Halal Food Guide

Discover the best destinations and dishes for Halal travelers.

About Halal Cuisine

Halal cuisine adheres to Islamic dietary laws, avoiding pork, alcohol, and requiring specific methods of animal slaughter. It encompasses a wide variety of culinary traditions across Muslim-majority countries.

Halal food is easy to find across Australia, especially in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. A Muslim population of 2.6% nationally, more than 600,000 people, supports a wide halal infrastructure. In Sydney, Lakemba, Auburn and Bankstown are full of halal restaurants, butchers and supermarkets, while Melbourne's Brunswick, Coburg and Dandenong cover halal Middle Eastern, Turkish, Indonesian and Malaysian cooking. Woolworths, Coles and IGA all stock halal-certified meat and products. The usual pitfalls are pork in sausage sizzles, the drinking culture in pubs, and gelatin in desserts. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) and ICCV certify halal venues, and the HalalBooking and Zabihah apps help you locate them. Most universities and airports have halal options.

Benefits of Halal Eating

Ensures ethical treatment of animals

Promotes cleanliness and hygiene in food preparation

Avoids consumption of harmful substances

Encourages mindful eating practices

Supports cultural and religious traditions

Travel Tips for Halal Travelers

1
Research halal-certified restaurants before traveling
2
Use halal restaurant finder apps
3
Consider vegetarian options when halal isn't available
4
Pack halal-certified snacks for travel days
5
Connect with local Muslim communities for recommendations

Must-Try Halal Foods

Lebanon

Kibbeh

Lebanon's national dish consisting of minced meat (typically lamb) mixed with bulgur wheat and spices, often served raw (kibbeh nayyeh) or fried with a meat filling.

Allergens: Wheat, Tree Nuts

Lebanon

Shawarma

Thin slices of marinated meat (chicken, beef, or lamb) stacked on a vertical rotisserie, slowly roasted, and shaved off to serve in sandwiches or plates.

Allergens: Wheat, Sesame

Kenya

Pilau (Spiced Rice)

Kenyan Pilau stands apart from other pilaf styles, a rice dish cooked with cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Meat (beef, goat or chicken) usually goes in, along with onions, garlic and ginger, and the rice draws up the flavor of the spices and meat as it cooks. It's a dish for special occasions and celebrations.

Kenya

Samosa (Savory Pastry)

Kenyan samosas, the triangular deep-fried kind, carry an Indian and Arab inheritance. The filling is usually spiced minced beef, chicken or vegetables (potatoes, peas, lentils), seasoned hard with cumin, coriander, turmeric and chili powder. The wheat-flour wrapper fries up crisp and golden, then cracks open over the savory filling inside. You'll find them everywhere, at bus stations, kiosks and markets, served hot with tamarind chutney, tomato sauce or kachumbari. During Ramadan they're a fixture at iftar. Coastal versions sometimes use fish or prawns, and vegetable samosas (samosa mboga) cover the meat-free option. People eat them with chai at gatherings and celebrations.

Allergens: Wheat

Saudi Arabia

Kabsa (كبسة)

Kabsa is Saudi Arabia's national dish, and it turns up wherever people gather to celebrate. The mixed rice dish uses fragrant long-grain rice, meat that is usually lamb, chicken, camel, or fish, and a spice mix of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. The meat gets marinated in spices and slow-cooked until tender, while the rice cooks separately with the spice mixture along with onions, tomatoes, and raisins. The flavor leans on the baharat spice blend and the way the meat is cooked, landing somewhere savory with a faint sweetness from the raisins. You will find kabsa in almost any Saudi restaurant, from street stalls to upscale dining rooms.

Allergens: Gluten (sometimes), Dairy (sometimes), Soy (sometimes)

Saudi Arabia

Jareesh (جريش)

Jareesh is a Saudi porridge made from cracked wheat or coarsely ground barley, eaten most often in the colder months and during Ramadan. The grains are slow-cooked with milk or broth and seasoned with cumin and turmeric. Some versions add chicken or lamb, which gives the dish more body. The texture is creamy, the flavor mildly savory, and the usual finish is fried onions, clarified butter (samneh), and sometimes a little parsley. You will find jareesh in traditional restaurants, though plenty of families make it at home.

Allergens: Gluten, Dairy (sometimes)

Saudi Arabia

Saleeg (سليق)

Saleeg is a rice dish most common in the Hijaz region, often cooked for special occasions. Short-grain white rice simmers in milk or broth with butter and spices, usually with chicken or lamb added, until it reaches a creamy, risotto-like consistency. Some cooks fold in local vegetables. The taste is mildly savory and rich from the milk, and the dish is typically finished with fried onions and clarified butter. Look for it in restaurants that specialize in Hijazi cooking.

Allergens: Dairy, Gluten (sometimes)

Saudi Arabia

Matazeez (مطازيز)

Matazeez is built around pieces of dough, not unlike gnocchi, simmered in a meat broth that is usually lamb or mutton. The broth gets its flavor from tomatoes, onions, cumin, and coriander, and the dough soaks all of it up while keeping a hearty bite. It is a cold-weather dish, filling and warming, and often finished with fresh parsley or coriander. Look for it at restaurants that focus on traditional Saudi cooking, though many families make it at home for special occasions.

Allergens: Gluten

More Halal Dishes to Try

Shawarma

Middle Eastern Cuisine

Thinly sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, served in bread with vegetables

Biryani

South Asian Cuisine

Fragrant rice dish with meat, vegetables, and aromatic spices

Kebabs

Middle Eastern Cuisine

Grilled meat skewers with various spices and marinades

Tagine

Moroccan Cuisine

Slow-cooked stew named after the earthenware pot it is cooked in

Mandi

Jerk ChickenAckee and SaltfishRice and Peas

Dietary Options:

vegetarianvegangluten-free

🌙About Halal Cuisine

Benefits of Halal Eating

✈️Travel Tips for Halal Travelers

🍽️Must-Try Halal Foods

Kibbeh

Shawarma

Pilau (Spiced Rice)

Samosa (Savory Pastry)

Kabsa (كبسة)

Jareesh (جريش)

Saleeg (سليق)

Matazeez (مطازيز)

More Halal Dishes to Try

Shawarma

Biryani

Kebabs

Tagine

Mandi

All Countries with Halal Options

Australia

Japan

France

Egypt

Greece

Spain

Germany

Morocco

Vietnam

Turkey

Canada

Argentina

United States

Brazil

China

India

Thailand

Mexico

South Africa

Portugal

Sweden

Singapore

Peru

South Korea

Lebanon

New Zealand

Colombia

Kenya

Russia

Philippines

Ireland

Netherlands

Poland

Hungary

Austria

Norway

Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia

Jordan

Indonesia

Rwanda

Jamaica

About Halal Cuisine

Travel Tips for Halal Travelers

Must-Try Halal Foods