Johor, April 16, 2025 — The global spotlight shines on Johor today as it hosts the HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards (HTGA), a bold initiative to highlight Halal culinary excellence across the region. The 2025 regional launch took place at Rimbunan, the Mall of Medini, bringing together leaders from Johor and Singapore’s food, tourism, and hospitality sectors to celebrate innovation, authenticity, and cross-border collaboration.
The HTGA 2025 Media and Partners Briefing brought together an influential mix of restaurateurs, media, tourism stakeholders, past HTGA Singapore winners, and rising culinary talents, all poised to elevate the Halal dining landscape in Johor and beyond.
“Johor is an exciting and natural next step for HTGA’s expansion,” said Raudha Zaini, Head of Strategic Partnerships annd Projects at HalalTrip. “Its vibrant food culture, deep-rooted traditions, and culinary innovation reflect the values of the HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards, which stand for excellence, inclusivity, and community.”
This milestone launch comes at a crucial time for Johor as momentum builds around the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ). With food and hospitality identified as key sectors, HTGA’s presence strengthens the SEZ’s vision of fostering bilateral growth and innovation. The awards ceremony will take place in September 2025 at the Mall of Medini. This initiative is backed by Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), and Tourism Johor.
The HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards 2025 will maintain its trusted evaluation process, based on five core criteria: creative presentation, flavor harmony, food quality, menu innovation, and service excellence. Each participating establishment will undergo anonymous, in-person evaluations conducted by experienced assessors, ensuring an objective and thorough review of their dining experience.
Award recipients will be honored in three categories: The HalalTrip Gastronomy Diamond Awards represent the highest recognition of overall excellence. The Best-in-Class Awards highlight establishments that excel in specific aspects of the dining experience. Meanwhile, the Chef Awards pay tribute to individuals who demonstrate exceptional culinary talent, creativity, and leadership in halal gastronomy.
These awards go beyond simply recognizing excellence; they serve as a platform to spotlight innovation, nurture local talent, and inspire the continued elevation of Halal culinary standards in the region.
As Johor is a culinary hotspot for many Singaporeans, during the media briefing, HalalTrip shared insights from the Singapore 2024 evaluations, which revealed excellence in food presentation and taste while highlighting areas for growth in beverage innovation and service consistency. These insights aim to guide Johor-based establishments in refining and enhancing their dining experiences ahead of the awards.
HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards are hosted by HalalTrip in partnership with Singapore Halal Culinary Federation.
Visit this link for the complete press kit: HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards Johor 2025 Press Kit
