HalalTable — UX Research Case Study

Overview

HalalTable helps Muslim diners discover and book halal restaurants while giving restaurant owners tools to manage reservations, communicate halal credentials, and promote their business.

Product ecosystem:

• Flutter mobile app for diners

• Desktop portal for restaurant owners

Goal: Understand both diner and merchant workflows to design a platform that builds trust and simplifies booking.

The Problem

• Mainstream platforms (OpenTable, Yelp) rarely provide clear halal verification.

• Diners spend extra time verifying restaurant suitability.

• Restaurant owners lack structured tools to communicate credentials and manage bookings.

Result: a fragmented experience for both sides of the marketplace.

Research Goals

Diners:

• How do users verify halal status?

• What builds trust in listings?

• What barriers exist in booking?

Merchants:

• How do restaurants communicate credentials?

• Challenges managing reservations?

• Tools needed to manage listings?

Research Methods

• User Interviews (Diners): 10 participants (professionals, students, families)

• Merchant Interviews: 6 halal restaurant owners/managers

• Competitive Analysis: OpenTable, Yelp, Zomato

Key Insights

1. Trust & Verification Matter
   Users need visible proof: certification, sourcing info, and reviews.

2. Discovery is Fragmented
   Users follow multi-step processes:

3. Merchants Struggle to Communicate Credentials
   Relying on social media, websites, or verbal confirmation—needs structured presentation.

4. Reservation Management is Inefficient
   Bookings come from multiple sources (phone, walk-ins, third-party), causing scheduling issues.

Opportunity Areas

1. Verified Halal Profiles – Certification, sourcing info, verification notes

2. Transparent Restaurant Pages – Menu previews, reviews, photos, certification

3. Seamless Mobile Booking – Discover, verify, book in 3 simple steps

4. Merchant Portal – Manage listings, upload certification, update menus, manage reservations

Product Design

Flutter Mobile App

• Discover: Browse by location, cuisine, ratings

• Verify: Halal certification, sourcing info, diner reviews

• Book: Simplified reservation flow

Represents one simplified end-to-end journey; multiple variations exist.

Merchant Portal (Desktop)

• Profile Management: Update details, menus, certification

• Reservation Dashboard: View bookings, manage availability, confirm reservations

• Customer Insights: Track booking patterns, peak times, feedback

Usability Testing

Participants: 5 diner users, 3 restaurant owners

Mobile App Findings:

• Quick discovery

• Clear verification info

• Smooth booking

Merchant Portal Findings:

• Centralised reservation management appreciated

• Improved certification visibility

• Profile editing workflow needs simplification

Impact

Diners: Faster discovery, increased trust, simplified booking
Merchants: Better tools to communicate credentials, centralised management, improved visibility

Reflection

Balancing trust and convenience for diners with efficiency and transparency for merchants created a platform that enhances the experience for both sides of the halal restaurant ecosystem.