Eating out in Hong Kong with dietary restrictions can be tough. For Muslims, the struggle is real especially when the dim sum is by nature too “mixed” to be permissible to try.

In the culture where pork is ubiquitous, from char siu to wonton, the Islamic Centre Canteen is there to offer a culinary refuge for Muslims who love Chinese food.

Hidden in a mosque named Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre in Wan Chai, one of the city’s five principal daily prayer mosques, the bustling canteen touts itself as “the only place for Cantonese halal cuisine in town.” Since 2005, the Islamic Centre Canteen serves dim sum where pork is replaced by either chicken or beef. 

The Islamic Centre Canteen does live up to its reputation with its extensive menu that features more than a few tasty dishes. Also, during non-lunch hours, the canteen also serves Cantonese food other than dim sums, such as wonton noodles, stir-fried beef noodles, and sweet and sour chicken.

Thanks to the fixed price policy required by the Islamic Union, food prices are not only fixed but also unusually cheap. Hence, mosque-goers, office workers working in the neighbourhood, and travellers are all fans of the affordable yet authentic food, which creates an interesting cultural scene: a melting pot of both Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures. When the prayer call “adhan” is broadcast over loudspeakers, you will see many diners put down their chopsticks and head to the prayer hall.

If you happen to participate in the congregational prayers in the mosque on a Friday, the day of Jumu’ah, you will be offered milk tea and curry dishes by the canteen for $30.

Visit the Islamic Centre Canteen for a unique experience you won’t forget. Don’t forget to comply with the conservative dress code.