For this lazy Thursday, am suddenly craving for a tasty serving of shrimp biryani at Ghazal, the best little hole-on-the-wall for Middle Eastern food in my book, even better than Shawarma Center. Don’t expect anything fancy, the resto is an affair of eight or so tables in the busy thoroughfare that is Mabini St. in Manila, a walking distance from the Hyatt Hotel. What you can find here: various kinds of biryani and tikka, kebabs, lassi and other home-cooked specialties that escape me now. In this place, I go to the extremes and slather my hot rice with butter… it’s really good!
Ghazal just happens to be one of a few restaurants in the city serving authentic halal food. There is certainly much demand for places offering halal food… but the question is, where to go?
For purposes of this discussion, halal means food that’s permissible to consume by Muslims and non-pork eating people. They shouldn’t contain pork or pork-related products (such as lard) and must have gone through the proper slaughtering process.
Luckily, I have Facebook friend Fahim to show us. There happens to be a useful guide being distributed to students of Asia’s top management school AIM which should come in handy for expats and Muslim tourists to the country looking for genuine halal food. Here it goes:
Assad’s Café – Pakistani joint serving decent Indian and Pakistani fare. Value for money. Meals cost P400 for two. U.N. Avenue, opposite Unilever, Paco, Manila. Telephone No. 5261349, 5265034
Ghazal – Muslim-owned eatery. 1551 A. Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila
Halal Caterer to Indonesian & Brunei embassies (Gerry) – serves/caters halal meals on daily basis on request; separate cutting boards, knives & utensils for halal meal preparation. Charges Peso 40 delivery charge per dinner, if less than 5 orders. Cebu Financial Services, Rolex Building, Paseo De Roxas (next to AIM)
Hossein’s Persian Kebab – Meals for two cost an average of P1,000. Original branch at 7857 Makati Avenue, Makati (Telephone no. 890-6137) Can also be found in Serendra.
Jakarta Inn & Restaurant – Serving mainly Indonesian specialties. 2082 F. Benitez St. near cor. San Andres, Malate, Manila. Tel. No. 521-4116
Jerusalem – two branches, in Malate and Makati Avenue.
Kashmir – Indian fine dining restaurant. Branches in Padre Faura St., Malate, Manila and Pasay Road, Makati City (tel. no. 8444924)
Makati Cinema Square – Filipino Halal cuisine. Owner speaks on Tagalog when contacted by phone. They also have a Musalla next door.
Manita Caterers – Serves halal Lunch & dinner on all weekdays at AIM pool side. Also undertakes catering of Indian food and snacks on request. Mobile No. 09189235696
Moud’s Chicken Halal – located just a stone’s throw away from the Golden Mosque in Quiapo. This district also has a number of other halal restaurants. 827 Globo de Oro Street, Quiapo, Manila. Tel. No. 488-5006
New Delhi Restaurant- Only the lamb is Halal, not the chicken. 1418 President Quirino Avenue, South Superhighway Paco, Manila. Tel. No. 5629160
Prince of Jaipur – Owner says he procures the lamb in Australia for the shawarma, not sure if this is halal. Branches in the Mall of Asia and Unit -E, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig ( Tel. No. 8841692-94)
Queen’s Restaurant, Jupiter St., Makati City – halal on prior request only.
Swagat Indian Restaurant – 119 FCC Building, Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati. Telephone No. 7525669.
Shawarma Snack Center – A place famous for their shawarmas, priced between P48 to P70. Rice dishes also available. 485B R. Salas Street, Ermita, Manila
The Curry Leaf – Can be contacted at 776-3084 or 0915-7704433.
Claims to be certified Halal by Imams and also the Philippines Halal Fatwa Council.
Chicken Bacolod (different from Bacolod Chicken Inasal) – eat at your own risk; the chicken cannot be confirmed as halal, although the owner is Muslim
Ziggurat – cozy resto serving African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern & Indian cuisine. Sunette Tower, Durban Street corner Makati Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Makati. Tel. No. 8975179
The anonymous guide ends with a note on “international chains misunderstood to be halal in the Philippines:”
KFC – KFC Philippines use pork lard to fry its chicken and patties. This has been confirmed by very good sources.
McDonalds – McDonald’s in the Philippines is NOT halal. Although they have started using vegetable oil for the past two years to fry their patties, the meat is still not halal. However, the fillet-o-fish burger may be consumed.
Pizza Hut – not halal in the Philippines, not sure even about the oil being used for veggie pizzas
Dear all. I am now in Manila and have located the place where Farniza Halal Restaurant have moved to. The restaurant is now located at Sta. Monica Street. Near Robinson’s Adriatico Entrance of Robinson’s Supermarket. Their food is as good as before! However the restaurant is smaller than it was when it was located on Padre Faura St. Price remain reasonable.
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ajay Reply:
May 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Thanks for the tip. Gotta try out Fharniza sometime
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I am comiing to Manila for a week time and I would like to m,eet a few Muslims. Please contact me if possible.
thanks
Naved
for
Makkia Books
http://www.makkiabooks.com
+447924300424
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I love ghazal! Thank you for the post!
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Just arrived in Manila. Thanks for this info on halal food. Really helpful. I used to eat McD’s Fillet-O-Fish everyday but with this info now I don’t have to..haha
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Hi. I recently found this page. I’ll be going to Manila in mid September and most likely staying at Manila Marriot. Just want to know how can I find Halal food around Manila Marriot? Does the hotel serve Halal food?
Hope somebody can help. It’s my first time in the Phillipine. Thanks
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wow! that’s our favorite resto..Gazal has organized staffs and foods are so great..we usually ordered “laham mugalgal” and “kobs” for breakfast..even their biryani rice with fried tilapia is pretty much savory..me and my husband discovered this resto last Feb.2008 and until now nothing has changed even the smile of their active waitresses..keep up your good work, may Allah bless you more.:-)
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Im going to manila in DEC..any hotel serve halal food? or any hotel near with the halal restaurant?
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what a useful guide..thnx a lot~!!
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Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Wb!
This is to inform you that we are supplying Halal fresh mutton, chicken, beef carcasses and Halal Beef Hamburger in Metro Manila, Philippines. Also Halal spices…
For orders, please call my Nos.: 624-0766; 09178089867 (Sayedy.
Jazakallahu Khair.
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assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh, this is for my muslim brothers and sister in islam do not put our ibadah into nothing by means of eating haram foods, be aware ,we are taught abt the things that is clean and permissable for us as well us those we called harram that is clear and between of this are maushbooh or doubtful.and for our brothers and sisters in christian faith halal means a. Does not contain any component or raw materials from animals that is not Halal.
b. Does not contain any ingredient that is considered haram or najis (fithy).
c. During is preparation, processing or manufacturing, the tolls or equipments used must not be contaminated by the product with ingredients which are considered haram or najis.
so lets eat halal foods and live in clean and healthy living for inquiries of halal certified restaurants and supply of halal foods within metro manila pls cntact me yasir,09069303618
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BIOFOOD HALAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Manufacturer ? Trader
Maharlika Village, Taguig City, Philippines
Contact Nos.: 624-0766 ; 09178089867
Email Address: biofoodhalalproducts@yahoo.com
15 December 2011
Dear Sir. / Maam,
Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you)!
This is to inform you that our company is now manufacturing and distributing Halal certified meat and spices products. Attached herewith is the list of our products with their corresponding prices for your reference.
MEAT PRICE per Kilogram
Mutton (Kambing) P350.00
Ground Mutton P400.00
Beef P335.00
Ground Beef P340.00
Whole Dressed Chicken P160.00
Boneless Breast Chicken P175.00
Tocino Boneless Breast Chicken P190.00
Marinated Whole Chicken P170.00
Marinated Beef (Tocino and Tapa)P380.00
Beef Patties for Hamburger P7.00 each
Boneless Milkfish (Bangus) P200.00
Marinated Boneless Milkfish
(Tocino and Tapa) P250.00
Spices (Curry, Paprika, Chili and Turmeric, etc.), Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
Note: We still offer free delivery/meetup to the following selected Metro Manila locations for minimum of 10 kilograms. Prices may change without prior notice.
? Paranaque, Pasay (Roxas Blvd.)
? Manila (Malate Area / Paco / Sta. Ana / Sta. Cruz / Sta. Mesa)
? Makati (Evangelista / Buendia / Ayala / Makati Avenue)
? Mandaluyong, San Juan
? Pasig (Ortigas Center / Kapitolyo)
? Taguig
Best regards and more power.
Yours truly,
YASIR ABDULLAH BANAO
Marketing Manager
Cel. No.: 09069303618
Email Address: yasirabdullah@yahoo.com
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pls include: arya persian\meditranian chain of restaurants in your halal list. branches: greenhills sanjuan tel:5846266 podium mall :5713962 robinsons manila:5673800 and pedro gil manila midtown:5677200. thankyou
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really.. really helpful, thank you very much to the writer of this valuable information!
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Hi, Ajay! Thank you for this article. I’ve been developing a website about halal foods/ Muslim culture in the Philippines since last year and I’ve included some of the info you posted which I didn’t find anywhere else. I’ve also taken the liberty to include those posted by your readers. I hope you don’t mind – many thanks! Although my website is still under development, I’d like to invite you and your readers to check out halalguide.com.ph See you there!
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