Top 5 Halal restaurants in Hong Kong

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without indulging in a dim sum feast.

Usually prepared with lashings of pork, the Islamic Canteen (as it is oft-referred), prepares these authentic breakfast dishes using beef, lamb, chicken and fish.

Despite their menu being extensive, they don’t compromise on quality. Whether diners are feasting on dim sum, such as Siu Mai $15 HKD / £1.50 (chicken dumplings), Har Gow $15 HKD / £1.50 (shrimp dumplings), Xiao Long Pao $11 HKD / £1.10 (steamed chicken buns), or even their à la carte menu, which consists of authentic and delicious Chinese fare such as deep-fried mutton $60 HKD /£6 and schizuan pepper chicken $55 HKD / £5.50, there is something to appease every hungry mouth.

Halaaliyah’s must eat: The Xiao Long Pao is steaming hot when it arrives in the bamboo steamer.

Once you rip open its white fluffy exterior, you are greeted with flavoursome and tender chunks of chicken and mushroom in a rich jus (sauce).

Dip this in the soy sauce and chilli condiment served with the dishes, and you will be hard up not to finish all three by yourself.

Halaaliyah’s Hack: Dim Sum is a breakfast dish in Hong Kong, and is only served between 10am – 3pm.

Be sure to get here nice and early to ensure that you can get what you desire; as they sell out very quickly!

Halal Status: Halal Certified (Certified by The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong).

Islamic Centre Canteen
5th floor, Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, 40 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai.

Opening Hours: 10:00-15:00 (dim sum and à la carte), 18:00-21:00 (à la carte only)

T: +852 2834 8211 | W: iuhk.org/islamic-centre-canteen

Catering to the large Indonesian community in Causeway Bay, this is one of the most authentic Indonesian establishments I have eaten at, outside of Indonesia. There’s no pandering to Chinese or Indian taste buds and no frills or fine dining here; just real Indonesian food that gives you a great bang for your hard earned buck.

Upon arriving, you get offered a plate of rice (nasi) which you can then take to the buffet-style area and fill up on all the pre-made delights: eggs in spicy sambal, earthy beef rendang, crunchy green beans in a creamy sauce, and fried tofu all for around $65 HKD/ £6.50.

Or for the more seasoned diner, you can order traditional dishes on their à la carte menu such as Nasi Soto Ayam (spicy and sour chicken soup) $45 HKD/ £4.50, sate (chicken or lamb satay) $110 HKD/ £11, Nasi Ayam Goreng (fried seasoned chicken) $45 HKD/ £4.50, and the infamous Indonesian dessert Kue Lupis $7 HKD/ 70p.

Halaaliyah’s must eat: Each time I eat here, I am more and more impressed with Indonesian food.

But, if I had to choose one, the Nasi Beef Campur blew me away. A plate with lots of delights is my weakness, and this dish made me weak!

Served with a portion of steamed rice in the middle of the plate, then surrounded by different dishes of the chefs choosing, such as finger-licking meat/ fish curries, crunchy stir-fried vegetables, fried corn fritters, hard boiled eggs and two types of sambals: sambal oelek made with garlic, ginger, lemongrass, sugar and chilli; and sambal kecap made with kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), chillies and shallots. All for a showstopping $50 HKD/ £5.

Halaaliyah’s hacks: Indonesians love their fried snacks, which are resemblant of Chinese prawn crackers and Indian far-far/popadoms. These snacks (gorengan) are served with meals and are dining gold! Lap them up, wrap them up and take them home to snack on!

Food is served with a plastic glove, as it is customary to eat with your hands. You simply pop on the glove, eat, and then remove the glove. No need to wash your hands afterwards. Success!

Halal Status: Halal Certified (Certified by The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong).

Warung Malang
Flat B-2, 2/F, 9-11 Pennington Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island.

Opening Hours: 10:30–22:00

T: +852 2915 7859 | W: facebook.com/warungmalanghk

Serving up some of the best Cantonese roast duck in all of Hong Kong, Wai Kee is not only a favourite with locals, but Muslims too.

It is located inside a rustic food centre, above a wet market that serves live seafood, vegetables and raw meat.

Visiting a wet market is an experience in itself; and once you have, take the stairs to the first floor and you will immediately be hit with the wonderful aromas of BBQ, broths and beef curry.

The star of the show is tender brown duck meat topped with a glazed, sweet, crispy skin, chopped up into bitesize pieces and served with jasmine rice.

Eating here is far from fine dining (it is in a rustic food court which serves market workers); but it’s an experience you will reminisce once you leave, I promise!

Halaaliyah’s must try: The mutton curry is a hidden gem here, drowned out by the star of the eatery – the roast duck.

Less pungent than a traditional Indian curry, nevertheless, this thick meat curry is earthy, meaty and warming, with the right balance of liquid fat and hearty chunks of meat, flavoured by the bones it is boiled in.

Don’t leave here without trying even a portion of this bowl with rice for $48 HKD/ £4.80.

I had to get mine to take away and it was just as good warmed up as it was fresh.

Halaaliyah’s Hack:  On your table is warm Chinese tea (free) – a perfect accompaniment designed to cut through the fat by acting as a digestive aid.

Take full advantage of this! If your tea has become cold, just raise your hand to receive an immediate hot refill.

Halal Status: Muslim-owned.

Wai Kee
No 5, Cooked Food Centre, 1st Floor, Bowrington Road Market, Wanchai.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00–18:00

T: +852 2787 6108 | W: facebook.com/Wai-Kee

Ma’s Restaurant specialises in Chinese Xinjiang cuisine – making it a refreshing break from the predominantly Cantonese food available in Hong Kong.

The emphasis on using mutton is what makes it wonderfully unique, as this is an uncommonly used meat in Hong Kong; but it works so well.

Diners can experience true fusion cuisine here, either opting for their signature veal goulash $44 HKD/ £4.50, being more adventurous and trying deep fried salted egg yolk prawns $150 HKD/ £15, or trying authentic sweet and sour fried chicken $52 HKD/ £5.20.

Halaaliyah’s must try: Their signature Shanghainese Fried Noodle with Mutton is a dish not to be missed when visiting Ma’s. The springy noodles are hand-stretched by the chef’s inhouse, which makes them doughy and soft, and, need I say, incredibly moreish. The bite from the bean sprouts and choy sum ends, add another textural dimension when paired with the tender, juicy mutton.

Halaaliyah’s hacks: Beat the lunch and dinner rush by dining when it is less busier around late afternoon, and order the set meal for two –  which is better value than the à la carte menu.

Halal Status: Halal Certified (Certified by The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong).

Ma’s Restaurant
Shop A, 21-25 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30–23:00

T: +852 2574 1131 | W: facebook.com/Mas-Restaurant

Islam Food is run by an enthusiastic Chinese family who have catered to Muslim customers for over 60 years.

Serving food which originates from the Shanghai province of China, they have fast become a staple eatery that even locals dine at.

Because of their popularity, they often attract a long queue, so avoid the lunchtime rush and opt for brunch or dinner here.

Signature dishes include chicken with sesame sauce $70 HKS/£7, plump beef dumplings $65 HKD/ £6.50, savoury scallion pancakes $34 HKD/ £3.40, and the unique cheese mochi prawn balls $110 HKD/ £11.

Halaaliyah’s must try: If your hands were tied and you could only choose one dish to eat, let it be the sumptuous beef patty $30 HKD/ £3.80. Shaped like a hockey puck, these discs of lightly toasted, doughy, flaky roti are brimming with steaming, slow-cooked, shredded veal in a rich and meaty jus.

Don’t miss out on the osmanthus jelly dessert – rated one of the top 15 foods Hong Kong-ers cannot live without!

Halaaliyah’s Hacks: Be careful as you take a bite out of the beef patty, as it is filled with piping hot sauce, and has a tendency to squirt out!

Halal Status: Halal meat used.