7+ Tips To Eat Alone As a Muslimah! [+ Foodie Experiences Around The World!]

Most people are scared to travel alone because they haven’t gotten comfortable with the idea of eating on their own.

If you need inspiration, on how to build confidence eating independently, here are some of our 7+ tips on how to eat alone as a Muslimah.

You might be ready to enjoy your companion to talk to strangers after this!

Adaab (Manners) When Eating as a Muslim

Before we share our tips on how you can build confidence to eat alone, here are some adaab when it comes to eating, as a Muslim that we should refresh our memory on.

According to Muslim.SG, when it comes to eating, is important to:

• Do not criticize food (according to us, important to take note of especially when you’re traveling to countries of unfamiliar cooking standards!)
• Eat with your right hand, if possible
• Fill the stomach with food, drink & air accordingly.

Of course, do not forget dua (prayer) before and after meals:

Dua before eating:

Start with your normal بِسْمِ اللهِ (Bismillah), which means “In the Name of Allah”.

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ

“O Allah! Bless it for us and provide us with that which is even better”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

Dua post-meal

After a meal, it’s good to say..

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا، وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ

“All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power.”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

Dining Solo in Cafes – Easy Start

Dining alone in a cafe is considered easy for us.

Because a cafe has this ambiance where people come to enjoy their own company..

Either with a cake, a book that they brought along, or just the ambiance around the cafe.

High Tea in British Museum

If you would like to enjoy a traditional English high tea with sandwiches and scones in the British Museum, this high tea experience is not to be missed.

$50.80Book Here

Eating Alone in Convenience Stores – You won’t feel a thing!

With the rise of convenience stores these days, everywhere around the world, eating here adds up to the travel experience.

You can premix, match your food, etc when you eat at convenience stores. And we bet, 90% of the folks eating here are solo diners. So literally, no sense of awkwardness at all!

Never underestimate convenience stores. They can give you what you exactly need at the right time.

Family Mart eVoucher in Taipei

For your convenience stores shopping when in Taipei!

From $1.55See the options

There are 7-Eleven or Lawson in Japan, CU in South Korea, Emart in Malaysia, Trader Joe’s in America, and Lawson in Indonesia, to name a few.

7-11 Convenience Store, Hakone, Mt. Fuji Park, Hikawa Watch Store & Kawaguchiko Yagizaki Park Flower Viewing Day Tour

This day tour (daily departs from Tokyo) will let you experience the best 7-11 store to be at in Mount Fuji area!

$42.20Check the availabilities here

Find a Host Experience For An Authentic Solo Eating Experience

The creme de la creme of an authentic solo eating experience is when you’re invited into the house of a guest.

Sharm El-Sheikh: Farsha Mountain Lounge Private Trip

Experience mountainside traditional Egyptian dining with your new MSTer friend (find one on our Connect Sub-group here!) while you explore Sharm El-Sheikh!

This is a minimum 2 pax trip.

$24Check availability here

There are ways to go about this..

Either you stay in an Airbnb and get hosted for the food, like how I experienced in Dubai, Bandar Seri Begawan, and Istanbul.

MSTer Editor’s Note

Also, you can also check out similar experiences on travel platforms, like this one here:

Authentic Turkish Home Dinner Experience with a Local Family

Experience this cross-cultural encounter with a local Turkish family in the heart of Istanbul!

$53.35Check availabilities here

Medium – Hard Level Solo-dining: At a BBQ Place

Except.. maybe in old restaurants where the tables are just meant for large groups.

Eating BBQ on your own (Japanese or Korean-style), can be very daunting for Muslimah Solo Travelers.

There’s a saying that Japanese BBQ is more friendlier to Solo Travelers meanwhile Korean BBQ is not. Having experienced both these countries, we have to agree on this.

Unless you have had a different experience, do share with us in the comments!

However, in Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia, you can easily find these Solo Dining BBQ spots, which are frequented by lots of ladies so you know.. you’re not alone!

Who says you can’t enjoy a hearty, good meal on your own?

Meanwhile, you know what’s friendly for MSTers? This tour 👇

Muslim – Jeonju Traditional Culture Halal Tour from Seoul

You might not dine solo per se, but you’ll get to experience the local culture and join in solo as part of the tour experience. A Korean Eomonyi we met in Uzbekistan said Jeonju is the best, and you have to try it out!

$65.35Check availabilities here

Benefits of Eating Alone: Enjoying Your Own Company

The benefits of learning to eat alone are none other than learning to enjoy your own company.

These days, with so many things on our schedules and plates, take time to be present with your food.

Ever had those moments where you feel you ate a lot, but you don’t know why you’re hungry? There are reasons for this. You most likely weren’t present in eating. Meaning, you were either talking to your eating buddy, or you’re watching something while eating.

While it’s easy to eat and multi-task, as a way to feel confident in eating alone, but you’re actually diminishing the result of savoring the food.

RM50 Cash Voucher for Nasi Lemak!

One of our tip to eat alone for Muslimah Solo Travelers who are keen to sample local food but do not dare to go into hawker mode exploration, cafes are your best bet!

It’s on the slightly expensive side, but you’ll get to relax and savor each bite!

$8.59Get Your Voucher Here

Can Be Easy or Hard – Food Court / Hawker Centers (Depending on Where You Eat!

Food courts and hawker centers have this humble setting that does not give you the unsaid pressure to come with another pair, unlike high-end restaurants.

Plus, they are also the best getaway to the foodie culture of a place.

The only thing you need to be aware of is.. the cleanliness (in some destinations), and your tolerance to spice, water or etc.

Otherwise, these days, it’s easy to find a standardized food court within a destination’s malls. These might ….

While these might not be Michelin restaurants (some of them are – though!), dining here is easier to your budget and we bet, much more fulfilling to your stomach!

Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour

Sample some of the most authentic Javanese cuisine at either Beringharjo or Malioboro market solo with the guidance of a guide!

Past this tour, you’ll be better equipped to wander around Yogyakarta solo!

$13.99Check Availability here

Take Out & Eat at a Park Pearby – Another Easy Tip To Dine Solo

This is our favorite #muslimsolotravel tip, especially if you’re traveling alone in destinations where the parks are just SUPER GORGEOUS!

Sometimes, you want to eat alone in a restaurant, but it can be very daunting.

Well, here’s a solution – order takeout, and enjoy it at the park nearby! In countries where the climate is cooler, you’ll find these a lot within walking distance.

Plus, you can take your time to eat, without the pressure of eating fast, so you can make way for the next customer coming in (especially if they’re coming in large groups)

A caveat would be that your food might get cold before you know it…

Bike Rentals in Central Park, NYC

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Get a bike when you’re exploring a park – so you can get to your main destination faster 😉

From $19.05Reserve your bike here

Talk to the Rafe/Restaurant/Hawker Owners – Moderate Level of Ease

One of the perks of traveling alone is that you get to come to the dining place whenever you wish to!

And it might be in the early morning, when the owners are present.

It’s even better if no one is in the dining establishment, and you can take that mini opportunity to talk to the owners themselves and get to learn about what and where you’re eating.

This adds to the dining experience, greatly!

2 Hours at The Cat Cafe Rail Mall, Singapore

If there’s no one to talk to, cats might be willing to lend their ear!

$16.39Get the voucher here

Sit in a Communal, Countertop-Style Dining like Teppanyaki – Easy & Moderate, Depending on the Establishment!

Can you tell that we are big fans of communal dining establishments now?

Because of how you can easily squeeze in solo, without feeling left out.

Plus, you might never know you’ll just get your next solo travel inspiration if you happen to share the same table with patrons who just happen to be travelers!

Often times, our gut will just tell us “it’s okay to eat here alone” and voila, twenty minutes later, we realize that we’re meant to meet the person sitting next to us!

Whether it’s a fancy Dubai Dinner in The Sky Experience or just a split-second moment to eat humble Halal Beef Noodle Shop in Taiwan, that might be the very experience that will touch your lives.

Other Halal Solo Friendly Dining Experiences to Check Out!

Dinner / Lunch in the Sky Experience in Dubai

$201.90Book Your Dinner / Lunch in Sky Experience Here

Halal Beef Noodle Shop

$5.59Get Your Dining Voucher Here

Until then, share your heartwarming eating-alone stories with us to show the world (but mostly a fellow Muslimah Solo Traveler who needs to hear) that, hey, it’s not that bad!