The best halal restaurants and cafés in Singapore

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. 

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 ($15.50), 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 ($17), 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), 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 milkfish sinigang ($24) from the Philippines, and gulai kambing ($32) from Indonesia. Hathaway is also halal-friendly – meats are halal-sourced and they do 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 to see a range of fresh bakes served with French butter and ikan bilis sambal butter ($10); creamy and comforting leek and potato potage ($16); and pan-seared Norwegian salmon with pineapple Assam Nyonya. Given its modest size and popularity, seats at The White Label fill up quickly. If you prefer some small bites, The White Label also has a High Tea menu of nine savoury and sweet items specially curated for two ($78 per set). Some standouts include sambal belado sardine, cempedak choux, and yam madeleines, just to name a few.

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.

Nested within the National Gallery, this halal-friendly restaurant looks like a scene out of a Wes Anderson film. The Catalan-inspired brunch menu includes the El Grande ($29), a classic Spanish big breakfast with chicken sausage, pepper ragu, and the usuals; and the Pescado sando ($26) featuring seabass fillet and pickled guindilla peppers sandwiched within buttery brioche buns. For mains, go for the Paella Valenciana ($54) for sharing – saffron bomba rice is cooked in a rich stock and then topped with juicy chicken and beef chorizo chunks. There’s also a decent tapas selection with staples like patatas bravas ($18), gambas al ajillo ($20) and turkey or mushroom croquettes ($14). On the drinks menu, The Great Mischief offers non-alcoholic wines including Pepperberry Shiraz ($12), Fingerlime Sauvignon Blanc ($12), and Chardonnay ($14). On a date? Snag a seat at one of their window nook booth seats with city skyscraper views.

At Kucina, it is all about quality. Chef Gero is Italian-Muslim and flexes his years of Italian cooking background not just in his restaurant but also online – hundreds of thousands of folks take to Kucina’s Instagram for cooking tips dished out by Chef Gero himself. Expect hearty Italian fare like risotto, pizzas, and a huge range of pasta dishes, with highlights including the gnocchi al salmone ($31.90) and the Risotto di Amalfi ($28.90). Look out for the La Barca ($27.90) if you're up for something special. It’s a Sicilian boat-shaped pizza loaded with smoked scamorza cheese, mozzarella and black truffle pate.

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 burdock. 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 it absorbs the gravy perfectly. Have it the classic style with the Bakmi Bangka ($8.20); or for if you crave stronger flavours, go for the Bakmi Gulai Sapi ($12.80) which incorporates the Javanese beef curry with the noodles. If spice is your top priority, take your pick between the bakmi with red or green sambal ($9.20).

Overrice is an eatery that serves rice bowls inspired by The Halal Guys. It hopes to replicate meals from the famed food truck meal, with grilled meats and falafel balls served atop fragrant rice. Apart from its signature bowls (from $12) and tacos ($14), there are also pita pockets (from $8) on the menu for a quick on-the-go bite. 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 ($16.90) in several variations, rich beef stews, cumin lamb, spicy dumplings and meat skewers. Must-orders include the spicy dry beef noodles and beef brisket noodles, though customers also love the grilled skewers ($15) and chicken dumplings ($15.90). Similar to Sichuan cuisine, the dishes pack a punch with its 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. 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 ($9.90) 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. Pick up a vanilla milkshake while you’re there too – these go at a reasonable $5 on Wednesdays.

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. 

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) ($12.10), the classic beef rendang ($12.10) 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 Cheeky Git tacos ($24.90) – they might be messy, but they come with juicy beef cheeks braised in coffee sauce and topped with a generous dollop of truffle mayo. Other snacks include the jalapeno poppers ($13) stuffed with mozzarella, bread crumbs and served with sour cream; and the Scorpion Wings (from $14) featuring chicken wings tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce and fiery scorpion peppers.

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 ($25) or share a serving of Singapore chilli lobster ($49) which comes with the mandatory fried mantou buns for mopping up the sauce. Finish off the meal with a slice of its signature ondeh ondeh cake ($11.50) which comes with crunchy gula melaka bits and frosted coconut Chantilly 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 the place a perfect communal dining spot if you're dining out with a diverse group of friends. Like its namesake, you can find a wide range of dim sum and Cantonese cuisine on the menu, including 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, staple crowd favourites include the fragrant egg garlic fried rice ($14.90) and of course, siew mai ($6.90). 

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 $15 to $52 and adults from $25 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 flavour 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 ($3.50 each, $10 for three, $18 for a half dozen, and $35 for a dozen). The tarts are pretty well-loved too, and come in flavours like sea salt Nutella, Belgian chocolate and lemon meringue.

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 that are served with roast potatoes and a dollop of lingonberry jam ($24) and end with 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.

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).