In this guide
London has a huge choice of halal food, but a halal sign on the door doesn’t always mean a halal kitchen, and many popular “halal friendly” restaurants also pour wine. This guide covers 9 London restaurants with fully halal menus: alcohol free fine dining in Islington, a hand slaughtered steakhouse in Stratford, HMC certified Persian food in Hammersmith, Malaysian cooking in Queensway and smoked brisket under a Leyton railway arch.
We checked each restaurant against Zabihah’s halal records, the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) and the restaurant’s own statements, then read its Google listing and recent reviews. We cut several well known places that serve alcohol and two that are now closed. Where alcohol is allowed, we say so clearly.
How we checked these restaurants
Each restaurant carries one of these labels:
- HMC certified
meat certified by the Halal Monitoring Committee, which audits outlets and lists them at halalhmc.org. HMC only certifies hand slaughtered, unstunned meat.
- Fully halal, Muslim owned
Zabihah records Muslim owners who have confirmed that all food is halal.
- Fully halal, menu stated
the menu or owner states that everything is halal, with no named certifier.
The UK’s other main certifier, the Halal Food Authority (HFA), accepts some pre stunned meat. If that matters to you, ask which body certifies the meat.
Quick picks
| Best for | Restaurant | Area | Halal status | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special occasion | The Great Chase | Islington | Fully halal | No, alcohol free bar |
| Steak | HS&Co | Stratford | Fully halal, hand slaughtered | No |
| Certified and traditional | Mahdi | Hammersmith | HMC certified | No |
| Budget central | Shahs Halal Food | Soho | Halal | Not stated |
| Families | Babel Grill House | Brick Lane | Fully halal, certified | No |
| BBQ | Burnt Smokehouse | Leyton | Fully halal | No |
No restaurants match this filter.
Fine Dining and Steak
1. The Great Chase
Islington
- Best for
- Anniversaries, a proper night out
- What to order
- Beef WellingtonLamb shankSunday roast
The Great Chase serves modern British fine dining with a fully halal menu and an alcohol free bar. The lamb shank and the beef Wellington are the dishes reviewers mention most, with more than 100 mentions each, and Time Out singles out the 30 day dry aged rib eye. The Sunday roast is a big draw too.
It’s small and popular, so book ahead. It opens Tuesday to Saturday evenings and for Sunday roast. Time Out and Zabihah both confirm the no alcohol policy.
2. HS&Co
Stratford
- Best for
- Steak, afternoon tea
- What to order
- Grilled Irish beef steakBBQ beef ribsLamb shankApple crumble
HS&Co is a British steakhouse in a spacious room on Stratford High Street, and the owners are clear about their meat: fully halal, unstunned and hand slaughtered. The steaks are grilled halal Irish beef. Reviewers also rate the BBQ beef ribs, the prawn starter, the lamb shank and the halloumi fries, and it serves afternoon tea as well.
It takes bookings on OpenTable. It holds a 4.2 from about 1,600 reviews and works well for a family celebration in East London.
Middle Eastern and Persian
3. Mahdi
Hammersmith
- Best for
- Persian family dinners
- What to order
- Kebabs with ricePersian stews
Mahdi is one of the few London restaurants on our list with HMC certification, which means hand slaughtered meat checked by an independent auditor. The room is full of carved wood, embroidered fabrics and a water feature, and the food is classic Persian, built around kebabs, stews and rice.
It holds a 4.1 from about 2,400 reviews and takes bookings on OpenTable.
4. Babel Grill House
Brick Lane
- Best for
- Families, iftar
- What to order
- Lamb shank with ricePlatter for twoArayes
Babel Grill House serves Lebanese charcoal grills on Brick Lane, and the lamb shank is the star. One reviewer describes a very large, crispy yet soft mutton leg over spiced rice. The platter for two and arayes, grilled meat stuffed pitta, are good for sharing, and it’s a popular spot for iftar.
At 4.7 from about 1,700 reviews it’s well liked, though one diner found the chicken undercooked and the wings small. Stick to the lamb.
5. Common Breads
Victoria
- Best for
- Breakfast, lunch near Victoria
- What to order
- Musakhan manoucheLamb shawarma ka’akChocolate and tahini brownie
Common Breads is a Lebanese bakery near Victoria station, and The Infatuation calls its manouche some of the best in London. The musakhan manouche, with sumac chicken and red onion, is the one to order. The lamb shawarma ka’ak is filled with tender lamb, pickles and tahini.
It opens at 8am, has only a little seating and gets busy at weekends. A few reviewers say prices are a bit high, but at 4.9 from about 860 reviews, most think it’s worth it.
6. Shahs Halal Food
Soho
- Best for
- A quick, cheap meal in central London
- What to order
- Chicken platter
Shahs brings New York halal cart style food to a small shop off Wardour Street, and it’s one of the easiest halal options in the West End. Reviewers keep mentioning big portions, tasty chicken and a clean dining room.
It holds a 4.7 from about 1,300 reviews and opens at 11am. It’s a quick stop rather than a place to linger.
BBQ, Malaysian and Uyghur
7. Burnt Smokehouse
Leyton
- Best for
- BBQ lovers, groups
- What to order
- BrisketRibwichSmash burgerLamb rack
Burnt Smokehouse is under a railway arch in Leyton. More than 350 reviews mention the brisket, and the ribwich, a rib sandwich, and the smash burgers are close behind. The lamb rack is worth adding if there’s a group of you.
It holds a 4.7 from about 2,200 reviews. It opens in the evenings from midweek, so check the days before you go.
8. Normah’s
Queensway
- Best for
- Cheap and cheerful, homestyle food
- What to order
- Beef rendangRotiPrawn laksa
Normah’s is a small Malaysian kitchen inside Queensway Market, and reviewers keep describing it as eating in a family home. The beef rendang is the most mentioned dish by far. The roti and the prawn laksa are the other orders, and prices are low for this part of London.
Seating is limited and the market setting is basic. It opens in the evenings from Tuesday, and Google doesn’t list a phone number, so check its website before you go.
9. Etles Uyghur Restaurant
Walthamstow
- Best for
- Handmade noodles
- What to order
- LagmanLamb skewersHoney cake
Etles calls itself the first genuine Uyghur restaurant in London. It’s run by chef Abdul Hekim and his wife Mukaddes. The handmade noodles are the reason to go, especially the lagman, beef and vegetables over hand pulled noodles. The lamb skewers and honey cake are good too.
One thing to know: while the menu is halal with HMC sourced meat, reviewers report that alcohol is allowed on the premises. It holds a 4.5 from about 900 reviews and is closed on Mondays.
Where to find halal food in London
Whitechapel and Brick Lane in East London form the city’s best known halal area, with Pakistani grills, Bangladeshi cafes and HMC certified cafes. Babel Grill House is on Brick Lane.
Stratford, Leyton and Walthamstow have many newer halal spots, including HS&Co, Burnt Smokehouse and Etles.
Green Street and East Ham in Newham, the London borough with the highest Muslim population, are known for South Asian restaurants and halal butchers.
Edgware Road is London’s famous Middle Eastern strip, but most places there don’t name a certifier, so ask.
Central London, around Soho and Victoria, has Shahs and Common Breads for quick meals, and Queensway has Normah’s.
West London has Mahdi in Hammersmith, and Southall is the hub for Punjabi food and halal butchers.
Tips for eating halal in London
- Know HMC from HFA. HMC certifies only hand slaughtered, unstunned meat and lists outlets at halalhmc.org. HFA accepts some stunned meat. Ask which one a restaurant uses.
- “Halal options” isn’t a halal kitchen. Many London restaurants, including big names, serve halal chicken or lamb next to pork and alcohol. Ask about shared grills and fryers.
- Watch for BYO. Some halal curry houses let diners bring their own alcohol. Check if you’d rather not sit near it.
- Book ahead for iftar. Places like Babel Grill House and The Great Chase fill up during Ramadan.
- Check it’s still open. Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel is marked temporarily closed, and Coqfighter’s Shoreditch branch has closed permanently.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best halal restaurants in London?
For a special night, The Great Chase in Islington is fully halal with an alcohol free bar. For steak, HS&Co in Stratford uses hand slaughtered meat. For certified traditional food, Mahdi in Hammersmith is HMC certified. For BBQ, Burnt Smokehouse in Leyton has a 4.7 from about 2,200 reviews.
Is there halal fine dining in London?
Yes. The Great Chase in Islington serves modern British fine dining with a fully halal menu and an alcohol free bar. HS&Co in Stratford is a fully halal steakhouse. Many other upscale restaurants offer halal meat but also serve alcohol.
Which halal restaurants in central London don’t serve alcohol?
Shahs Halal Food in Soho and Common Breads near Victoria are the central picks on our list, though neither states its alcohol policy, so ask. Normah’s in Queensway is fully halal with no alcohol.
Is KFC halal in London?
Only some UK KFC branches serve halal chicken, so don’t assume. Check with the specific branch before you order.
What does HMC certified mean?
HMC stands for the Halal Monitoring Committee. It certifies only meat from animals that were hand slaughtered without stunning, and it monitors certified outlets. Mahdi in Hammersmith uses HMC certified meat.
How do I know a restaurant in London is really halal?
Ask which body certifies the meat, whether it’s HMC or HFA, and whether chicken and red meat are both covered. Check the outlet on halalhmc.org or Zabihah, which also records whether alcohol is served.
Final thoughts
For a special night, book The Great Chase in Islington. For steak, head to HS&Co in Stratford. If you want certified traditional food, go to Mahdi in Hammersmith, and for brisket, make the trip to Burnt Smokehouse in Leyton. If you notice a change in halal status or a closure, tell us through our Contact page and we’ll recheck.