Is Chicking Halal?

Chicking is a fried and grilled chicken chain that started with one store in Dubai in 2000 ^[2]. From the beginning it built its brand around halal food. Its own sites call it one of the first fully halal international quick-service brands, and its US and UK sites say the chain has served only halal-certified food since it opened ^[1][2][9].

That is different from most US chicken chains. At chains like KFC or Popeyes, halal status depends on the country or on a single franchise owner. At Chicking, halal is the company standard everywhere it operates. Founder AK Mansoor has said franchise owners are told to follow the halal rules of their local authority ^[7].

The brand runs as a franchise. Its global franchise arm is based in Dubai, and its global franchise site lists markets including the UK, New Zealand and the United States ^[8]. It links to the US site we cite, so that site is the brand's official US channel.

Chicking is still small in the US. Its US website, linked from the global franchise site ^[8], lists four stores: Frederick, Albany, Latham and Fort Wayne, though it also says one of them was still opening soon ^[1]. When the Fort Wayne, Indiana store opened, local news station WANE reported it as the brand's fourth US location and described the menu as halal fried and grilled chicken ^[3].

The US site states the halal claim clearly, but it does not name the certifying body for US stores ^[1]. That leaves a few things you cannot confirm from the outside:

• Which US certifier, if any, inspects each store.
• Whether the chicken is hand-slaughtered (zabiha) or machine-slaughtered.
• Whether birds are stunned before slaughter.

These points matter to many people, and certifiers in the US have different standards on them. Because each store is run by a franchise owner, the best proof is the certificate on the wall at your branch.

In the UK, Chicking has grown quickly. Its official UK site calls the brand 100% halal and lists 29 trading shops, with more opening soon ^[9]. When its Aberdeen store opened in 2025, the local business press also described it as a fully halal offering ^[6]. The site does not name a UK certifier. UK buyers often care whether a certificate comes from HMC or HFA, since the two have different rules on stunning, so ask your branch which body it uses.

In Canada, Chicking launched in 2021 under a separate name, ChickQueen. Its first store opened in Mississauga, and it was promoted as the first fully halal international fried chicken chain in the country ^[4]. In 2022 the founder said he planned up to 30 Canadian outlets ^[5]. The global franchise site does not list Canada among its current markets today, so check that a store is still open before you go ^[8].

In the UAE, New Zealand and its other markets, the brand uses the same all-halal promise ^[2].

A brand-wide halal promise is a good start, but each franchise is a separate business. Take a minute to check before you order, especially at a new or recently opened store.

• Look for the certificate. It should name the certifier, the store address and an expiry date.
• Check the certifier. In the US, you can look up the certifier on its own website. In the UK, see whether it is HMC, HFA or another body.
• Ask about slaughter. If you only eat hand-slaughtered meat, ask whether the chicken is zabiha.
• Check for alcohol and pork. The halal promise means neither should be on the menu. If you see them, ask questions.

If no certificate is on display, ask the manager. A store that is part of a halal brand should be able to show one quickly.

If there is no Chicking near you, compare other chicken chains on our site. Church's Chicken and Texas Chicken and Burgers vary by country and by franchise. You can also read our general guide on whether chicken is halal, which explains how slaughter method and certification affect the answer.