I am often asked what the best halaal restaurants in Johannesburg are. I have my opinions but I conducted some polls on social media as well and there were a few that came up, time and again. Of course, everyone may not agree as restaurant reviews are usually based on personal preferences and experiences. As such, they are very subjective. The list below consists of those that I have personally experienced and enjoyed. I will be updating the list as I find new restaurants to recommend. Be sure to subscribe to the free newsletter for updates.
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Yes, Pizza Del Forno has great pizza but it has much more than that. They have innovative gourmet burgers, pastas, meat dishes as well as decadent desserts, mocktails, and deluxe shakes too! They also introduce new items regularly, in keeping with the seasonal changes. They are situated in Killarney Mall. Find them here.
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Lokkum specialises in Turkish fusion cuisine. It is set in a spacious eating area with marble tables and suede chairs, as well as a play area for the kids. Meals begin with a selection of Instagrammable mezzes served with Turkish bread. One can meal out of them alone but then you'd miss out on the other specialties and the desserts. The fried calamari starter, the Lokkum specials and the hibiscus sherbet are highly recommended.
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A restaurant, coffee shop and shisha lounge, they specialise in Mediterranean cuisine and have some refreshingly different items on their menu. The owner hails from a farming family in Tunisia that cultivates olives, figs, almonds and pistachios, and he has many interesting stories to tell. Start with mezze then proceed to the mains. I recommend the creamy pesto pasta, spicy chicken quesadillas, schnitzel sandwich, and chicken Milanese. For cold drinks, try the Turkish Delight mocktail, and the Kiwi crusher. They have some great hot drinks too: White Choc Mocha, Chai Latte and Salted Caramel Latte.
Restaurants in Fordsburg have a high turnover rate but Kashifs is one of those that has stood the test of time. What I like about the menu is that it consists of a variety of fusion dishes and unusual dishes that you won’t find everywhere else. My personal favourite dishes are the Peshawary Ghost with naan and the deli ice cream or tira misu for dessert. Find them here.
Halaal buffets are scarce in Johannesburg but Lal Qila offers an expansive buffet consisting of mainly North Indian dishes, interspersed with some Western and other Asian cuisine. As part of the Palm Continental Hotel offering, it has been quite popular since it opened in 2016. The setting makes it a good choice for halaal business lunches and dinners too. You can expect tandooris, beryanis, kormas etc. The kitchen area is open and you can watch the chefs at work. When it’s time for dessert, be sure to ask for some kulfi which is kept in the freezer. Be sure to go hungry. Find them here.
This restaurant is owned by Masterchef SA Contestant Ozzy Osman, who has trained at some of the best hotels in the country (like The Saxon, Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, and the One&Only Cape Town so you can expect exceptional halaal fine dining. This is one of the only halaal restaurants in South Africa to serve Wagyu beef , which is the most expensive beef in the world. The casual fine-dining menu is only available on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sundays for lunch. There is a light menu available the rest of the time. Do make a reservation before you go. Find them here.
Ozzys Kitchen
Calistos now has several halaal branches in Johannesburg, although the original halaal branch in Fordsburg has closed down. They specialise in Portuguese cuisine, but the menu is quite diverse and offers delectable seafood, pizzas, pastas, flame-grilled chicken, fillet steak and more. Find them here.
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This is one of very few restaurants in Johannesburg that offers strictly halaal fine dining. The outdoor rooftop venue is beautiful, the service is good. the plating is inspired and the food is good. It's the ideal halaal venue for a special occasion or even a business meal. Make sure you try the chocolate fondant if it is available.
Adega is one of Johannesburg's most loved restaurants. It offers traditional Portuguese cuisine at its best. Everyone in my family has their favourite dish at Adega. Mine are the prawns which are absolutely delicious. The LM Chicken and the creative mocktails are also must- haves. There are several sharing options too. The Fordsburg branch closed down during lockdown unfortunately but Lenasia still has a halaal branch. Find them here.
Stands out among the many Indo/Paki/Bangladeshi restaurants in Fordsburg because the food rarely disappoints. The restaurant has been around for a long while and is usually busy, which is a testament to its popularity. Do order the chicken jalfrezi and the butter chicken. Find them here.
Bay Leaf
Dosa Hut specialises in South Indian dishes and indeed it is one of few halaal restaurants in Johannesburg that does. South Indian dishes may not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally enjoy it. As the name suggests, their specialty is the dosa which it a large ultra-thin crepe with a choice of filling/stuffing. Be sure to try the traditional masala dosa which has a spicy potato filling, and the idlis as well as the mint lemonade and the almond milkshake. Find them here.
Masala Dosa
Simply Asia (The Zone at Rosebank, Mall of the South , Norwood, Killarney Mall, Mall of Africa)
I love Thai food and Simply Asia does have the best halaal Thai food in Johannesburg. My favourite , and those of most people I speak to is the 514 – Ba-Mee Prik-Phao (Roasted Chilli Paste and Cashew Nut Noodles). However I have tried other dishes on the menu like the 622 - Linguine Phad Tom Yum and have not been disappointed. Find them here.
Akhalwayas
For lekker junk food. There are branches all over but our personal favourites are the Church Street branch for their Wonder Why pizzas, and Akhalwayas Bree (84 Lillian Ngoyi Rd) for everything else, especially their toasted specials.
La Padrino Florida
For their Godfather pizza.
Syrian Rose (Fordsburg)
For their Middle Eastern Cuisine.
RocoMamas (Campus Square, Melrose Arch and Nelson Mandela Square)
For their smash burgers, cheesy fries, ribs and cheese bombs.
Kauai (Sandton City and Cresta)
For their delicious healthy wraps and superfood smoothies.
The following shopping centres have a lot of halaal options:
For more halaal recommendations, recipes and food pics to drool over, follow @SouthAfricaHalaal on Instagram or on Facebook.
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What are your favourite halaal restaurants in Johannesburg?
Which restaurants do you think should be added to this list? Let me know in the comments below.
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Fordsburg:
Ammaans,Akhalwayas,sollys corner, Kentucky milk bar.
Newtown:
Mochachos
My personal best restaurant
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Amman restaurant in fordsburg
This is the most useful post I have read. You have a way with words, and I will follow you as I like your posts.
Some really gߋod content on thiѕ website. Thanks for sharing.
Slms
I have a friend that works in centurion and looking for halaal take aways or restaurants.
Jzk
Wslm. Mochachos Centurion Mall is halaal.
Thanks for the excellent advice. It actually is useful.
Great line up. We'll be linking to this great article on our website.
Keep up the good writing.
This really answered my issue, thank you!
There is a simply Asia in greenside too.
Thanks Nisreen. I haven't been to it yet.
Bahu Cuisine at columbine sqaure in winchester hills
Thanks for the suggestion Noorain. I haven't been there yet.