Inside Hong Kong’s halal food scene: Best restaurants, choice of cuisines and halal categories
Hong Kong’s first-ever halal food festival was held in Tsim Sha Tsui last weekend, April 19. It’s one of the many steps taken by the city to embrace diversity and promote tourism among the Muslim community. The Halal Food Festival, co-organised by the MELT Ethnic Minority Resources Centre and the Hong Kong Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community, aimed to showcase the growing availability and diversity of halal cuisine in the city.
At present, around 280 restaurants in Hong Kong serve halal food, some located in factories and canteens, according to Saeed Uddin, chairman of the Trustees as per a recent media report. There are actually three categorisations among halal restaurants: halal-certified, in which every product and ingredient is halal; halal-certified kitchens, which serve halal-certified food but also offer non-halal items in the dining area; and halal-friendly, which use the same kitchen to prep halal and non-halal items but ensure that the items are kept separate at all times to prevent cross-contamination.
We highlight some of the best restaurants, which are halal or serve a sumptuous choice of halal food.
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Chinesology
Chinesology is known for reinventing traditional culinary arts from the Tang dynasty. The restaurant continues its innovative journey with halal-friendly tasting menus featuring free-range chicken with osmanthus and oolong tea leaf, roasted beef with 20-year-aged tangerine peel, honey and peanut, as well as a secret jewellery box that features a surprise treat. Perfect for those seeking a refined Chinese dining experience with halal options.
With its halal-certified kitchen, Bushra offers an authentic Middle Eastern dining experience. Their menu features both well-known favourites and rare gems, including marinated beef skewers, lamb chops, lamb ribs and Arabic-style braised beef with rice. Don’t miss their special brunch menu showcasing classics such as hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel—perfect for a weekend gathering.
Address: 66 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Shahrazad Lebanese Dining Lounge and Bar
Shahrazad boasts a fully halal menu and a halal-certified kitchen. Step inside and you’ll feel transported to the Middle East with its décor: low seating arrangements, plethora of cushions and rugs, and ornate decorations that spell glorious maximalism. This indulgent approach extends to the menu, which features roasted eggplant, traditional Lebanese grill items such as lamb kofta and grilled beef skewer.
Tatler tip: Get the mixed platter for a taste of everything—it’s the perfect size for two to three people.
Address: 2/F, Carfield Commercial Building, 77 Wyndham Street, Central
Islamic Centre Canteen
Fridays can be busy at the Islamic Centre Canteen
For a halal-friendly dim sum meal, head to the Islamic Center Canteen, a fully halal-certified restaurant that is known for its pork-free dumplings. You’ll also be able to enjoy beef salad, noodles with sliced chicken and other Chinese delicacies. However, as it’s located next to a prayer room within a mosque, Fridays after prayer time can get very busy and the waiting times can be long.
Tatler tip: Go at 10am to get dumplings served steaming hot. Otherwise, it might be a hit or miss.
Address: Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, 40 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai
Gaylord Indian Restaurant
As the oldest Indian restaurant in Hong Kong, Gaylord, founded in 1972, is an institution in itself. With a halal-certified kitchen, it offers authentic Indian cuisine with high-quality ingredients and feature live Indian music every evening. Don’t miss the tasting menu celebrating the restaurant’s 50 years—it includes truffle butter chicken, lamb galouti kebab, and more specialities from northern India, a delicious way to experience half a century of culinary excellence.
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