No, Five Guys meat is not halal in the UK. The beef patties and hot dogs are not halal-slaughtered, and the restaurants are not halal-certified. Furthermore, bacon is cooked on the same grills as the burgers, creating a severe cross-contamination issue. However, their fries are cooked in dedicated fryers using peanut oil and are safe to eat.
None of the meat served at Five Guys UK is halal, and cross-contamination with bacon is guaranteed on the grills.
The Meat: Beef and Hot Dogs
Five Guys is famous for its fresh, never-frozen beef patties. Unfortunately for Muslim diners, Five Guys UK has consistently stated on their official channels that none of their meat is halal.
This applies to both the beef burgers and the beef hot dogs. There are no "secret" halal branches or franchised locations that source their own meat — the supply chain is standard across all UK stores, and none of it is halal-certified.
The Bacon Cross-Contamination Issue
Even if Five Guys were to introduce halal beef in the future, the kitchen setup makes it currently impossible to serve a halal burger.
Five Guys cooks its bacon on the exact same flat-top grills as its beef patties. The grease from the bacon heavily coats the grill and transfers directly onto the burgers. There is no separation.
Are Five Guys Fries Halal?
Here is the good news: if your friends want to go to Five Guys, you can still eat the fries.
Five Guys is incredibly strict about their fries. They are cooked in 100% refined peanut oil. More importantly, they use dedicated fryers solely for the fries. No meat or other products are ever put into the fryers, meaning there is zero risk of cross-contamination from the beef or bacon.
Both the "Five Guys Style" (salted) and the "Cajun Style" fries are suitable for vegetarians and halal-conscious diners.
What About the Milkshakes?
The Five Guys milkshakes (with the standard mix-ins like vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, and fruit) are generally considered safe and halal-friendly, as they do not contain gelatine or alcohol. Note: Always avoid the bacon mix-in option!
Halal Alternatives to Five Guys in the UK
If you want a premium, "smash burger" style experience that is fully halal, the UK market has exploded with incredible alternatives. Look for these HMC or fully-halal certified chains:
- Archie's: Massive in the North of England, fully halal.
- Bros Burgers: Excellent smash burgers.
- Mak Halal: Rapidly expanding halal burger chain.
- Band of Burgers: London-based premium halal burgers.
- Meat & Shake: High-end halal dining.