--- Watch Adam Liaw in his Destination Flavour Singapore adventure streaming now at SBS On Demand. ---
From a bustling office in the Arab Quarter of Singapore, Shamsydar Ani and her colleagues run Halal Food Hunt, a company that is giving locals, as well as visitors access to some of Singapore's tastiest foods.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is one of their busiest times of the year, as it marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan, for Muslims in Singapore. With almost 15 percent of Singapore's population being Muslim, this is a time of celebration, family and unity through large feasts.
As well as offering their very own FRIENDS rewards programme, which gives people a great way to explore different foods, they ultimately are all about linking people to the many restaurants, cafes and hawker stalls that Singapore has on offer.
All food outlets are listed on their own website, which functions as a handy, one-stop resource for anyone looking to find verified halal food options in Singapore. Thanks to Singapore’s sizeable Muslim population, its burgeoning tourism sector, and the community’s love of food, there are dozens upon dozens of listings to view, complete with useful information about opening hours, menu items, food delivery and deals. And the halal options are not just limited to Malay food; in fact, visitors can choose from all manner of cuisines - from new Nordic and burger joints to trendy breakfast and dessert bars.
The halal verification process is officially regulated by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, a system that is widely recognised both in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia. The distinctive logo can be seen on the certificates displayed at Halal-certified restaurants and food outlets. Some outlets that are listed on the website, particularly those owned by non-Muslims, are only verified by staff at Halal Food Hunt.
The staff regularly visit the establishments to check up on best practices. They also take the opportunity to sample new menu items and take photographs. For Shamsydar, the best part of her job is getting out of the office to take photos, and most importantly to eat quality halal food!
Now Halal Food Hunt has its own YouTube channel, which Shamsydar and her colleagues use as a platform to share their favourite halal recipes, to demonstrate that cooking halal can be fun, accessible and easy. Their regular talks and events also aim to teach consumers about how to make informed halal food choices when they do go out to eat in public.
Watch Adam Liaw meet up with Shamsydar and her family who not only show him how to cook an authentic beef rendang, but also include him in their day-long Hari Raya celebration and feast to mark the end of Ramadan. Visit the program page for more details, recipes and guides.

Adam is prepping food for Hari Raya with Shamsydar and her mother Surayah. Source: Anya Hohnbaum
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Destination Flavour Singapore | Episode guide