A halal guide to the UK’s Michelin-starred restaurants
From modern British cuisine to the old-world glamour of The Ritz, the country’s top-rated restaurants are serving up delicious — and accessible — dishes
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Since its inception in 1926, the Michelin star has been regarded as the defining mark of fine dining. Across the UK, 183 restaurants have at least one star — three is the highest possible accolade — but the Michelin guide does not record which of them offer halal dishes.
Though most halal Michelin-starred restaurants serve South Asian cuisine, we found that some with modern British menus can adapt dishes if adequate notice is given. They include the likes of the world-famous Ritz Restaurant in London and the small neighbourhood restaurant Condita, in Edinburgh. Here are our recommendations.
Condita, Edinburgh
Condita is a small, owner-run establishment 10 minutes’ walk from Holyrood Park in the south of Edinburgh. The restaurant, which serves a no-choice modern tasting menu every evening from Tuesday to Saturday, has held one Michelin star since 2019.
The dinner service costs £160 a head and is cooked by Tyler King, who was previously a senior sous chef at Michelin-starred Prism in Berlin. Aside from vegetarian and pescatarian menus, Condita also offers halal meat options with advance notice at the time of booking.
Dishes on the menu include a savoury doughnut served with an Anster cheese custard and spring onion; mackerel with pickled gooseberries and turnip consommé; and roasted celeriac with burnt hispi cabbage and tomato ragu.
The Ritz Restaurant, London
Inside one of London’s most glamorous Mayfair hotels, the Ritz Restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2017. Its opulent dining room, with marble columns, muralled ceilings and large windows, overlooks Green Park.
The kitchen is run by executive chef John Williams MBE, who prides himself on using the best seasonal ingredients. Dishes served include Cornish turbot, Suffolk lamb with aubergine and black garlic, and chocolate souffle with vanilla chantilly cream.
While the restaurant serves halal lamb, Muslim diners must request halal chicken and beef when booking.
Gymkhana, London
Gymkhana is a fine-dining restaurant inspired by the elite members’ clubs established in India during the British Raj. The Mayfair establishment was awarded a second star in 2024, 10 years after its first in 2014.
The owners describe the menu as classic Indian cuisine, with a particular focus on tandoori and chatpata sharing dishes, made with seasonal British ingredients. Executive chef Sid Ahuja trained in India with Taj Hotels and the Oberoi Group. He has led the kitchen at Gymkhana since 2020.
All chicken, lamb and goat served at the restaurant is halal-certified. Dishes include goat methi keema, tandoori masala lamb chops, chicken butter masala and Punjabi samosas.
Veeraswamy, London
Veeraswamy was opened almost a century ago in 1926 by Edward Palmer, a retired British Indian army officer of mixed English and Indian heritage. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 2016. Its menu boasts a selection of dishes from across the subcontinent, including Kashmiri rogan josh and Raj kachori, lobster malabar curry from southern India, malvani prawn curry from western India, and Bengali chorchori. All chicken served is halal, as well as some lamb dishes.
Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai, Cumbria
Situated inside Farlam Hall hotel in Brampton, Cumbria, Hrishikesh Desai’s Cedar Tree was awarded its first Michelin star in February. Kitchen staff have confirmed they can cater to halal diets, but at least two weeks’ notice must be given.
The Cedar Tree serves a blend of modern British and Indian cuisine, using local produce and ingredients from the on-site garden. Examples include a crispy chicken skin chaat, made with sweet yoghurt and tamarind chutney, and lobster rassam — a South Indian soup — with fennel cream and coriander oil. Garden produce takes centre stage on the menu, including courgettes in a tempura batter served with marigold chutney, and turnips transformed into a custard and served with mackerel.
Berenjak, London
This Persian restaurant, founded by chef Kian Samyani, aims to recreate the Iranian staples served by traditional eateries in Tehran, using seasonal British ingredients. While it doesn’t have a full Michelin star, it does deserve an honourable mention.
Its Soho branch has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand — awarded to “friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices” — since 2019. Meanwhile, its London Bridge outpost, situated next to Borough market, has proved a big hit with local customers. Both restaurants serve only halal meat. Highlights from their menus include koobideh kebabs made from lamb shoulder, onions and peppers, the jujeh chicken kebab, marinated in saffron and lemon, and kashk e bademjan, an aubergine dip with whey, walnuts and dried mint.
Asha’s, Birmingham
Also worthy of mention is Asha’s in Birmingham. Founded by renowned Indian singer Asha Bhosle in 2022, this restaurant was named in the Michelin guide earlier in 2024. Specialising in tandoori kebabs, the menu also offers classics from across the subcontinent, including a spicy Chettinadu chicken curry with coconut and fennel, and Kerala grilled tiger prawns with garlic. It also features a selection of modern fusion dishes, such as calamari tossed with curry leaves and onion, and mushroom kurkure, wrapped in crisp batter and stuffed with cheese and peppers. All chicken served at Asha’s is halal.
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