Hong Kong is a well-known global Asian hub with a beautiful harbor that attracts many visitors. Due to increasing numbers of Muslim tourists, the Hong Kong Tourism Board began recognizing Muslim needs, playing an important role in creating a hospitable Muslim-friendly environment. While we know the Hong Kong dining scene is alive and recognized at the forefront of culinary standards worldwide, Halal food places are rather limited. However, in spite of this, the few restaurants available are not lacking behind in terms of taste and flavor.
Despite being a predominantly Chinese city, Islam has been practiced in Hong Kong for more than 175 years since the British Hong Kong era. Today, about 300,000 Muslims live in Hong Kong, coming from diverse backgrounds including Muslims from south of Mainland China, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, especially Indonesian Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in particular.
Muslim travelers can explore the delicious cuisine in areas where Halal food is commonly available such as around where mosques are situated (Wan Chai, Nathan Road in Kowloon) and where Muslim ethnic groups in Hong Kong reside. The Hong Kong Halal food and restaurant guide below covers eateries in Hong Kong Island, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Mongkok, Hong Kong Airport, and tourist attractions such as Disneyland. This guide excludes Kebab House and Ebeneezer chains that scatter around Hong Kong, as well as Indian & Pakistani shops. In this guide, finding Halal food in multi-ethnic Hong Kong means you can explore not just Halal Canton cooking, but also Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Indonesian cuisine. Alternatively, there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan joints such as cafes, and Buddhist and Indian restaurants can be found there, other than the recommendations below.
As a note, please be advised that major international food chains in Hong Kong (KFC, McDonald's) are not Halal certified. Be mindful that you need to know the unspoken rule of dining out in Hong Kong - be prepared to share tables if you happen to dine in the local outlets. Knowing a few Cantonese phrases, such as Ngóh m̀h'sihk jyū (I don’t eat pork) or Ngóh jihnghaih sihk chīngjān yéh (I only eat Halal food) may come in handy!
Find a Halal Restaurant near you in Hong Kong
Image Credit: Gunguti Hanchtrag Lauim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Islamic Centre Canteen opened in 1981 and is situated on the 5th floor of a local mosque or Islamic centre (you are advised to dress appropriately). Take the lift or the stairs for a pre-meal exercise, and then you will be seated in one of the roundtables. Open from breakfast till dinner, do come early and avoid coming after 2.30 pm for a good selection of dim sum. It is known for being ‘the only place for Halal Cantonese cuisine in town. Order any dim sum you fancy (we love the steamed glutinous rice with chicken in lotus leaf), and other rice, noodles, or Canton stir-fried dishes.
This joint is reserved for Muslims only from Friday to Sunday, and on Public Holidays.
Address: 5/F, Masjid Ammar And Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, 40 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Yat Sin St, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Website: http://www.iuhk.org/index.php/our-service/islamic-centre-canteen
LockCha Tea House is a charming place where you can experience some tranquility in the heart of the busy city while enjoying freshly-made vegetarian dim sum. The dim sum comes in small sizes from a rather small menu selection - so it’s easy to choose from.
LockCha Tea House provides a hundred teas for you to choose to soothe yourself. Aimed to revive the traditional canton-style teahouse, here at LockCha you will lock yourself away from worldly matters, and even be entertained by live Chinese music - if you come on Sunday during tea time (4:30 - 6:30 p.m).
Address: Ground Floor, The K.S. Lo Gallery, Hong Kong Park, Admiralty, Hong Kong.
Website: http://www.lockcha.com
Wai Kee is a hidden gem inside a local-affair food centre. It is said that you cannot leave Hong Kong without tasting its roast duck delicacy, therefore this unpretentious joint is a real delicacy to savor.
Enter by the side, then take the lift or stairs to the food centre from the first floor. Order the popular roast duck with rice or noodle. The tender mutton curry will also not disappoint you.
Address: Shop 5, Bowrington Rd, Cooked Food Centre, 1/F, Bowrington Rd Market, 21 Bowrington Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Drop by this humble Warung Malang if you feel like having a different dining experience from the local Chinese cuisine. Indonesian expats flock to this joint because the menu is authentic and fresh. From satay to soup-based dishes (soto, rawon); a variety of snacks, and colorful desserts, Warung Malang will not disappoint you.
Address: 2/F, Dragon Rise, 9-11 Pennington St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/warungmalanghk
Image Credit: Ma's Restaurant
Ma is a Halal-certified restaurant that is well-established. Popular among locals and tourists alike – it is high on the list of the top Halal eateries in Hong Kong and could be the closest thing to Xinjiang Muslim cooking in Hong Kong that you can find.
The set lunch menu is a good value where you pick a side, and the main dish, together with a choice of drink. Very well-known for its tender curry beef brisket with rice and veal goulash pastry. Don’t hesitate to try Shanghainese fried noodles with mutton as it is uncommon elsewhere in Hong Kong. Good meal portion, so do arrive with a big appetite.
Address: G/F, 21-25 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.
Website: Ma's Restaurant
Hung’s Chinese Restaurant is a small joint inside Chungking Mansion, not far from the Kowloon Mosque. With an impressive array of Chinese cuisine on the menu, you can dine while enjoying the free Wi-fi service.
Their special stir-fry dishes include distinguished Chinese caterpillar fungus flowers, stir-fried with chicken and fish maw mushroom & vegetables. Embark on a Chinese culinary adventure!
Address: G/F, Shop 14, Chungking Mansion, No.36-44 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
Islam Food is an old establishment since the 1950s which began when the owner Old Mr. Ma sold beefcakes, fried dumplings, and salted soya drinks. Credit goes to Old Mr. Ma who learned how to make a Pakistani curry while working at Police Station No.7 in Sheung Wan for Muslim Police Officers back in the 1930s, thanks to whom we can now enjoy a delicious curry in Hong Kong.
Its popularity among locals is evident from its various local food awards. Their signature dish may look similar to other Halal Chinese restaurants (such as veal goulash and curry lamb chop), but their hot & sour soup and cold cut platter (spiced beef shank, tripe, tendon, chicken, jellyfish/ox-tongue) may also interest the adventurous foodie. Be sure to try the succulent xiao long bau (steamed beef dumpling). This restaurant has two outlets.
Address:
G/F, No. 1 Lung Kong Rd, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
G/F, No. 33-35 Tak Ku Ling Rd, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Website: www.islamfood.com.hk
Image Credit: City Seeker
Istanbul Kebab invites you into a small joint, but you will feast on a delicious range of well-marinated kebabs from Adana to Istanbul.
Kebabs aside, this joint also serves classic Turkish dishes with flair, such as stuffed cabbage, stuffed grape leaves, and stuffed eggplant. Your craving for Mediterranean cuisine will surely be satisfied at Istanbul Kebab.
Address: Shop 1A, G/F, Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion 36-50 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Casablanca Restaurant & Café provides you with dining in a relaxed and comfortable environment. A beautifully decorated shop that represents exotic Morocco and Southern Spain, you don’t need to take another North Africa getaway just yet.
You will discover their specialties such as a variety of tagines and seafood paella among other kebab dishes.
Address: Floor 6, Ashley Center, 23-25 Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/casablancahongkong
There are 3 Halal-certified outlets at Hong Kong Disneyland Park, of which 2 are listed below (Main Street Market is another one).
Image Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
As its name suggests, expect a tropical Polynesia ambiance where you can dine in an open-air veranda or green courtyard, but don’t be surprised that Tahitian Terrace offers Asian specialties – Indian, Singaporean, Thai, and Malaysian cuisine under one roof.
Here you can rest your tired legs and pick from any combo dishes such as tandoori chicken, lemongrass chicken steak, chicken satay, laksa rice noodle soup, green curry, or roast chicken with tomato sauce.
Address: Adventureland, Hong Kong Disneyland Park, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
Website: https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/dining/hong-kong-disneyland-park/tahitian-terrace
Explorer’s Club Restaurant invites you to embark on 4 international cuisines in 5 rooms themed to exotic locales - Indonesian, Korean, South East Asian, and Japanese.
Encounter an abundance of great foods from bento boxes to shabu-shabu, biryani rice to chicken rice. This restaurant will satisfy any of your tantalized taste buds, and fuel you well to continue on your Disneyland adventure.
Address: Mystic Point, Hong Kong Disneyland Park, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
Website: https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/dining/hong-kong-disneyland-park/explorers-club-restaurant
There are 2 Halal-certified eateries at the airport; of which the Malaysian popular household name Old Town White Coffee is one of them. Other than these, there are 2 nearby airport hotels with restaurants that provide Halal-certified meals; SkyCity Bistro, Marriot Hotel (ala carte all-day dining), and Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel (selected Halal menu at the buffet).
While KFC is not Halal-certified in Hong Kong, you will appreciate that the Popeyes joint satisfies a quick pre-departure bite.
This international chain is the world’s second-largest quick-service chicken concept, capitalizing on its cajun culinary heritage cooked in its unique New Orleans style.
Address: 7E161, Level 7, Departures Level, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport Restricted Area.
Website: https://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/dining/t1/fastf/pope.html
This popular outlet needs no detailed introduction!
Old Town serves authentic South East Asian food from simple toast to a delicious range of bowl noodle dishes; Ipoh chicken hor fun, curry noodle, Javanese noodle, and prawn noodle - all you can enjoy at the Hong Kong Airport.
Address: Food Court near Gate 40-80, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport Restricted Area.
Website: https://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/dining/t1/fastf/oldtown.html
