Short version: we report what official sources say, we show you the source and the date, and we tell you plainly when something can't be confirmed. We are not a certifier.

Sources for “Is X halal?” answers

Every claim about halal status is backed by a source listed at the bottom of the page and marked with a number in the text. We use, in this order:

1. The brand's own official page, FAQ or statement.
2. A halal certifier's public listing or database (for example IFANCA, ISNA Halal Certification Agency, HMS, HFSAA, HMC or HFA in the UK, JAKIM, MUI).
3. A reputable news report.
4. A certificate shown at a specific branch.

Forums, social media, other “is it halal” sites and AI answers are never sources. We may read them for leads, but we only publish what we can confirm in an official source. Each source shows the date we opened it, and each page shows its “last verified” date.

What the verdicts mean

Halal

Certified halal, or halal by nature with broad agreement among scholars (fish, for example).

Not halal

Contains pork or alcohol as an ingredient, or is clearly impermissible.

Varies by country

The status is different in different countries. The page has a table by country.

Depends

It depends on the source of an ingredient (gelatin, rennet in cheese) or on the school of thought. The page sets out the main views.

Not certified

There's no halal certification and no official statement, so it can't be confirmed. This is common for US chains. It doesn't mean the food contains pork; it means nobody official vouches for it.

Where the schools of thought differ, we describe the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali positions neutrally, with references, and we don't issue fatwas. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

How restaurants are checked

Our city pages start from Google Maps listings found with searches like “halal restaurants in Houston”. A Google listing alone isn't proof, so we look for more evidence:

• The restaurant's website. We read each restaurant's own site and look for clear statements such as “100% halal”, “zabiha”, “halal certified” or “no pork”, and for signs of a mixed menu.
• Google reviews. For places the website didn't settle, we read their most recent Google reviews and count how many reviewers say the food is halal, or that it isn't.
• The Google listing. The name or category (such as “Halal restaurant”) as set by the business or by Google.

Each restaurant card tells you which kind of evidence we found:

• Restaurant says 100% halal / zabiha: the website makes a clear claim (100% halal, zabiha, certified or no pork).
• Restaurant website mentions halal: the website mentions halal and the Google listing describes it as halal, but there is no clear “100%” claim.
• Reviewers mention halal: several recent reviewers say it's halal, or the Google listing says halal and a reviewer confirms it. This is the weakest signal; in New York, for example, “halal food” is also the name of a street-cart style of cooking.
• Some menu items are halal: there are signs of both halal and non-halal items (pork on the menu, “halal options”, or a single halal item on a general menu).

Places where only the Google listing says halal are shown in a closed “Not yet verified” list. Places with no halal evidence, or where two or more reviewers say they're not halal and the website makes no clear claim, are not listed. We publish a city page only when it has at least 10 places with evidence.

These checks are automated, and they can be wrong or go out of date. A restaurant can change its supplier at any time. Always confirm with the restaurant, and look for a current certificate if that matters to you. Ratings are shown as they appear on Google Maps. Restaurant data was last checked November 2026.

Corrections

Every page has a “Report an error” link. You can also contact us. We check reports against an official source before changing a page, and update the “last verified” date when we do.