Pakistani wedding catering in California comes down to three things: a menu that fits each event, enough food for a guest list that keeps growing, and meat the whole family can trust. Ribs 'n' Kabobs caters weddings across Southern California from our kitchen in Artesia, with hand-mixed kabobs, hickory smoked ribs and biryani, all 100% Zabiha Halal. This guide walks through the questions couples and their parents ask us most.
Ribs 'n' Kabobs is a family-owned, HFSAA-certified, 100% Zabiha Halal BBQ and grill restaurant at 18925 Norwalk Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701, serving Los Angeles County, Orange County and the rest of Southern California since 2014.
What makes Pakistani wedding catering different?
A Pakistani wedding is not one event. It is a weekend, sometimes a full week, and each function has its own mood, its own guest list and its own food. The guest count is a moving target because invitations travel by word of mouth, cousins bring friends, and nobody is turned away at the door. And the food is how the family's hospitality is judged. If a dish runs out during the Barat, people remember it for years.
In Southern California there is one more layer. Families are spread across Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire, so the venue might be a hall in Anaheim, a community center in Cerritos or a backyard in Buena Park, and the caterer has to get hot food to all of them on schedule.
Which menu suits the Mehndi, the Barat and the Valima?
Mehndi and Mayoun
The Mehndi is the relaxed night: music, dancing, henna and a late dinner that people eat standing up. Food should be quick to pick up and hard to spill. Samosas, wings, Chicken Tandoori Boti skewers, Masala Fries and Kabob Quesadillas for the kids, with chai at the end. Keep it fun and keep it coming.
Barat
The Barat is the main reception and the most traditional of the three. This is where the elders expect the classics: Chicken Biryani, Goat Curry with naan, Beef Seekh Kabob and Chicken Koobideh on platters, Lamb Loin Chops for the head table, and gulab jamun or kulfi to finish. A green salad, hummus and extra naan on every table keep the line moving.
Valima
The Valima is hosted by the groom's family, and this is where many couples go modern. A fusion menu built around our BBQ works well here: Tikka Ribs (back ribs or short ribs in tikka sauce), Hickory Smoked BBQ back ribs, Brisket Burnt Ends, Chicken Malai Kabob and grilled corn, with basmati rice and naan alongside. Falooda or mango lassi at the end is a nice touch. This mix of smoked American BBQ and Pakistani spice is the reason families drive to Artesia in the first place.
| Event | Mood | Dishes that fit |
|---|---|---|
| Mehndi or Mayoun | Relaxed, late, lots of movement | Samosas, wings, Chicken Tandoori Boti, Masala Fries, chai |
| Barat | Formal and traditional | Chicken Biryani, Goat Curry, Beef Seekh Kabob, Chicken Koobideh, Lamb Loin Chops, gulab jamun |
| Valima | Modern, hosted by the groom's side | Tikka Ribs, Hickory Smoked BBQ ribs, Brisket Burnt Ends, Chicken Malai Kabob, kulfi |
The full list of dishes is on the menu, and most of it scales up for a wedding.
How much food do you need for a Pakistani wedding?
Nobody can give you an exact number before the headcount settles, but two rules of thumb hold up well.
Order for about 10 percent more than the final RSVP count. Guest lists grow, and it is far better to send trays home with family than to run out halfway through the Barat.
Serve more dishes in smaller portions. Pakistani guests like to taste everything, so a spread of six dishes in modest portions goes further than two dishes in large ones. Balance rice, bread, grilled meat and a curry, and keep the vegetarian guests in mind with samosas, salad and hummus.
Count each event separately. The Mehndi crowd is rarely the same size as the Barat, and the Valima has its own list. We will size each tray with you once the numbers are in.
How far ahead should you book wedding catering?
Ribs 'n' Kabobs needs at least 24 hours notice for any catering order, but a wedding is not any catering order. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for weddings and large events so there is time to settle the menu, the service style and the delivery schedule for each function. When you reach out, have these ready:
- The date and venue for each event.
- A rough headcount per event, with a note on how much it might grow.
- Service style: live station, buffet or plated.
- Spice level, dietary needs and how many children.
- Whether the venue allows onsite grilling.
The catering page has the request form and the package details.
Which service style works best: live stations, buffet or plated?
We offer three formats, and most weddings use more than one across the weekend.
- Live BBQ stations and onsite grilling. Kabobs grilled at a live station, cooked in front of guests on the lava rock grill. This is the showpiece for a Valima.
- Buffet. The standard for a Barat with a few hundred guests. Trays stay hot, lines move, and seconds are easy.
- Plated service. For a smaller Valima or a sit-down dinner where the family wants a formal feel.
There is no minimum to order, although a minimum may apply for delivery, which covers Artesia and nearby cities including Cerritos, Buena Park and Lakewood. For a step-by-step timeline, read our guide to planning a halal catered event in Orange County. If the couple's coworkers want to celebrate with a team lunch, our post on halal corporate lunch catering covers individual plates and office buffets.
Why does certified halal matter at a wedding?
Because the guest list spans three generations and nobody should have to ask. Everything Ribs 'n' Kabobs serves is 100% Zabiha Halal, hand-slaughtered, with no pork and no alcohol on site, and the restaurant has been HFSAA-certified since it opened in Artesia in 2014. HFSAA sets the standard for hand slaughter, cross-contamination and traceability, and you can read it at hfsaa.org. One certified kitchen for all three events keeps the planning simple and the elders at ease.
Visit us in Artesia
Come taste the menu before you book it. We are a few minutes from the Pioneer Boulevard Little India district, close to the 91 and 605 freeways, and an easy drive from anywhere in Los Angeles County or Orange County.
Ribs 'n' Kabobs, 18925 Norwalk Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701. Directions and the best way to reach the catering team are on the contact page.