The inaugural halal food festival in Hong Kong took place Saturday in Tsim Sha Tsui, showcasing a variety of dishes from different cultures and attracting hundreds of attendees. Organizers hailed the event as a means to bridge cultural divides through food.
Jointly organized by the Multicultural Ethnic-Link Teen Centre and the city’s halal certification board, the festival featured offerings from 12 halal-certified establishments. Visitors sampled diverse delicacies, including rice dumplings, salmon pasta, and chicken tikka.
Aiman, a long-time resident of Hong Kong, expressed enthusiasm about the fresh food available. “Everything is very fresh… and [the event] is very well-organized,” she told RTHK, highlighting her enjoyment of chicken shawarma and Indian pani puri.
Another attendee, identified only as Ching, noted the authenticity of the cuisine, emphasizing that the dishes were prepared by Muslim chefs. “I learnt so much about halal culture and their food,” she said after tasting samosas and a chicken roll.
Italian restaurant FOG participated in the festival, with director Sohel Ahmed explaining his commitment to halal cuisine. “Halal food is for everybody,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of quality and hygiene. Ahmed described how he adapts traditional Italian recipes by using halal-certified ingredients, such as substituting grape juice for wine.
The Shangri-La Hotel, recognized as the first in Hong Kong to earn a five-star CrescentRating for halal-friendliness, also contributed to the event. Director of Operations Mark Bannon highlighted the hotel’s efforts to cater to Muslim travelers with halal-certified rice dumplings, prepared in a dedicated halal kitchen.
DAB lawmaker Vincent Cheng remarked that the festival provided an opportunity for the local Muslim community to showcase their culture. He expressed hopes for further promotions to enhance Hong Kong’s image as a Muslim-friendly destination.
Chief Executive John Lee previously proposed in his Policy Address to position Hong Kong as a Muslim-friendly travel hub. As of March, the number of halal-certified restaurants in the city has increased to around 200, double the figure from early 2024.
