Why Finding Compliant Food Abroad Is Challenging
Traveling while maintaining halal or kosher dietary requirements adds a layer of complexity that most travelers never think about. Language barriers, unfamiliar certification systems, and varying standards across countries can make ordering food stressful. Delivery apps have made this significantly easier in recent years, but knowing which apps to use and how to navigate their filters is essential.
The good news: the global delivery ecosystem has expanded dramatically. In 2025 and 2026, more apps than ever offer dietary filters, and the rise of food delivery in Muslim-majority and Jewish-community areas means options are growing fast. This guide covers everything you need to know to eat confidently abroad.
Download Before You Land
Set up your delivery apps and search for halal or kosher options at your destination before you travel. This lets you confirm availability and save restaurant favorites while you still have reliable internet and can research certifications.
Delivery Apps with Built-In Halal Filters
Not all delivery apps treat halal filtering equally. Here is a breakdown of the major platforms and their halal support:
Best Apps for Halal Food
- Grab (Southeast Asia) — Dedicated halal toggle filter in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Malaysia's version is particularly robust thanks to JAKIM certification integration.
- Talabat (Middle East) — Virtually all restaurants in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar are halal by default. The app clearly marks the few non-halal options.
- HungerStation (Saudi Arabia) — Nearly 100% halal. Saudi Arabia enforces halal standards nationally, so every restaurant on the platform complies.
- Uber Eats — Halal tags available in select markets including the UK, UAE, Malaysia, and parts of Canada. Coverage is inconsistent in other countries.
- Deliveroo (UK, UAE, Gulf) — Good halal tagging in the UK and Gulf states. The "Halal" cuisine category appears in cities with significant Muslim populations.
- Careem (Middle East) — Strong halal default across its food delivery service in the Middle East and Pakistan.
Apps Without Halal Filters (But Workarounds Exist)
- DoorDash (US, Canada, Australia) — No dedicated filter, but searching "halal" returns tagged results in major cities.
- Bolt Food (Europe, Africa) — No halal filter. Use the search function and look for certification in restaurant descriptions.
- Glovo (Europe, Latin America) — No filter. Search "halal" and check restaurant details in Spain, Italy, and other European markets.
Finding Kosher Food Delivery Worldwide
Kosher food delivery is more concentrated geographically than halal, with the best options in countries that have significant Jewish communities. Here is what to expect by region:
Best Countries for Kosher Delivery
- Israel — The easiest country by far. Wolt, Yango Deli, and local apps offer extensive kosher options. Most restaurants hold Rabbanut (Chief Rabbinate) certification. Look for "Mehadrin" labels for stricter standards.
- United States — Major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago) have abundant kosher restaurants on Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. Look for OU, OK, or Star-K symbols.
- United Kingdom — London's Golders Green, Hendon, and Stamford Hill areas have kosher delivery options on Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
- France — Paris has a strong kosher food scene. Search "casher" (French spelling) on Uber Eats and Deliveroo for better results.
- Canada — Montreal and Toronto have solid kosher delivery options through local and major apps.
Kosher on Shabbat
Most kosher restaurants close for Shabbat (Friday evening through Saturday evening). Plan ahead and order before Shabbat begins, or identify non-kosher alternatives that still meet your dietary needs, such as vegan or raw food restaurants.
Kosher Certification to Look For
When browsing restaurant photos and menus on delivery apps, look for these common kosher certification symbols:
- OU (Orthodox Union) — The most widely recognized kosher symbol globally, especially in the US.
- OK Kosher — Common in North America and increasingly in Europe.
- Star-K — Baltimore-based but recognized internationally.
- Rabbanut — Israel's Chief Rabbinate certification, the standard in Israel.
- Beth Din — Local rabbinical court certifications found in the UK, South Africa, and Australia.
How to Search in Local Languages
Delivery app search functions work best with local-language terms. Save these translations to your phone before traveling:
Halal Search Terms
- Arabic: حلال (halal)
- Turkish: helal
- Malay/Indonesian: halal
- French: halal
- Japanese: ハラール (harāru)
- Korean: 할랄 (hallal)
- Chinese: 清真 (qīngzhēn)
- Thai: ฮาลาล (halan)
Kosher Search Terms
- Hebrew: כשר (kasher)
- French: casher or cacher
- Spanish: kosher or kósher
- German: koscher
- Portuguese: kosher or casher
- Russian: кошерный (koshernyy)
Use Google Translate's Camera Feature
When browsing menus on delivery apps in foreign languages, screenshot the menu and use Google Translate's camera mode to identify ingredients. This is especially useful in Japan, South Korea, and China where menus rarely have English translations.
Best Countries for Halal & Kosher Delivery by Region
Easiest for Halal
Countries where almost everything is halal by default, making delivery ordering worry-free:
- Malaysia — Strict JAKIM certification. Grab clearly labels halal and non-halal. One of the easiest countries in the world for halal travelers.
- Indonesia — The world's largest Muslim population. GoFood and GrabFood offer massive halal selections.
- Turkey — Most restaurants serve halal meat by default. Yemeksepeti and Getir have enormous restaurant selections.
- UAE — Talabat, Deliveroo, and Careem all serve predominantly halal food. Non-halal options are clearly marked.
- Saudi Arabia — 100% halal. HungerStation and Jahez make ordering effortless.
Moderate Difficulty for Halal
- United Kingdom — Strong halal scene in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bradford. Deliveroo and Uber Eats have good halal tags.
- France — Paris, Lyon, and Marseille have halal options. Search "halal" on Uber Eats.
- Germany — Berlin, Cologne, and Frankfurt have halal-friendly Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants on Lieferando.
- Thailand — Bangkok and southern Thailand (near Malaysia) have halal options on Grab and LINE MAN.
Challenging for Halal
- Japan — Very limited halal options. A few halal-certified restaurants exist in Tokyo and Osaka. Search ハラール on Uber Eats. Vegetarian or seafood options are safer bets.
- South Korea — Halal restaurants are rare outside Seoul's Itaewon district. Coupang Eats and Baedal Minjok have limited halal tags.
- China — Search 清真 on Meituan or Eleme. Options are better in northwestern cities (Xi'an, Lanzhou) and Beijing's Niujie area.
Trusted Halal & Kosher Chains to Look For
When you are unsure about local restaurants, these international chains are reliable options on delivery apps:
Halal-Friendly Chains
- Nando's — Many locations worldwide serve halal chicken. Check the specific branch, as policies vary by country.
- The Halal Guys — Available in the US, Canada, and expanding internationally. Almost always on Uber Eats and DoorDash.
- Subway — Select locations in the UK, Malaysia, and Middle East serve halal meat. Look for halal signage in restaurant photos.
- KFC — Fully halal in Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and many Middle Eastern countries.
- McDonald's — Halal in all Muslim-majority countries. Not halal in Western countries.
Kosher-Friendly Chains
- Aroma Espresso Bar — Kosher-certified in Israel and some international locations.
- Burgers Bar — Kosher chain in Israel, available on Wolt.
- Pizza Hut Israel — Kosher-certified, available on local delivery apps.
Vegetarian as a Safe Fallback
When you cannot find certified halal or kosher restaurants, vegetarian and vegan options are almost always compliant with both dietary laws (with a few exceptions like certain cheeses and wine-based sauces). Most delivery apps have excellent vegetarian filters in every country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grab (Southeast Asia), Talabat (Middle East), and HungerStation (Saudi Arabia) have the best built-in halal filters. Uber Eats and Deliveroo offer halal tags in select markets including the UK, UAE, and Malaysia. For apps without filters, searching "halal" in the search bar usually returns relevant results in cities with Muslim populations.
Israel has the best kosher delivery options on Wolt and Yango Deli. In the US, UK, and France, search "kosher" or "casher" on major apps like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. For strict observance, verify specific hechsher certifications in restaurant photos. In countries with few kosher options, vegetarian restaurants are the safest alternative.
No. Halal certification varies by certifying body and country. Malaysia's JAKIM is among the strictest. Kosher certifications also differ — OU, OK Kosher, and local rabbinical authorities each have different standards. "Halal-friendly" or "kosher-style" labels do not guarantee full certification. Always look for official certification logos.
Order from vegetarian or vegan restaurants, which are generally compliant with both dietary laws. Seafood restaurants are another safe option in most cases. Use Google Maps to find certified restaurants near you, then check if they are listed on local delivery platforms. Some specialized halal or kosher delivery services operate outside mainstream apps — ask your hotel concierge or check local community forums.
It depends on the country. In the UK, Australia, and Canada, halal labeling is generally reliable due to consumer protection laws. In other regions, labels may be self-reported without formal certification. Look for specific certification body logos in restaurant photos, read reviews from other Muslim diners, and when uncertain, stick to vegetarian dishes or well-known halal chains.