Top 20 Halal Dishes You Must Try Around the World | SavorHalal
Trying halal food is about a journey of the gastronomic process through continents, cultures, and millennia-old traditions. Halal food has some of the most delicious and diverse foods in the world, as you can have aromatic Middle Eastern kebabs to spicy South Asian curries. Whether you are looking to find halal restaurants in your city or you just want to have a food adventure, this list of the best 20 halal dishes will stimulate your taste glands and make you find authentic halal food experiences all over the world.
Middle Eastern Halal Dishes
1. Shawarma
Halal shawarma is one of the most representative street foods in the Middle East. Marinated halal meat (usually chicken, beef, or lamb) is placed on a vertical rotisseries and continuously roasted to perfection. Meat is thinly sliced and is wrapped in pita bread that is hot, with fresh vegetables, pickles, tahini sauce and garlic sauce. Authentic shawarma can be found in the halal restaurants in Lebanon, Jordan and the UAE, or in our halal restaurant directory of verified Middle Eastern restaurants.
2. Mansaf (Jordan)
Mansaf is a national dish of Jordan and it is a blend of tender halal lamb that is cooked in fermented dry yogurt sauce jameed and served over aromatic rice and sprinkled with toasted almonds and pine nuts. It is a Bedouin food and a delicacy that you should not miss out on in the halal restaurants in Jordan and is an experience that should not be overlooked in genuine halal restaurants and restaurants within the country.
3. Kebabs
Essentially Turkish shish kebab and Persian koobideh, kebabs are a presentation of halal meat cooked to the delicious smoky flavor. These grilled delicacies are marinated beef, lamb and chicken cooked over an open fire. Every area has its own spice mixtures and presentation. We have a directory where you can discover the best in kebab masters providing halal certified items in your locality.
4. Hummus with Lamb
Although the traditional hummus is vegan, the fancy one with spiced halal lamb, pine nuts, and olive oil will make this simple chickpea dish a full meal. This is the most original form of the halal cuisine served in Lebanese and Palestinian halal restaurants.
5. Mandi (Yemen/Saudi Arabia)
Mandi is made with halal meat (chicken or lamb) roasted slowly underground as it becomes tender and infused with the smoky taste with rice. This is an Arabian Peninsula delicacy that got popularity in the halal restaurants across the world, especially in restaurants located in the Gulf region.
Halal Specialties of South Asian.
6. Biryani
It is an aromatic rice preparation that is the jewel of the South Asian halal cuisine. A layer of fragrant basmati rice with the marinated halal meat combined with the saffron and fried onions, with whole spices, forms a bomb of flavours. Each of the styles of Hyderabadi, Lucknowi and Karachi has a unique feature. Find authentic biryani specialists in our halal food directory as the favorite dish.
7. Nihari
Nihari is the national dish of Pakistan; halal beef or lamb stew that is cooked slowly overnight in bone marrow and spicy spices. It is served as a breakfast meal and is traditionally prepared in a rich curry which is served with ginger, green chilies, and fresh coriander. Locate the various traditional Pakistani halal restaurants that serve this comfort food delicacy.
8. Butter Chicken
It is a globally popular curry that is made of tender halal chicken in a creamy tomato based sauce that is enriched with butter and cream. Even with its heavy taste, the dish has a light spice content, and thus it is apt to people who are new to Indian halal food. This is a crowd pleaser that is found most of the Indian halal restaurants.
9. Haleem
A warm stew of halal meat, lentils, wheat, and barley was brought to a boil and left to cook hours before it became a porridge-like consistency. This is a protein-based meal that particularly is favored in the months of Ramadan in muslim-friendly restaurants in South Asia and the Middle East.
10. Tandoori Chicken
This iconic dish is made with marinated halal chicken in yogurt and spices cooked in a traditional clay oven (tandoor) to give it its familiar smoky taste and its rich red hue. It is a halal restaurant that serves this dish as a favorite meal in nearly every single North Indian and Pakistani halal restaurant in the world.
Southeast Asian Halal Delights.

11. Rendang (Indonesia/Malaysia)
Frequently referred to as the most delicious food in the world, rendang is the halal beef, which is cooked in slowness on coconut milk and complex spice paste till the sauce is reduced and meat becomes unbelievably tender. This is a delicacy of the Indonesian cuisine that exhibits the elegance of halal food in the Southeast Asian region. To experience this masterpiece, find the real Malaysian and Indonesian halal restaurants.
12. Nasi Goreng
The Indonesian favorite fried rice is made by mixing rice with halal or seafood, sweet soy sauce, shallots,Garlic,tamarind and chili and topped with a fried egg. This staple food of the Islamic faith shows that things that are so simple can form the most amazing kinds of flavors when used well.
13. Satay
Marinated skewers of grilled skewers of halal are served in peanut sauce and are the epitome of street food in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The introduction to the southeast Asian halal food is rich in protein and flavorful chicken, beef, or lamb satay.
14. Laksa
It is spicy noodle soup that exists in numerous regional variations with halal certified versions having either chicken, beef, or seafood in a rich coconut curry sauce or tangy tamarind broth. The laksa of Malaysian and Singaporean halal restaurants is authentic and contains a perfect combination of spicy and sour flavors plus creamy flavor.
Turkish and Mediterranean Halal Food.
15. Doner Kebab
The Turkish equivalent of shawarma, doner kebab is made of seasoned halal meat that is roasted on a vertical rotisseries and then served between flat bread or over rice with fresh vegetables and yogurt based sauces. It has become global with Turkish halal restaurants operating across the world.
16. Lahmacun
Lahmacun is sometimes referred to as Turkish pizza, and is a thin crispy flatbread topped with minced halal lamb or beef combined with vegetables and spices. It is a light, yet rich taste food item that is ideal among people who want to experience a true Turkish halal food.
17. Köfte
Turkey meatballs are made of ground halal beef or lamb, combined with spices, herbs, and breadcrumbs and grilled or fried. The regional differences are İzmir köfte, Inegöl köfte and çiğ köfte (vegetarian version made of bulgur). Find koftes masters in our halal restaurant directories.
Halal Treasures in North Africa.
18. Tagine (Morocco)
Appropriately named after the conical clay pot in which it is prepared, tagine is a mixture of halal meat, vegetables, dried fruits and spices typical of Moroccan cuisine. Slower meat is cooked in a meaty sauce. The Moroccan halal restaurants serve different types of tagine such as lamb with prunes, chicken with preserved lemon.
19. Couscous
The main dish of North Africa is fluffy steamed couscous, then topped with tamper Bay halal meat and stewed vegetables. Each of the versions, Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian, has its unique spice mixes and the ways of preparation. This is a traditional halal food that is cozy and healthy.
20. Shakshuka
Although the food was originally vegetarian, most halal restaurants currently have a halal variant of it. Poaching of eggs in spicy tomato sauce on peppers, onions and Middle Eastern spices make a breakfast or brunch favorite that has achieved international popularity.
Clues to Locating These Halal Dishes.
Use Specialised Halal Restaurant Directories.
Instead of using the general restaurant apps, we have our halal food directory that can help to locate verified restaurants that offer authentic versions of these dishes. We provide halal certified restaurants with comments and reviews of the dishes.
Search by Cuisine Type
In search of particular dishes, use the country or region. E.g. biryani and nihari, search with the words Pakistani halal restaurants, or doner and lahmacun, search with the words Turkish halal dining. In our directory, it is possible to filter according to the type of cuisine, and therefore it is easy to find what you are in a mood to eat.
Verify Halal Certification
As a condition to placing an order, verify the halal certification of the restaurant. We have a list of certified halal restaurants only in our directory but when we eat out, we should always enquire about the certification and the origin of halal meat. We have a full guide to halal food, where you will find information on verification.
Try Regional Specialties
The original variations of these dishes are usually offered in the restaurants of the native population of these regions. Find out family restaurants whose recipes have been handed down through generations, which guarantees the use of traditional preparation techniques when preparing halal cuisine.
Discovering the advantages of Halal Cuisine.
Cultural Discovery
An attempt to eat these 20 halal meals creates doors to the other cultures, history and tradition. Every food is a tale of migration, trade pathways, and cross-cultural interaction. Halal food brings together individuals in different continents to share common cuisines.
Quality Assurance
Halal certified outlets have high standards of quality of ingredients and food preparation. The religious needs usually convey to the food safety practices and fresher food.
Diverse Flavor Profiles
Halal cuisine is so diverse: spicy South Asian curries, aromatic tags in Morocco, and so on. These preparations show that halal food can be in most possible flavor combination and cooking methods.
Planning Your Halal Food Tour.
Start Local
To start your search, enter halal restaurants near me in our search database. Some of these dishes will probably be served in your home town in muslim restaurants.
Document Your Journey
Note down the dishes that you had already and which places you liked the most. Write their reviews on our platform and make your experiences known to other owners of halal cuisine so that they can find great places to eat halal cuisine.
Combine with Travel
During an adventure, it is important to visit places that have particular halal food. Go to Istanbul to have Turkish, go to Kuala Lumpur to have Malaysian or go to Dubai to have Arabian dishes. Our local guides assist you to locate the best halal restaurants in major attractions across the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would I locate genuine alternatives of these halal dishes?
The most genuine ones usually serve in restaurants operated by local communities of those areas. Our halal restaurant directory can help you locate certified ones and they are classified by the type of cuisine. Large cities where people have different nationalities provide the greatest choice of regional halal cuisine.
Are everything these dishes very spicy?
Not at all. Though there are some South Asian and Southeast Asian foods that are spicy, most of the Middle Eastern and Turkish halal foods and North African foods are fragrant, not spicy. The halal restaurants will be able to customize the spice levels to your taste.
Is it possible that non-Muslims can enjoy these halal dishes?
Absolutely! All people across the globe enjoy these halal food dishes. The Halal restaurants are open to all people, and the foods are some of the most popular foods in the world without the need to associate themselves with any religious group.
I do not know whether a restaurant provides some authentic halal versions.
Seek halal certification by known Islamic bodies. Look up our halal food directory to find certified halal food. Reviews made by the Muslim customers can confirm the authenticity of the halal status and the traditional methods of preparation.
Which food would you recommend as a first-time eater?
Begin with common dishes such as shawarma, kebabs or butter chicken. These halal meals provide affordable flavors that are enjoyed by majority. After getting used to it, you can venture into more daring dishes such as rendang, Mansaf, or nihari at halal restaurants in your locality which have been recommended.
Conclusion
These 20 halal dishes are only a small part of the amazing variety of the halal foods globally. Street food is diverse in flavors, textures, and cultural insights, whereas extravagant celebratory meals are various and even tastier. Both Muslim guests who want to eat halal meals and food lovers that want to find new tastes, such dishes will become the memorable dishes.
Are you ready to embark on a venture of halal food? Eat these delicious dishes at certified halal restaurants at SavorHalal.com. Search our complete directory of halal restaurants with thousands of halal certified restaurants in major cities. Filter by the type of cuisine, location or dishes. Read real reviews, look at menus and find out about the best halal cuisine in your area. Begin your journey to the halal world of delicacies!