While some chain restaurants have become a go-to for people breaking fast during Ramadan, the D.C. area also has plenty of local restaurants that are up to the task.

Ramadan begins Thursday and runs into the third week of April, and devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Right now, with the sun setting before 7:30, there are likely more places for those looking for a restaurant meal to break fast (a meal known as iftar), though those options could become limited in some neighborhoods as the month goes on.

The nonprofit Dine After Dark has put together a comprehensive guide to D.C. and Baltimore area restaurants and their halal status, but here are a few of our picks for local restaurants that are offering specials for iftar meals — or who offer halal food options and have hours that would allow for meals after sundown.

Fryer’s Roadside: This Silver Spring chicken and soft-serve stand, which came under new ownership in September, is offering a $45 iftar meal for four people that includes smoked barbecue chicken or southern fried chicken, vegetarian sides such as collard greens, barbecue beans, and potato wedges, and a special pistachio and date milkshake. (12830 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring)

New York Grill: This halal restaurant in Adams Morgan offers sandwiches and burgers, falafel and kabob platters, rice platters with gyro meat, or D.C. specialties like fried whiting, wings, and more. It’s open daily until 10 p.m. (1764 Columbia Road NW)

Lapis: This family-owned Afghan restaurant in Adams Morgan is offering special three course vegetarian ($50) and halal meat-inclusive ($65) iftar menus starting Friday, including items like bolani, a pan-seared crispy flatbread, kofta (beef meatballs), and pakowra, crispy battered vegetables. The owners will donate 20% of the proceeds from the iftar menus to organizations that help women and children in Afghanistan, a rep tells DCist. They’re open until 9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (1847 Columbia Road NW)

The Halal Guys: This quick-service franchise out of New York has 11 locations in the D.C. area, offering chicken and beef sandwiches and combo platters with sides such as baba ganoush and hummus. All the shops have different hours, however, so be sure to check before heading over. (Tysons, for example, closes at 7 so would be less helpful for post-sundown meal.) (Various locations)

Kabob Palace: This Crystal City institution is open 24 hours, and thus its kabobs, curries, and other items will be available for those looking to break the fast even as the month progresses and sundown gets later. (2315 South Eads St., Arlington)

Bawadi Mediterranean Grill: This Falls Church restaurant tends to offer a buffet after sundown every day of Ramadan; this year, they’re also offering to-go meals available for order by phone in three sizes: for one, for two to three people, and for four to five people. They also offer a selection of Middle Eastern sweets, including cream and cheese knafeh. (6304 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church)

Uncle C’s Chicken and Waffles: Located on Richmond Highway in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, this chicken and waffles joint serves halal chicken, according to a 2021 profile by The Washington Post. They offer crispy chicken sandwiches in their own signature style, as well as Nashville hot and Atlanta style — the latter with honey butter. They’re open until 10:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (6308 Richmond Highway, Alexandria)

Munchie’s Grill and Chicken: This halal spot in Oxon Hill offers kabob platters, but also wings, Mexican items such as quesadillas and fajitas — as well as the D.C. carryout classic fried fish, including whiting. It’s open most days until 10:30 p.m., except for Sundays when it closes at 8:30 p.m. (4915 Maryland 210, Oxon Hill)

La Tingeria: This halal taco business — yes, you read that correctly — in Falls Church is extending hours on Saturdays (until 9 p.m.) and Sundays (until 8 p.m.) which will give people a little more of a window to pick up food after sundown. (626 S. Washington St., Falls Church)

Bantam King: This Chinatown restaurant from the team behind Daikaya and Haikan ramen shops, among other restaurants, specializes in chicken ramen and fried chicken — and the chicken in both is halal, a rep tells DCist. (The dumplings, however, are not.) They’re open until 9 or 10 p.m. (check the schedule here) and offer carryout until 9 or 9:30. (501 G St. NW)

Mama Ayesha’s: This longtime Adams Morgan Middle Eastern restaurant is completely halal, a rep tells DCist, and is open for dine-in until 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (1967 Calvert St. NW)

Ottoman Taverna: The special iftar menu ($44.95) at this Mount Vernon Triangle Turkish restaurant includes a first course of red lentil soup, a second course that includes a choice of dips and spreads, a third course with more than a dozen meat and vegetarian options, and dessert choices such as baklava, katmer (phyllo stuffed with pistachio cream) and sutlac, a baked rice pudding. It’s open daily until 9 p.m. (425 I St. NW)

Correction: This post has been updated to reflect the correct neighborhoods for two of these restaurants. Mama Ayesha’s and New York Grill are both in Adams Morgan.