Halal Food in Borough Market London: Guide

Borough Market is one of London’s most famous food destinations, attracting millions of visitors annually to its historic location near London Bridge. For Muslim visitors, navigating the market requires some planning, but halal-friendly options do exist among the 100+ vendors.

Quick Overview: Halal at Borough Market

Is Borough Market Halal?

The honest answer: Most of Borough Market is NOT halal. The market is famous for British artisan foods, heritage meats, and European produce - most of which doesn’t cater specifically to halal requirements.

However, Muslim visitors can absolutely enjoy Borough Market by:

1. Focusing on seafood stalls (naturally halal)
2. Visiting Middle Eastern/Mediterranean vendors
3. Enjoying vegetarian options
4. Asking specific vendors about halal certification
5. Avoiding pork-heavy stalls

Halal-Friendly Stalls at Borough Market

Confirmed Halal/Halal-Friendly Options

1. Arabica Bar & Kitchen

• Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Lebanese
• Halal Status: Halal-friendly (verify with staff)
• Must Try: Mezze platters, falafel, shawarma
• Location: Near the Green Market area
• Price: $$

2. Khanom Krok

• Cuisine: Thai
• Halal Status: Ask about specific dishes - some seafood options
• Must Try: Thai coconut pancakes, seafood dishes
• Location: Jubilee Place

3. Maria’s Market Cafe

• Cuisine: British cafe
• Halal Status: Offers halal breakfast options
• Must Try: Halal full English breakfast
• Location: Park Street entrance

4. Turnips (Vegetable stall)

• Cuisine: Fresh produce, vegetarian dishes
• Halal Status: Safe (vegetarian)
• Must Try: Fresh salads, roasted vegetables
• Location: Borough Market Kitchen

Seafood Stalls (Naturally Halal)

Seafood is an excellent option at Borough Market as fish is halal by nature.

Shellseekers

• Specialty: Fresh shellfish, oysters
• Must Try: Oysters, crab, lobster rolls
• Location: Stoney Street

Furness Fish, Poultry & Game

• Specialty: Fresh fish and seafood
• Must Try: Fresh fish of the day
• Location: Three Crown Square

Richard Haward’s Oysters

• Specialty: Colchester oysters
• Must Try: Fresh oysters with lemon
• Location: Stoney Street

Wright Brothers

• Specialty: Oysters and shellfish
• Must Try: Oyster platters
• Location: Stoney Street

Fish! Kitchen

• Specialty: Cooked fish dishes
• Must Try: Fish and chips, grilled fish
• Location: Cathedral Street

Vegetarian Stalls (Safe for Muslims)

Ethiopian Flavours

• Cuisine: Ethiopian vegetarian
• Must Try: Injera with vegetable stews
• Status: Vegetarian, halal-safe

Horn OK Please

• Cuisine: Indian street food
• Must Try: Vegetarian options (verify no alcohol in cooking)
• Status: Has vegetarian options

Bread Ahead

• Cuisine: Bakery
• Must Try: Doughnuts (verify ingredients for alcohol-based extracts)
• Status: Mostly vegetarian, check specific items

Mediterranean Options

Brindisa

• Cuisine: Spanish
• Halal Status: Seafood paella is safe, avoid chorizo/ham products
• Must Try: Seafood dishes, olives, manchego cheese

Padella

• Cuisine: Italian pasta
• Halal Status: Vegetarian pasta options available
• Must Try: Vegetarian pasta dishes (avoid meat)

Stalls to Avoid

These popular stalls serve primarily non-halal products:

• Ginger Pig - Pork specialist
• Northfield Farm - Non-halal meats
• Roast - Pork-focused British cuisine
• Any stall specializing in ham, bacon, or pork
• Most sausage vendors - Usually contain pork

Practical Tips for Muslim Visitors

Before You Go

1. Eat breakfast first - Options are limited, don’t arrive hungry
2. Download HalalTrip/Zabihah - Check nearby halal restaurants
3. Bring snacks - Have backup options
4. Research current stalls - Market vendors change seasonally

At the Market

5. Ask about halal certification - Don’t assume, always verify
6. Check ingredients - Ask about alcohol in cooking/marinades
7. Focus on seafood section - Most reliable halal option
8. Try vegetarian stalls - Safe and delicious options
9. Visit Middle Eastern vendors - Most likely to be halal-friendly

Questions to Ask Vendors

• “Is this halal certified?”
• “Does this contain pork or pork products?”
• “Is alcohol used in the preparation?”
• “Can you show me the halal certificate?”

What to Eat at Borough Market (Halal-Friendly)

Best Bets

Drinks (Halal)

• Fresh juices - Multiple stalls
• Coffee - Monmouth Coffee
• Tea - Various vendors
• Smoothies - Juice stalls

Desserts (Verify Ingredients)

• Chocolate - Various (check for alcohol)
• Pastries - Bread Ahead (verify)
• Baklava - Middle Eastern stalls
• Fresh fruit - Always safe

Nearby Halal Alternatives

If Borough Market doesn’t satisfy your hunger, these halal restaurants are within walking distance:

Tas Restaurant (5 min walk)

• Turkish cuisine, fully halal
• Address: 72 Borough High Street
• Great for a full meal

Arabica (in market)

• Lebanese/Middle Eastern
• Halal-friendly options

Whitechapel/Brick Lane (15 min by tube)

• London’s main halal food area
• Hundreds of halal restaurants
• Best bet for proper halal meal

Edgware Road (20 min by tube)

• Middle Eastern halal hub
• Shisha cafes, restaurants

Sample Halal Borough Market Itinerary

Morning Visit (10am-1pm)

1. 10:00 - Arrive at London Bridge station
2. 10:15 - Start with coffee at Monmouth Coffee
3. 10:30 - Browse produce stalls, buy fresh fruit
4. 11:00 - Oysters or seafood at Shellseekers
5. 11:30 - Explore the market atmosphere
6. 12:00 - Lunch at Arabica (falafel/mezze)
7. 12:30 - Dessert at Ethiopian Flavours or fresh pastry
8. 13:00 - Buy spices, olive oil, cheese to take home

Best Days/Times to Visit

Recommendation: Visit Wednesday or Thursday morning for a calmer experience with better vendor interaction.

Halal Groceries at Borough Market

For halal-friendly groceries:

Safe to Buy:

• Fresh seafood - Any fish vendor
• Olive oils - Multiple stalls
• Spices - Spice Mountain
• Fresh vegetables - Turnips, various
• Cheese (verify rennet) - Neal’s Yard Dairy
• Honey - Various vendors
• Nuts and dried fruit - Multiple stalls
• Coffee and tea - Monmouth Coffee

Ask Before Buying:

• Prepared foods - Check ingredients
• Baked goods - Check for alcohol extracts
• Sauces - May contain wine

Prayer Facilities Nearby

The nearest mosques to Borough Market:

London Central Mosque (20 min by tube)

• Nearest large mosque
• Tube: Baker Street/Regent’s Park

East London Mosque (25 min by tube)

• Large facility with parking
• Tube: Whitechapel

Southwark Mosque

• Smaller, closer option
• 25 min walk from market

Prayer Room at Shard (5 min walk)

• Multi-faith prayer room
• The Shard, London Bridge

Summary

Can you find halal food at Borough Market? Yes, but it requires planning.

Best strategy:

1. Focus on seafood - naturally halal and Borough Market excels here
2. Visit Middle Eastern stalls - most halal-friendly
3. Enjoy vegetarian options - safe and delicious
4. Always ask about certification for meat products
5. Consider it a partial meal - supplement with nearby halal restaurants

Borough Market is worth visiting for its atmosphere, history, and the halal-friendly options that do exist. Just don’t expect a fully halal experience - approach it as a culinary adventure with selective eating.

For more comprehensive halal dining in London, see our guides to:

• Halal Food in London
• Halal Food in the UK
• Is KFC Halal in UK?