Hong Kong’s halal-friendly dining scene is growing – and Cantonese fine-dining is part of the movement
Until recently, finding a halal-friendly Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong felt like a scavenger hunt, let alone one that serves fine-dining fare. Now, the landscape is shifting: more restaurants are getting certified – nearly doubling from early 2024 to mid-2025.
Chinesology (3101 IFC Mall, 8 Finance St, Central; chinesology.com) leads the charge as Hong Kong’s first Cantonese fine-dining restaurant to earn halal-friendly certification. A top pick from their halal menu is the deep-fried king crab claw with garlic and chilli. “The dish pays homage to Hong Kong’s 1970s typhoon-shelter era,” says chef and culinary director Saito Chau. The garlic and spices make it bold, bittersweet and utterly moreish.
At Cuisine Cuisine (118 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; themirahotel.com), the much-loved Cantonese restaurant at The Mira Hong Kong, a halal-friendly menu of 15 hearty dishes is available. An absolute standout is the crispy chicken stuffed with minced shrimp, sliced almond and lemon sauce, says Alexander O Wassermann, head of hotels and serviced apartments at Miramar Group.
They also offer an eight-course halal degustation menu, showcasing the diverse flavours, textures and cooking techniques of Cantonese cuisine. Don’t miss the highlight: stir-fried, fresh Australian lobster with spicy preserved vegetables.
Both restaurants hold halal-friendly certification from local Islamic trustees, with dedicated kitchens and halal-certified ingredients used for their halal menus. As offerings may vary, guests are encouraged to request the halal menu when making a reservation or upon arrival. Booking ahead is always a good idea.
Try our picks of Hong Kong’s restaurants with halal options
Punjab Warriors
A new addition to Central’s bustling dining scene, Punjab Warriors, an Indian-inspired chophouse, offers halal-certified meat and seafood dishes, including lamb chops with spinach yoghurt dip
and pepper masala salmon tikka with dill dip.
punjabwarriorshk.com
Yurt
The recently opened Yurt brings the flavours of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to Hong Kong. Dishes include lamb rack, dolma and beshbarmak, a Central Asian classic consisting of finely chopped meat, noodles and onion broth. yurthk.com
Islam Food
A long-time Kowloon City favourite, Islam Food brings Xinjiang and northwestern Chinese dishes to the fore. The pan-fried beef buns and hand-pulled noodles are not to be missed. Shun King Building, 33–35 Tak Ku Ling Road, Kowloon City
