Eating Halal @ Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is one of my favorite cities, especially as it's pretty affordable and has a great public transportation system. But eating there can be such a challenge if you're going halal.

Halal food in Bangkok exists but not at all tourist spots! Or at least, not that we know of...

This isn't a review, more like a short guide of halal food in Bangkok based on our experience.

Soi Arab aka Soi 4 @ Sukhumvit
A few blocks away from the naughty nightclubs and bars of Nana and ladies (and ladyboys) of the night is Soi Arab aka Little Arab. You'll find plenty of middle eastern cuisine, thai and some familiar dishes like roti naan, roti canai/ prata. However, the prices here are like KL midrange and up e.g roti for rm5 (WAH LIAO!), briyani rice around RM15.
Nearest BTS - Nana or Phloenchit

Surao Alley @ Ratchatewi
A simple rule of thumb - where there's a mosque, there'll be halal food. Along the walk on Phetchaburi Road to the corner of Surao Alley is Darul Aman Mosque and several halal eateries. If you can't take the heat, head to Hayati Restaurant as it is air conditioned but the prices there are more mid range but the food mediocre. Skip their cendol as it was served with ice cubes instead of shaved ice, sugar instead of gula melaka. Other restaurants include Mak Yah and Ali Selatan.
Nearest BTS - Ratchatewi (about a 5 min walk)

Platinum Fashion Mall @ Pratunam
The food court has one halal vendor (look out for the sticker on their food display, none on signage). It can be a bit tricky to find if there's a queue blocking the sticker so keep a lookout! They also have one stall that sells only seafood dishes and an Indian stall. There was a vegetarian but it was closed (for the day or for good, we're not sure).

Do note that this is a food court with shared utensils/ cutlery although I think the cooking pots are washed separately. Eat at your own discretion.

Nearest BTS - Siam or you could take the Khloeng river taxi to Pratunam

Chatuchak Market

There are several halal stalls in Chatuchak! They should have a halal sticker on display. Relatively easy to find. 

Nearest MRT - Chatuchak

The Khloeng behind Jim Thompson House @ Rama 1
A few years we found a restaurant along the khloeng behind Jim Thompson House that sold inexpensive halal thai food. Authetic and delicious but alas, we cannot confirm if the place still exists as we didn't head that way recently. No harm taking a peek if you're in the area though.

Warning: it's right next to the khloeng. Speeding water taxis may spray you.
According to google maps, somewhere across the khloeng from Jim Thompson is Darul Faha Mosque. 

Nearest BTS - National Stadium

Siam Paragon

(Dated information) there's a halal indian restaurant but it's rather pricy.

The supermarket stocks some halal certified local items like sauces, pastes, cookies and snacks. The challenge is going through their extensive collection to find the halal ones!

Nearest BTS - Siam

I was told a few years ago from a trusted source that chicken in Bangkok is halal, so places like KFC are safe. However take this information with a pinch of salt as I've recently read this has changed, it depends on which outlet you go to. So to be safe, ask the staff!

Useful links:

Halallivingthailand.com

Kacang Pool Haji

When K added Kacang Pool to our JB makan list, my first thought was, "wtf is that?"

A pool of beans? Is it a sweet dish like bubur kacang merah?

Fuh, so wrong and how!

Kacang Pool is actually Ful ("f" is not native to bahasa), which according to wikipedia, is Ful Medames, "an Egyptian/ Sudanese dish" consisting of mashed fava beans (kacang parang).

If you, like me, have never had Kacang Pool, the closest dish I can think of would be chili con carne like at Wendy's (but miles better than the fast food place of course).

This robust dish is thick not watery, and instead of leftover burger meat, you have fresh ground beef for added texture. There's a slight sweetness (courtesy of red onions) to balance the spices. According to a Harian Metro article, there's no added salt, sugar and additives used.

Kacang Pool is served with lime (to squeeze), sunny side up egg,  fresh chopped green cili and diced red onion and a thick slab of home-made toast. It's a breakfast dish, so you can come over from 7am. I hear that the weekends can get pretty busy though.

The stall is located at the Medan Selera Bomba Larkin. They have other dishes such as rojak buah and tauhu bakar but we were saving stomach space for another makan place.

It's a tiny food court so the parking here can be quite limited, the view ain't pretty, and there's no air conditioning. But who cares?

K: However: The drains around the food court is filthy. Food containers & other food stuff were clogging up the drains. So if you are picky about stuff like that, avoid the place.

Behind the food court is an open field overgrown with lallang and other shrubs. When we were parking our car, we saw a mother burung wak wak with her chicks foraging for food. I've seen adult burung wak wak before but not the chicks. So, that was a big plus.

Verdict- Omnomnomnomnom. Hearty, cheap and healthy(ish)? Good god, I need another trip to JB!

Kacang Pool Haji (have a map)
Medan Selera Larkin Bomba
Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Susur 5,
Taman Larkin, 80350
Johor Bahru

Open from 7am
Price range - $

Mr Kabab & Biryani @ Precint 15, Putrajaya

Putrajaya is not exactly a famous makan destination in Klang Valley, no?

If you're a fan of Biryani rice, then you should reconsider!

Located at the Diplomatic Precint (aka Precint 15) is probably the best restaurant in Putrajaya; Mr Kabab (yes, with an "a" instead of an "e") & Biryani. It started out small and now has taken 4 shop lots in just a few years.

The restaurant serves Middle Eastern-Pakistani cuisine, which is mostly (you guessed it) kebabs, mandi and biryani rice (about RM13 and up) and nan breads and tandoori chicken. Not the biggest menu in the world but what they lack in variety, they make up in taste.

Rice rice rice

K: The long-grained rice is fluffy and flavourful, the meats (chicken, lamb or kebab) so tender, it only needs a little bit of prodding to separate the flesh from the bone. The rice dishes are usually served with a lime, curry, tomato chutney and a large green cili (an optional bit of heat).

TJ: I find that mandi rice has a milder but rich taste compared to the more robust briyani.


Nan & Tandoori Chicken

 

Mr Kabab also makes fluffy nans (RM4 and up) that is served with dhall. I hate cold rubbery nan but Mr Kabab's nan tends to stay soft longer than most. My grandmother loves the nan, especially with the juicy tandoori chicken (RM7). I can eat the nan on it's own, mopping up the dhall clean.

Nina - The not runny dhall is full of big chickpeas and lentils. It tastes great and very flavourful without excessive sourness. TJ - On rare occasions, the dhall is too "fresh" meaning the chickpeas and lentils haven't been stewed long enough to soften.

K - For the drinks, a must have is the mango juice. Yes, mango juice, not mango lassi. It's thick, creamy & delicous. Yum yum!!

Mr Kabab is at a corner near the Putrajaya Immigration Office & Dewan Seroja, facing a park. It's about a few blocks opposite Mydin.

In short - good food, generous portions for a reasonable price. A must makan spot in Putrajaya.

Mr Kabab & Biryani
No.42,44,46, Jalan Diplomatik 3/1,
Precint 15
62050 Putrajaya
T: 03-8889 3209

Price - $-$$
Halal