By Dr Rahim Said
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, like clockwork, a neatly wrapped box of mooncakes appears at our doorstep.
No Grab delivery, no PR hamper — just Priscilla, our close friend and tennis partner, smiling with that quiet pride of someone who has once again succeeded in her yearly mission: finding halal-made mooncakes in Kuala Lumpur.
It may sound simple enough, but trust me, it’s not. Every year, Priscilla embarks on what can only be described as a mooncake pilgrimage — checking ingredient lists, calling bakeries, confirming JAKIM certification, and sometimes even driving across town just to be sure.
She does all this not because halal mooncakes are impossible to find, but because she wants to make sure her Muslim friends can enjoy them with full peace of mind.
That, in my books, is true friendship.
Now, for the rest of us who might not have a “Priscilla” in our lives, the question remains — where can you get halal mooncakes in Kuala Lumpur?
Well, the good news is that halal-certified mooncakes are slowly becoming more visible. Tai Thong, Casahana, and Inside Scoop (with their ice cream mooncakes) are dependable local names. Some five-star hotels such as Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur and Hilton have even started offering halal-certified sets.
There are also Muslim-owned bakeries on Shopee, Instagram, and at local bazaars serving creative flavours like pandan gula Melaka, durian, and even teh tarik mooncakes.
But if you’re feeling nostalgic and want to relive the old Chinatown charm, a walk through Petaling Street during the Mid-Autumn season is still worth it. The red lanterns, the chatter, the scent of baked pastry — it’s all there.
While most stalls traditionally sold non-halal varieties, times are changing. Some of the newer vendors now make their mooncakes with halal ingredients, especially those catering to local families and tourists from the Middle East.
You just need to ask — or, as Priscilla does, inspect every label with the precision of a customs officer.
Still, finding halal mooncakes shouldn’t require this much detective work. Malaysia is a nation that prides itself on its diversity — we have halal dim sum, halal sushi, halal Korean BBQ — surely halal mooncakes should be as common as the next bubble tea shop.
Until that happens, though, I’ll continue to look forward to that annual knock on the door and the familiar smile from Priscilla. Because beyond the layers of lotus paste and salted egg yolk, what she really offers each year is something far sweeter — thoughtfulness, inclusivity, and friendship.
If you ever spot Priscilla in Petaling Street holding a box of mooncakes, follow her. She’s probably found the good stuff.
WE