How Hong Kong is wooing Muslim tourists with halal menus
At
Chinesology restaurant in Hong Kong, culinary director Saito Chau creates char siu with
Wagyu beef instead of pork, and uses 'a secret sauce' to replace the rose cooking wine in the glaze. For him, the dish is not just another modern spin on a classic dish – it represents an opportunity for cultural exchange.
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When Chau visited Dubai last January, he saw Chinese restaurants catering to a predominantly Muslim clientele who, due to religious dietary laws, were unable to enjoy dishes such as char siu. This is because the dish uses pork, which is non-halal and therefore forbidden. He was moved to create a Muslim-friendly version.
'I hope that friends who can't eat pork can enjoy the irresistible sweet-savoury allure of this 'char siu', so that more people around the world can experience this piece of Chinese food culture,' he says.
Chinesology's roasted beef with 20 years tangerine peel, honey and peanut – a halal-friendly spin on char siu pork. Photo: Nicholas Wong
Since Chinesology continues to serve pork, the process of setting the kitchen up to offer halal dishes was somewhat complicated. The kitchen had to be deep cleaned and sectioned off to create a dedicated halal cooking area, which needed new refrigerators, kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies. Ingredients, including sauces, are kept separate, and halal dishes are prepared by dedicated chefs.
The kitchen team strictly vets all suppliers, working with halal-certified farms and distributors for meat, sauces and even spices, and keeps detailed records to ensure traceability. The team works with multiple suppliers to avoid shortages without compromising on standards.
Chinesology now offers 20 halal Chinese dishes, a six-course halal-friendly lunch tasting menu and an eight-course halal-friendly dinner menu. Last November, the establishment became the first high-end Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong to achieve halal-friendly accreditation from the Incorporated Trustees of Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, joining almost 200 other dining establishments across the city that have been given halal status.
Chinesology's culinary director Saito Chau. Photo: Handout
The move to expand Hong Kong's halal restaurant options is part of a
drive by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to boost the city's appeal to Muslim tourists, especially those from South and Southeast Asia, as well as from the Middle East.
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How Hong Kong is wooing Muslim tourists with halal menus
At Chinesology restaurant in Hong Kong, culinary director Saito Chau creates char siu with Wagyu beef instead of pork, and uses 'a secret sauce' to replace the rose cooking wine in the glaze. For him, the dish is not just another modern spin on a classic dish – it represents an opportunity for cultural exchange. Advertisement When Chau visited Dubai last January, he saw Chinese restaurants catering to a predominantly Muslim clientele who, due to religious dietary laws, were unable to enjoy dishes such as char siu. This is because the dish uses pork, which is non-halal and therefore forbidden. He was moved to create a Muslim-friendly version. 'I hope that friends who can't eat pork can enjoy the irresistible sweet-savoury allure of this 'char siu', so that more people around the world can experience this piece of Chinese food culture,' he says. Chinesology's roasted beef with 20 years tangerine peel, honey and peanut – a halal-friendly spin on char siu pork. Photo: Nicholas Wong Since Chinesology continues to serve pork, the process of setting the kitchen up to offer halal dishes was somewhat complicated. The kitchen had to be deep cleaned and sectioned off to create a dedicated halal cooking area, which needed new refrigerators, kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies. Ingredients, including sauces, are kept separate, and halal dishes are prepared by dedicated chefs. The kitchen team strictly vets all suppliers, working with halal-certified farms and distributors for meat, sauces and even spices, and keeps detailed records to ensure traceability. The team works with multiple suppliers to avoid shortages without compromising on standards. Chinesology now offers 20 halal Chinese dishes, a six-course halal-friendly lunch tasting menu and an eight-course halal-friendly dinner menu. Last November, the establishment became the first high-end Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong to achieve halal-friendly accreditation from the Incorporated Trustees of Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, joining almost 200 other dining establishments across the city that have been given halal status. Chinesology's culinary director Saito Chau. Photo: Handout The move to expand Hong Kong's halal restaurant options is part of a drive by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to boost the city's appeal to Muslim tourists, especially those from South and Southeast Asia, as well as from the Middle East.
