You don’t have to be strictly halaal to revel in our round-up of lip-smackingly delicious halaal takeaways in the Mother City. Your weekend just got a whole lot better. (Read: your diet’s about to go down the drain).

For great pizza and grills….

Bin Rashied (Kenilworth, Lansdowne, Diep River, Grassy Park, Rylands Village)
#FlavourFirst is the alluring mantra of this ever-so-popular takeaway joint, and your palate will sing its praises too once you sink your teeth into their pizzas. The base alone is a flavour sensation, wood-fired to a crisp, and the selection of toppings is impressive. True to its declaration of flavour, each pizza is garnished with crushed garlic and parsley. You could settle for a plain margherita, but with options such as the Kashmiri, featuring grilled chicken and peri-pineapples, you’d be better off munching down the latter. There’s also the Prawner, boasting spicy prince prawns, coriander and avo. If you’re feeling ravenous, choose from the super-large selection. You’ll need to use both hands to pick up a single slice. The Indonesian is topped with masala steak, fresh coriander and peppers, and is big enough to feed a large group of friends or a family. Bin Rashied’s chargrills and platters – which include chicken kebabs, fillet steak kebabs, lamb chops and steak – are served with a garlic pita, chips and one side.

A post shared by Bin Rashied Pizza & Grills (@binrashiedpizza) on Sep 11, 2017 at 8:49am PDT

For great burgers…

Woodies (V&A Food Market at the V&A Waterfront and Belvedere Road, Claremont)
This is one of the few halaal gourmet burger bars in Cape Town, and possibly the most popular. It’s conveniently located in the upstairs section of the V&A Waterfront’s food market and serves takeaway-style burgers (however, there are a few shared tables in the market if you’d prefer to sit down). Options include beef (with single, double or triple patties, or the almighty Colossus) and chicken (single or double). They come with mozzarella, cheddar and all the trimmings, and can come with a chilli or BBQ basting. Interesting other options include the Saffa burger (with piquante peppers and chutney) or, if you’re up for a food coma, try one of the ‘Challenge Burgers’, which feature four beef or two chicken patties. Bunless options are also available for the carb-conscious and the gluten-intolerant.

A post shared by Mohammed Ali Khair (@mohalikhair) on Jul 28, 2016 at 4:04pm PDT

For great hotdogs, burgers and more…

The Wembley Roadhouse (Athlone)
A hotspot for late night cravings and post-party grub, The Wembley Roadhouse is somewhat of an institution among locals. The options are plentiful, ranging from meat, seafood and chicken grills to legendary burgers, salomies and traditional Cape Malay dishes. The burgers include the famous Wembley Whopper (a chunk of prime-cut steak, braised onions and sliced potatoes), and the hotdogs are a popular pick too. The avocado shake (available seasonally) will change your life.

The Whopper. Photo supplied.

For great steak sandwiches and salomies…

Mariam’s Kitchen (St. George’s Mall, Heerengracht Street)
Those who work in the CBD will likely have heard of or stumbled across this lunchtime gem. The masala steak sandwiches (which could include fried eggs, chips and cheese) will have you going back for more. Their gatsbys are typically shared among friends and colleagues on Fridays, and the flavoursome salomies go down a real treat.

A post shared by Dean Praetorius (@deanpraetorius) on Jun 12, 2017 at 6:27am PDT

For a great gatsby…

Golden Dish (Gatesville)
The gatsbys here are memorable – it’s one of few places in Cape Town that actually toasts their gatsby rolls, which takes it to new levels of deliciousness. Steak, chicken, boerewors, vienna and burger patties are just some of the filling options. You may also want to try the sandwiches (with similar fillings to the gatsby), or a mouthwatering curry.

A post shared by Marc Radcliffe (@marc_300_) on Dec 23, 2016 at 11:00am PST