The best halal restaurants and cafés in Singapore

With three outlets islandwide, this Muslim-owned bagel chain has been drawing the crowds with its hearty bagel offerings, each packed with ingredients and vibrant flavours. First-time visitors have to try the GTFBagel ($10.80), also known as the Get The Freak Bagel, slathered with truffle mayonnaise and stuffed with chicken ham slices, scrambled eggs and crispy hashbrowns. Another crowd favourite is the otah with coconut chilli mayo ($12), comprising mackerel otah, sunny-side-up eggs and house-made coconut lime mayonnaise encased within a bagel of your choice. We love the classic sesame option but if you’re seeking punchy flavours, go for the garlic or Tuscan pizza.

Surround yourself with lush greenery at Small Batch, a recently opened restaurant at Botanic Gardens. Brunch fare is the highlight here, with standouts like homemade mafalde pasta with mushrooms and pesto sauce ($18), and a crispy fish burger ($18) consisting of crumbed barramundi and jalapeño salsa. There's also a Build Your Own Board option (from $15.90 for three items), where you can tailor a brunch main to your own preferences. Choose from a wide array of categories ranging from eggs and various proteins to sweet treats.

You’d think there would be more pet-friendly restaurants that serve Southeast Asian cuisine seeing as we’re a part of the region, but Hathaway is one of the few restaurants to do so. Their menu celebrates different cultures found in the region, including dishes such as chicken kapitan currry ($24); rawon with grain-fed beef cheeks, buah keluak, and tamarind ($32); and a barramundi fish curry stewing in an heirloom spice paste ($34). Hathaway is also halal-friendly – meats are halal-sourced and the restaurant does not serve pork or lard. Diners with pets are also seated at the alfresco dining area to avoid any contact.

Let this shophouse restaurant transport you from Kampong Gelam to Paris with its charming decor – think marble tabletops, plush emerald green chairs, delicate floral decorations. It specialises in something quite unique – French Malayan cuisine. Expect dishes like lobster bisque with scallop dumplings ($18) to start, then order some large plates to share. The foie gras de canard ($28) see unctuous duck liver slices topped with cranbetter and orange marmalade, while the assam pedas cote d'agneau ($22) features slow-cooked Australian lamb flap in a tangy chilli paste. If you prefer small bites, The White Label also has a High Tea menu for two ($78 per set), with treats like sambal belado sardine, cempedak choux, and yam madeleines.

Housed in a heritage conservation shophouse along Baghdad Street, The Secret Garden By Zeekri is a botanical-themed brasserie whipping up French-inspired favourites including delicate French pastries and viennoiseries. This two-story restaurant has faux foliage and flower ornaments throughout the space, exuding romance and a relaxed ambience. The menu at The Secret Garden is pretty extensive with popular choices being the French onion soup ($14) and the classic steak frites ($38) featuring a 250-gram slab of sirloin with the choice of black pepper sauce or chimichurri. Stop by for the three-tier high tea set ($88) good for four people – it comes with eighteen homemade pastries for sharing.

Those craving a slice of Italy can get their pasta fix at halal-certified Kucina, a restaurant popular even with the non-Muslim crowd. Chef Gero is Italian-Muslim and whips up fan-favourites like the gnocchi al salmone ($26.90) and risotto ($22.90) with porcini mushrooms and grana padano cheese. Kucino’s pizzas are made of 70 percent hydration dough in the Napoli style. If you’re down to try something other than the usual margherita ($21.90) or salami ($23.90), look out for the La Barca ($27.90) – Chef Gero’s signature Sicilian boat-shaped pizza loaded with smoked scamorza cheese, mozzarella, black truffle pate, cream, and mushrooms. 

This is one of Singapore’s only Halal-certified udon stores, conveniently located in the heart of the CBD for busy office folks. Chewy udon noodles are the star here, with plain udon served in both half ($5.50) and full portions ($7.50) depending on your appetite. But the must-try item is the undisputed burdock tempura udon ($15.50) with generous servings of deep-fried burdock roots with an earthy, umami flavour. Also worth trying are other lesser-seen udon variations like the smoked duck udon ($15) or big fishcake udon ($14). 

Head over to Kulon on Bali Lane for a fix of the popular Indonesian street food – mie ayam. Here, there are many variations of this beloved noodle dish. The noodles served are of a thicker variation than the Indonesian street style – but they absorb the gravy perfectly. Have it the classic style with the Bakmi Bangka ($8.20); or if you crave stronger flavours, go for the Bakmi Gulai Sapi ($12.80) which incorporates Javanese beef curry. If spice is your top priority, take your pick between the bakmi with red or green sambal ($9.20). Each bowl comes with a head of bok choy too so you get your greens in.

Overrice is an eatery that serves rice bowls inspired by The Halal Guys. It hopes to replicate meals from the famed food truck, with grilled meats and falafel balls served atop fragrant basmati rice. Apart from its signature bowls (from $12) which come with eight protein options, there are also soft-shell tacos ($14) in flavours like ayam percik grilled spicy chicken and BBQ beef. The pita pockets are ideal for a quick, on-the-go bite (from $11) and come in all the same toppings as the rice bowls. But the main draw here is the white sauce – a creamy recipe containing yoghurt and a couple of other mystery ingredients – that is used to drizzle over everything.

Joining the enclave of buzzy eateries in the area is Restaurant Aisyah which specialises in Xinjiang cuisine – think hand-pulled noodles in several variations, rich beef stews, cumin lamb, spicy dumplings and meat skewers. Must-orders include the spicy dry beef noodles ($16.90) and tender beef shank noodles ($16.90), though customers also love the grilled skewers ($15 for five sticks) and spicy sauce dumplings ($15.90) with the choice of chicken, mutton, or beef filling. Similar to Sichuan cuisine, the dishes pack a punch with their generous use of fragrant spices like peppercorn, cumin, and more.

The name Tipo comes from the type of wheat flour ('doppio zero' or 'granero tero') in Italy used to make pasta which is smooth and silky to the touch. Tipo Pasta Bar is all about using premium ingredients in the handcrafted pasta produced in-store. From dill and lemon fettuccine to saffron fusilli, everything is made from scratch. The fun part is that you get to create your build your own pasta too (from $9.90). Start by picking your pasta type (it depends on what is available on the day), your sauce (alfredo, aglio olio, pomodoro, roasted red peppers, beef ragu, pesto, and pink sauce) and then additional toppings like sous vide egg, vinegared mussels, crumbled gouda, tomatoes and olives, just to name a few. The combinations are endless.

Think all American fried chicken is just KFC? Y’all got it wrong. Nashville-style country chicken is spicy as heck. Nashville hot chicken is typically marinated in buttermilk, fried and doused with a heavy application of cayenne pepper (often in the form of some magical pepper-infused oil), along with other spices like garlic and paprika. Curious? Save the plane ticket to ‘Merica, you can get some in Arab Street. The Soul Slider ($11.90) is a popular choice, with a slab of boneless chicken thigh, slaw, pickles, and Chix’s signature pink sauce stuffed between a nicely buttered slider bun. 

A hot lunchtime spot, you'll notice snaking queues outside any Hjh Maimunah store before the actual lunch hour. Of course, there's a reason for this: everyone wants first dibs on the fresh and affordable Malay and Indonesian dishes swinging out of the kitchen of this Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee. Trust us, it will run out. How it works is exactly like any other self-service nasi padang stall where you choose whatever dishes you want and then pay at the cashier. Or you can visit one of its nine other outlets in convenient locations like offices and malls to get your nasi padang fix.

Opened by Haji Isrin at the corner of Kandahar Street in 1948 – where it remains today – and now run by third-generation owners, the stall continues to churn out homely platters of authentic Malay dishes to a throng of people, including celebrities like former sports personality Fandi Ahmad and also us, simple, hungry people. 'Generous' is Nasi Pariaman's middle name. Plates are packed with rice covered in gravy of your choice – there’s gulai ayam (chicken curry) ($12.70), the classic beef rendang ($12.70) and more. These come loaded with an assortment of side dishes such as sambal goreng, begedil, sambal telur (curried egg) and acar. 

As a concept by The Black Hole Group – the company behind Tipo Pasta Bar and The Great Mischief – this halal-certified joint is often lauded for its no-frills approach to Mexican fare. Here, the menu is straightforward and packed with tasty bites like the cheese skirt tacos which are made of hand-pressed corn tortillas and rest on a skirt of melted mozzarella cheese (from $19). They might be messy, but they come with your choice of juicy stuffings like pulled beef brisket, roasted lamb shoulder marinated in adobo, or a sloppy jackfruit mince as a vegetarian alternative. Other snacks include the Scorpion Wings (from $14) featuring chicken wings tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce with fiery scorpion peppers and a side of sour cream.

Known for its hearty localised pasta dishes and rich indulgent cakes, The Malayan Council is the best place in Little India for comfort food. Dig into a huge plate of fish and chips ($32) with classic fixings of crispy halibut, fries, slaw, and tartare, or share a serving of the hefty lobster belado ($64) which comes with king prawns, scallops, and of course, lobster. You'll get your greens in too — the dish includes baby carrots, asparagus and artichokes swimming in the spicy tomato gravy. Finish off the meal with a slice of its signature ondeh ondeh cake ($10.50) which comes with crunchy gula melaka bits and frosted coconut Chantilly cream, plus a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Dim Sum Place is one of the few Halal-certified dim sum joints in town and probably one of the rare spots where you can enjoy a Halal Xiao long bao. This makes it a perfect communal dining spot if you're eating out with a diverse group of friends. The menu includes classics like molten salted egg custard buns ($6.90), egg tarts ($6.90), chicken feet with special sauce ($6.90), har gao ($6.90), and xiao long bao ($6.90). Among these, crowd favourites include the fragrant egg garlic fried rice ($14.90) and of course, siew mai ($6.90). Drop by on Fridays and Saturdays for supper – its operating hours extend till 2am.

Set aside your utensils and put on a plastic bib, because it only gets messy from here on. The halal Louisiana-style seafood restaurant’s second outlet at Plaza Singapura is here to satisfy all your crustacean cravings, offering an expanded menu alongside its classic seafood buckets. The Olympian Bucket ($242) is what you’ll want to go for if you want a good mix of everything. Feeding five to six, this spread includes Sri Lankan crabs, Boston lobster, prawns, white clams, blue mussels, sweet corn, baby potatoes, and your choice of one of eight sauces. We hear the Singapore chilli crab and black pepper crab sauces are common picks.

This smokehouse restaurant along Owen Road offers quite a variety of all things halal. Expect luscious cuts of smoked meats, grilled meats, pasta, fresh seafood and desserts that will satisfy even the biggest of appetites. A 1.6-kilogram grilled Black Angus tomahawk steak serving four will set you back $168 and comes with a side of nasi lemak bakar, a traditional Nusantara dish of grilled coconut rice. There are also succulent Silver Hill Irish ducks – known as the world’s best duck – ($88 for two kilogrammes) available. Make sure to pre-order these dishes one day in advance.

Located in Royal Plaza Hotel’s lobby, this popular buffet restaurant consists of four dining sections: The Living Room, The State Rooms, The Verandah and The Terrace. On the buffet line is an impressive international menu that spans Asian and Western cuisine, featuring dishes such as sushi and traditional rotisseries, while live food stations whip up hot dishes like laksa and pasta. Children dine from $14 to $52 and adults from $28 to $108, depending on whether you’re heading down for breakfast, brunch, tea or dinner. Make a beeline for the seafood section, which sees everything from Sakoshi Bay oysters and Boiled Maine lobsters to snow crab and Alaskan crab legs.

Located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens by the Ginger Garden (halia also means ‘ginger’ in Bahasa), this place ticks all the boxes when it comes to lush surroundings and aesthetics. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light, and there’s also the option to dine out on the terrace. An all-day menu is available but most folks stop by for brunch after a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Popular choices include the chilli crab spaghettini ($26) and the halibut fillet served in a paper bag ($35) to lock in all the flavours from that soy and ginger broth. This also comes with a serving of sesame Japanese rice, wakame (seaweed) and truffle aioli.

At this bakery-café, rustic cakes are whipped up using recipes tried and tested by owner Shannon Lua's grandmother. If well-made cakes are your ultimate comfort food, then invest in one of their homemade offerings. The bakers here are quick to hop onto the minimally frosted cake trend with slices of salted caramel, red velvet, Nutella malt, ondeh ondeh, and more. Or pop by for a cheeky cupcake ($4.20 each, $12 for three, $32 for a half dozen, and $42 for a dozen). The tarts are pretty well-loved too, and come in flavours like sea salt Nutella, Belgian chocolate and lemon meringue.

Step aside Ikea. Halal Swedish food on Arab Street is a rare sight, and modern bistro Fika certainly stands out in the heritage area dominated by shophouses and businesses. Come for the halal Swedish meatballs — served with roast potatoes and a dollop of lingonberry jam ($24) – and stay for the desserts. The sweet treats coupled with the personal pot service and eclectic selection of Gryphon teas are a winning combination. Definitely go with the Swedish pancakes ($16) or the Kladdkaka ($12) – a type of Swedish brownie topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and fresh berries.

Located in a bustling food precinct in the CBD area, Royz et Vous holds its own, serving a straightforward Western menu. Dine in and order the smoked duck breast ($28.90) with sides of spicy salad, pickled mango and spiced teriyaki sauce; or the fish and chips ($25.90) featuring tempura-battered baby snapper, peri-peri fries, egg tartare and dill tartare. Wash it all down with a specialty cold brew ($7.90) served black or white, or choose from 10 craft mocktails on the list, including the Taro Delight which is a creamy concoction of milk, taro, and hazelnuts, topped with whipped cream.

The decor of Islamic Restaurant is grander than you’d expect of a 95-year-old biryani shop. Then again, its regular patrons included the late presidents Yusoff Ishak and SR Nathan, and even the sultans of Brunei, Johor and Perak – literally providing meals fit for a king. Owner Abdul Rahiman was once the head chef for the wealthy Alsagoff family and his biryani was especially well-loved. Today, Islamic Restaurant is run by Rahiman's grandson, who still keeps the biryani recipe a secret. Customer favourites include the chicken ($13), mutton ($14) and fish biryani ($14), plus the mutton mysore (from $12).

Harummanis is the first local restaurant opened by Singapore-born chef Akmal Anuar, who heads award-winning joints in Dubai like 11 Woodfire and 3 Fils. Located in the heart of Kampong Gelam, the restaurant has a clear aim of bringing modern Malay cuisine closer to the Malay community in Singapore. In dishes like the ketoprak ($20), Chef Akmal puts a twist on the traditional Indonesian salad made of tofu and bean sprouts, replacing the usual peanut sauce with Japanese sesame sauce and adding kombu. And with the batang pinang ($24), he incorporates wagyu beef tenderloin, spicy petis, jicama and white truffle in a Malay rendition of beef carpaccio.