10 Authentic Halal Middle Eastern Restaurants in Jakarta

Middle Eastern food is known for its rich spices and big servings, so a Middle Eastern restaurant can be a great choice. You don't need to travel all the way to an Arab country to enjoy those delicious flavors. Start your taste adventure at various Middle Eastern restaurants in Jakarta, which are also good for breaking your fast (if it's Ramadan). Check out these popular restaurant recommendations among food lovers – maybe one of them is your favorite?

Also read : Spicy, Hearty, and Halal: Must-Try Indonesian Food in Tokyo

1. Sentral Al Jazeerah Restaurant and Cafe, a feast for your eyes

Image credit : @sentralaljazeerahrestaurant | Instagram

Sentral Al Jazeerah Restaurant and Cafe makes you feel like you've been transported to a place in the Middle East. It has a big space with beautiful Middle Eastern details, and there's also a VIP room you can rent. Order a platter – it'll definitely fill you up – or try the Umm Ali dessert to sweeten your taste buds. Drinks like Adeni tea or date juice go perfectly with their flavorful food.

Location: Jl. Pramuka No.C23 2, RT.5/RW.4, Rawasari, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday, 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM ; Friday, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

2. Ajwad Restaurant, their recipes are creative and make you curious.

Image credit: @ajwadresto | Instagram

You can definitely enjoy dishes like Nasi Kabsah (rice with meat) and Khobus (Arabic bread) at Ajwad Resto. But here, you won't just find the usual Middle Eastern food. They have some "special" dishes that are unique creations, like Coto Ajwad (a soup with rice cakes and lamb) or Lahmie (spaghetti with lamb). If you come when it's prayer time, don't be surprised if all the staff pray first before going back to work. You can really feel the Arabic atmosphere here!

Location: Jl. Raya Condet No.50, RT.2/RW.3, Batu Ampar, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta

Opening Hours: Saturday - Thursday, 10:00 - 9:00 ; Friday, 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

3. Hadramout Arabic Restaurant, make sure your stomach is empty before you come

Image credit: Ali Dashti | Canva Pro

Why? Because every dish at Hadramout Arabic Restaurant is really tempting! It's perfect for breaking your fast with your office friends or family. Try the Nasi Madghout (rice with spices and tomato puree) – it's so tasty even without any side dishes. They also have a grill platter with different dips like Baba Ghanouj and Mutabal. And make sure to save some space in your stomach for the Kunafa cheese and Arika, which is a special Yemeni pudding made from cream and dates.

Location: Jl. Tambak No.16A 1, Pegangsaan, Menteng, Central Jakarta

Opening Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

4. Alsadda Restaurant, great for taking pictures together.

Image credit: @alsadda | Official Instagram

Alsadda Restaurant feels like a modern family restaurant with Middle Eastern decorations. It's a fun place to visit with a group, and the comfortable and spacious setting makes taking pictures together look really nice. Their lamb dishes are very popular, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can try the sheep's head menu, which people say has fresh-tasting meat. Lahm Mandi (slow-cooked lamb and rice) is a must-try to make your meal together feel more connected. And in between bites, try some traditional Arabic coffee, which has a bitterness that will refresh your throat.

Location: Jl. Otto Iskandardinata No.70/30, RT.6/RW.5, Kp. Melayu, Jatinegara, East Jakarta

Opening Hours: Every day, 10:00 AM - 10:30 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

5. Abunawas Restaurant, even sitting on the floor to eat feels good here.

Image credit : @abunawasrestaurant | Official Instagram

To really get the Middle Eastern feeling, you can eat while sitting on the floor ("lesehan") at Abunawas Restaurant. The restaurant is fancy, and the inside looks cool. Another interesting thing is their special dish: a really long kebab filled with lamb meat. This extra-long kebab comes with sides like French fries, cucumber and avocado salad, Balela salad, Turkish salad, and hummus. While you're waiting for your kebab to arrive, you can also order some snacks like samosas, falafel, and kibbeh.

Location: Jl. Matraman Raya No.15, Kb. Manggis, Matraman, East Jakarta

Opening Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

6. Turkuaz, the Turkish atmosphere that moved to Jakarta.

Image credit : @turkuazrst | Official Instagram

Turkuaz is quite popular among people who love Middle Eastern food, especially Turkish cuisine. With its cool interior design, it feels like you've been transported to Turkey itself. Waiting for your lamb shish kebab and sultan grill platter to arrive won't feel long here. Plus, you can also order Turkish coffee and baklava filled with pistachios to treat your taste buds.

Location: Jl. Gunawarman No.32, RT.5/RW.2, Selong, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta

Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM; Friday - Saturday, 11:30 AM - 12:00 AM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

7. Warung Turki, just not like other warung

Image credit : @warungturki | Official Instagram

Even though it's called "warung" (which usually means a simple local eatery), Warung Turki offers some really mouth-watering alternative dishes. There's Coban Tava, which is lamb meat roasted in a wood-fired oven with onions, tomatoes, and chili. If you want to try Turkish-style pizza, order Zeytin Pide, which is loaded with toppings. Also, try their delicious hummus for dipping, and you can enjoy it while watching a belly dance show at certain times.

Location: Jl. Kemang Raya No.18A, RT.11/RW.5, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta

Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM; Friday - Saturday, 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

8. Fez Kinara Dining and Lounge, taste the exotic mix of Indian flavors.

Image credit : @heloisesadanara| Instagram

Eating at Fez Kinara Dining and Lounge will surround you with an Indian-style atmosphere. Dishes worth ordering are the Royal Couscous and Butter Chicken – their combination is really good. If you want to eat lamb, they have Mutton Rogan Josh, and you can also enjoy it with Harira soup. It might be hard to choose what to order because every dish looks appealing. It's okay to order a few things at once, so you can also enjoy the cool atmosphere of the restaurant for longer.

Location: Jalan Kemang Raya 78B, RT.4/RW.2, Bangka, South Jakarta

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday, 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Saturday - Sunday, 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

9. Larazeta Restaurant and Gallery, an elegant Middle Eastern restaurant.

Image credit : @salsasabila | Instagram

Since it has "Gallery" in its name, it's no surprise that Larazeta Restaurant and Gallery looks like a fancy restaurant. A popular dish here is the lamb biryani, which you can enjoy with Moroccan tea. Their best dishes are mostly made with lamb and goat meat. If you want to taste tender young goat meat, order Ruz Zurbian Bil Lahm. Then, finish your meal with Muhalabiyah, a milk pudding with almonds, or Caramela Larazeta, a caramel pudding with date sauce.

Location: 8 2, Jl. Tebet Barat Dalam Raya No.17 8, RT.8/RW.2, West Tebet, South Jakarta

Opening Hours: Every day, 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

10. Hadramiah Restaurant, makes you want to keep chewing!

Image credit : @hadraimiah.restaurant | Official Instagram

The fresh taste of their lamb and the tenderness of their chicken are what make Hadramiah Restaurant special. Their Kebuli Kambing (lamb rice dish) is a classic with a flavor that will really please you. Also try Ausol, which is a special kind of Arabic satay, and Lagemait, which has a lotus biscoff flavor. It's hard not to love Middle Eastern food when it tastes this good!

Location: Block AP, Jl. Bintaro Utama 3 No 52, Bintaro Jaya, Pondok Aren, South Tangerang

Opening Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (WIB - Jakarta Time)

Also read : We Tried the 5 Most Viral Halal Dishes in Southeast Asia — Here’s What’s Worth the Hype

These Middle Eastern restaurants are fun places to visit for a food adventure. Try going on the weekend or even after work to relax.