The Great Chase: A taste of London, now officially halal in KL

THERE is something quietly nostalgic about sitting down to a proper British roast when you spent time in London as a child.

I lived there for a while when I was little, as my late father was working in London and going to school there meant British food was simply part of everyday life.

But as a Muslim, halal options weren't always easy to come by, not in the way they are here in Malaysia.

So when a restaurant brings that same British dining experience to Kuala Lumpur, officially halal, it feels particularly personal.

Now, The Great Chase KL has that official recognition.

The London-born restaurant, located at Solaris Dutamas, has received halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), effective Aug 1, making it a fully halal, alcohol-free dining destination.

For diners who have been holding off until the certification came through, the announcement is more than a technical milestone. It means you can now sit down to a Beef Wellington or Sunday Roast with the assurance of Malaysia's official halal certification, while still getting the experience the restaurant has built its name around in London.

Having dined at The Great Chase KL myself, the Sticky Toffee Pudding served with vanilla ice cream is hands down the best thing on the menu.

It's the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-conversation because suddenly all of your attention is on the plate. Rich, comforting and indulgent, it's easily the dish I'd return for.

Bringing a bit of London to KL

The Great Chase was founded in London in 2017 by Simon Pearson and Mabruk Khan, built on the idea of creating a place where people could gather over good food and meaningful occasions.

The Kuala Lumpur outlet opened in September, last year, becoming the brand’s first Malaysian restaurant.

Its menu centres on elevated British cuisine, with the Halal Beef Wellington and Sunday Roast among its signatures, alongside offerings like house-made sourdough and coconut date butter.

Six months to get it right

Co-owner Izzat Afandi said the decision to pursue the Jakim certification had been part of The Great Chase's vision since discussions about bringing the brand to Kuala Lumpur first began.

The journey, which started in January and took over six months, involved close collaboration with suppliers and a thorough review of ingredients, documentation and kitchen operations.

"This is a major achievement because the dishes we serve and the ingredients we use are not very common in the local restaurant industry.

"The assessment process was quite stringent for all the special ingredients not typically used here and we had to justify, specify and provide documentation.

"It was a huge learning curve for us, but we finally received our certification," he said.

The team also underwent halal awareness training and today, 50 menu items are certified, backed by 13 halal-certified suppliers.

As London's best halal restaurant, Izzat said it was essential to deliver the same products and experience in Kuala Lumpur.

He also shared that a family who had recently returned from a holiday in the United Kingdom (UK) offered a particularly meaningful validation of the brand’s journey.

"After dining at The Great Chase in London, they visited the Kuala Lumpur outlet and shared that the restaurant’s roasts and Beef Wellington were on par with one another, demonstrating the brand’s ability to bring its signature dining experience across borders," he said.

With the Jakim certification now secured, The Great Chase sees this as the first of several steps in its international growth.

The brand plans to pursue halal certification for its other outlets while exploring further expansion across Southeast Asia, the UK and the United States, with potential future locations including Jakarta, Singapore, Manchester and New York.