Planning a trip to Hong Kong and in search of a great halal dining spot? Look no further!
In this article, I'm excited to share my thoughts on the Islamic Centre Canteen, nestled within the Ammar Mosque and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Center.
Located in a strategic spot with a cozy atmosphere, this place is perfect for enjoying halal food while feeling the warmth of the Muslim community in Hong Kong. Read on for more details!
The Islamic Center Canteen is on the 5th floor of the Ammar Mosque at 40 Salvation Army Street, Oi Kwan Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
To get there, you can exit at Causeway Bay MTR Station, exit A, and walk for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can get off at Wan Chai MTR Station and exit A3.
The restaurant is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. According to the information I got here, the restaurant is exclusively for Muslims from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
Upon arrival at the Islamic Center, you’ll find a calm atmosphere. The first floor has a reception and ablution facilities. The second floor is the men's prayer room, and the third floor is for women.
The fourth floor serves as a classroom. The halal restaurant is on the 5th floor, and don't worry—there's an elevator!
Inside the restaurant, it's bustling and full of visitors. The place is spacious, with big tables covered in white cloths. The staff are friendly and speak English and Cantonese.
I recommend coming for brunch or lunch before 2:30 pm, as some dishes might run out after that time. Visitors are also expected to dress neatly and modestly since the restaurant is inside a mosque compound.
The Islamic Center Canteen offers a wide range of halal-certified Chinese food and dim sum. Dim sum is a must-try here.
To order dim sum, you'll get a green order card to take to the dim sum stall. For other dishes, you can simply call the staff and order directly from your table.
My husband and I found it easy to choose from the non-dim sum menu because the dishes were similar to those in Indonesia—typical Chinese food that goes well with rice.
They have options like sweet and sour fish, sliced beef with broccoli, various tofu dishes, and more. The menu is extensive, so you just need to decide if you want fish, chicken, beef, rice, noodles, vermicelli, or vegetables.
After sightseeing at Victoria Peak, we headed here for lunch. Since we were really hungry, we opted for dishes with rice. Here’s what we tried:
I ordered the sweet and sour chicken with rice. Is it good? Absolutely! I love Chinese food because it’s the definition of "comfort food"—nothing too strange, just tasty and satisfying.
The chicken was cut into small pieces and cooked with sweet soy sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, onions, green peppers, and red peppers.
The chicken was juicy, not overcooked or hard. To make it more filling, I ordered an extra serving of rice.
Next up, my husband went for the Mutton Curry. Mutton comes from older goats, usually more than a year old, and offers a richer, stronger flavor and a tougher texture than lamb.
The curry here is seasoned in a traditional Indian or Pakistani style—not like the milder Japanese curry. It also includes chunks of boiled potatoes, which, when paired with rice, really amp up the carbs (double the fun, right?).
My husband is a big fan of mutton, so he was quite pleased with his choice. The serving was generous, and the meat was tender and easy to slice, a testament to the chef's skills. Paired with a cup of Teh Tarik, it was even more delightful!
That wraps up our halal dining experience at the Islamic Center Canteen in Hong Kong, a popular spot among Muslim travelers. Have you dined here before, or is it on your travel wishlist?