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P.F. Chang’s opens second London restaurant at Westfield Stratford

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P.F. Chang’s opens second London restaurant at Westfield Stratford

P.F. Chang’s is opening its second London restaurant on Monday 21 September, and this one is in Westfield Stratford City, up on The Loft mezzanine level.

A bit of background if you don’t know the name. P.F. Chang’s started in Scottsdale, Arizona back in 1993 and grew into one of the biggest Pan-Asian restaurant brands in America, with hundreds of sites worldwide. The first London restaurant opened in Leicester Square, and it’s become known here for being one of the few big American chains where the menu is set up with halal diners in mind.

The menu is Chinese-American with Pan-Asian touches. The dishes it’s famous for are the Original Dynamite Shrimp in a spicy sriracha aioli, the Mongolian Beef in their signature soy sauce, and the Original Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which is the dish that made the brand. Expect big portions, sweet and sticky sauces and proper American-style Chinese cooking rather than anything too traditional.

One thing to be aware of: the restaurant describes the menu as halal-friendly rather than fully halal, and alcohol is served, so as always check with the staff on the day about which dishes are suitable for you.

With Westfield Stratford already being one of the best spots in East London for halal options, this is another decent addition, especially if you’re after something a bit different to the usual burgers and grills before a film or a shop. Doors open on 21 September.

📍 P.F. Chang’s, Unit LR01, The Loft (Mezzanine Level), Westfield Stratford City, London E20 1EJ
📅 Opens Monday 21 September 2026
🕛 Open daily 12pm to 11pm
🍺 Alcohol is served
📸 @pfchangsasiantable

Manna Burgers opens its first permanent restaurant in Marylebone

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Manna Burgers opens its first permanent restaurant in Marylebone

Manna Burgers has opened its first proper standalone restaurant, and it’s landed on James Street in Marylebone, just off Oxford Street.

If you’ve been following the London smash burger scene, you’ll have seen Manna popping up all over the place. They built their name doing pop-ups at some of the city’s best-known burger bars, then in 2025 they took a spot in Arcade Food Hall in Covent Garden and even opened in Dubai. This Marylebone site is the first place they can properly call their own.

The menu is fully halal and it’s all about the smash burger. The signatures are the Classic Smash and the Double Manna, thin patties smashed hard on the griddle so you get that crispy, lacy edge with the cheese melted right in. Simple, done properly.

There are also two Marylebone exclusives you won’t find anywhere else: a proper trifle with strawberry, custard and cream, and three versions of a cola float, which sounds like exactly what you want after a double smash.

It’s walk-in only, open every day from 11:30am to 11pm, so expect a queue at peak times, especially at weekends. If you work around Oxford Street or you’re shopping in the area, this is an easy one to add to the list.

📍 Manna Burgers, 54 James Street, Marylebone, London W1U 1HE
📅 Opened 4 September 2026
🕦 Open daily 11:30am to 11pm, walk-in only
✅ Fully halal
📸 @manna_burgers

World Halal Food Festival returns to London Stadium this September

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World Halal Food Festival returns to London Stadium this September

The World Halal Food Festival is back for 2026, and once again it’s taking over London Stadium in Stratford on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September.

If you’ve never been, this is the UK’s first and longest-running halal food festival, now in its 13th year. It started out as a fairly small gathering and has grown into a two-day event that pulled in over 20,000 people last year.

Here’s what to expect this time round. There are 150+ food vendors from around the world, so you’re talking everything from smoked meats and burgers to Malaysian, Turkish, Somali, desi and Middle Eastern street food, all halal, all under one roof. There’s a main stage with live cooking demos from 10+ celebrity chefs, plus music and cultural performances throughout both days.

There’s also a bazaar market for halal brands and artisan products, competitions and eating contests, and a Kids Zone, with under 12s getting in free. If you want to go all out there’s a VIP tier with an exclusive lounge, premium seating and curated tastings. And for the single people in the comments, there’s a separate ticketed Salams matchmaking event running alongside the festival.

For me, the best way to do it is to go hungry, go with a group, and share everything so you can get through as many vendors as possible. I’ll be there, so come and say salaam if you spot me.

Tickets are on sale now at worldhalalfoodfestival.com.

📍 London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST
📅 Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026
🎟️ Tickets at worldhalalfoodfestival.com, under 12s go free
✅ Fully halal

Malaysian pop-up Duda Diner takes over The Pilgrm in Paddington

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Malaysian pop-up Duda Diner takes over The Pilgrm in Paddington

Paddington already has more Malaysian restaurants than anywhere else in London, and from 17 September there’s another one to add to the list, at least for a few months.

Duda Diner is a family-style Malaysian pop-up run by husband and wife Hakeem and Zura Ahmad, a Malaysian couple who have been building a following in South East London. They started with an eight-month pop-up at Goodcup in Nunhead, then went permanent on Nunhead Green, and now they’re bringing what they call their living room and kitchen across to West London for an autumn residency at The Pilgrm, a boutique hotel on London Street. It’s the fourth and final guest chef takeover in the hotel’s 2026 Incubator Kitchen Series.

The cooking is inspired by the places they love eating back home: roadside stalls, late-night suppers, market breakfasts and wedding feasts. Everything is designed to be shared and the menu rotates with the seasons. Expect Malaysian stir-fries, whole grilled fish like ikan bakar served with a laksa beurre blanc, kerabu salads with a ginger and lime dressing, and their two cult dishes, the Tempoyak Oyster made with fermented durian and the DUDA Burger with Sarawak peppercorn chilli sauce.

It’s a very different style to the Malaysian canteens you’ll find a few streets away on Craven Road, so if you’re into nasi lemak and mee goreng, this is the modern, restaurant-style version worth trying while it’s here.

The residency runs Wednesday to Saturday evenings, 5:30pm to 9:30pm, until late December.

📍 Duda Diner at The Pilgrm, 25 London Street, Paddington, London W2 1HH
📅 17 September to late December 2026
🕠 Wednesday to Saturday, 5:30pm to 9:30pm
❓ Halal status to be confirmed – see note before publishing

10 Halal Chinese Spots You Need to Try in London

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10 Halal Chinese Spots You Need to Try in London

Halal Chinese

In the last 12 months there’s been an explosion of authentic halal Chinese-owned restaurants opening across London. This list only features places with a fully halal food menu and no pork in sight.

I put this list together around Lunar New Year, which is all about family, prosperity, new beginnings and, of course, big food spreads. But whatever the season, there’s never been a better time to explore halal Chinese food in London.

Here are 10 halal Chinese spots you need to try.

1. Funky Noodle

📍 103 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DT (@funkynoodlelondon)

Hand pulled noodles, big bold flavours and proper comfort bowls right near Chinatown.

Cumin lamb fried rice, skewers and dumplings at Funky Noodle London

2. Noodle Inn

📍 100 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ (@noodleinnuk_)

The halal branch. Viral hand pulled noodles and classic Xi’an style dishes.

Halal dishes at Noodle Inn Liverpool Street

3. Muku Hot Pot

📍 300 Hoe Street, E17 9QD (@mukuhotpot)

Cosy Uyghur-owned hotpot spot in Walthamstow, perfect for group nights. HMC certified, fully halal and no alcohol.

Halal hotpot meats and sides at Muku Hotpot Walthamstow

4. Q Beef Noodles

📍 24 Romilly Street, W1D 5AH (@qbeefnoodles)

Fully halal Chinatown gem with rich beef noodle soups and handmade noodles.

Halal beef noodles and soup at Q Beef Noodles Chinatown

5. JWD Lamian

📍 155 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD & 40 Bank Street, E14 5NR (@jwd.noodle)

Watch the noodles being pulled fresh, with custom thickness and proper flavour.

6. NIU KO

📍 111 Gloucester Road, SW7 4RB (@niuko_london)

Pan Asian halal menu with ramen, dim sum style bites and wok dishes.

Halal Pan Asian feast at NIU KO London

7. Greedy Sheep

📍 8 Little Newport Street, WC2H 7JJ (greedysheep.uk)

Street food style Chinese plates right in the heart of Chinatown.

8. NING’S Hot Pot

📍 5-7 Tottenham Street, W1T 2AG & 18-20 Rupert Street, W1D 6DD (@ninghotpot)

Premium fresh beef hotpot with proper late night vibes.

9. Rice and Roast

📍 145-147 Edgware Road, W2 2HR (@riceandroastuk)

Halal Cantonese style roast meats and rice plates. Fully halal, no alcohol.

10. Nan Hotpot

📍 1 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BP (@nanhotpot_london)

Central hotpot spot perfect for big groups and celebrations.

I’ve only been to the first four on this list so far, and you can find my full reviews of Funky Noodle, Noodle Inn, Muku Hotpot, Q Beef Noodles and NIU KO here on the blog. More reviews coming soon inshaAllah.

Which one have I missed? Let me know.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Just Meat Southgate

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Just Meat Southgate

One of my favourite smokehouses has just opened a huge new restaurant in Southgate, and I had to get down there.

Just Meat started off as a small food truck in Waltham Abbey, and it’s been amazing to watch them grow into a full-blown restaurant in North London. This place also holds a special spot for me personally, because it’s where I first discovered one of my favourite things ever: burnt ends. Little pieces of smoked meat heaven.

Just Meat specialises in American BBQ and smoked meats, with large smokers on-site where the meat is slow-cooked for up to 16 hours.

Smoked platter for two at Just Meat Southgate with short rib, brisket, lamb ribs and wings

Here’s what I ordered:

  • Smoked Platter (for two) – £50
  • Burnt Ends – £19 ⭐
  • Smoked Chicken – £13
  • Pastrami Sandwich – £13
  • Smoked Lamb Tacos – £8
  • King Prawns – £10
  • Smoked Aubergine – £6
  • Grilled Halloumi – £7
  • Smoked Beef Marrow Bone – £8
  • Tomato & Onion Salad – £8

Of course, the first thing I had to try was the burnt ends, and this place gets them right every single time. Not many smokehouses in London even do burnt ends, and for me these are a must-order. If you only order one thing here, make it this.

A lot of smokehouses charge by weight, like the meat is gold. Here you get fixed prices and properly generous portions, which makes a refreshing change.

 

The smoked platter for two came with a massive short rib, brisket, lamb ribs, chicken wings and sides, and honestly I think it could easily feed more than two people. The brisket was super soft and tender, and the beef short rib was rich, fatty and packed full of flavour, exactly what you want from meat that’s spent 16 hours in the smoker.

I also tried all three tacos, and the lamb ones were definitely my favourite. The pastrami sandwich was really nice too and worth trying if you fancy something a bit different from the boards of meat.

 

The restaurant itself is large, modern and has a really nice vibe inside, a big step up from the food truck days. If you love smoked meats and proper American BBQ, this is definitely one to check out.

📍 Just Meat, 91 Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 5BU
🚗 Parking is available at the Asda car park opposite
✅ All meat is halal
🍺 Alcohol is present

My meal was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Hour House Bistro

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Hour House Bistro

This will be a quick review, as I wasn’t planning on doing a post on this one, but I really enjoyed my meal here.

I was asked to review this place by a follower and had previously never heard of it, so I was going in blind. This is Hour House Bistro, a spot focused on brunch and comfort food, think pies, lasagna, jacket potatoes, steaks and more.

I was after a Sunday roast, and this place didn’t disappoint.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Chicken Sunday Roast – £13
  • Lamb Sunday Roast – £16

The Sunday roast is available every day, not just Sundays.

Chicken and lamb Sunday roasts with Yorkshire puddings at Hour House Bistro

The roast came with two Yorkshire puddings, smash potato, roast potatoes, slaw and a few veggies, carrot, brussels sprout and tender steamed broccoli, all covered with gravy.

Honestly, going in at 4:30 in the afternoon I was expecting some dry reheated chicken, but I got a fat half chicken that was juicy, soft, super tender and delicious. It really exceeded my expectations. The veg was all nice as well. This meal was a joy to eat, and at only £13 in this economy it’s a bargain.

My wife got the lamb, which was also soft and tasty, and lucky for me she wasn’t that hungry, so I ate all of hers as well. Win.

They’re also BDS aligned and stock these nice Egyptian soft drinks that are exempt from the sugar tax, so they’re properly sweet!

There’s a small masjid next door too, so I got to pray maghrib as well.

One thing to mention: they currently have a 1-star food hygiene rating, but they told me it related to issues while the restaurant was still getting set up and not fully open.
A proper comfort food spot with a halal roast that’s available every day and great value. I’ll be back.

Free street parking on weekends, or after 5:30pm during the week.

📍 Hour House Bistro, 129 Salmon Lane, London E14 7PG
✅ All food halal
✅ No alcohol
🍉 BDS aligned

I paid for this meal. This was not an invite.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Noodle Inn Liverpool Street

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Noodle Inn Liverpool Street

A NEW VIRAL HALAL CHINESE SPOT NEAR LIVERPOOL STREET.

You wait for one viral oil spill noodle spot and suddenly two pop up at the same time. This is Noodle Inn, who have just opened their second branch near Liverpool Street, and this location has a fully halal food menu with no pork in sight.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Oil Spill Biang Biang Noodles with Braised Beef Rib – £23.80
  • Knife Cut Noodles with Braised Beef – £22.80
  • Wonton with Chili Oil – £12.80 ⭐
  • Braised Beef Chinese Style Burger – £8.50
  • Fried Popcorn Chicken – £9.50 ⭐
  • Sugar Cane with Lemon – £4

The standout dish for me was the wontons in chilli oil. These were genuinely delicious. Soft dumplings served in a spicy broth packed with flavour and heat. Easily the most enjoyable bite of the meal.

The fried popcorn chicken was another winner. The seasoning had that classic Chinese spice blend and the chicken itself was soft, juicy and full of flavour. Great texture and very moreish.

A few weeks ago I tried a similar viral oil spill noodle dish elsewhere. This one costs £5 more and there were some differences. I preferred the chilli oil here, and the Biang Biang noodles had a great texture. However, the beef rib lacked tenderness. It didn’t fall off the bone, and it lacked depth in flavour as there wasn’t much fat.

Fun fact: Biang Biang noodles, also known as belt noodles, are traditionally linked to Shaanxi’s Muslim Hui community. The name comes from the “biang” sound made as the dough is slapped and stretched.

I also tried the Kung Fu burger, which has been getting attention on socials. The bun is similar to a desi paratha and the beef filling was juicy and flavourful, but overall the burger needed a sauce to balance it out, as it felt too dry to eat on its own.
There are loads of other small plates to try, so I’ll be back for sure. Be warned, there might be a queue, so be ready to wait up to 30 minutes.

📍 Noodle Inn, 100 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EZ
✅ All food is halal at this location only
🍺 Alcohol is present

This was an invite / AD, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

NIU KO

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NIU KO

Is this Central London’s first fully halal Pan Asian restaurant?

I checked out NIU KO, a brand new spot just one minute from Gloucester Road Station, serving a fully halal menu with no alcohol served either. The menu takes inspiration from Chinese, Malaysian, Korean and Thai cuisine, so there’s a lot going on here.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Homemade Spicy Chicken Rolls – £6.80 ⭐
  • Chinese Roasted Duck – £14.95
  • Crispy Shredded Beef in Golden Nest – £13.50
  • Thai Green Curry Prawn – £14.95 ⭐
  • La Zi Ji – £14.95 ⭐
  • Chicken Satay – £7.80
  • Malaysian Curry with Roti – £11.95
  • Malaysian-style Rice Noodles – £14.95 ⭐
  • Dim Sum – £8.90
  • Korean-style Chicken Wings – £7.50
  • Passion Fruit King Prawns – £9.80 ⭐

First thing I have to say: for Central London, the prices are actually very reasonable. In today’s climate, that’s becoming rare.

The standout dish for me was easily the Passion Fruit King Prawns. Lightly battered prawns with a subtle sweetness from the passion fruit coming through at the end.

Malaysian style rice noodles at NIU KO

The Malaysian-style noodles instantly reminded me of the street markets in Kuala Lumpur. Smoky wok flavour, rich seasoning, proper comfort food and packed with flavour.

La Zi Ji Sichuan crispy chicken with dried chillies at NIU KO

La Zi Ji is one of the most iconic Sichuan dishes and they did a solid version here. Crispy fried chicken tossed with loads of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, giving that signature tingling, numbing sensation on your lips.

The Thai Green Curry was another highlight. Really rich, creamy and fragrant with proper depth to the sauce. The prawns were cooked well and the balance between sweetness, spice and coconut came through nicely without being overpowering.

Homemade spicy chicken rolls at NIU KO

The chicken rolls were also really good. Super delicate crispy texture on the outside with a soft savoury filling inside.

Not every dish hit for me though. The crispy shredded beef uses their “100 year old recipe”, but personally I found it a bit too batter-heavy. The roasted duck also wasn’t what I expected, as it’s deep fried rather than the softer style duck I usually prefer, so it came out a little tougher.

Overall I had a really good experience here and I’d definitely recommend the starred dishes.

📍 NIU KO, 111 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4RB
✅ Fully halal menu
✅ No pork
✅ No alcohol

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Chip ‘n Jerk

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Chip ‘n Jerk

I’m lucky enough to have an Arsenal season ticket, and I’ve always struggled to find a good place to eat before or after a game. So when I spotted this new halal spot near the stadium specialising in Caribbean food, I had to try it.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Mac n Cheese Bites – £5.95
  • 10 Hot Honey Bites – £8.00
  • 6 Wings – £8.00
  • Jerk Bowl – £15.95
  • Curry Bowl – £16.95
  • Chip n Jerk – £11.95

Jerk bowl, curry bowl and hot honey bites at Chip n Jerk Holloway Road

I ate with a few friends after a game, and I have to say the food was fantastic. Literally every item we ordered was delicious.

The wings and hot honey bites weren’t ordinary. The texture, the flavours, the seasoning, all of it was really different and absolutely delicious. It felt like food made by someone cooking with love and passion.

I’m not usually a fan of Caribbean food or jerk chicken, because I normally find it dry and bitter in taste. But this was absolutely on point. Really good flavours, really soft chicken, and definitely the best jerk chicken I’ve ever had.

Halal Caribbean spread at Chip n Jerk near the Emirates Stadium

The curry bowl was fantastic too. The goat curry was very reminiscent of a good desi-style curry, but the plantain and all the other elements really elevated the dish. Even the mini patties were delicious, especially the beef ones.
If you’re in the area, I definitely recommend trying this spot. The prices for the mains are a little on the higher side, but the sides are definitely worth it, and this would be great for groups where you can share food.

📍 Chip ‘n Jerk, 217 Holloway Road, London N7 8DL
✅ All food is halal
✅ No alcohol served
🍉 BDS aligned

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

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