Melbourne is known for its diverse population, which directly translates to its restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines, from Indian and Vietnamese, to Greek and halal-friendly. Even within that category, you’ll find everything from cheap-and-cheerful eateries, to fine dining, with many of the city’s halal establishments along Sydney Road, Brunswick, in particular.
While many of these venues might not offer menus that are entirely halal, and some serve alcohol, they still have plenty of options for permissible foods. Ahead are a few of our favourite halal restaurants in Melbourne.
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New Somali Kitchen
Every single dish at New Somali Kitchen is halal, not to mention cooked using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. The menu here is simple, with mains made with your choice of meat or falafel, optional sides, and mango yoghurt dessert, Somali affogato or cinnamon and cardamon cake, to finish.
Rumi
Rumi is a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant in Brunswick. Dine on barbecued chicken wings or slow-roasted, marinated lamb shoulder in a cosy setting featuring Arabic writing covering the walls. All food that’s served and prepared here is halal, but the restaurant does serve alcohol.
Dolan Uyghur
Dolan Uyghur on Lonsdale Street is on a mission to share Uyghur culture, serving traditional dishes, including Uzup tashlanghan permen qourmisi, guruch qorumisi and tawap kawap, which translates to slow-cooked, marinated lamb curry pieces, alongside naan and veggies.
Supernormal
Most of the meats on the menu at Andrew McConnell’s Asian-fusion restaurant in the CBD are halal-friendly, but if you’re in doubt, ask your waiter. Meals at Supernormal were inspired by dishes from Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo, and are meant to be shared. Note that dinner can only booked for large group, otherwise it’s first come, first served.
Swanston Halal Food Centre
Swanston Halal Food Centre is a 24-hour venue that’s dine-in, takeaway or delivery. Like its name suggests, it’s completely halal. Expect ready-to-serve paneer masala, chicken kadai and lamb korma. On the delivery menu, the HSP and is the most dish, consisting of fries loaded with cheese, your choice of doner chicken, lamb or tandoor chicken and topped with sauces.
Pondok Rempah
A stone’s throw from Queen Victoria’s Markets, Pondok Rempah, which translates to ‘house of spices’, is said to be one of the city’s most authentic Indonesian restaurants. On the menu are dishes nasi goreng, ayam bakar penyet and iga bakar sapi penyet, grilled and marinated beef ribs with rice, tofu and tempe. The restaurant is fully halal.
Mamak
Mamak is a Malaysian restaurant with locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The Melbourne venue can be found on Lonsdale Street, where it serves sweet and savoury appetisers, mains and rice and noodles. The menu is completely halal.
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