Halaal restaurants for every taste

Fine dining, farm to table, buffets, retro diner and more

Last updated: Thursday, 28 March 2024

Cape Town’s halaal dining scene caters to all culinary tastes. Whether you’re looking for takeaways at the iconic Wembley Roadhouse, the first fully halaal farm-to-table eatery in Cape Town, curries to keep you warm or South Africa’s first fully halaal fine dining restaurant. Here are some of the best fully halaal spots in the city.

HALAAL “PALACE” IN THE WATERFRONT

Did you know there’s a palace in the Clock Tower? Saray (“palace” in Turkish), is a family restaurant with a kids playground and huge sharing platters filled with lamb, chops köfte, and chicken kebab. It’s got a long mocktail menu and a shisha lounge with fruit and ice heads. There’s even a little kiosk where you can buy Turkish goods at Saray. 

Hours: Daily, 365 days; Monday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 11am to 12am; Sunday, 11am to 10pm (public holidays may differ and the kitchen closes at 10pm)

Halaal status: Fully-halaal

Shop G04 Clock Tower Building | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | @saray_restaurant_ct | Image: Saray

DURBAN-STYLE CURRIES

No one does Durban curries like Nouveau Coffee and Grill (it’s their speciality, thanks to their Durban-born chef). They’ve got traditional lamb, prawn and Thai green curry. The menu also has premium steaks, seafood dishes, and desserts. You can pop in at Century City or visit them on Long Street. There’s also buffets and three-course menus for special occasions like Eid. 

Hours: Century City, Daily; 7am to 10pm | Long Street, Daily, 8am to 10pm

Halaal status: Certified

Shop 3 | Century Village Centre | Century City & 134-136 Long Street | Cape Town | @nouveau_coffeeandgrill | Image: Centric Media

FLAVOURFUL VIETNAMESE DISHES

Pho and Bun Halal Vietnamese Kitchen has bamboo straw hats hanging from the ceiling and greenery climbing up the walls. You can taste pho (a Vietnamese rice noodle soup) and bún thit núóngh (vermicelli noodles, grilled meat and salad). There’s vegan-friendly options too. And for dessert there’s ice cream baguettes and Vietnamese coffee.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 9pm

Halaal status: Fully-halaal and Muslim-owned

67 Main Road | Diepriver | Cape Town | @phoandbunhalalvietkitchen

BBQ IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS

This Texan-style BBQ grill and burger joint looks like a retro diner with neon signs and 1950s posters on the wall. Talladega Grill has smoked brisket, beef ribs, Philly cheese steaks, and fried chicken and waffles on the menu. Their burgers are made with grass-fed Angus and Wagyu beef, and the meats are smoked in a custom-built natural wood smoker. 

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11am to 10pm; Friday & Saturday, 11am to 10.30pm; Sunday, 11am to 10pm

Halaal status: Certified

343 Imam Haron Road | Lansdowne | Cape Town | @talledegagrill

FROM THE FARM TO YOUR TABLE

LA Farms is Cape Town’s first fully-halaal farm-to-table butchery, deli, and restaurant. Inside there are stacks of hay, seats covered in wool, and greenery running along the roof. The eatery has meals like chickpea salad, pulled smoked lamb sandwiches, and very popular Wagyu and Angus burgers. You can also get fresh produce like cold meats.

Hours: Monday, 9am to 7pm; Tuesday, 9am to 8pm, Wednesday & Thursday, 9am to 7pm; Friday & Saturday, 9am to 8pm; Sunday 9am to 5pm

Halaal status: Certified

105 Main Road | Green Point | Cape Town | @la_farms

FINE DINING HALAAL EXPERIENCE      

The Happy Uncles is South Africa’s first (and only) fully halaal fine dining restaurant. Chef Anwar Abdullatief hails from Grassy Park, and his chic establishment offers tasting menus of four, six or eight courses. The menu features plenty of seafood and Cape Malay and South African influences, like salt and pepper squid with bokkoms and green mango atchar.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 12pm - 2pm and 6pm - 9pm; Friday 6pm - 9pm

Halaal status: Fully halaal and Muslim-owned 

100 Voortrekker Road | Salt River | @the.happy.uncles | Image: The Happy Uncles 

ICONIC ROADHOUSE  

Wembley Roadhouse is an iconic Cape Town spot known for its burgers (including the Wembley Whopper), hotdogs, steak sandwiches, samoosas, milkshakes, and falooda. Open since 1976, this staple is hard to miss with its massive red-and-silver sign and expansive parking lot (perfect for picking up a takeaway and digging in from the car). 

Hours: Daily, 11am - 11pm

Halaal status: Certified 

Belgravia Road | Athlone | Web | Image: @asmalphotography

TUCK INTO THAI 

Khao Hom Thai Cuisine is the place to visit if you’re in the mood for tangy noodles or crispy spring rolls. There are a variety of Thai curries, stir fries, Phad Thai noodles, traditional soups and sushi. The prices are reasonable (especially considering the portion sizes) and the food always looks colourful and inviting.

Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 11am - 9pm; Friday - Saturday, 11am - 10pm; Sunday 3pm - 9pm

Halaal status: Fully halaal and Muslim-owned 

117 Imam Haron Road | Claremont | @khaohomhalalthaicuisine | Image: Khao Hom Thai Cuisine 

BUFFETS & DAILY SPECIALS  

The Capetonian may be a four-star hotel, but its restaurant on the bottom floor offers great daily buffet specials. On the Square has a daily breakfast buffet, a Mongolian buffet Monday to Thursday (with dishes like chicken chow mein, egg fried rice and Asian salads), a Surf & Turf buffet on Friday and Saturday, and a Sunday lunch buffet. Each costs around R255pp.

Hours: Daily. 7am - 10:30am; 12:30pm - 2pm; 6:30pm - 9:30pm.

Halaal status: Certified 

Pier Place | Heerengracht Street  | Foreshore | @thecapetonianhotel | Image: The Capetonian

HOMESTYLE COOKING 

The Butcher’s Wife feels like a home away from home, with its hearty pastas, grills, and burgers in generous portions and for reasonable prices. This cosy eatery serves home-style food with an elevated twist (try the deep-fried camembert on sourdough crostini rounds with onion marmalade and cream cheese, or a smoked salmon and spinach croissant benedict).

Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 09:30am – 10pm; Friday, 09:30am - 12:30pm and 2pm - 11pm; Saturday, 09:30am - 11pm

Halaal status: Fully halaal and Muslim-owned 

15 Belgravia Road | Athlone | @thebutcherswifesa | Image: The Butcher’s Wife

TEA TIME IN A SUNNY COURTYARD  

Named after the 13th-century poet and Islamic scholar, Rumi Café serves toasties, breakfasts, burgers and cakes. This coffee shop in Pinelands is decorated with plenty of greenery and natural stone walls. With its tree-filled courtyard, it’s a cute spot to meet with a friend and enjoy a slice of cake in the sun. 

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 07:15am - 6pm; Friday - Saturday, 07:15am - 9pm; Sunday 07:15am - 3:30pm

Halaal status: Fully halaal and Muslim-owned

33 Central Square | Pinelands | @rumicafe_ct | Image: Rumi Café

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