The original & world's largest guide
to Halal restaurants & markets
NEAR ME

Halal food is more than just an article of faith,
it is an exciting cultural medium that allows humanity to see Islamic values in action
Shahed Amanullah, Zabihah founder
  ABOUT US  
  FAQ  
  ADVERTISE  
  MEDIA  
  TERMS OF SERVICE  
  PRIVACY  
  CONTACT US  

Frequently asked questions
What definition of "halal" are you using to determine whether or not a restaurant is halal?

  TL;DR: ONE OR MORE ZABIHAH HALAL DISHES
We including a restaurant on Zabihah if they claim to serve at least one dish with meat that has been intentionally slaughtered using Halal guidelines. Because there is no universally agreed-upon definition of halal, we depend on the investigative resources of our readers to verify the claim or report through Zabihah exactly what the establishment considers to be halal. For example, if a restaurant claims to be halal, yet our readers find evidence that it may not be, we show that information on our site so that our readers can make up their own mind whether or not they feel comfortable with that restaurant. As we move towards more universal standards of halal, and new legislation mandating "truth in advertising halal" comes into effect (as is happening in the US and other countries), we will have a more secure definition that we can depend upon.

Can Zabihah verify whether or not a particular establishment is halal?

  TL;DR: NOT DEFINITIVELY
While we make every effort to verify claims of halal authenticity directly with halal restaurants, we have limited resources to investigate in person, and there is no single company, authority, or government that can enforce halal standards worldwide. As such, we have to balance the claims of restaurant owners (who allege defamation and loss of business when halal claims are challenged) and the views of users who feel that restaurants are not sufficiently "halal" for their liking. As you can imagine, it is not an easy task.

Instead, we simply strive to have accurate descriptions of what is being offered. Many restaurants have halal meals cooked separately from non-halal foods, which qualifies as a "partial halal menu" on Zabihah. Others serve alcohol to their non-Muslim customers. In surveying our users since 1998, the vast majority of them are comfortable with this arrangement, as long as there is a halal option for them when dining out. Those who are not can insist on patronizing restaurants that are categorized on Zabihah as having "fully halal menus," restaurants that are listed as "alcohol free," or those what are explicitly certified by a recognized halal authority (though only a small minority of halal restaurants seek such certification).

Ultimately, the responsibility for truthfulness lies with the restaurant owners and the responsibility for keeping them honest lies with the customer. As both are dealing with a religious requirement, both are answerable to God. Our responsibility is to be fair, accurate, and transparent - not to enforce. We state clearly that the "eater should beware" of changing menus, non-halal products, or false claims by restaurant owners. We have allowed user reviews since our inception for this very reason, so that users could relay their experiences to others, pressuring (if necessary) restaurant owners to shape up.

Why do you include restaurants on Zabihah that serve alcohol or pork?

  TL;DR: SO THE HALAL MARKETPLACE CAN DECIDE
Rather than shunning restaurants that are serving alcohol or pork, we believe that it is better to describe their offerings transparently so that community members and potential customers of these businesses can let these establishments know how important it is for them to be alcohol and/or pork free. Incentives, rather than punishment, are the best way to raise the standards for the restaurants listed on Zabihah. Furthermore, users can choose the option of filtering out such restaurants from view in their preferences.

You show some restaurants as being closed. Why are they still on the list?

  TL;DR: TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE GONE
We keep restaurants that are closed or deemed to be not halal on the list for up to a year in order to inform people who might not know about the closure - before they make the trip and find out in person. This also prevents people who aren't aware of the store's closing from attempting to add it to the site. In either case, we list their status clearly so that users aren't confused.

You list some KFCs, Burger Kings, and McDonalds as being halal. Does that mean all of them are?

  TL;DR: NO, ONLY THE ONES LISTED ARE
In the case where a branch of a major food chain is listed in Zabihah, it is because the management of that particular franchise decided to procure halal meat for that store's menu. It does not mean that the entire chain is halal. Please confirm with the management of these stores to verify halal status. Having said that, there are several chains that have elected to offer Halal options at all their franchises. You can browse chains in several countries here.
 ADD
 LOGIN
 REGISTER
  OUR MOBILE APPS  
  MOST POPULAR LISTS  


Follow us on
MOBILE APPS
DEPARTMENTS
ABOUT US