Hundreds of people have flocked to Tsim Sha Tsui for Hong Kong’s first-ever halal food festival, in a vibrant celebration aimed at showcasing Muslim culture and building bridges between communities.

Organized by the Multicultural Ethnic-Link Teen Centre and the city’s halal certification board, the festival brought together 12 halal-certified food businesses, offering a wide range of cuisines.

Sohel Ahmed, a seasoned veteran in Hong Kong’s food industry, is bringing halal Italian cuisine to the city to offer a unique dining experience for everyone, regardless of their background. With over 30 years in the industry, Ahmed has adapted traditional Italian recipes to meet halal standards by replacing ingredients like wine with grape juice to maintain authenticity.

The event, which showcased his halal dishes, received praise for its freshness and organization. Attendees, including both locals and visitors, appreciated the authentic flavors and learned more about halal food culture, especially as it was prepared by Muslim chefs.

The Shangri-La hotel, which holds the highest level of halal-friendliness certification in Hong Kong, also participated. Director of operations Mark Bannon explained how their rice dumplings—prepared without pork in a halal kitchen—offered a Muslim-friendly twist on a Chinese classic.

The hotel received a five-star CrescentRating in halal-friendliness, which Bannon said has positively impacted their appeal to Muslim travelers.

In his 2024 Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee pledged to boost Muslim-friendly travel.

As of March 2025, the number of halal-certified restaurants in Hong Kong has doubled, rising from about 100 to 200. More such festivals and initiatives are planned to further support cultural understanding and tourism.

Source: AboutIslam.net