Ali's Chicken & Waffles in downtown San Diego runs a fully halal kitchen on Sixth Avenue, founded by an Ethiopia-born San Diego State graduate who opened the original City Heights counter in 2020. The signature three-flour fried chicken seasoning anchors every dish from the Chick-In-Waffle Sandwich to the breakfast burritos, making it one of downtown's few halal comfort-food options alongside The Kebab Shop on the Mediterranean side. A Thai-chili spicy version escalates the heat with fresh peppers, and the Southern side menu covers shrimp and grits, collard greens with halal beef bacon, and mac and cheese. The cluckfast burrito and loaded fries draw from the same downtown comfort corridor that feeds Cocina 35's Oaxacan breakfast trade a few blocks west, but with a halal protein swap unavailable elsewhere in the Gaslamp. Full catering packages serve parties and events with the same from-scratch preparations built around the proprietary three-flour blend.