In collaboration with well known foodies across South Africa we bring you our CRITICS CHOICE list of best halaal places to eat in South Africa for 2024! Along with our Readers Choice list of Top 5 Halaal Restaurants in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban as voted by our audience which was released last week, this is the definitive guide to exploring the halaal scene in South Africa.

Find out who the well known foodies are that you love and trust to guide you through the halaal restaurant scene in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, that contributed to our list for 2024 below.

Top 5 Cape Town 2024

5th

Damascus Restaurant
Having opened in mid 2020 Damascus has had a swift rise to fame with Liakat & Zaibun Sonday and Syrian born chef, Muhammad Modrek at it’s heart. The food he prepares pays homage to his roots in the city of Damascus. Renowned for making high quality traditional Syrian cuisine, their food will definitely not disappoint.

4th

The Happy Uncles
A chic open-plan restaurant juxtaposed against the urban renewal district in industrial Salt River Cape Town. They offer true fine-dining and promise more than a meal. You can look forward to an experience that is nothing less than pure culinary theatre.

3rd

District Cafe
This family run popular eatery in Woodstock has garnered a loyal following and is known for great steaks. They do a mean steak burger and offer superb meat cuts. Ask for the masala basting…

2nd

Nouveau Coffee & Grill
Nouveau is an upscale halaal restuarant situated in the Century City precinct. They offer an elevated menu of comfort grills, great breakfast and relaxed sophistication.

No.1!

Saray
With a stunning location and great views at the Clocktower precinct at the V&A Waterfront, Turkish cuisine lovers will find an authentic experience at Saray. The food is innovative and the service is outstanding. They have an outside area for shisha lovers and a stylish upmarket interior. They also have a kids menu and a play area alongside the restaurant.

Top 5 Johannesburg 2024

5th

Alta Gracia
A luxury dining spot on the East Rand. Alta Gracia offers elevated dining in a sophisticated setting that feels like a throwback to 1930’s lounge decor. A cross between old world style and modern finishes. A good choice for a date night or celebration.

4th

Upcycled Cafe
A destination spot where the creative owners have poured their energy into every piece of furniture and décor in the place. Every item of furniture has been repurposed from something that may have ended up in the scrap yard. Think of a loveseat for 2 made of an old 1950’s style car fender. Chairs fashioned from vintage wooden cooldrink crates. Oh and and the food is pretty damn great too!

3th

Lokkum
This Turkish favourite is now housed in a historic building which used to be a cinema. The huge spaces has allowed for a beautiful new design including a fountain and hanging flowers from the ceiling which gives it a Turkish courtyard feeling. The unique space and the special touches make it feel like you’ve been transported as part of your dining experience.

2nd

Pigalle by Villamoura
Pigalle, under new ownership and fully halaal, offers an International, Mediterranean and Seafood menu along with some new spicy Dubai inspired dishes from their Chooza menu. The decor exudes old world luxury with a modern twist. The food is exceptional. It’s a great choice for celebrations and the elegant space is perfect for date nights.

No.1!

MiHa
MiHa is the coming together of a casual café and classic dining experience. From a quick grab-and-go to a decadent celebratory feast, MiHa brings together the simple and the sumptuous. They serve international cuisine and have curated some of the best flavours around with their own South African touch.

Top 5 Durban 2024

5th

Smokin’ Joe’s
Known for their Knockout Burgers, Smokin Joe’s has been one of Durban’s favourite casual halaal eateries since 2016. They have twice won the Eatout Best Burger Award KZN.

4th

Jack’s Grill & Co.
An elegant seafood and grill restaurant. Known for exceptional food and great service. Special mention for the sushi.

3rd

Vapour Café
A well loved hookah lounge and restaurant with an American Diner aesthetic. They are known for their amazing prawns and chilled lounge vibes.

2nd

Ironman Rare Steaks
A popular family style restaurant for those who want a lot of meat on their plate.

No.1!

Empire Steak
Florida road is known for great halaal food spots and the Empire Steak has been a long time favourite. It’s a laid back family restaurant where you can just chill in a friendly environment. With a passion for great steak as the name implies, the Empire Steak can’t not do steak just right. They have an ever-changing menu and there’s something for all ages and all tastes.

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Special mention for Prawn Star. A Durban market favourite that has now opened a permanent spot in Musgrave. Famous for their loaded fries they are already making waves in the Durban culinary scene.

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A very special thank you to our contributing critics for helping to curate this list. Some of them you already know, and some keep it low key as they explore our halaal food scene. Here is more about each of them.

Shaklain Saidoo
A passionate foodie based in Cape Town. Shaklain’s culinary adventures are a delightful journey through the city’s diverse halal cuisine. With a discerning palate, he explores the vibrant tapestry of flavors in Cape Town’s halal dining scene, turning each meal into a culinary escapade. Shaklain’s gastronomic tales captures the essence of Cape Town’s diverse and delectable food culture.

Samreen Kumandan
Digital Ninja. Procrastinator. Instigator. Traveler. Opacarophile.
Better known as @CapeTownHalaal and founder of the Cape Town Halaal Festival.

Sara Essop
The founder of both @SouthAfricaHalaal and @InAfricaAndBeyond, a travel blog, Sara Essop is an avid foodie and travel addict. Having travelled to 50 countries, she loves experiencing different cuisines around the world and has been reviewing Johannesburg’s halaal scene for over a decade.

Reyhana aka @za_foodie
Foodie, fitness junkie and coffee lover. Reyhana has been reviewing the halaal scene in Johannesburg for longer than most people have been on Instagram.

Haseena Bhorat
Also known as The Daily Dilemna. Haseena has been inspiring foodies with authentic and elegant lifestyle and food for years. As a halaal focused foodie she is a sought after influencer in the Johannesburg halaal space.

Zakiyya Mitha
As the founder of the first ice cream macaron brand in South Africa called Sugarlicious, Zakiyya is a dynamic and innovative personality. An avid foodie she is an expert on the Durban halaal restaurant scene.

Ibrahim aka “TheFoodGuyDurban” .
“I have been bringing good food to many Instagram feeds for over 4 years now . I have a real passion for food, and using my platform to help others find new places to eat in Durban, is what I love , as well as helping restaurants grow.
I believe if you can help someone in any way, do it and don’t expect anything in return.”

Dilshad Parker
Foodie, Author, Graphic Designer and Founder of Hungry for Halaal, Dilshad has been reviewing the halaal restaurant scene in South Africa since 2011. Having started off in Cape Town and now based in Johannesburg her world revolves around exploring all things gastronomic across Mzansi.