Yala Halal Food - South shore — Restaurant in New York

Giving this place 3 stars (for now) until we see what develops. Danny, the 20 year owner just sold this business and it is now under Muslim ownership. I don't know HOW this will affect the quality of the food served thereat, only time will tell. The changes have been immediate however, new staff, seating rearranged, some items like trays removed from the counter. Danny was a fixture here and always pleasant to interact with while getting some delicious pizza but like everything else, his tenure with the business had to end for various reasons. Danny will be missed. Hopefully the quality provided under his ownership will carry on; we shall see.

UPDATE This place has been under (NEW) management for a few weeks now and based on current observations, the new owners haven't a clue on what to do. They ripped out all the old (wonderful) seating, rearranged tables and chairs and replaced the tables with smaller natural wood table tops which are NOT conducive to a full seating arrangement like the old tables were. Moreover, the ceiling and walls are all exposed as the "remodeling" effort is underway (and seemingly taking forever as the owner is doing the work himself rather than have a contractor get in there and finish the job). The end goal seems to be to make the place look like an upper east side Manhattan bistro rather than a charming neighborhood pizzeria (which it was when Danny was running the show). On a recent visit, there was only ONE guy behind the counter and he was in charge of making food, running the register, waiting on customers, etc. and was real gruff on the phone with customers and seemed annoyed when THIS reviewer walked in to order a slice or two. The tables and floor were filthy with crumbs and soda rings, there were no straws, the soda fountain was non-functional and the place in general looks like it was hit by a tidal wave. There is no apparent effort or concern to get this place up and running and frankly, it has lost all of its former "charm" and neighborhood "cozy" feeling. In addition, the pizza itself seems to be less tasty than it used to be (much drier and lacking of sauce) plus it seems to be laying around longer as the foot traffic has apparently died down as word spreads that things are not so good here anymore. Myself, I will be looking for another pizza place that has good food and seating, this place just doesn't do it for me anymore. When Danny left, he took the charm and dedication to the business with him. Good luck if you still go here - it certainly is not as it used to be. * Also notice the sudden influx of shill 'positive' reviews to offset the truthful...

We were so excited to try Yala, a new halal spot on Staten Island! I was just mentioning to a friend how few halal pizza options there are here, especially with specialty pies like chicken and pepperoni. Yala impressed us right away with their unique 100% profits-for-charity model—such a beautiful concept that aligns with our values. Charity is a huge part of our faith, and it felt so meaningful to support a restaurant that gives back.

The staff at Yala were incredibly friendly, and the place was spotless with a welcoming atmosphere. We loved the infographics about charity and the extensive menu. Their pepperoni pizza was delicious, and they even carry novelty sodas that are trending right now—such a fun addition! The coffee was a great surprise, too.

What really stood out to us was their thoughtfulness in providing a prayer room and a nice bathroom. My husband and I were so impressed; these details made Yala feel like a truly family-friendly space that respects our needs. The staff was very attentive and made us feel at home.

May Allah (swt) bless Yala and its owners for bringing this wonderful vision to life for our community. We are so grateful for this new halal option with great food and a mission that goes beyond...

This place is the worst. They cross-contaminate their food.

I ordered fried Oreos. I ate one and my mouth was on fire. I call in, and explain that it tastes spicy and not good. The girl on the phone thinks and goes “ohh yeah, that’s probably because we fried the Oreos in the same oil we used for spicy fries.”

I asked for a refund and she said only if I bring them in. When asked if that’s really necessary, she started getting annoyed and raised her voice. Why they need their gross tainted food back, even though she agreed that it’s contaminated and terrible, is beyond me.

Oh also I ordered a shake and never got it, probably because they forgot to give it to the driver. She told me that’s not their problem. Awful costumer service.

Legitimately one of the worst restaurant experiences of my life. Just wanted to order some dessert on movie night. I got nothing that was edible and only offered 20% of my money back if I was willing to drive all the way there. Never again. And I love halal and only live a few blocks away. I was so excited when this place opened up here. What a disappointment, shame on you guys.

Hope this place...