How to recognise halal certification in Türkiye: logos, shops and restaurants

Is food in Türkiye halal?

Most animals slaughtered in Türkiye are slaughtered the Islamic way, and pork is almost never found in ordinary restaurants and supermarkets. Nearly all the eateries, kebab houses and köfte restaurants in Sultanahmet use halal meat, so most Muslim visitors feel at ease about food in Istanbul.

Two things should be kept apart, though:

• The meat may be halal while the restaurant serves alcohol. For an alcohol-free setting, choose traditional lokantas, köfte, pide and kebab restaurants, and look at the menu before going in. We list options in our guide to alcohol-free family restaurants in Sultanahmet.
• Halal certification is voluntary. A place without a certificate is not necessarily non-halal; a certified place shows it has been inspected.

What is the Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK)?

The Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) is the public body that inspects and accredits the organisations issuing halal certificates in Türkiye. It does not certify products itself; it checks that the certifiers are reliable and competent.

• Since 4 June 2023, bodies issuing halal certificates for products and services sold in Türkiye must be accredited by HAK.
• In 2025 accreditation was extended beyond food to food service, packaging, cosmetics, tourism and accommodation.
• For imported products carrying a halal claim, the certifier must also be accredited or recognised by HAK.

The current list of HAK-accredited bodies is published on the agency’s official website, hak.gov.tr.

How do I check a halal logo on packaged food?

1. Find the logo: it is usually on the front or back of the pack, and most say “Helal” or “حلال”.
2. Look for the certifier’s name: a reliable logo carries the name or initials of the body that issued it. A mark that just says “halal” with no organisation gives too little information.
3. Look for the certificate number: many logos carry a certificate number or a QR code you can scan to see the certificate.
4. Check the accreditation: see whether the certifier is on HAK’s list of accredited bodies.
5. If in doubt: read the ingredients or choose a better-known certified brand.

Which additives should I watch for?

Most food produced in Türkiye is unproblematic, but the source of some additives varies by product. Be careful especially with sweets and desserts bought for children:

Imported products may have less label information; a domestic product with a halal logo is the easiest choice. For religious rulings, refer to the official sources of Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).

How can I tell if a restaurant is halal?

• Certificate: some restaurants display their halal certificate at the door or till. As HAK’s scope now covers food service, the number of certified restaurants is growing.
• Ask: “Is your meat halal-slaughtered? Do you serve alcohol?” is a normal question in Istanbul and staff will answer readily.
• Type of place: traditional lokantas, köfte, pide and kebab restaurants are the safest choices for both halal meat and an alcohol-free setting.
• International chains: their Turkish branches generally use halal meat, but it is always worth checking the menu for pork products.

For baby food, grocery shopping and child-friendly meals in Sultanahmet, see our practical tips for babies and kids.