Where to go for halal food in Sydney
From Southeast Asian delicacies to grilled and BBQ Western favourites, here are four spots in Sydney for your fill of halal food.
The latest census in Australia, taken in 2021, shows that about 3.2% of the Australian population is Muslim. This works out to about 813,392 Australians. Out of that figure, more than 250,000 live in Sydney. Because Sydney is a very popular destination for international travellers – including from Muslim-majority countries such as Middle Eastern countries, Indonesia, and Malaysia – you don’t have to worry about food and facilities when visiting this destination.
Want to know the best places to enjoy halal food while in Sydney, then? We chatted with Malaysian Melati Kesuma Kamaruddin, who has lived in Sydney since 2016, about her favourite spots for halal food. Melati is an Internal Communications Lead for a medical research institute in Sydney, and she'll reveal the best spots for Southeast Asian food, as well as Western steaks and burgers.
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Here are what she recommends.
Popular attractions in Sydney Food to experience in Sydney
Mamu Penang Coffee Stall, Guildford
Address: 316 Railway Terrace, Guildford NSW 2161, Australia
About a 30-minute drive from Sydney city centre, Mamu Penang Coffee Stall is where you go for authentic halal Malaysian food. Don’t be fooled by its name, as it’s not merely a coffee place. In the style of indoor/outdoor Malaysian “food courts”, several vendors serve up various Malaysian delicacies at Mamu, including nasi lemak, nasi kandar (rice with a variety of sides to choose from), satay, Mamak-style fried noodles, roti canai (paratha flatbread), and the famous teh tarik, or pulled tea. But yes, coffee is there somewhere, too.
Raina Classic Malay, Guildford
Address: 2/340 Guildford Rd, Guildford, NSW, Australia
A mere 5-minute walk from previous entry Mamu, Raina sells authentic everyday Malay food such as white rice with side dishes like spice fried chicken, sweet-and-sour fish, sambal chicken, chicken or fish curry, stir-fried soy beef, and a variety of vegetable dishes. Prices start at AUD$10 for a lunch set comprising rice and one side dish, and AUD$15 if you choose two side dishes. Other dishes you can order are one-dish, like fried rice, Pattaya fried rice (fried rice wrapped in a soft omelette), fried noodles and curry mee.
There are also traditional Malay cakes or, kuih, that are usually eaten for breakfast, time, or as a dessert treat. They also do breakfast sets comprising roti canai or nasi lemak for only AUD$10.
Rashays
Address: RASHAYS - Punchbowl, Shop 28, 1-9, Broadway, Punchbowl NSW 2196 (closest to Sydney city centre)
Want a good ol’ steak or cheeseburger for lunch or dinner but concerned about the halal status of the meat? Fret not as Rashays is a family restaurant chain that offers steaks, burgers, BBQ wings, pasta, pizza, ribs and more – all certified halal. Meal deals start at AUS$14.95 for a burger, fries and soft drink, so it’s easy on the wallet, too. They currently have 32 outlets around New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, so there’s surely something special about them that the chain is so popular.
Perhaps the casual dining and fun atmosphere contributes to its popularity, too. Founder of Rashays, Rami Ykmour has said that he was inspired by the “Central Perk” set from the TV show, Friends, to create a comfortable dining outlet where family and friends can gather for a meal. In Sydney, you can get to Rashays Liverpool, Rashays Punchbowl or Rashays North Rocks by driving for less than 30 minutes from Sydney CBD.
Ayam Penyet RIA Shandwick
Address: 34 Belmore Road, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia, New South Wales
Closer to the Sydney CBD or city centre, you can pop into Ayam Penyet Ria for some tasty Indonesian-style crispy fried chicken served with spicy sambal sauce, fried tofu and fried tempeh (AUS$13.90). However, you can enjoy more than just fried chicken here as they also have grilled beef ribs (AUD$17.90), soto ayam (a type of chicken noodle in turmeric soup) (AUD$13.90), chicken satay (AUD$16.90) and fried beef steak (AUD$17.90).
Typically, Indonesian cuisine can be quite spicy but if you’re on the milder side, don’t worry as you can always order peanut sauce to have your meat with. If hot and spicy is your thing, though, then you’ll have fun with their green chilli sambal, Balinese sambal, belacan sambal, or garlic chili (very spicy!). The restaurant is just 16 minutes away from Sydney CBD, a 12-minute’s drive from Bondi Beach, and 15 minutes away from shopping in Haymarket.
These are just some halal offerings in Sydney recommended by our local food guide, Melati. You’ll find that some restaurants, like Nando’s, also offer halal meat, but have pork items on the menu, thus may not be suitable for more discerning Muslims. As for the ones listed here, they are all halal-certified and don’t serve pork, so eat away as you wish!
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