London is on the radar for Muslim visitors, and there is a growing community of Muslims living and working there. This has meant numerous restaurants opening up over recent years, offering halal options to devour with gusto. So, what is halal? It is an Arabic term meaning permissible and lawful. Halal food is permitted food under Islamic law.
I have been searching for some of the best halal restaurants in London. Options include dining at the oldest Indian restaurant in London, relishing in gold-coated steak, or starting the day with a full English breakfast. You are sure to find something to tempt your tastebuds.
Best Halal Restaurants in London (Map)
If you are seeking one of the best halal restaurants in London, here are nine halal restaurants that shine and are definitely worth a try.
At the time of writing, the restaurants listed have either confirmed with us, made it clear on their website, or registered with the Halal Monitoring Committee to show that they serve halal options. Although, I recommend checking beforehand in case there have been any changes.
1. Halal Restaurant
Price range: £8 – £12.
Established in 1939, the Halal Restaurant is the oldest Indian restaurant in East London. The family-run business still occupies the original premises where it first opened its doors to Muslim workers working in the maritime industry.
Today, its reputation has given the eatery a far broader appeal and entices tourists, city workers, and locals to try the fantastic food. The humble appearance of the 18th-century end of terrace hides the exceptional quality of an authentic Indian curry.
The restaurant is open Mondays to Fridays for lunch and dinner, and Saturdays for dinner only. However, its busiest time is lunchtime.
The food is unpretentious, and the customer service is warm and welcoming. The Gosht dishes come highly recommended, as do the butter chicken, biriyanis, naans and papadoms. There is also an extensive vegetarian menu.
Halal Restaurant confirms they are fully halal.
The restaurant does not serve alcohol. However, you are free to take your own.
Address: Halal Restaurant, 2 St Mark Street, Aldgate, London, E1 8DJ
2. Standard Balti House – Fancy Restaurant in East London
Price range: £10 – £40.
The Standard Balti House is on Brick Lane, one of East London’s iconic spots, famous for its fantastic curry houses. The road is affectionately known as Banglatown, as it is the heart of the local Bangladeshi community. It is an area where you can experience a small part of the Bengali culture and taste the culinary delights.
Standard Balti House has a big reputation for serving delicious, traditional curry at affordable prices. The restaurant prides itself on its dishes being freshly cooked in its clay oven, using high-quality fresh ingredients, and they confirm they use halal food.
The restaurant has a modern decor with a vibrant atmosphere. The staff are welcoming and attentive. Their menu offers tempting dishes, including Lamb Dhansak, Goan Chicken, Saag Paneer, and Mango Lassi.
Address: Standard Balti House, 71 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
3. Benares Restaurant and Bar
Price range: £35 – £129.
If fine dining is your style, then Benares is a Michelin Starred restaurant in Mayfair. The restaurant is named after India’s holy city and serves exquisitely styled cuisine. Executive chef Sameer Taneja is trained in French and Indian cuisine. Sameer takes classical-styled cuisine and adds a modern British flair bringing creative and delicious dishes to the table.
Benares’ ethos is to use only the finest ingredients that are natural and sustainable. Their chicken and lamb are halal. They offer a range of menus, A la carte, a set menu, and two tasting menus.
You can enjoy Irish Lamb Pepper Fry on Yorkshire Pudding and Goats Milk Paneer Tikka Masala Khichdi.
Address: 12a Berkley Square, Mayfair, London, W1J 6BS
Telephone: 020 7629 8886
4. Antalya Restaurant – Romantic Place in Central London
Price range: £15 – £40.
Next to Russell Square, in the heart of London, is Antalya Restaurant. The restaurant is a welcoming haven among the hustle and bustle of the city. The staff are friendly and courteous, greenery surrounds the outside terrace, and you can dine inside the beautifully presented dining room.
The food is traditional Turkish with Mediterranean flavours. They use local produce and the freshest ingredients, and Antalya confirmed their food is halal.
The lamb shank is highly-rated, the chicken shish is a popular choice, and in addition to serving halal, there are options for vegetarians and vegans.
Address: Antalya Restaurant, 103-105 Southampton Row, Holborn, London, WC1B 4HH
5. Aziziye Restaurant, North London
London has many Turkish restaurants at which to dine. Aziziye is a bit further from the city centre, owever, Aziziye Restaurant is worth a visit for its uniqueness. Firstly, the Aziziye shares the same building as a mosque. Secondly, you can feast on chairs or choose a booth or open area with floor seating. The restaurant provides an excellent atmosphere for families.
The restaurant is also fully certified by HMC, the Halal Monitoring Committee.
The Adana kebabs and the lahmacun are a clear favourite, and the mixed grill is perfectly spiced. There are plenty of traditional sweet desserts to finish with, such as Katmer, künefe, or even chocolate cake and ice cream.
Address: 117-119 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BU
6. Thai n Pie
Price range: £2 – £15.
With a catchy name like Thai n Pie, this eatery is worth investigating. The restaurant likes to serve dishes with an exciting twist, adding different flavours and textures.
The restaurant is Bengali-run, and the name provides a clue to the style of cuisine. You can choose from Nuar Penang Curry, Buffalo Chicken Wings, and a Royal Scottish Pie n mash.
Thai n Pie supports long-term relationships with British suppliers and uses the finest ingredients, such as spices, freshest vegetables, and good quality meat that is HMC-approved.
The facilities and decor are modern and clean. A wide variety of clientele gathers here, from couples to families and large get-togethers. A warm and friendly welcome awaits.
Address: 45 Mile End Road, Bethnal Green, London, E1 4TT
Telephone: 020 7791 5468
7. Turpan Uyghur
Price range: £7 – £12.
Turpan Uyghur is a delightful, cosy restaurant. It might look humble from the outside, but once you enter, the smells and friendly staff entice you to stay and enjoy the delicious food. Until recently, Uyghur cuisine was relatively unheard of in the UK. Xinjiang Uyghur is in China’s northwest, and the Uyghur people are a Turkic ethnic group and predominantly Muslim, influencing their cuisine.
Turpan describes itself as an authentic halal Uyghur restaurant. The flavours are an infusion of Turkish and Chinese, providing a gourmet heaven.
You can enjoy freshly-baked Samsas, which are little spiced meat pies. The lamb kebab skewers are some of the best, and the Tou Qordaq stands out. You can finish with homemade Baklava and a pot of Turkish herbal tea.
Address: Turpan Uyghur, 108 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3NA
8. Elvet Steakhouse – Authentic Halal Steak Restaurant
Elvet Steakhouse is a prime restaurant if you love to indulge in a tender and juicy steak. They take pride in selecting the finest Argentian and Australian steaks and Waygu beef, and, of course, this steakhouse will only bring halal steak to your table.
This restaurant will not just serve you delicious steaks, you might also get something a little more extravagant. That’s right, Elvet Steakhouse was on Channel 5 TV for being the first in London to sell steaks extravagantly wrapped in gold.
If steak isn’t prime choice for all members of your party, worry not, as attentive staff serve other options from the menu, such as lobster tail, salmon, and veggie burgers.
There is also a large selection of mocktails and alcohol-free Champagne.
Address: Elvet Steakhouse, 392 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8DF
Telephone: 0203 601 9692
9. Grounded Coffee
Breakfast, for many, is the most important meal of the day, and Grounded has a reputation for delicious, egg-cellent breakfasts. A full English is a Great British classic. However, there are more obvious choices for halal. Grounded is breaking tradition and using locally-sourced, organic ingredients and halal meat. The queues of hungry customers are testimony to its success.
Grounded is well-known for its freshly-ground coffee and has a nighttime menu, too, if you have to skip breakfast.
Their fluffy pancakes take some beating, as does their French toast. The beef sausages and turkey bacon are winners in the full English breakfast. Other mouth-watering options include beef brisket, roast chicken, mac n cheese, and halloumi fries.
Despite the queue, the service is quick and friendly in a welcoming environment.
Address: Grounded Coffee, 9 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1DU
Tips for Choosing a Halal Restaurant in London
Halal restaurants are on the rise, and London, with its growing Muslim community, is making it easier to find halal eateries. Here are some tips to make your search easier.
- Many Middle Eastern food establishments, including Turkish, Persian, Egyptian, Indian, and Malaysian, follow halal food production.
- Check to see if the restaurant is halal-certified. Restaurants that are certified will often display their certificate or logo.
- You can politely ask the restaurant if they serve halal food. I found several restaurants happy to confirm their halal status.
- Avoid restaurants that serve haram foods, forbidden under Islamic law, such as pork and alcohol.
- Search apps and the internet for halal restaurants before heading to an area.
- Some halal restaurants provide an area for prayer.