Sampling Halal Cuisine in Jakarta's Glodok Chinatown District
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year celebrations, coinciding with the long weekend holiday, the Glodok Chinatown district has become one of the most popular destinations, attracting not only Chinese-Indonesian communities but also the general public. The area, steeped in Chinese cultural ambience, holds a distinctive appeal with numerous spots for photographs. Yet no visit would be complete without sampling its culinary offerings.
Despite its strong association with Chinese culture, Glodok’s Chinatown does not exclusively serve non-halal cuisine. Several eateries in the area offer distinctive Chinese dishes that are halal or Muslim-friendly. Here is a selection of halal culinary options in the Glodok Chinatown district.
- Lanzhou Beef Ramen, China
Not far from the main gate of the Glodok Pancoran area in West Jakarta, on the right-hand side upon arrival, the Lanzhou eatery is easily found. Lanzhou is a region well known as a centre of culture and Islam in northwest China, as well as a hub for halal cuisine.
The eatery’s signature dish is hand-pulled beef noodles. The handmade noodles, with their springy texture and clean taste, are served in a clear beef broth, accompanied by slices of beef and garnished with coriander leaves and spring onions. Diners can add chilli oil at the table for a spicy kick. The combination of savoury broth and chewy noodles makes this dish suitable for any time of day.
Those fortunate enough to secure a seat on the ground floor can watch the noodle-making process firsthand, as the lamian are hand-pulled to the desired thickness before cooking. A bowl of beef ramen is priced at Rp45,000. For those wishing to add extra meat, a set menu is available comprising noodles, extra beef and a drink.
- Cumin Lamb Rice
For those who prefer rice over noodles for lunch or dinner, rice with a choice of protein such as chicken, beef or lamb is available. ANTARA had the opportunity to try the stir-fried lamb with cumin rice. The dish comes as a complete set comprising rice and thinly sliced lamb stir-fried with capsicum, onion and spring onions.