Cardiff, the capital of Wales, offers a good halal food scene. The city’s diverse population, including a significant Muslim community, ensures solid halal accessibility. For more UK guides, see our halal food in UK hub.
Halal Food Overview in Cardiff
Cardiff provides good halal accessibility, especially in specific neighbourhoods.
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Halal Restaurants | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 50+ options |
| Variety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good diversity |
| City Road | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent hub |
| City Centre | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good options |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good city |
Best Areas for Halal Food
City Road (Roath)
Cardiff’s primary halal hub:
- Restaurant concentration: Dozens of options
- Pakistani/Bangladeshi: Traditional curry houses
- Middle Eastern: Lebanese, Turkish
- Halal butchers: Multiple shops
- Asian grocery stores: Full range
- Late-night options: Many open late
Riverside
Community area with halal:
- South Asian restaurants: Authentic cuisine
- African options: Some restaurants
- Halal butchers: Fresh meat
- Affordable: Good value
City Centre
St Mary Street / Queen Street:
- German Doner Kebab
- Various halal restaurants
- Chain options
- Shopping area dining
Capitol Shopping Centre:
- Food court
- Some halal options
- Quick service
St David’s Centre:
- Major shopping centre
- Food options
- Some halal available
Cardiff Bay
Waterfront development:
- Limited halal: But some options
- Mermaid Quay: Restaurant area
- Check restaurants: Ask about halal
- Tourist area: Mixed options
Types of Halal Food Available
South Asian Cuisine
Cardiff’s strength:
- Pakistani: Karahi, biryani, BBQ
- Bangladeshi: Traditional dishes
- Indian: Various regional cuisines
- Punjabi: Hearty options
Middle Eastern
- Turkish: Kebabs, grills, mezze
- Lebanese: Shawarma, falafel
- Arabic: Various options
- Kurdish: Some restaurants
Halal Fast Food
- German Doner Kebab: City centre
- Chicken shops: Throughout city
- Burger joints: Halal options
- Pizza places: Halal toppings
African Cuisine
- Somali: Some restaurants
- Ethiopian: Limited options
- North African: Moroccan influences
Popular Halal Restaurants
City Road
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Various curry houses | Pakistani/Bangladeshi | £-££ |
| Turkish grills | Middle Eastern | ££ |
| BBQ restaurants | South Asian | ££ |
Riverside
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional eateries | South Asian | £ |
| Community restaurants | Various | £ |
City Centre
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| German Doner Kebab | Turkish | £ |
| Chain restaurants | Mixed | ££ |
| Independent halal | Various | ££ |
Halal Shopping
Halal Butchers
City Road:
- Multiple halal butchers
- Fresh meat daily
- Competitive prices
- Wide selection
Riverside:
- Community shops
- Quality meat
Supermarkets
- Tesco: Halal sections
- Asda: Various locations
- Sainsbury’s: Some halal
- Asian supermarkets: Extensive
Specialty Stores
- City Road shops: South Asian products
- Middle Eastern stores: Specialty items
- African shops: Specific products
Cardiff for Muslim Visitors
Tourist Attractions & Food
Cardiff Castle:
- Historic landmark
- City centre location
- Food options nearby
Principality Stadium:
- Major events venue
- City centre
- Nearby restaurants
National Museum Cardiff:
- Free entry
- City centre
- Food accessible
Cardiff Bay:
- Waterfront
- Mermaid Quay restaurants
- Limited halal, check options
Universities
Cardiff University:
- City centre campus
- Islamic Society active
- City Road accessible
- Campus options
Cardiff Metropolitan University:
- Multiple campuses
- Food options around
Shopping
St David’s Centre:
- Major shopping
- Food court
- Some halal
Queen Street:
- High street shops
- Food options
- German Doner Kebab
Prayer Facilities
Cardiff has 15+ mosques:
- South Wales Islamic Centre: Main mosque
- Dar Ul-Isra Mosque: Significant
- Various local mosques: Throughout city
Match Days
Rugby at Principality Stadium
Cardiff is famous for rugby:
- Pre-match: City Road for halal
- City centre busy: Plan ahead
- Post-match: Many options open late
- Book ahead: Popular restaurants fill up
Cardiff City FC
Football matches:
- Cardiff City Stadium: Leckwith
- Limited nearby: Plan food separately
- City centre: Better options
Day Trips from Cardiff
Bristol (45 min)
- Southwest England hub
- Good halal scene
- See our Bristol guide
Swansea (1 hour)
- Wales’ second city
- Limited halal
- Smaller scene
Birmingham (2 hours)
- UK halal capital
- Exceptional scene
- See our Birmingham guide
Practical Tips
- City Road essential: Best halal concentration
- Riverside authentic: Traditional options
- City centre reliable: Chain options
- Match days busy: Book ahead
- Cardiff Bay: Limited halal, check first
- Halal butchers: City Road best
- Late night: Many places open late
- University areas: Good deals
- Ask about halal: Certificates displayed
- Welsh welcome: Friendly atmosphere