10 Halal Cafes to Satisfy your Iftar cravings at this Ramadan

The recent advent of Halal cafes has just made breaking fast with your family and friends more exciting. The infusion of traditional Malay flavours into different international Halal cuisines has given birth to an interesting array of food items. We went on a search and found 10 Halal cafes that are worth every bite after you break fast this Ramadan.

Muugu Fork

Opened in 2010, Muugu Fork serves a variety of western dishes that range from pastas to pizzas. Their latest creation involves Raclette Cheese. There are 3 Raclette Combos available. We had the Rac & Surf ($19.90), which consists of 2 pieces of golden breaded fish, and chips served with their warm, melted Raclette cheese. The cheese is not overly creamy, with just the right amount of cheesiness which complements the tender fish meat. Imagine the warm cheesiness, paired with a glass of refreshing, ice-cold Coca-Cola, as you relish every bite.

Badoque Café

“Badoque” is a Malay slang for “eat”, and this café boasts a cozy vibe and good food. Featuring an internationally-inspired menu that marries Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian flavours, Badoque café will have you mesmerized with their Greek salad, seafood pasta, lamb shank, and more. Badoque Ribs ($36) is the bestselling item here.

We were almost drooling when a 5cm-thick rib drenched in an enticing brown sauce arrived at our table. The sauce has a nice silky consistency, and the meat is grilled well. It is recommended to share your food with your loved ones as the portions here are very generous.

Eat Play Love

This Thai-Western café offers a unique experience for the whole family. While kids get crafty and doodle the afternoon away at the Craft Corner, parents are able to enjoy their meal in peace. We decided on the Seafood Tomyum Soup with Rice ($9.50) which contains prawns, fish, and mushrooms. You can opt for a red or clear soup base.

We tried the latter, and were surprised by the well-balanced spicy and sour notes in the broth. It packed a good punch, and caused a few droplets of perspiration to trickle down our foreheads. Thankfully, we had a glass of refreshing Coca-Cola Zero Sugar to cool us down and to further enhance the mix of flavours.

Hyde & Co.

Hyde & Co. has developed a dual-personality concept. The menu features a creative selection of pastas and pizzas specially created by Chef Nazlie who comes from a family who runs a Malay food-catering business. Chef Nazlie is trained in Italian cuisine and brings together Italian and Malay flavours here at Hyde & Co. Our top favourite is the Gnocchi “Mee Rebus” ($21.90) which is served with sambal sotong, homemade mee rebus sauce (traditional Malay fermented bean sauce) and a glorious poached egg. Be warned, as the sauce gives a good, fiery kick!

The café also serves interesting curations such as Chilli Crab Pasta ($22.90), Satay Capellini ($19.90) and Firecracker ($22.90) – spicy laksa cream linguine tossed with toasted hei bi hiam (dried shrimp floss), and served with a succulent honey-glazed tiger prawn. You can expect a variety of pizza flavours that will fascinate your tastebuds as well.

Afterwit

Afterwit was inspired by an afterthought of pairing Mexican-influenced fare with an indie café experience. The interior is decorated with a vibrant Mexican flair(think bold colours and rustic furnishings). From quesadillas to tortilla pizzas, to tacos, to burritos, there is definitely something for everyone.

Compadre Lunch ($15) allows you to choose any premium taco or burrito(originally priced at $18 or $19), to be paired with your choice of canned drink. The Beef Briyani Burrito has pulled beef, briyani rice, curry, guacamole, mozzarella, fresh salsa, and whole black beans enveloped within the wrap. Each mouthful gives a burst of flavours and textures. We feel that this hearty dish is best paired with a can of ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, as the fizziness of the bubbly drink gives our palates a good cleanse after the carb-heavy meal.

Tash Tish Tosh

Named after the owner’s daughter childhood name, Tash Tish Tosh started as a sandwich café in Onan Road. They have since moved to Kandahar Street, and expanded their menu with more delicious offerings. Enjoy Under The Sea ($14.90 small / $19.90 big) – a thin crust pizza brimming with prawns and squid, gooey mozzarella and excellent homemade white sauce. The other noteworthy item is their Toolang ($9.90) which is well-steeped in its marrow-rich flavours.

Krave

This 2-year-old café specializes in al dente pasta. You can choose between spaghetti and penne for your pasta. We spotted some unique pasta flavours such as Rendang Bolognese ($16), Kurry Kremoso ($16), and Sambal Marinara ($18). The Kurry Kremoso is the café’s own rendition of curry chicken served with pasta.

This dish amazed us, as the rempah is very lemak with lots of coconut milk in it. Having this flavourful dish with a can of thirst-quenching Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is exceptionally satisfying. The fizzy drink helps to bring down the heat, from both the dish, and the weather – very shiok indeed!

Hararu Izakaya

Touted as the first Muslim-owned Izakaya in Singapore, Hararu Izakaya spans 2 storeys, with the second floor decorated in traditional Japanese Tatami dining style. The lunch menu offers diners a variety of 4 different donburi sets. At night, Hararu changes into a Japanese bar and their dinner menu showcases Japanese skewers and other ala carte items.

We popped by during lunch and tried Hararu’s donburi sets. The Unagi Don ($13) features grilled eel with Teriyaki sauce, tamago, pickles and rice. The eel is glistening, with a nice caramelised exterior that gives a slight crisp. It is grilled just right and the meat is tender and boasts a rich, sweet flavour. The Salmon Teriyaki Don ($12), on the other hand, features silky salmon skin with slightly charred edges.

Noosh Halal Noodle Bar & Grill

This Halal eatery noosh-es out incredible fusion food that will change what you think Halal food encompasses. Curly Fries with Bacon and Cheese ($12.90) is rich, flavourful, and great for sharing. Noosh Fried Rice ($12.90) is made complete with chicken floss, sambal belachan, prawn crackers, and a sunny-side up. It isn’t the best of the lot, but still a commendable effort regardless. Smoked Duck Lemak Chilli Padi Pasta ($16.90) is a twist on the conventional nasi lemak. Warning: this is super spicy! But, you may request for a “less-spicy” or “non-spicy” version as well. The flavours are intense, with a prounounced presence of coconut.

Fat Papas

Whenever our burger cravings kick in, we would think of Fat Papas which specializes in homemade burgers. The Wimpy Burger ($15) allows you to choose between a beef or lamb patty. We selected the former, so our burger came with house-blend beef patties, fried egg, turkey bacon, melted aged cheddar, and BBQ sauce, all stacked up between 2 fluffy sesame seed buns.

Dining here is a messy affair, but trust us – the best way of devouring a burger is to not be afraid of getting your hands dirty. Each bite gives a burst of flavours and textures in your mouth and whets your appetite for more. What to make it even more gratifying? Complement that mix of sensations with a cool, icy burst of fizzy goodness from a Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, that will definitely send your taste buds to taste heaven with each gulp.

Coca-Cola® is an all-time favourite beverage that can be enjoyed by all ages, anytime and anywhere. Why not enjoy Iftar with a can of Coke® at one of the Halal cafés that we have recommended? Head over to Coca-Cola® Singapore’s Facebook and Instagram pages to find out more about other great eats that can be enjoyed with Coke®.

This article is brought to you in partnership with Coca-Cola®, the opinions are the writers’ own.