About

My Life on a Plate
From growing up in at a grandparent’s Italian café to founding Mirchi Cafe, our story stirs heritage and community into every dish.

My Journey From Lucia’s to Halal Comfort Cuisine!
Mirchi Cafe is my life on a plate. I was born in the Bay Area and raised in my grandparents’ Italian restaurant, where I met my husband, Mush, from Lahore, Pakistan. When he felt homesick, he’d blend Pakistani flavors into our Italian pizzas. After I converted to Islam and we married in 1991, we traveled to Pakistan, where I embraced new cultures and cuisine. Back in the U.S., I earned a Culinary Arts degree and trained in French baking, laying the foundation for Mirchi Cafe.

Filling a Gap With a Bold Halal Promise
Our menu offers American comfort food with a Pakistani twist. Noticing a lack of variety in Bay Area halal options, we aimed to give the Muslim community new choices. Our motto, “100% Halal or Nothing at All,” ensures trust in every bite. In 2013, we opened a second location in Dublin, and in 2018, Mirchi Meat and Deli—a halal butcher, sandwich shop, and grocery. We use locally sourced, hand-slaughtered zabiha halal meat to serve both our community and restaurants.

Growing Roots With Second Site and Butchery
In 2016, we celebrated our second location in Dublin, extending our reach across the Bay. Then in 2018, we opened Mirchi Meat and Deli—a halal butchery, sandwich shop, and grocery. There, we source our meat locally and hand-slaughter it for freshness. We source all our meat from our meat shop for our restaurants. Each cut of meat tells our story of respect for tradition and quality.