Al-Noor Restaurant

Since 1998, this fully halal Pakistani restaurant down in Lawndale has offered the all-around best desi cuisine in the South Bay. Now-classic Indian and Pakistani dishes like chicken tikka masala, palak paneer and lamb korma are the move here, especially for weary travelers making the short 10 minute commute from LAX. Beyond takeout mainstays, spring for the harder-to-find Pakistani dishes like nihari—a spicy, indulgent braised beef stew peppered with ginger and jalapeño—and haleem, a hearty mash of chicken, wheat, barley, lentils, herbs and spices. Plus, Al-Noor’s garlic naan, which comes freshly baked and piping hot from the tandoor, serves as a welcome reminder of the humble flatbread’s highest potential.