Lauren Hafeman

Globally-Inspired Halal Restaurant Quietly Closed

Punjabi restaurant north of the airport is dark, locked and no longer taking orders.

By - Oct 6th, 2026 03:10 pm
Site of future Baithak of Punjab, 4252 S. Howell Ave. Photo taken June 30, 2025 by Jeramey Jannene.

Baithak of Punjab, 4252 S. Howell Ave. Photo taken June 30, 2025, by Jeramey Jannene.

After operating for just over a year at 4252 S. Howell Ave., the halal restaurant Baithak of Punjab has quietly closed.

Halal is an Arabic word that translates to “permissible” or “lawful.” Halal food, by extension, is fare that is permissible for consumption under Quranic law and Islamic traditions. Baithak of Punjab, known for its desi Indian and Pakistani Punjabi cuisine, served an entirely halal menu, which included varieties of biryani, karahi and kabab. It also served New York-style pizzas and South Asian fried chicken, items that are hard to come by on halal menus because Islamic processing requirements mean ingredients like cheese and poultry must meet halal standards.

The restaurant’s doors were locked and its lights were off during listed operating hours on Tuesday. The restaurant’s phone number has been disconnected and its website’s ordering system has been shut off.

Rauf Abdul, the restaurant’s registered agent, did not respond to outreach for comment.

The restaurant was located in the Town of Lake neighborhood, about two miles north of the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

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Categories: Food & Drink

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