without an apology or a smile or anything. The food itself was okay, possibly great for a less discerning palate. Being a customer who has experienced the glorious food of the Middle East, throughout Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and so forth, I found it mediocre at best. Or perhaps it was simply the automated screen and lack of customer service that left a really bad taste in my mouth. I was hoping for a great Middle Eastern restaurant closer to home, but I will stick to my usual go to eatery located in San Antonio. When I feel melancholic and want to experience hospitality and authentic flavors, they more than satisfy by setting the ambiance with traditional music and decor, amazing customer service, plus my favorite dessert, knafeh!

I went out of my way to leave this review. This was SOOO GOOD. I got the lamb shawarma added cucumber and onions - it was so flavorful and everything I would want in a dish. Two guys working on their own, knocking out orders swiftly and killing it in the kitchen simultaneously. The vibe is laid back, perfect for a little college down! 10/10 recommend!

My favorite place for a quick bite!!! The lamb shawarma over rice is so good. The dolma is also good, but I was expecting the ones that had meat in them. I noticed that the pickles are extra now, as they used to already come in the dish. Although my heart breaks over the pickles, I will still come to this place bc it's sooo good and is open fairly late. Very comfortable and relaxed place:) Ihalalproject

In search for some new flavor with the fam on a Saturday night . Yelp reviews and the photos looked delicious, so we opted to try this one out. I had the combination platter and the freshness of it all exceeded my expectations. My boyfriend had the gyro with a side of fries and it didn't disappoint. Wile enjoying our dinner, the manager/owner himself came out to greet us and asked if there was anything else we needed. When telling him this was our first time and we would definitely be back. He told us if there was ever anything we wanted more of or anything extra he would get it for us at no cost, because he wanted to make sure we were happy. Hospitality was on point!

If you wanna get yelled at over .36 cents hidden valley ass "white sauce" then make sure you ask for the extras * THAT YOU PAID EXTRA FOR* because the older man at the counter will in fact follow you outside of the restaurant just to yell at you about it . Online there's an option to have all sauces on the side as well as extra white/red sauce on the side. The receipt literally tells them this so I don't know why it was an issue, but when I went back to ask for the missing extras he asked to see my bag/receipt, which I handed over with no problem. He misunderstood the receipt because it doesn't say "EXTRA" it just says "white sauce on the side" BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY EXTRA FOR IT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT SAYS so he was being extremely difficult about it and kept going back and forth with me about .36 cents.... that I already paid? I offered to just let it go or even pay AGAIN for extra sauce but he got fed up with me and ended up giving me the extra sauce (that I paid for!!!!). The entire time I was polite about it because I work in customer service and I understand how frustrating rude customers can be. But that didn't stop him from having a man tantrum and following us outside of the restaurant to yell at us about the sauce while we got into our car. Grown ass man yelling at college kids about .36 cents mid ass sauce. Crazy. You can get the same quality food without the wilted ass lettuce, hidden valley ranch, LONG ASS WAIT, incorrect orders, and the worst attitude ever at Halal Basket or Pita shop.

Food is fresh and made to order! Everything is so delicious!! I've ordered the falafel wrap, the beef over rice and their pita bread is also really good !

Just saw the cashier who took my order not wash his hands, use gloves, and made my food. I see gloves in box back there. Use them please.

I have been craving lamb and this place delivered! My husband and I went last night. It was our first time there so we split a lamb shawarma wrap, hummus, tabouleh, and loaded fries. Everything was very good. I really liked the white sauce, I thought it was going to have more of a garlic punch but was pleasantly surprised when it had an array of flavors. The slight sweetness paired well with the spicy red sauce. We then placed an order to go for my daughter. My daughter had the beef kebab over rice and she loved it! Im a spicy girl and I would have liked more spice. However, next time I will ask if I can order my meal spicy. The service was excellent and the music was good too. I will definitely be back! So glad to have this place in San Marcos

We eat here every time we are in SM on biz. Usually love it. Last week service up front was awful. We had problems with the order screen, first time to use it. I asked a guy 3 ft from the screen for help and he said something but didn't offer help. I asked the guy in the back. He just yelled something. The screen was not taking our order and going to next screen. It was in a loop. One of them finally asked what we wanted and then said they were out of what we planned to order. We just left. We generally spend $50 for 2 when we eat there plus a cash tip. Make it that difficult to place an order and I'll go spend money somewhere else.

Super flavorful food. I came here about 3 weeks ago with my sister. She had a gyro pita and I had the combo rice bowl. We also got the hummus- the pita came out fresh and warm. Our food was so filling. The place also has a really cool vibe and the murals are really fun to look at! Can not wait to come back.