Islam is one of the main religions in the Republic of Tatarstan, so if you are a practicing Muslim there are plenty of halal options in the region’s capital, Kazan. Even many of the restaurants and cafés that aren’t technically halal should be able to cater to travellers who don’t want to break faith. From cheap eats to fine dining, here are the best halal restaurants in Kazan to satisfy your appetite.
You’ll find this restaurant in Tugan Aviluym village – a complex of wooden cabins in the center of the city. Here, there are places to eat and a mosque which are all based on traditional Tatar life. The restaurant serves up traditional Tatar cuisine which manages to pull off both a bucolic, yet indulgent feel. It caters for large functions as well. It is worth walking around the complex and discovering other places to eat here, such as Pancake – a café that specialises in woodfire pancakes; and Cafe 14/56, which is an intimate little place – ideal for a date.
Itle claims to be the first halal steakhouse in Russia, and while succulent steaks and juicy burgers are the restaurant’s thing, the menu also offers a small selection of European and Russian favourites as well. All meat is locally sourced and diners can choose steak size according to how hungry they are. Food is prepared in an open kitchen, cooked on industrial BBQs, infusing the meat with that delicious flame-grilled taste. Itle also offers business lunches and is an alcohol and hookah-free venue.
This sweet little canteen-style café is in one of the cabins in the Tugan Avilym complex. Taking up two storeys, Alan Ash is just as rustic on the inside as the outside. The café has both Russian and Tatar dishes, as well as a separate halal menu. It also serves up house-baked sweets and pastries, which are ideally eaten with freshly brewed coffee, a selection of teas, or even a non-alcoholic mulled wine.
Another alcohol-free restaurant, this casual café serves up Tatar, Uzbek and Uyghur food, which is indigenous to the Xinjiang region in China and Central Asian countries. It is cheap, cheerful and kid-friendly, making it a good option for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Think mouthwatering lamb and mutton shashliks, pilafs and echpochmaks all served by smiling staff. It also has a pizza, sushi and European menu, so the selection is huge! Cafe Medina also offers take away.
Taking inspiration from the UNESCO-listed Registan Square in the ancient Uzbek town of Samarkand, Registan restaurant evokes all the beauty of a Central Asian bazaar. The walls are covered in Islamic mosaic titles and intricately woven carpets line the floor. Plus, it has a little bit of Russian kitsch thrown in there for good measure. A fine dining experience, the restaurant is ideal for a special treat and has European, Russain and Tatar menus to choose from, and all dishes are halal.
A Kazan institution, Dom Tatarskoi Kulinarii has been around for donkeys years and the dated interior of its expansive dining room is part of its charm. Translating to The House of Tatar Cooking, white gloved waiters serve up classics. This is the place to revel in peak kitschness and try out some of those horse-meat dishes you’ve been curious about. Of course, there are plenty of pastries and other morsels to savour and enjoy if that is not to your tasting.
Tatarskaya Usadba, or Tatar Estate, is part of a charming hotel and restaurant complex. This restaurant isn’t technically halal but should be able to cater to your needs easily. The kitchen prepares both Tatar and European meals so there are plenty of options to choose from and the menu comes in both languages. Also on site is the second Alan Ash café.
