7 Of The Best Halal Restaurants In London
FOR BRITISH CLASSICS:
The Great Chase, Islington
The Great Chase serves modern British dishes at its Islington restaurant – and it’s one of the few of its kind in the city which is fully halal and alcohol free. During Ramadan, the restaurant is filled with diners at iftar (the evening meal that breaks the fast), but it’s a buzzy spot year-round thanks to its crowd-pleasing menu, which includes steaks, roasted meats and vegetarian dishes served with beef dripping chips, garlic mash and salads. There’s also a small dessert selection, plus mocktails like the ‘Venice Spritz’, made with bitter orange cordial, hibiscus, sparkling rose, lemon and tonic.
316 St John Street, Islington, EC1V 4NT
Visit TheGreatChase.co.uk
FOR MICHELIN-STARRED DINING:
Gymkhana, Mayfair
Inspired by the elite clubs of India where members of high society socialise, eat, drink and play sport, Gymkhana has been synonymous with contemporary, boldly spiced Indian food since it won its first Michelin star in 2014. Earlier this year, it won its second star. Taking influence from the residential mansions of Kolkata and Pondicherry, there’s intimate booth seating on the ground floor, plus a second dining room a level below. The current menu includes dishes like keema naan, Kasoori chicken tikka, tandoori masala lamb chops, and Goan prawn curry (the restaurant serves halal chicken, lamb and goat) – best enjoyed with fluffy basmati rice, raitas and zingy salads. There’s also a tasting menu (£115pp), with a separate vegetarian offering.
42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4JH
Visit GymkhanaLondon.com
FOR A FUN NIGHT OUT:
Noya London, Wood Green
Wood Green is home to excellent kebab houses and laidback Middle Eastern restaurants, and we love Noya for a fun night out. Dubbed by locals as ‘the Nobu of Wood Green’, the restaurant and lounge serves pan-Asian dishes in a glitzy dining room. You can order sushi, sashimi and starters from the cold menu, before tucking into sharing plates of gyozas, tempura and fried chicken, followed by mains cooked on the robata grill, like miso-marinated black cod or lamb cutlets with a Korean glaze. Desserts are decadent and generous – think cheesecakes and gooey chocolate fondants – with the team setting a fun party atmosphere.
454-460 Wood Green Road, Wood Green, N15 3PT
Visit NoyaLondon.com
FOR FAMILY MEALS:
Tayyabs, Whitechapel
This family owned restaurant is a Whitechapel institution, loved by food critics and locals alike. Since the early 70s it has been serving Punjabi dishes in its simple, atmospheric dining room. Marinated meats and breads are cooked in the tandoor, including the famous lamb chops, which are topped with sliced onion, chillies and fresh coriander. Other must-try dishes include the tandoor chicken tika, the tarka daal and the minced lamb kebabs – perfect stuffed into breads and mopped up with a selection of spiced dips. There’s a decent selection of soft drinks, too.
83-89 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, E1 1JU
Visit Tayyabs.co.uk
FOR FINE DINING:
BiBi, Mayfair
Alongside Gymkhana, another JKS restaurant that caters to halal diners is the nearby BiBi. Headed up by chef Chet Sharama, it celebrates the diverse dishes and flavours from the Indian subcontinent. All the spices are sourced from India, from green cardamom to garam masala, while the team works with several British suppliers to source meat and seasonal ingredients. Dinner consists of the chef’s set menu, which changes regularly, but could include dishes like chukh masala Cornish lobster, aged lamb barra kebabs and Lahori chicken. Before or after dinner, stop by the bar for a cold brew oolong tea.
42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 6ZP
Visit BibiRestaurants.com
FOR LATIN-CARIBBEAN CUISINE:
Guanabana, Camden
The Maginhawa restaurant group has numerous restaurants across the capital, including Donia, Mamasons and Ramo Ramen. For halal dishes, Guanabana serves Latin-Caribbean dishes inspired by the streets of Jamaica, Colombia and Mexico. The light-filled dining room has a huge skylight that illuminates its colourful interiors, but diners can also sit in the garden as mocktails and fresh juices flow. Food-wise, expect flavoursome and colourful fusion dishes and Caribbean classics, including lamb curry served with plantain and rice and peas, and whole jerk chicken platters with various sides. Colombian style steaks are served with butter sauce or gravy, while Sunday roasts have a Latin twist.
85 Kentish Town Road, Camden, NW1 8NY
Visit GuanabanaRestaurant.com
FOR A CASUAL DINNER:
Darjeeling Express, Carnaby
Darjeeling Express started as a 12-person supper club, serving Indian food lovingly cooked from family recipes that go back generations. The food is a true homage to founder Asma Khan’s royal Mughlai ancestry and the busy streets of Calcutta, where she grew up. Everything is served the way Indian food is meant to be eaten – platters of complementary dishes encouraging you to share in the style of the traditional ‘daawat’ (feast). An all-women team runs the kitchen and has been doing so from day one. Plus, a percentage of all proceeds from the restaurant go to charitable cause Second Daughters.
Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, Soho, W1B 5PW
Visit Darjeeling-Express.com
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