Changi Airport: Halal Foodie's Paradise For Travelers

Singapore's Changi Airport, rated the World's Best Airport seven times in a row, is a bustling transportation hub in Asia with incredible amenities. It offers a wide range of halal food options for Muslim travellers in its public and transit areas. From fast food to full meals, travellers can explore various cuisines, including Asian, Chinese, and Western options. Changi Airport's halal eateries are certified by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), ensuring that Muslim travellers can dine with confidence. The airport also provides prayer rooms for the convenience of Muslim travellers.

Halal eateries in the public and transit areas

Singapore's Changi Airport has been rated the World's Best Airport seven times in a row and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. The airport has incredible amenities, including a rooftop swimming pool and a free movie theatre, and offers a wide variety of food options.

If you're looking for Halal eateries in the public and transit areas, here are some options to choose from:

Terminal M

Terminal M offers a mix of Asian cuisines from six different stalls, featuring dishes from countries across Asia. It is located in the Departure Transit Lounge North of Terminal 3.

Curry Times

Curry Times is an extension of Old Chang Kee, a beloved Singaporean pastry shop established in 1956. They serve a variety of curries and spices. It is located in Terminal 3 and is open daily.

Encik Tan

Encik Tan is a Halal food chain that serves Chinese cuisine, including Fishball Noodles, Laksa, and Chicken Rice.

Subway

For a quick bite, Subway offers halal-certified sandwiches, including the Chicken Teriyaki and Subway Melt. It is located in Jewel Changi Airport and is open daily.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

If you're looking for something light, this cafe offers coffee, desserts, and all-day breakfast options like the Breakfast Platter, which includes scrambled eggs, sausages, mushrooms, bacon, and Panini bread.

In addition to these options, Changi Airport also has other Halal-certified eateries like El Fuego, Sampanman, and Don Don Donki at Jewel Changi Airport.

Halal-certified Subway

Subway is a fast-food chain that originated in the United States. It is known for its submarine sandwiches and salads. In recent years, Subway has made efforts to cater to diverse cultural and religious communities by offering Halal options in some of its outlets.

In Singapore, Subway announced in August 2021 that it had obtained Halal certification for all but one of its restaurants across the country. This certification was provided by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) or Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis). To achieve this certification, Subway outlets in Singapore underwent ritual cleansing and replaced all pork-based products with chicken, beef, or halal-certified alternatives. They also ensured that each outlet employed at least two Muslim staff members.

The decision to pursue Halal certification in Singapore was met with mixed responses. Some applauded the move, while others questioned why Subway did not simply open separate Halal-certified branches instead of removing pork from the menu entirely. In response, Subway Singapore emphasised that the change was based on market tests and their goal to serve food relevant to the communities they operate in.

Outside of Singapore, Subway has also introduced Halal options in the United Kingdom and Ireland. There are currently around 2,000 Subway stores in these regions, 202 of which are Halal-certified and sell only certified Halal meats. These Halal Subway stores are monitored by organisations like the Islamic Foundation of Ireland and the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand, which conduct on-site audits to ensure compliance with Halal standards.

Terminal M's mix of Asian cuisines

Terminal M at Changi Airport in Singapore is a gourmet food hall located in the basement of Terminal 3. It is the first halal-certified gourmet food hall in the airport, offering a range of Asian cuisines to cater to Muslim families and travellers.

Terminal M features a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese food brands managed by the local restaurant chain Ministry of Food (MOF). Here is a closer look at some of the delicious options available:

Hanssik (Korean Cuisine)

Hanssik offers a range of Korean dishes, including rice-based meals, noodles, soup, stews, and hotpots. You can choose from various rice dishes such as bibimbap (mixed rice), fried rice, or deopbap (Korean rice bowls with toppings). For an enhanced experience, you can opt for the Beef Bibimbap or Chicken Bibimbap served in a hot stone pot for a sizzling sensation. Don't forget to try the classic Korean snack, the Kimchi Pancake, available in Seafood, Chives, or the original flavour. If you're feeling chilly, warm up with a comforting bowl of Ginseng Chicken Soup, or try the hearty Seafood Soybean Stew with Rice. For those with kids in tow, Hanssik offers Corndogs with options like Hotdog, Mozzarella, or Ddeok/Rice Cake Corndog.

Yu Long Quan (Chinese Cuisine)

Yu Long Quan specialises in Northern Chinese fare and is a spin-off of Ju Hao, known for its La Mian and dumplings. Their signature dish is the Xiao Long Bao, or steamed soup dumplings, handmade and prepared fresh on the spot. The dumplings come in six different Singaporean flavours: Black Pepper, Salted Egg Yolk, Chili Crab, Teochew Herbs & Spices, Laksa, and the Original Chicken flavour. You can get six pieces of the original Chicken Xiao Long Bao for a reasonable price, and it's only a small extra charge to add the 6-in-1 flavours.

Saap Saap Thai

Saap Saap Thai, located in Jewel Changi Airport, offers a creative twist on traditional Thai mango desserts. Apart from the classic mango sticky rice, they feature unique creations such as Thai Iced Milk Tea filled with mango cubes, mango ice cream, or red tea jelly.

Yun Nans

Yun Nans, located in Jewel Changi Airport, is the largest F&B chain specialising in authentic cuisine from Yunnan Province, China. With over 200 outlets in China, they bring the flavours of Yunnan to Singapore. Their must-try dish is the Steam Pot Chicken Soup, cooked in a hand-made Jianshui clay pot using steam pressure for three hours. This results in a delicious soup packed with flavourful broth, tender chicken, and accompanied by beansprouts, peppercorn, and spicy sauce.

Old Chang Kee's Curry Times

The story of Old Chang Kee is intertwined with the fond memories of Singaporeans, who fondly recall the perfect snack of curry puffs, affectionately dubbed "Rex curry puffs." Every bite offers a burst of flavour, with curried potatoes, chicken nibblets, boiled egg slices, and a harmonious blend of herbs and spices. The secret to their success lies in the meticulous preparation of ingredients and the relentless pursuit of culinary excellence through vigorous studies of curry and spices.

Over the years, Old Chang Kee has modernized its standards, processes, and recipes, taking their signature Curry'O to new heights. Their dedication to innovation has propelled them to unprecedented success, solidifying their place as one of Singapore's most renowned culinary institutions.

Curry Times embodies the essence of Singapore's cultural diversity, offering a delightful fusion of flavours that cater to a wide range of palates. Whether you're a local craving a taste of home or a traveller exploring new culinary horizons, a visit to Curry Times is a must. Indulge in the perfect combination of crispy, freshly fried pastry and flavourful curry that has captivated the hearts and taste buds of countless individuals.

Prayer rooms

Changi Airport in Singapore has prayer rooms in all its terminals, catering to the diverse spiritual needs of its global travellers. These rooms are tranquil spaces designed for reflection and meditation. They are open to passengers of all faiths and are available around the clock.

The prayer rooms are thoughtfully furnished and include several key amenities to ensure a conducive environment for worship. Each room has a specially designated ablution area for pre-prayer cleansing rituals. These facilities are equipped with easily accessible water sources. For Muslim travellers, the prayer rooms feature clear directional signage indicating the Qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims face during prayer. This inclusion ensures prayers are performed with the correct orientation, providing spiritual assurance and convenience.

The prayer rooms are located as follows:

• Terminal 1: Transit Area, Level 3, Departure Transit Hall East
• Terminal 2: Transit Area, Level 3, Departure Transit Lounge North, near Gate E
• Terminal 3: Transit Area, Level 2, Departure Transit Lounge South, behind Mont Blanc
• Terminal 4: Transit Area, Level 2M, Departure Transit Hall

Changi Airport does not have prayer rooms in public areas, so it is better to perform Salaath in the airport prayer rooms at the transit area before leaving immigration.

Frequently asked questions