Halal Food at Borough Market: Stall Guide for Muslim Visitors

Halal Food at Borough Market

Yes, Borough Market has halal food. Several stalls and vendors across the market serve halal-certified dishes. JUMA Kitchen, Gourmet Goat, Mei Mei, and Arabica are among the most established halal options at the market. Borough Market sits at 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL, steps from London Bridge station. A market has existed at this Southwark site for over 1,000 years. The market relocated to its current location in 1756 and draws over six million visitors each year. Borough Market is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). With more than 100 traders, halal options cover Iraqi, Cypriot, Singaporean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisines. This guide lists every known halal vendor, what they serve, and how to plan your visit as a Muslim traveller.

Best Halal Stalls at Borough Market

Borough Market’s halal stalls range from sit-down restaurants to grab-and-go street food counters. Each vendor listed here includes what they serve and their certification status.

JUMA Kitchen (Iraqi Cuisine)

JUMA Kitchen is run by British-Iraqi chef Philip Juma, whose father was from Mosul in northern Iraq. Philip started with Iraqi supper clubs in London in 2013 before securing a permanent spot at Borough Market. He was a finalist in the BBC Street Food Awards 2021. The stall is known for handmade kubba, which are fried or braised stuffed dumplings. Kubba haleb has a pounded rice coating filled with mince, rice, and sweet onions. Potato chap kubba uses mashed potato casing around meat or mushroom filling. The menu also includes charcoal-grilled kebabs, fattoush salad, spinach fatayer, bamia okra stew (vegan), uroog courgette and cauliflower fritters, and kunafa for dessert. All food at JUMA Kitchen is halal. The stall is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm (Sunday closes at 4pm).

Gourmet Goat (Cypriot Street Food)

Gourmet Goat serves Cypriot street food with a Greek-Cypriot approach to cooking. The business was founded to use billy kid goat meat from dairy farms, reducing waste in the dairy industry. They source British kid goat and rose veal from high-welfare UK dairy farms. Their signature dish is the kid goat kofta wrap with fresh chilli salsa and tzatziki. Other options include halloumi salad bowls, slow-cooked calf with pickles, bulgur wheat pilaf bowls, and Greek white bean stew. Gourmet Goat is a certified Living Wage Employer. They source halal meat and clearly mark their halal status at the stall.

Mei Mei (Singaporean)

Mei Mei was founded by Elizabeth Haigh, who previously led the kitchen at Pidgin restaurant in Hackney. The menu is inspired by Singaporean kopi tiam (coffee shops). The stall specialises in Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian dishes. Mei Mei uses permanent halal chicken suppliers, though staff recommend confirming with them on each visit. Popular dishes include Hainanese chicken rice, nasi lemak, ox cheek rendang curry, Captain’s curry, and kaya toast. Traditional Singaporean drinks like kopi (coffee) and teh (tea) are also available. Mei Mei is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm. The stall is at unit 52 Rochester Walk, Borough Market.

Arabica (Middle Eastern)

Arabica has operated at Borough Market for over 20 years. The business started with a cool box, a trestle table, and a small range of products. Today it runs both a street food stall (Arabica To Go) and a sit-down restaurant (Arabica Bar and Kitchen) at the market. Arabica To Go only trades on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The stall serves chicken shawarma sliced to order, falafel wraps with pickles and tahini sauce, halloumi fries, Turkish delights, and baklava. Arabica’s halal status can vary depending on their supplier at any given time. Call ahead or ask staff to confirm whether the chicken being served that day is halal-certified.

Horn Ok Please (Indian Vegetarian)

Horn Ok Please is a vegetarian stall run by Indian owners who bring street food from across the subcontinent. Signature dishes include moong dal dosa filled with spiced potatoes and served with chana chaat, dosa chaat, samosa chaat, bhel puri, and egg kati rolls. Because the stall is entirely vegetarian, there are no meat-related halal concerns. Dishes are gluten-free friendly and the stall is wheelchair accessible. Horn Ok Please also trades at Southbank Centre Market and Victoria Park on Sundays.

Bread Ahead (Bakery)

Bread Ahead is a glass-fronted bakery at Borough Market known for its doughnuts, croissants, sourdough bread, and pastries. Muslim visitors often buy baked goods here because the ingredients are halal-friendly. Their doughnuts are a popular choice for Muslim visitors looking for a dessert option at the market. Confirm ingredient details directly with staff, particularly for items containing gelatin or animal-derived fats.

What Halal Food Can You Find at Borough Market?

Borough Market’s halal food covers a wide range of cuisines. Here is what each cuisine offers.

Iraqi: JUMA Kitchen serves kubba dumplings, grilled kebabs, okra stew, and kunafa. This is one of the few places in London to find authentic Iraqi street food.

Cypriot and Middle Eastern: Gourmet Goat offers Cypriot-style goat kofta wraps and bulgur bowls. Arabica serves shawarma, falafel, halloumi, and Turkish delights. Both stalls sell salads, wraps, and full-sized bowls.

Singaporean and Southeast Asian: Mei Mei serves chicken rice, nasi lemak, and kaya toast. These are hawker centre dishes from Singapore and Malaysia.

Indian Vegetarian: Horn Ok Please covers dosas, chaat, and other South Indian street food. All items are meat-free, making halal status straightforward.

Baked Goods: Bread Ahead offers doughnuts, pastries, and sourdough bread. These are suitable for Muslim visitors seeking halal-friendly snacks and dessert.

Seafood: Several Borough Market fishmongers sell fresh seafood, which is permissible under Islamic dietary law without specific halal certification. Fish and shellfish can be purchased from stalls like Furness Fish Markets and Shell Seekers.

Borough Market Halal Meat and Grocery Vendors

Borough Market does not currently have a dedicated halal butcher stall within the market itself. The market’s butchers, such as The Ginger Pig and Northfield Farm, specialise in free-range and organic meats but do not offer halal-slaughtered products.

For halal meat purchases near Borough Market, Shah’s Halal Food at 208 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX is a popular takeaway and grocery option within walking distance. Shah’s is open 11am to 11pm. The shop serves halal grilled meats and offers some grocery items.

Muslim visitors looking for a full halal butcher or grocery store will find better options in nearby areas of Central London. Whitechapel, about 15 minutes by tube on the District or Hammersmith and City lines, has multiple halal butchers and grocery shops. Tooting, accessible via the Northern Line, is another area with several halal meat shops.

Oliveology at Borough Market sells Mediterranean oils, olives, and dips that are naturally halal. These make good pantry items for Muslim visitors wanting to take something home from the market.

Planning Your Visit to Borough Market

Borough Market Opening Hours

Borough Market is open six days a week. The market is closed on Mondays. Here is the current schedule:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: 10am to 5pm
• Wednesday: 10am to 5pm
• Thursday: 10am to 5pm
• Friday: 10am to 5pm
• Saturday: 9am to 5pm
• Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Hours may change during public holidays and the festive season. Check the Borough Market website before visiting on bank holidays.

Not all stalls open every day the market trades. Arabica To Go only trades Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Mei Mei is closed on Mondays. Saturday is the busiest day, when nearly all traders are open.

Best Times to Visit Borough Market

Weekday mornings between 10am and 12pm offer the smallest crowds. Saturday between 12pm and 2pm is the peak period, and queues at popular stalls can stretch to 15 minutes or longer. If visiting on Saturday, arrive by 9am for a calmer experience. Sunday offers a quieter alternative, though the market closes at 4pm and some stalls do not trade.

How to Get to Borough Market

By Tube: London Bridge station is the nearest stop, served by the Northern Line and Jubilee Line. The market is directly across the road from the station exit, about a one-minute walk.

By Bus: Routes 21, 35, 40, 43, 47, 133, 149, and 381 stop near London Bridge or on Borough High Street.

By Train: London Bridge mainline station connects to services from south London, Kent, and Surrey.

By Bicycle: Bike racks are available inside the market and on surrounding streets. Santander Cycles docking stations are located near London Bridge.

Parking: There is no dedicated parking at Borough Market. The nearest car parks are on Snowsfields and Stainer Street. Driving is not recommended due to congestion charge and limited spaces.

Admission to Borough Market is free.

Borough Market Sections and Layout

Borough Market has three distinct sections. Three Crown Square holds larger producers and permanent shops. Green Market contains specialty produce vendors. Borough Market Kitchen is the street food section, where most halal-friendly vendors are located. JUMA Kitchen, Gourmet Goat, and Horn Ok Please all trade from the Borough Market Kitchen area. Head straight to Borough Market Kitchen if you want the halal stalls first.

Accessibility at Borough Market

Borough Market is on a single ground floor level with no stairs. Passage widths vary from 1.5 to 4 metres between stalls. Some areas have cobblestone surfaces. Four accessible toilets are available during trading hours, and no RADAR key is required. Peak Saturday crowds may reduce wheelchair access in narrower passages.

Borough Market History

The earliest reference to Southwark as a market town comes from the Norse saga Heimskringla, which describes events from 1014. A market has existed in this area in some form for over 1,000 years. In 1756, parishioners raised 6,000 pounds to relocate the market to its current site on Southwark Street. The 1862 construction of a railway viaduct through the site transformed Borough Market into a wholesale hub. In 1998, the market was reinvented as a retail food destination. Today Borough Market is run as a registered charity (No. 1076940) by volunteer trustees. It draws over six million visitors each year.

Prayer Facilities Near Borough Market

Muslim visitors will find several prayer options within walking distance of Borough Market.

Guy’s Hospital Multi-Faith Prayer Room

Guy’s Hospital is the closest prayer facility to the market. The multi-faith prayer room is on the ground floor of the Tower Wing at Guy’s Hospital, 20 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RS. This is about a three-minute walk from Borough Market. The prayer room is open from 8am to 7pm daily. Jummah (Friday) prayers are held between 1pm and 2pm.

Bait-ul-Aziz Islamic Cultural Centre (Harper Road Mosque)

This is the nearest full mosque to Borough Market. Located at 201 Dickens Square, London SE1 4JL, it is about a 12-minute walk southeast of the market. The mosque has a capacity of around 2,500 worshippers and provides separate facilities for women. It serves a multi-cultural congregation and offers regular daily prayers and Jummah services.

London Bridge Masjid

London Bridge Islamic Centre operates in the area and provides prayer facilities. Check their website at londonbridgemasjid.org for current prayer times and exact location details.

For wudu (ablution), Guy’s Hospital has accessible washroom facilities near the prayer room. The Bait-ul-Aziz mosque has full wudu facilities on site.

Tips for Muslim Visitors at Borough Market

How to Identify Halal Stalls at Borough Market

Not all halal stalls display certificates prominently. Ask the vendor directly whether their meat is halal-certified. Request to see their halal certificate if one is not displayed. Stalls like JUMA Kitchen are fully halal and will confirm this without hesitation. Arabica’s halal status varies by supplier, so always check on the day of your visit.

Cross-Contamination Awareness at Borough Market

Borough Market is a mixed-use food market. Halal stalls may be located next to vendors selling pork products or alcohol. Some stalls share kitchen equipment or preparation areas. If cross-contamination is a concern, ask each vendor whether they use separate cooking equipment for halal items. Stalls like JUMA Kitchen and Gourmet Goat operate their own dedicated cooking areas.

Alcohol at Borough Market

Borough Market has several wine merchants and bars. Some food stalls, including Arabica Bar and Kitchen (the sit-down restaurant, not the street food stall), serve alcohol. The street food stalls listed in this guide do not typically serve alcohol at their counters. If avoiding proximity to alcohol is important, the outdoor stall areas in the Green Market section tend to have fewer alcohol vendors.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options for Muslim Visitors

If finding verified halal meat is a concern, Borough Market has strong vegetarian options. Horn Ok Please is entirely vegetarian. Several other stalls offer plant-based dishes that avoid halal certification questions entirely. Seafood from the fishmongers is another alternative, as fish does not require halal slaughter under Islamic dietary law.

Budget and Payment at Borough Market

Most stalls accept card payment, including contactless. Street food dishes typically cost between 7 and 12 pounds. Sit-down meals at Arabica Bar and Kitchen or nearby restaurants range from 15 to 25 pounds per person. Bring cash as backup, since a small number of market traders may be card-only during busy periods when systems go down.

Frequently Asked Questions