The characteristics of halal and non-halal food territories in multilayered mapping of Jakarta’s Chinatown urban foodscape

As food can gather and segregate people, this research aims to explore whether halal and non-halal food create distinct territories in Jakarta’s Chinatown urban foodscape. The case study is an exclusive territorial concentration called Glodok, where the ethnic minority and non-Muslim Chinese-Indonesian community reside, eat, and shop. Jakarta’s Chinatown is also well known as one of the culinary destinations for Chinese food, which is associated with non-halal food. Since foodscape reflects the relationship between food and other urban elements in a multidimensional layer, this study applied a comprehensive multilayered mapping to record food territories through observation. The study reveals three main findings. First, the superimposed food layers reveal no indication of strict boundaries between halal and non-halal food territories. Second, either halal or non-halal food territories have their historical background, origin, and food activities that influence the territories’ characteristics. Third, the building elements, food displayed, cooking activities, and eating activities denote halal and non-halal food territories. This research provided a new perspective on how halal and non-halal food territories’ presence creates a specific urban foodscape without strict spatial segregation. In this case, non-halal Chinese food and halal food from various cultural backgrounds contribute to the inclusive urban space and spatial integration in the ethnic Chinese quarter, which supports and maintains the relationships between people from varied backgrounds.