Charm and authenticity abound at Al Aseel, which is a halal-friendly highlight on Maeve O’ Meara’s Middle Eastern Turkish and Lebanese Breakfast Gourmet Safari tour. There are now six halal-certified Al Aseel venues dotted around Sydney as demand for its bestsellers – such as shish tawook and fried kibbeh – shows no sign of abating. Enter the Greenacre venue and you’ll find it full of families huddled around tables, using torn-off pieces of Lebanese bread to dredge through bowls of hommos and baba ghanouj. There’s also a bespoke banquet during the Holy Month. Locations in Alexandria, Greenacre, Bankstown, Penrith, Castle Hill and Parramatta; alaseel.com.au.

Break your fast with the mashawee shish tawook, a plate of sizzling chicken kebabs served with garlic sauce and chips at Armani in Sydney’s west. Order a side of pickles, hummus dusted with paprika, some kibbeh, fattoush and tabouleh at Armani, one of the most popular halal-friendly restaurants on Parramatta’s eat street. The batata harra (spicy potatoes) is another signature dish that will serve you well while refuelling over the month-long Ramadan. It arrives laced with garlic, coriander and chilli flakes. 354 Church Street, Parramatta; armanirestaurant.com.au.

This NYC-inspired pizza parlour is a nourishing place to break your fast. Hussein Rachid, sister Amani Rachid and friend Sal Senan are the trio behind My Mother’s Cousin, considered one of the best pizzerias in the city. Like Carlton sister store, Self Raised, the eatery is 100 percent halal. The ‘mortadella’ is made from beef; and the ‘ham’ is made from turkey. With its chequered flooring, red leather banquettes, old-school photos of hip hop artists, My Mothers Cousin feels more Brooklyn than Bexley North. Refuel post-fast on the Og Roni: pepperoni, fior di latte, pomodoro and hot honey. Pre-order a box of doughnuts from Self Raised to take to your sitti (grandma) for dessert. 9 Shaw St, Bexley North; @mymotherscousin.

The air in Auburn is thick with the aroma of cumin, turmeric, cardamom, garlic and spicy peppers outside this fast-food outlet with a cult following. The Iskender kebab is the signature dish at New Star Kebab Restaurant, and it arrives slathered in yoghurt and a rich tomato sauce. This place is not just busy during the month of Ramadan; the iconic Auburn outlet is famous for its halal snack packs, which contain a halal-certified doner kebab (lamb, chicken or beef) and chips served with a squiggle of garlic sauce. 15 Auburn Rd, Auburn; @newstarkebabrestaurant.

This Malay-owned and operated cafe focuses on homespun halal recipes that are aimed squarely at the local Malay-Australian community. Ikwhan Cafe is run by Shaidi Reginald along with his wife Salcinah and sister Syafinaz Mihd Zain, and the menu relies on authentic Malay recipes that have been passed down for generations. The most popular dishes to break your fast at the Pyrmont eatery are the beef rendang and ayam masak merah (a chicken stew with tomato, makrut lime and chilli). The halal-friendly Hainanese chicken with punchy sambal, crispy anchovies, fresh cucumber and egg will also satisfy. Shop 2/1/27 Murray St, Pyrmont; @ikhwancafesydney.