From sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, which began Sunday evening, March 10, and lasts until Tuesday, April 9, observant Muslims stave off eating or drinking anything during daylight hours. The fast, one of the five pillars of Islam, lasts during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. But when night falls, the fast is broken with food, prayer, family and friends.
“During the months of Ramadan, there are spontaneous organic evening events where members of the community break their fast,” Gaurav Srivastava, a representative from the planning firm Dudek, told the Orange County Register in 2023. “These are often communal events that are hosted in parking lots that function as night markets.”
In addition to impromptu events, Orange County, especially Anaheim’s Little Arabia District, offers a slew of spots for dining after fasting during Ramadan where halal meals (food deemed permissible under Islamic law) can be found a la carte or, even better, buffet style for iftar and suhoor dining. (The first pre-sunrise meal is called suhoor; the second and final meal of the day is the iftar, which doesn’t happen until after sunset.)
Here are a handful of eateries from which to choose. Reservations strongly encouraged.
Please note: This list doesn’t cover every single Orange County restaurant offering Ramadan fasting-break fare; consider it a guide to some favorites, or a starting point for your iftar meals. Check the restaurants’ websites for expanded hours of operation.
Al Amir Bakery (Anaheim): Casual dining spot — featuring Lebanese pizzas, baklava, zaatar, lahm-bajeen, kafta and cheese, and more — will extend its hours until 3 a.m. during Ramadan. 905 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim
Al Sultan Restaurant (Anaheim): An iftar buffet, including appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages, costs…
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