MEAT (BEEF, CHICKEN, LAMB, TURKEY & DUCK): Ensure Halal-certified meat. Pork should be removed from the menu.

SEAFOOD: Most seafood is halal, except fish without scales like sharks and other important fish for the food chain. Also, ensure no cross-contamination with non-halal ingredients.

SAUSAGES AND PROCESSED MEATS: Ensure from halal-certified meats and non-halal additives free.

PEPPERONI: Use halal-certified beef or turkey pepperoni. Traditional pork pepperoni is not allowed.

HAM: Use halal-certified turkey or chicken ham. Pork ham is not allowed.

BACON: Use halal-certified beef or turkey bacon. Pork bacon is not allowed.

GELATIN: Ensure Halal-certified beef or fish, and not pork.

PARMESAN, MOZZARELLA, CHEDDAR, RICOTTA, SWISS, AMERICAN CHEESE: Ensure made with microbial or halal-certified rennet, as traditional rennet can be derived from non-halal animal sources.

MAYONNAISE: Ensure non-halal additives free.

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD: Ensure non-halal additives free.

SOY SAUCE (Shoyu, Ganjang): Ensure Alcohol free.

HOISIN SAUCE: Ensure alcohol or non-halal ingredients free.

FISH SAUCE (Aekjeot, Nam Pla, Patis, Nước Mắm): Ensure it is from halal-certified fish and zero non-halal additives.

OYSTER SAUCE: Ensure non-halal additives free.

PESTO SAUCE: Ensure non-halal cheese or additives free

WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE: Ensure non-halal additives free.

ALCOHOL, WHITE/RED, SHERRY or COOKING WINE: Anything (cooking wine, beer-battered items, marinades, sauces, etc.,) that contains alcohol is non-halal.

RICE WINE (Makgeolli, Sato, Rượu Nếp): Instead use grape juice, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

RICE WINE VINEGAR/BALSAMIC VINEGAR/VINEGAR: Ensure Wine/Alcohol free

TOFU: Ensure soy sauce used is alcohol-free.

COOKING OILS: Most vegetable oils are halal.

BUTTER: Ensure from halal-certified sources.

ANIMAL FATS: Only use halal-certified animal fat.

STOCK AND BOUILLON: Only use halal-certified stocks and bouillon.

BROTH (Bone or Vegetable): Ensure it has halal-certified ingredients.

SUGAR: Ensure bone char is not from non-halal sources.

1. CHINESE CUISINE

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

SHAOXING WINE: Instead use: grape juice, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

FERMENTED BEAN PASTES (E.G., DOUBANJIANG): Ensure Alcohol or any non-halal additives free.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

FIVE-SPICE POWDER: Ensure Non-halal additives free.

NOODLES: Ensure Non-halal additives free.

DRIED OR PRESERVED INGREDIENTS (e.g., dried shrimp, dried scallops): Ensure Non-halal additives free and ingredients from halal-certified sources.

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2. SEAFOOD

SAUCES AND SEASONINGS:

INGREDIENTS: Ensure Non-Halal additives or preservatives free.

EMULSIFIERS:

EMULSIFIERS: Only plant-based or halal-certified animal sources.

DESSERTS AND SWEETS:

DESSERT INGREDIENTS: Ensure Non-halal gelatin, non-halal animal fats, alcohol or alcohol-based vanilla extract free.

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3. JAPANESE CUISINE

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

MISO: Ensure alcohol free (especially red miso)

MIRIN & SAKE: Its alcohol. Instead, use halal-certified, alcohol-free mirin substitutes – or grape juice, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

PONZU SAUCE: Typically contains soy sauce and mirin; Ensure it has halal-certified ingredients.

DASHI: A soup stock often made with bonito flakes (fish) and kombu (seaweed); Still, ensure no non-halal additives are used.

PROTEINS:

KAMABOKO (FISH CAKE): Ensure alcohol or meat products free.

FERMENTED PRODUCTS:

NATTO (FERMENTED SOYBEANS): Ensure non-halal additives free

PICKLES (TSUKEMONO): Ensure non-halal additives or alcohol free.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA): Ensure non-halal additives free.

DRIED OR PRESERVED INGREDIENTS (E.G., DRIED SHRIMP, DRIED SEAWEED): Ensure non-halal additives only, and from halal-certified sources.

BEVERAGES:

GREEN TEA: Ensure no non-halal flavourings or additives.

MATCHA: Ensure no non-halal additives used.

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4. KOREAN CUISINE

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

GOCHUJANG (RED CHILI PASTE): Ensure it is halal-certified and alcohol free

DOENJANG (SOYBEAN PASTE): Ensure it is halal-certified and alcohol free

SSAMJANG (SOYBEAN AND CHILI PASTE): Ensure all components are halal-certified.

SESAME OIL: Ensure free from any non-halal additives.

FERMENTED PRODUCTS:

KIMCHI: Ensure zero non-halal ingredients like fish sauce or non-halal meat products.

PICKLED VEGETABLES (JANGAJJI): Ensure no non-halal additives and is alcohol free.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

RICE CAKES (TTEOK): Ensure non-halal additives free.

NOODLES (JAJANGMYEON, NAENGMYEON): Ensure non-halal additives free.

MANDU (DUMPLINGS): Ensure halal-certified ingredients.

BANCHAN (SIDE DISHES): Ensure non-halal additives or ingredients free

ALCOHOL:

SOJU: This is an alcoholic beverage. Instead use grape juice, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

BEVERAGES:

BARLEY TEA (BORICHA): Ensure no non-halal flavourings or additives.

CORN TEA (OKSUSU-CHA): Ensure pure and free from non-halal additives.

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5. VIETNAMESE CUISINE

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

SHRIMP PASTE (Mắm Ruốc): Ensure non-halal additives free.

NOODLES AND RICE:

RICE NOODLES (Bánh Phở, Bánh Cuốn, Bún): Ensure non-halal additives free.

EGG NOODLES: Ensure non-halal additives free.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

RICE PAPER (Bánh Tráng): Ensure zero non-halal additives.

PICKLED VEGETABLES (Dưa Chua): Ensure non-halal additives or alcohol

SPICES AND SEASONINGS:

FIVE-SPICE POWDER: Ensure zero non-halal additives.

SEASONING POWDERS AND BOUILLONS: Ensure halal-certified ingredients.

FERMENTED PRODUCTS:

FERMENTED FISH PRODUCTS (Mắm Cá): Verify zero non-halal additives and from halal-certified sources.

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6. THAI CUISINE

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

SHRIMP PASTE (Kapi): Ensure non-halal additives free.

SRIRACHA AND OTHER CHILI SAUCES: Ensure non-halal additives or alcohol free.

NOODLES AND RICE:

RICE NOODLES (Sen Yai, Sen Lek, Sen Mee): Ensure non-halal additives free.

EGG NOODLES: Ensure non-halal additives free.

SPICES AND SEASONINGS:

CURRY PASTES (Red, Green, Yellow, Massaman, Panang): Ensure the blend is non-halal additives free.

BEVERAGES:

THAI TEA: Ensure non-halal flavourings or additives free

COFFEE: Ensure non-halal flavourings or additives free

FERMENTED PRODUCTS:

FERMENTED FISH PRODUCTS (Pla Ra): Ensure non-halal additives or ingredients free.

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7. FILIPINO CUISINE

MEATS AND SEAFOOD:

Bangus (MILKFISH): Ensure it is prepared in accordance with halal guidelines.

RICE AND GRAINS:

NOODLES (Pancit, Bihon, Canton): Ensure non-halal additives free.

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

SHRIMP PASTE (Bagoong): Ensure non-halal additives free.

SNACKS AND DESSERTS:

COCONUT DESSERTS (Buko Pandan, Ginataang Halo-Halo): Ensure ingredients are halal-certified.

FRUIT DESSERTS (Halo-Halo, Leche Flan): Ensure ingredients are halal-certified.

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8. WESTERN CUISINE

DAIRY PRODUCTS:

YOGURT: Ensure zero non-halal gelatin or other non-halal additives.

CREAM AND SOUR CREAM: Ensure zero non halal gelatin or other non-halal additives.

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

BBQ SAUCE: Ensure alcohol or non-halal meat products or additives free.

BAKING INGREDIENTS:

VANILLA EXTRACT: Use only halal-certified or alcohol-free versions.

SHORTENING AND LARD: Use vegetable shortening or halal-certified animal fats, as lard is derived from pork.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

MARSHMALLOWS: Ensure halal-certified gelatin.

ARTIFICIAL FLAVORINGS AND COLORINGS: Ensure it is halal-certified and alcohol and non-halal sources free.

SWEETENERS AND ADDITIVES:

EMULSIFIERS AND STABILIZERS: Ensure not derived from halal sources.

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9. BURGERS

PROTEINS:

PLANT-BASED PATTIES: Ensure all ingredients and processing methods are halal-certified.

BUNS:

BREAD/BURGER BUNS: Ensure zero non-halal additives like lard or non-halal emulsifier or gelatin.

SESAME SEEDS: Ensure non-halal additives free.

CONDIMENTS:

BBQ SAUCE: Ensure alcohol or non-halal meat products or additives free.

HOT SAUCE: Ensure non-halal additives free.

VEGETABLES AND ADDITIONS:

PICKLES: Verify non-halal preservatives or additives or alcohol free

SEASONINGS AND ADDITIVES:

BREADCRUMBS: Ensure non-halal additives like lard or alcohol-based flavourings free.

SIDE DISHES:

FRENCH FRIES: Ensure not cross-contaminated with non-halal fried oil/foods.

ONION RINGS: Ensure the batter does not contain non-halal additives and fried or cross-contaminated with non-halal fried oil/foods.

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10. PIZZAS

DOUGH AND CRUST:

FLOUR & YEAST: Ensure non-halal additives free.

DAIRY PRODUCTS:

CREAM AND MILK: Ensure they are from halal-certified sources.

SIDE DISHES:

GARLIC BREAD: Ensure the bread, butter, and any cheese used are halal-certified.

SALADS: Ensure all ingredients and dressings are halal and alcohol-free.

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11. STEAKS

SIDE DISHES:

POTATOES: Ensure not mixed with lard or bacon .

SALADS: Ensure ingredients and dressings alcohol-free.

SAUCES AND TOPPINGS:

STEAK SAUCE: Ensure the sauce(s) are non-halal ingredients or alcohol free.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS: Ensure non-halal ingredients free.

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12. ITALIAN CUISINE

PASTA:

SPAGHETTI, PENNE, FUSILLI, etc.: Ensure non-halal additives free

RAVIOLI, TORTELLINI, ETC.: Ensure no non-halal fillings used (e.g., pork or non-halal cheeses).

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

TOMATO SAUCE (Marinara): Ensure non-halal ingredients free (eg., wine/animal fats)

ALFREDO SAUCE: Ensure halal-certified ingredients free.

BREADS AND BAKING:

PIZZA DOUGH, FOCACCIA, BREADSTICKS: Ensure non-halal additives (like lard) free.

YEAST: Ensure non-halal additives free.

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13. SPANISH CUISINE

MEATS:

CHORIZO: Typically contains pork; ensure it is made with halal-certified beef or turkey.

Jamón (HAM): Usually made from pork; use halal-certified turkey or beef ham instead.

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS:

TOMATO SAUCE (Salsa de Tomate): Ensure non-halal ingredients (like wine/animal fats) free.

SOFRITO: Verify ingredients are halal-certified.

CHEESES:

MANCHEGO, MAHÓN, TETILLA, etc.: Ensure they are made with microbial or halal-certified rennet, as traditional rennet can be derived from non-halal animal sources.

BREADS AND BAKING:

BREAD & YEAST: Ensure no non-halal additives (like lard) free.

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© This information above was researched, compiled and reorganised by the Halal Association of Hong Kong. For queries, please email profitable.halal@gmail.com

6 BASIC RULES

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