Halal-only kitchens, by commitment

When we say "halal-only kitchens," we mean that every chef on the platform has agreed, in writing, to a halal-only policy as a condition of being listed. They have committed that the food they prepare for NiyyahChef bookings will not contain pork, alcohol, non-halal gelatin, lard, or non-halal meat.

"Halal" is interpreted differently across schools of thought, communities, and certifying bodies. NiyyahChef does not adopt a single madhhab or certification standard on behalf of customers. We expect chefs to be transparent about how they source, and we encourage customers to confirm that sourcing matches their own standard before booking.

Every chef agrees, as part of joining NiyyahChef, to the following:

• Halal-only menu. No pork, alcohol, lard, non-halal gelatin, or non-halal meat in any food prepared for a NiyyahChef booking.
• Honest sourcing. Chefs must answer customer questions about meat sourcing, suppliers, and ingredients truthfully. Chefs are asked at sign-up to describe where they source halal meat and ingredients.
• Disclose allergens and dietary limitations. Chefs must disclose common allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish, eggs, sesame) on request and on menus where reasonably possible.
• In-home cooking only. All cooking is performed in the customer's home kitchen. Chefs are not permitted to prepare, cook, or package food in their own home kitchen for delivery unless they hold all required state and local permits for home-based food operations.
• Misrepresentation = removal. Chefs acknowledge they may be removed from NiyyahChef for misrepresenting halal status or sourcing.

We recommend confirming sourcing directly with your chef before you book or before the event date. Every booking includes a direct chat with your chef — use it. Questions you may want to ask:

• Where do you buy your halal meat? (butcher name, brand, certifier)
• Which certification or standard does your meat carry (e.g. HMS, IFANCA, hand-slaughtered, zabihah, machine-slaughtered)?
• How do you handle shared cookware, oils, and surfaces with non-halal items at home?
• Are you bringing your own cookware and utensils, or using mine?
• For desserts and processed ingredients: are gelatin, emulsifiers, and flavorings halal?
• If alcohol is used in a traditional recipe (e.g. vanilla extract, cooking wine), what substitute do you use?

If a chef's answer doesn't match your standard, you can choose a different chef before you book. After booking, our cancellation policy applies — see our Terms and FAQ.

To be clear about the limits of our role:

• We do not inspect chefs' homes, kitchens, suppliers, or butchers.
• We do not issue halal certifications and we are not a halal certifying body.
• We do not test or audit ingredients for halal compliance.
• We do not guarantee, on behalf of any chef, that a specific certification standard (e.g. zabihah, hand-slaughtered, a particular certifier) has been met. Confirm directly with the chef.

Chefs are independent service providers and are solely responsible for the food they prepare, including its halal status and compliance with applicable food safety laws. See our Terms for the full allocation of responsibilities.

If you believe a chef has misrepresented halal status or sourcing, please contact us through the support channel in your booking or chat. We review every report and may remove chefs from the platform for confirmed misrepresentation. Your feedback helps keep NiyyahChef trustworthy for the whole community.