Halal Food in Hong Kong: Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai and What to Bring

Hong Kong is dense and fast, and most of its restaurants serve pork. For this reason, many Malaysian travellers worry about food. However, the good news is that some areas have plenty of halal options, and the rules for bringing cooked food into Hong Kong are simpler than in most East Asian destinations. So this guide explains where to find halal food in Hong Kong and what food is suitable to bring.

Where to find halal food in Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui

First, Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, is a good starting point. In addition, Chungking Mansions nearby has many Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern restaurants run by Muslim traders. The area is also close to the MTR station and the ferry to Hong Kong Island.

Wan Chai

Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre in Wan Chai houses an Islamic canteen that is famous for halal dim sum. This is something you rarely find in other cities, because it serves Hong Kong style dim sum without pork.

Other areas

Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok also have a few halal and Muslim Friendly restaurants, including Malaysian and Indonesian ones. However, in places further out such as Lantau, Ngong Ping and Disneyland, there are fewer choices, so bring food or plan your meal times.

Halal food logos in Hong Kong

Halal restaurants in Hong Kong usually display a certificate from The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Some restaurants also display “No pork, no lard” or “Muslim Friendly”. These labels mean there is no pork, but they do not guarantee that the slaughter of the meat followed Islamic rules. So choose based on your own comfort level.

Ingredients to avoid

Regular dim sum, wantan and most noodle soups at local shops use pork or pork stock. Besides that, shops usually cook chicken rice and roast duck in the same place as char siu.

What you can bring to Hong Kong

According to the Hong Kong Customs FAQ, passengers can bring food for personal use, and fully cooked meat in reasonable quantities usually faces no restriction. However, import controls apply to fresh or frozen meat and poultry, eggs and milk. So to be sure, customs suggests contacting the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in advance.

• You can bring fully cooked retort dishes in quantities for personal use.
• Put them in checked baggage because pouches with gravy exceed the 100ml liquid limit in the cabin.
• Do not bring raw or frozen meat or chicken, eggs or fresh milk.

Tips for eating halal food in Hong Kong

1. Choose a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai if you want to be close to the mosques and halal food in Hong Kong.
2. Hong Kong hotel rooms are small and rarely have a kitchen. Instead, retort dishes and the hotel kettle are enough for breakfast or dinner.
3. Also, bring dishes in reasonable quantities only, enough for a few meals.
4. For trips to Disneyland or Ngong Ping, eat first or bring snacks because there are few halal options.
5. Finally, an Octopus card makes MTR travel between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai easy.

For the rules on liquids and food in the cabin, see our guide to bringing food on a plane. Then, to organise your bag, read our travel packing tips.

FAQ about halal food in Hong Kong