Zoya Raza-Sheikh

The roots of halal food in the UK can be traced back to the 1950s, with south Asian locals setting up grocery stores, wholesalers and restaurants selling halal produce. Today, halal cuisine is a rich mixture of all food styles, from steaming bowls of daal and succulent smash burgers to traditional Turkish street-food style grills — there’s a never-ending array of dishes to choose from in the city. There’s no one way to experience halal food. The meat however, must be slaughtered following Islamic law and, ideally, prepped separately from other types of non-halal meat, especially pork, as this is a crucial dietary restriction for Muslims. As such, it can be difficult to find halal-certified joints, so we’ve rigorously gone through our list to ensure these restaurants have been confirmed as halal by certification, verbal confirmation or the restaurant’s own FAQs online. If you’re looking for your next halal lunch spot or where to have a celebratory dinner, we’ve got you covered. Zoya Raza-Sheikh is London-based journalist with a love for live music, great food, and vibrant queer culture.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best vegetarian restaurants.