Halal Cuisines in Malta
Arabic, Indian, Pakistani, Asian, Desserts & Maltese — One Island, Six Kitchens
From slow-cooked karahi and charcoal kebabs to shawarma wraps, kunafa and Malta’s own pastizzi — browse the dishes that define each halal cuisine on the island, then find where to eat them.
Start with Arabic ↓ Find a RestaurantThe Basics
What is Halal Food in Malta?
Halal food in Malta means dishes prepared strictly under Islamic dietary law (Shariah). All meat — chicken, lamb and beef — comes from certified halal suppliers following humane slaughtering practices. No pork, no alcohol, no prohibited additives.
Malta’s halal food scene covers Pakistani and Indian specialities, Turkish and Arabic kitchens, Asian grills and halal desserts — and even Malta’s own traditional dishes have plenty to offer halal diners. You will find halal restaurants across Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, Buġibba and more towns island-wide.
Use this page as your tour of the table: one section per cuisine, its signature dish up front, and the plates worth knowing by name.
Cuisine 01 · The Levant & Arabia
Arabic Halal Food in Malta
Freshly made shawarma, falafel, hummus and mezze — Arabic and Middle Eastern cooking is some of the most naturally halal-friendly food in Malta, built on grilled meats, chickpeas, tahini, olive oil and warm flatbreads. Arabic kitchens and takeaways serve these Levantine classics across the island, from Valletta to the central towns.
The Icon · Arabic
Chicken Shawarma
Marinated chicken slow-roasted on a vertical spit, shaved to order and wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce, pickles and fresh salad — the defining Arabic street food, and the wrap Malta reaches for at lunch.
Try It at Babylon Falafel, Ħamrun
Falafel Wrap
Crispy fried chickpea falafel in warm pita with hummus, tahini, tomato and cucumber — vegan-friendly and full of flavour.
Arabic Mezze Platter
A sharing platter of hummus, baba ghanoush, fattoush, olives and warm pita — the classic way to open an Arabic meal.
Hummus & Warm Pita
Chickpeas blended silky-smooth with tahini, lemon and olive oil — the dip no Arabic table is ever without.
Fattoush
A bright Levantine chopped salad with toasted pita crisps and a lemony sumac dressing — the fresh counterpoint to the grills.
Photos: Hummus — Beyrouthhh (CC BY 3.0) · Fattoush — Miansari66 (CC0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Arabic in Malta: Babylon Falafel — Arabic & Lebanese in Ħamrun · All halal restaurants
Cuisine 02 · Curries & Tandoor
Indian Halal Food in Malta
Aromatic spices, rich curries and centuries-old recipes — Indian cooking is a cornerstone of Malta’s halal scene, with curry houses serving tandoori grills, creamy tomato-based curries and fragrant rice dishes across the island.
The Icon · Indian
Butter Chicken
Tender chicken folded through a creamy, mildly spiced tomato and butter sauce — the curry-house favourite that wins over first-timers and regulars alike, made for tearing naan and scooping deep.
Indian Food on Wolt
Chicken Biryani
Fragrant basmati rice layered with spiced chicken, saffron and caramelised onions — a complete meal in one dish.
Chicken Rogan Josh
A bold Kashmiri-style curry with tender chicken in a vibrant red sauce — rich, warming and intensely flavoured.
Chicken Dopiaza
Chicken cooked with plenty of caramelised onions and aromatic spices — sweet, savoury and deeply satisfying.
Beef Bhuna
Beef slow-cooked in a thick, reduced spice paste — intense flavours with a rich, caramelised finish. A true comfort dish.
Beef Achari
Beef cooked with tangy pickle spices — a distinctive dish with a bold, mouth-watering flavour profile.
Photos: Butter chicken — Vis M (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rogan josh — Biswarup Ganguly (CC BY 3.0) · Beef bhuna — Dolon Prova (CC BY-SA 4.0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Indian in Malta: Indian halal food on Wolt · Indian & Pakistani restaurants
Cuisine 03 · Lahore to Malta
Pakistani Halal Food in Malta
Rich in tradition — from slow-cooked karahi to fragrant biryani and fresh naan from the tandoor. Pakistani cooking brings the bold, generous flavours of Lahore to Malta, and it is among the most beloved halal cuisines on the island.
The Icon · Pakistani
Mutton Karahi
Slow-cooked mutton in a rich tomato and ginger gravy, finished with fresh coriander and green chillies — cooked in the karahi wok it is named after, and made for sharing with fresh naan.
Try It at Lahori Dhaba
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tender chicken in a rich, aromatic tomato and spice sauce — a classic loved by locals and visitors alike.
Seekh Kebab
Minced spiced meat skewers fresh from the tandoor, served with mint chutney and warm naan — street food at its best.
Chicken Nihari
Slow-cooked chicken in a deep, aromatic spice broth — a traditional favourite, best enjoyed with fresh naan.
Chicken Tandoori
Chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices, roasted in a clay tandoor — smoky, juicy and charred at the edges.
Chicken Vindaloo
A bold, fiery chicken curry with vinegar and spice-marinated meat — for those who love intense, full-flavoured food.
Photos: Nihari — Sherlyn111 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vindaloo — Jens Ohlig (CC BY 2.0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Pakistani in Malta: Lahori Dhaba — Fgura & St Julian’s · Chaska Point — Qormi
Cuisine 04 · Anatolian Grills & More
Asian (Mix) Halal Food in Malta
Asia reaches Malta in many forms — and the island’s favourite is the Anatolian grill house. Turkish kebabs, doner, pide and lahmacun lead this mixed section: charcoal-grilled meats, stone-baked flatbreads and generous platters, served by kebab houses island-wide.
The Icon · Asian (Mix)
Mixed Doner Platter
Classic rotating doner served on a platter with rice, grilled tomato, pepper and fresh salad — the Turkish grill-house centrepiece, and just as good folded into a wrap to go.
Kebabs & Wraps on Wolt
Iskender Kebab
Thinly sliced doner laid over pide bread, topped with rich tomato sauce and melted butter — a legendary Turkish classic.
Lahmacun
Thin, crispy flatbread topped with spiced minced lamb, baked in a stone oven — served with lemon and fresh parsley.
Turkish Pide
Boat-shaped flatbread filled with seasoned minced lamb and cheese, baked fresh in a stone oven — a Turkish staple.
Turkish Kofte
Hand-rolled minced lamb kofte grilled over charcoal, served with roasted peppers, flatbread and a fresh herb salad.
Photo: Pide — Erdalkara (CC0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Asian grills in Malta: Wraps & kebabs on Wolt · All halal restaurants
Cuisine 05 · The Sweet Course
Halal Desserts in Malta
Every great halal table ends sweet. From Arabic kunafa and Turkish baklava to Indian gulab jamun and Pakistani puddings, Malta’s halal kitchens and cafés serve traditional desserts from across the Muslim world — most are naturally made without alcohol, so there is plenty to choose from.
The Icon · Desserts
Kunafa
Warm shredded pastry filled with soft, creamy cheese, soaked in rose-water syrup and crowned with crushed pistachios — the most-loved Arabic dessert, and the sweetest way to finish a halal meal in Malta.
See the Full Dessert Guide
Turkish Baklava
Crispy filo pastry layers filled with walnuts and pistachios, soaked in sweet syrup — a beloved Turkish classic.
Gulab Jamun
Soft milk-solid dumplings, deep-fried and soaked in rose-water and cardamom syrup — a signature Indian sweet.
Basbousa
Egyptian semolina cake baked with coconut and drenched in rose-water syrup — moist, fragrant and irresistibly sweet.
Dondurma
Authentic Turkish stretchy ice cream made with mastic and salep — a chewy, elastic texture and rich flavour.
Kheer
Creamy Pakistani rice pudding slow-cooked in milk with cardamom and saffron, topped with almonds and pistachios.
Photos: Kunafa — Theipu (CC0) · Baklava — Willis Lam (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Gulab jamun — Cabeza2000 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Basbousa — Sami Mlouhi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Dondurma — Sharon Hahn Darlin (CC BY 2.0) · Kheer — stu spivack (CC BY-SA 2.0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Also on the menu island-wide: Rasmalai, Suji Halwa and Belgian waffles — explore the Halal Desserts in Malta page
Cuisine 06 · Malta’s Own Kitchen
Maltese Halal Food
Malta’s own traditional kitchen is Mediterranean to its core — built on fresh fish, beans, vegetables, olive oil and slow baking. Many classic Maltese dishes are naturally meat-free or seafood-based, which makes them an easy fit for halal diners; and where meat is traditional, halal butchers and restaurants prepare Maltese favourites with halal meat.
The Icon · Maltese
Pastizzi
Malta’s iconic flaky pastry, folded around ricotta (pastizzi tal-irkotta) or a spiced pea filling (pastizzi tal-piżelli) — baked fresh all day and eaten warm, straight from the paper bag.
Find Halal Food by Location
Bigilla
A rustic dip of crushed broad beans with olive oil, garlic and herbs, served with Maltese bread — a village-festa staple.
Ftira
Malta’s traditional ring-shaped bread, classically filled with tuna, olives, capers, tomato and onion — the island’s picnic sandwich.
Lampuki
Malta’s beloved seasonal fish — grilled, fried, or baked in a pie with vegetables, in season from late summer into autumn.
Aljotta
A traditional Maltese fish soup with tomato, garlic and rice — the island’s own answer to bouillabaisse.
Photos: Pastizzi — Renata Apan (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Bigilla — Silvana.Bugeja (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ftira — Kritzolina (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lampuki (mahi-mahi) — Gatorfan252525 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Aljotta — Benreis (CC BY-SA 4.0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Maltese in Malta: Fresh fish on Wolt · Halal food by location
Quick Answers
Halal Cuisines — FAQs
What is Arabic food?
Arabic food comes from the Levant, Arabia and North Africa: grilled meats, shawarma carved from a vertical spit, falafel, hummus and mezze sharing plates — built on olive oil, tahini, chickpeas, lemon and warm flatbreads. In Malta it is one of the easiest cuisines to enjoy halal; start with Babylon Falafel in Ħamrun.
What is the difference between Indian and Pakistani food?
The two cuisines share roots, spices and dishes like biryani and kebabs. Pakistani cooking leans towards meat — karahi, nihari and tandoori grills in the style of Lahore’s food streets — while Indian cooking spans more regions, with a wider range of creamy curries and vegetarian dishes. In Malta, many restaurants serve both side by side.
Are desserts halal?
Most traditional desserts from Arabic, Turkish, Indian and Pakistani kitchens are halal-friendly by nature — they are built on pastry, nuts, milk, rice and syrups rather than alcohol. The things to check are gelatine and alcohol-based flavourings, so if in doubt, ask the restaurant — and browse our halal desserts guide for the island’s sweet options.
Which cuisines can I eat halal in Malta?
Arabic, Indian, Pakistani and Turkish / Asian grill food are all well represented among Malta’s halal restaurants, alongside halal desserts and traditional Maltese dishes that are naturally meat-free or seafood-based. This page tours all six — and our restaurants directory lists where to find them.
Where in Malta can I find these cuisines?
Halal restaurants cluster in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian’s and Buġibba, with well-known kitchens in towns like Ħamrun, Qormi and Fgura too. Browse halal food by location or see the full restaurant directory to find each cuisine near you.
Find Your Table in Malta
Browse the island’s halal restaurants, or explore halal food town by town — every cuisine on this page is being served somewhere in Malta.
Halal Restaurants in Malta Halal Food by LocationVisiting Malta? Read our complete Muslim Travel Guide to Malta →