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Al Salam Polleria in Los Angeles

Josefina Martinez tosses bags of chicken for sale at Al Salam Polleria in Los Angeles. The butcher shop, started by Muslim Egyptian immigrants in 1984, sells freshly butchered poultry killed according to religious law, called halal.

Josefina Martinez tosses bags of chicken for sale at Al Salam Polleria in Los Angeles. The butcher shop, started by Muslim Egyptian immigrants in 1984, sells freshly butchered poultry killed according to religious law, called halal.  (Christina House / For The Times)

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The butcher shop, started by Muslim Egyptian immigrants in 1984, sells freshly butchered poultry killed according to religious law.
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Shop's inventory

Chickens and turkeys wait in cages at Al Salam Polleria in Los Angeles.  (Christina House / For The Times)

In their cages

Chickens at Al Salam Polleria. The shop’s success, as well as its distinction, can be found in its East L.A. location and in its name — “al salaam” is Arabic for peace, “polleria” is Spanish for poultry shop.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Freshly dispatched

Employees handle two freshly killed chickens at Al Salam Polleria.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Preparing the fare

Cecilia Mendez cuts chickens at Al Salam Polleria. It was never the founders’ intention to end up in East L.A. But as they would find, it was quite fortunate.  (Christina House / For The Times)

A wandering fowl

A loose chicken wanders around cages in the back of Al Salam Polleria. Islamic prayers hang behind the cash register and a nearby sign cautions workers, “Cuidado Con el Escalon,” or careful with the stairs.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Making the cuts

Iman Elrabat-Gabr, right, takes a knife to a chicken as Gustavo Ruiz assists at Al Salam Polleria.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Waiting for preparation

Freshly killed chickens wait to be defeathered, cleaned and cut to sale at Al Salam Polleria. The shop only kills chickens according to halal a few times each week -- on an order-by-order basis:  (Christina House / For The Times)

On display

A customer passes by a display case filled with chicken at Al Salam Polleria. For the busy winter season, the polleria hires as many as 10 extra workers to help fill orders for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, Nov. 2.  (Christina House / For The Times)

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