In this guide
Edmonton’s halal food scene goes well beyond shawarma. This guide covers 10 fully halal restaurants: the city’s most reviewed shawarma shop, a 100% halal BBQ smokehouse, charcoal grilled Turkish kebabs, Somali lamb, Mauritian high tea, halal Vietnamese pho and Korean fried chicken. Most of the city’s halal food sits in two clusters: the south side around Gateway Boulevard, and the northwest along St. Albert Trail and 132 Avenue.
We checked every restaurant against Zabihah, the halal guide from local creator @YEGHalalFoodie, and each restaurant’s own website. We then went through its Google listing and recent reviews. Every place here is recorded as fully halal with no alcohol. Where the certifier isn’t named, we say so.
How we checked these restaurants
Each restaurant carries one of these labels:
- Fully halal, Muslim owned
Zabihah records Muslim owners who have confirmed that all food is halal.
- 100% halal, owner stated
the restaurant says on its own website that everything is halal.
- Fully halal, local guide
@YEGHalalFoodie’s curated guide lists it as fully halal with no alcohol, and no certifier is named.
Edmonton doesn’t have a single dominant restaurant certifier, so ask who supplies the meat if it matters to you. The Edmonton Halal Facebook group is a fast way to hear about changes.
Quick picks
| Best for | Restaurant | Area | Halal status | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Jerusalem Shawarma | South side | Fully halal, Muslim owned | No |
| Special occasion | KohSaar Grill | Gateway Boulevard | Fully halal, local guide | No |
| BBQ | The Backyard Smokehouse | St. Albert Trail | 100% halal, owner stated | No |
| Charcoal kebabs | Best Kabab | St. Albert Trail | Fully halal, local guide | No |
| Something different | Royal Restaurant | Eastwood | Fully halal, local guide | No |
| Cafe and brunch | Café Bel Air | Strathcona | Fully halal, local guide | No |
No restaurants match this filter.
Shawarma, Turkish and Middle Eastern
1. Jerusalem Shawarma
Edmonton South
- Best for
- Families, huge portions
- What to order
- Shawarma plateLamb shank
With more than 22,000 Google reviews at 4.9, Jerusalem Shawarma on 101 Street is the most reviewed restaurant on any of our city lists. The plate comes stacked with rice, salad, potatoes, hummus, garlic sauce and pita, and it easily feeds one very hungry person or two normal ones.
It’s the only Edmonton branch of the Calgary chain. Zabihah records the brand as fully halal with Muslim owners and no alcohol. It’s open until 10pm every day.
2. Best Kabab
St. Albert Trail
- Best for
- Charcoal grill cravings
- What to order
- Mixed kebab platterPide
Best Kabab cooks its kebabs over charcoal, and reviewers say you can taste it. With about 4,000 reviews at 4.6, it’s one of the most popular Turkish spots in the city. Pide, the boat shaped Turkish flatbread, is the other thing to order, and reviewers also mention fair prices and friendly staff.
It’s in Christy’s Corner on St. Albert Trail, in the same plaza as The Backyard Smokehouse, so it’s easy to compare.
3. Istanbul Kebab and Donair
Kensington Centre
- Best for
- Pide and dessert
- What to order
- Mixed kebab platterPideKunafa
Istanbul Kebab and Donair holds a 4.8 from about 2,400 reviews. The mixed kebab platter and pide are the main event, and the kunafa is the dessert to save room for. Reviewers praise how kind the staff are.
Some diners find it pricey for the portion size. It’s in Kensington Centre on 132 Avenue and closes at 9pm.
BBQ and Pakistani
4. The Backyard Smokehouse
St. Albert Trail
- Best for
- Meat lovers, groups
- What to order
- Smoked ribsBrisketSteak
The Backyard Smokehouse describes itself as Canada’s 100% halal BBQ smokehouse, with branches in Toronto, Mississauga and Edmonton. Local food creators have called it Edmonton’s only halal BBQ spot. The smoked ribs and brisket are the draw, and the menu stretches to steak.
It takes reservations on OpenTable, which helps on weekends. It holds a 4.4 from about 2,300 reviews.
5. KohSaar Grill
Gateway Boulevard
- Best for
- A quieter Pakistani dinner
- What to order
- Chicken handiBeef seekh kebabRabri kheer
KohSaar Grill is listed on Google as a fine dining restaurant, and it’s the calmer, more polished option for Pakistani food in Edmonton. One reviewer specifically praised the absence of loud music. The chicken handi, beef seekh kebab and chicken karahi are the popular mains, and the rabri kheer is the dessert @YEGHalalFoodie recommends.
It holds a 4.5 from about 740 reviews, and it’s a good choice for a family dinner or meeting parents.
Beyond the Usual
6. Royal Restaurant
Eastwood
- Best for
- Somali food, big portions
- What to order
- Haneed lamb shankChicken suqaarSamosa
Royal Restaurant is a small East African spot on 87 Street with a 4.9 from about 500 reviews. The haneed, slow roasted lamb, is the dish people come for. Chicken suqaar, pan fried strips with peppers and onions, and crisp samosas round out the order.
Reviewers mention the dressing on the side salad and the warm staff. There’s no website, so call ahead for hours. It closes at 9pm.
7. Photastic
Strathcona Square
- Best for
- Pho, a light lunch
- What to order
- Steak phoSatay phoBeef stew phoBanh mi
Photastic calls itself halal fine Vietnamese cuisine, so you can order any pho on the menu without asking about the meat. Reviewers have tried the beef, beef stew and seafood pho, plus a prawn rice dish in coconut curry. @YEGHalalFoodie also recommends the satay pho and banh mi.
It closes at 8pm, so it’s better for lunch or an early dinner. The menu was updated in April 2026.
8. Chicken Spot
Kensington Centre
- Best for
- Korean fried chicken
- What to order
- Sweet and hot chickenSnow cheese chickenSoy garlic set
Chicken Spot serves fully halal Korean fried chicken. The sweet and hot and the snow cheese chicken, dusted in a sweet cheese powder, are the house specialties. One popular order is a set with half crispy and half soy garlic chicken, fries and gravy.
It shares Kensington Centre with Istanbul Kebab, so you can pick one and come back for the other. It holds a 4.5 from about 750 reviews.
Cafes and Brunch
9. Café Bel Air
Strathcona
- Best for
- High tea, a quiet lunch
- What to order
- High teaFried noodlesRotiHaleem
Café Bel Air serves Mauritian food, an island mix of Indian, African, Chinese and French cooking. The high tea is the signature, alongside Mauritian fried noodles, roti and haleem. Reviewers also mention baguette sandwiches and fresh salads.
It’s small, holds a 4.9 from about 380 reviews, and is closed on Mondays. Check hours before you go.
10. Forno Flatbread Co.
Parsons Place
- Best for
- Breakfast, casual lunch
- What to order
- Flame fired flatbreadBreakfastBowls
Forno cooks Mediterranean and Italian style flatbreads and pizzas in a flame fired oven, with bowls on the side. It opens at 9am and does breakfast, which reviewers love.
It holds a 4.8 from about 620 reviews and sits on 99 Street on the south side, close to Photastic and KohSaar.
Where to find halal food in Edmonton
The south side, around Gateway Boulevard, 99 Street and 34 Avenue, has Jerusalem Shawarma, KohSaar Grill, Photastic and Forno within a few minutes of each other.
St. Albert Trail and 132 Avenue in the northwest are the other big cluster. Christy’s Corner has Best Kabab and The Backyard Smokehouse, and Kensington Centre has Istanbul Kebab and Chicken Spot. Middle Eastern bakeries like Sunbake Pita Bakery are nearby on 134 Avenue.
Eastwood, along 87 Street, is where you’ll find Royal Restaurant.
Strathcona, along 101 Street south of the river, has Café Bel Air.
Tips for eating halal in Edmonton
- Use the local resources. @YEGHalalFoodie keeps a curated guide and an Edmonton Halal Map, and the Edmonton Halal Facebook group is the fastest place to hear about changes.
- Check the branch, not the brand. Some chains are halal only at certain Edmonton locations. For example, @YEGHalalFoodie notes that only the St. Albert Trail branch of Siam Thai Kitchen is confirmed halal.
- Ask about the certifier. Most places here state their own halal status. Ask who supplies the meat, especially at newer spots.
- Watch the closing times. Several smaller places, like Photastic and Royal, close by 8pm or 9pm.
- Check websites carefully. One popular Moroccan restaurant we looked at is listed as alcohol free by local guides, but its own website calls it a bar. When sources disagree, call.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best halal restaurants in Edmonton?
Jerusalem Shawarma on 101 Street leads with a 4.9 from more than 22,000 Google reviews. Other top picks are Best Kabab for charcoal kebabs, The Backyard Smokehouse for BBQ, Royal Restaurant for Somali food and Café Bel Air for Mauritian high tea. All are recorded as fully halal with no alcohol.
Are there fancy halal restaurants in Edmonton?
KohSaar Grill on Gateway Boulevard is listed as a fine dining restaurant and is the more polished choice for Pakistani food. The Backyard Smokehouse takes OpenTable reservations and works well for groups. Neither serves alcohol.
Is there halal BBQ in Edmonton?
Yes. The Backyard Smokehouse on St. Albert Trail says it is 100% halal and is part of a chain with branches in Toronto and Mississauga. Order the smoked ribs and brisket.
Where can I find halal restaurants on the south side of Edmonton?
Jerusalem Shawarma, KohSaar Grill, Photastic and Forno Flatbread Co. are all on the south side, around Gateway Boulevard, 99 Street and 34 Avenue.
Is KFC halal in Edmonton?
We couldn’t confirm that KFC locations in Edmonton serve halal chicken. The 2024 halal chicken switch that was reported covered most Ontario locations. Ask at your local branch before ordering.
How do I know a restaurant in Edmonton is really halal?
Ask who supplies and certifies the meat and look for a current certificate. Check Zabihah, @YEGHalalFoodie’s guide and the Edmonton Halal Facebook group, which track whether a place is fully halal and whether it serves alcohol.
Final thoughts
For a first taste of halal Edmonton, go to Jerusalem Shawarma on 101 Street and bring an appetite. BBQ lovers should head to The Backyard Smokehouse, and anyone looking for something new should try the haneed at Royal Restaurant or high tea at Café Bel Air. If you spot a change in halal status or a closure, tell us through our Contact page and we’ll recheck.