The best halal restaurants in Covent Garden

Café Pacifico is a top spot in London's Mexican dining scene and is the city's oldest Mexican restaurant, serving authentic cuisine and tequila. It has a cantina-style setting and offers a menu of classic dishes like tacos, fajitas, burritos, and nachos. The chicken used is halal-friendly, and there's a dedicated vegan menu for those opting for plant-based options.

Fatt Pundit in Covent Garden is all about Indo-Chinese cuisine inspired by Calcutta's Chinese immigrant community. The menu is packed with dishes like steamed dumplings with spicy chutney, Bombay chilli prawns, and rabbit wontons, with halal-friendly options available. They even serve a pre-theatre menu at their Covent Garden branch.

Masala Zone in Covent Garden is a family-friendly Indian dining spot in a bright space decorated with Rajasthani puppets. The menu is filled with fragrant dishes, like traditional street food, curries, grills, and thalis from all across India, with halal-friendly options available. For something a little more exclusive, there's a private dining space with tailored menus available.

Le Bab in Covent Garden is redefining kebabs with a fresh gourmet approach and Michelin-level techniques. The menu is brimming with all kinds of dishes, such as mezze, creamy hummus, just-baked naan, and honey-glazed halloumi, alongside cocktails and wine. The menu at Le Bab is also 100% halal.

Apple Butter Café is renowned as one of the city's best halal brunch spots, ensuring all meat on the menu is halal.  The restaurant is located inside the bustling Seven Dials Market, alongside other foodie spots. The menu is filled with breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and various desserts, such as fully-stacked pancakes and sticky date and tahini pudding.

Cinnamon Bazaar was founded by Vivek Singh, one of the UK's top modern Indian chefs, and serves a wide range of contemporary Indian dishes. This Michelin-starred halal restaurant serves a menu of fusion dishes like lamb Rogan josh shepherd's pie, Chettinad duck liver and heart, and Lucknow style chicken biryani, which are perfect for sharing. The restaurant also offers afternoon tea, set lunches, pre-theatre options, and menus for larger groups.

Gilgamesh is a fancy restaurant with two locations, including one in Covent Garden, complete with a spacious lounge bar, a garden-inspired mezzanine, and an intimate dining area. It's inspired by the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and is ideal for a more luxurious dining experience with Asian cuisine from across the continent. Ingredients here celebrate the flavours of Southeast Asia, China, and Japan via a seasonal menu that includes dim sum, sushi, sashimi, and small plates, all made with halal-certified meats, perfect for sharing.

Shake Shack Covent Garden was the first branch to land in the UK when the burger joint came from the US. It's located inside the iconic Market Building and serves a menu of classic burgers made from local, quality ingredients. Halal chicken options are available, so you can enjoy the classic Chicken Shack burger made from crispy chicken breast or the chicken bites with your choice of dipping sauce.

Dishoom opened over 10 years ago and has become renowned for its curated menu of Bombay comfort food and drinks. It's regarded as one of London's top halal restaurants and serves a menu of traditional dishes with a little va-va-voom, including breakfast with the popular naan rolls or the big Bombay breakfast, followed by roomali rolls and salad plates for lunch and chai and small plates in the afternoon. The all-day menu is halal, with lamb and chicken sourced from certified suppliers.

Homeslice is one of the most popular pizza joints in the city, prioritising quality ingredients alongside classic pizza combos. Their 20-inch pizzas can be customised with different toppings on each side and are ideal for sharing. They also serve 12-inch pizzas and pizza by the slice. The Homeslice in Neal's Yard has its own unique flavours, with past options including things like curried minced lamb or air-dried wagyu beef pizza, with halal-certified meat and cheese options available.

Chestnut Bakery on Covent Garden's Floral Street offers a range of halal pastries and treats to enjoy. Tuck into halal-friendly sweets like sticky cinnamon buns, monkey bread, and twice-baked pecan and salted caramel pastries. The menu also features freshly made sandwiches, bagels, and flatbreads, perfect for a lunchtime pick-me-up.

Old Chang Kee is famous for its delicious curry puffs, which are made with flaky pastry and fragrant fillings. They use a secret recipe that nobody else knows, further adding to their allure. At the Covent Garden branch, they serve signature Singaporean curry puffs and other classic dishes like curries and Laksa. All meats served here are halal.

Pizza Pilgrims is another popular pizza spot in London, offering plenty of halal-friendly options. The Garrick Street location in Covent Garden serves halal-certified pepperoni, including the delicious double pepperoni drizzled with hot honey pizza—featuring two types of pepperoni and a drizzle of chilli-infused honey on a classic margherita, one of their best sellers.