What's a trip to Korea without savouring its awesome cuisine? Ah, dakgalbi, bibimbap and tteokbokki - it's hard not to love these yummy dishes and if you're looking for halal authentic Korean food in Korea, this is JUST the perfect guide for you. So, without further ado, let us introduce halal Korean food in Korea!
Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates:https://bit.ly/3LnFN1F
1. EID - 이드 Halal Korean Food
If you've visited Seoul recently or are planning to, it's extremely likely that you've heard of this particular restaurant. Our writer made a trip down and absolutely loved their food as well as the wide array of halal Korean food they serve! Like most halal eateries in Seoul, EID is located in Itaewon and even if this wasn't originally on your itinerary, we highly recommend making a trip down just to try authentic halal Korean food. After all, what's a trip to Seoul if you've not tried the local cuisine!
Credit: @labekka on Instagram
Like all other Korean eateries, they serve refillable banchan (side dishes), which we absolutely love :P If you want to be in close proximity to all these yummy food, be sure to check out the EID guesthouse for muslim-friendly accommodation in Seoul!
Halal Status: Halal Certified (by Korea Muslim Federation), Mosque nearby
2. Makan Halal Korean Restaurant
Credit: Makan Halal Korean Restaurant on Facebook
Makan Halal Korean Restaurant is another relatively new restaurant located in Itaewon which opened their doors in 2015. Similar to EID, this homely restaurant serves local Korean fare such as bulgogi (grilled marinated beef), dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken), mulnaengmyeon (cold noodles - a must in summer!) and more! If you don't have the luxury of time to dine in the restaurant, fret not! They provide dosiraks (Korean packed lunches) for takeouts as well.
#HHWT Tip: If you're looking for accommodation near the halal eateries, Itaewon is the place to be!
Halal Status: Halal Certified (by Korea Muslim Federation), Mosque nearby
Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday -10.30am to 10pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Price: Mains cost around ₩8,000 - ₩12,000.
Address: 52, Usadan-ro 10 gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea 140-911
3. Busan Jib Restaurant
Credit: @omaralattas on Instagram
Tucked away in the streets of Myeongdong, Busan Jib serves delicious authentic Korean cuisine using halal-certified meat. Must try dishes include their Korean spicy chicken stew and ginseng chicken? You can also make your very own Bulgogi lettuce wraps here!
Credit: @ribenalemonad on Instagram
Even if you're not a meat person, this is still the restaurant for you as they serve similarly yummy seafood dishes! Be sure to try their spicy seafood stew and chilli sotong (chilli squid). If you're feeling a little homesick and craving for some 'Malay' food, you have to try their ikan bakar (grilled fish) and asam pedas!
For those wondering about the halal certification, one of our writers visited this place and confirmed that the meat is halal-certified.
If you've tried the yummy food here, leave us a review of your experience, to share with other fellow Muslim travellers!
Note: This restaurant is pork-free.
Halal Status: Halal meat available
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm daily
Price: Most mains cost around ₩8,000 to ₩10,000
Address: 11-4 Myeongdong 8-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, 서울특별시 South Korea
4. BoA Guesthouse - Halal Korean Dosirak
Although it's not an actual restaurant, but rather a guest house - BoA travel house has a total of 8 different halal dosiraks (Korean packed lunch-boxes) on their main menu including a jajangmyeon (black bean sauce) dosirak! You can also try halal Korean rice cake (tteokpeokki) and fried chicken, which are on their side menu! If you're a fan of kdramas, you should know that Korean fried chicken tastes absolutely wonderful!
Check out their full menu here. If you're not in a rush, it is possible to dine in the guesthouse.
Plus points? BoA guesthouse is located in Hongdae, one of the must-visit trendy spots in Seoul. So not to worry, this will definitely fit into your itinerary
Halal Status: Halal meat available, Prayer facilities in establishment
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
How to order: Simply drop them a message on Facebook indicating the item and quantity, pick up time and your accommodation in Seoul.
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday - 12pm to 9pm (Closed on Monday and Tuesday)
Price: ₩7,000 per dosirak if you're a guest at the guesthouse. - ₩8,000 for other guests. The prices for the sides vary.
5. Namisum Kkokko Chuncheon Dakgalbi
After touring Nami Island, rest your feet and fill your stomach at this restaurant! The most raved about food here is their dakgalbi so make sure you order this? The dakgalbi here is cooked differently from those in Seoul particularly because they use hotpans to cook the meat in Seoul, but here they use grills! Yum!
Note: This restaurant is pork-free. Do note that reservation is required for halal menu, so do call the restaurant in advance!
Halal Status: Halal meat available
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday - 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday - 9am to 10pm
Price Range: ₩8,000-₩11,000
Directions: Take the Gyeongchun line and get off at Gapyeong station. Take bus no. 33-5 or the Gapyeong city bus
6. Asian Family Restaurant Dongmoon
Okay, so technically Nami island isn't IN Seoul but it's one of themust-visit tourist attractions and there's an authentic halal Korean restaurant on the island too! Dong Mun (Dongmoon) is the fourth halal certified restaurant in Korea and they have an extensive menu selling all sorts of Asian dishes ranging from Vietnamese pho to (of course) halal Korean food!
Think a variety of bibimbab (Korean mixed rice), jajangmyeon (black bean paste noodles) and bulgogi! It's the perfect place to rest and grab a bite after a long day of sightseeing around the gorgeous Nami Island.
Halal Status: Halal Certified (by Korea Muslim Federation), Prayer facilities in establishment
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday and winter season - 10am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday during non-winter seasons - 10am to 8pm
Price: Most mains cost around ₩10,000 to ₩12,000
Address: 1 Namisum-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chun-cheon-si, Gang-won-do
P.S. Help the Muslim travel community and share your reviews on Dongmun here!
7. Yang Good BBQ - Yeoksam
If you've stared longingly at the locals enjoy their BBQ meal and wished you could try halal BBQ in Korea too, we know how you feel. Boy, are we glad that we can have an authentic Korean BBQ experience at Yang Good!
Choose from either un-marinated lamb to enjoy the tender lamb meat in its full glory, or opt for the marinated lamb to savour juicy lamb rack coated with Korean sweet sauce! If there's still room in your tummy, Yang Good also has lamb soup, deonjang-jjigae 된장찌개 (fermented soybean paste soup), mulnaengmyeon물냉면 (cold noodles) and other Korean dishes. The perfect place to drop by for dinner after shopping at Gangnam or cafe-hopping at Garosugil!
Halal Status: Halal meat available, Alcohol is served in establishment
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
Opening Hours: 4pm to 12am, closed on Sunday
Price: ₩11,000 - ₩30,000
Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Nonhyeon-ro, 95 gil, 15. 서울특별시 강남구 논현로95길 15
8. Namiok – Gyeonggi-do (Near Nami Island)
If you're visiting Nami Island, you have to make a (side) trip to Namiok for halal Dakgalbi 닭갈비 (Korean spicy stir-fried chicken)! Just picture stir-fried chicken marinated with gochujang 고추장 (red pepper paste) along with sliced cabbage, tteokbokki 떡볶이 (Korean rice cakes) and rice served on a sizzling hot plate!
That’s enough to make us want to fly to Korea this minute!
Halal Status: Halal meat available, Prayer facilities in establishment
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
Opening Hours: 9am to 7pm, daily
Price: ₩10,000 - ₩18,000
Address: 786-2 Eupnae-ri, Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기도 가평군 가평읍 읍내리 786-2)
Directions: 15 min drive from Nami Island’s Ferry Dock. We highly recommend taking a taxi there, do show the taxi driver the address in Korean!
9. Osegyehyang Vegetarian Restaurant
Insadong, known for its traditional atmosphere, is a hub of traditional Korean restaurants. When you see a line of Hanok styled buildings, you’ll know that this is home to some of the best gourmet Korean restaurants in town, places even the locals come to savour the delicious menu. Plus, it's hard to find alcohol-free Muslim-friendly restaurants in Korea so this one is definitely a gem!
P.S. If you're visiting Insadong, our Muslim-friendly travel guide to Insadong will definitely come in handy!
Halal Status: Vegetarian option available
*Since the restaurant is not halal certified, readers are advised to dine at their own discretion
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 3.30pm, 5pm to 9pm (daily)
Price: ₩6,000 - ₩16,000
Address: 14-5, Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Directions: Go to exit 3 of Anguk station of Seoul Subway's Line 3. It's a 5-minute walk from the station
10. Halal Kitchen Korea (Temporarily Closed!)
If you ever wanted to try authentic halal Korean cuisine prepared by a Korean chef, Halal Kitchen Korea is the perfect place for you! The food here is cooked by a Korean Muslim, Hassan Lee. Located in Bukchon, here's your chance to experience Korean dining in a hanok (traditional Korean house). Try their soft and chewy tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes), stewed in spicy sauce. The combination of chewy rice cakes with flavourful quail eggs is heavenly. It's so yummy we couldn't get enough of it!
The highlights of the meal are definitely the bulgogi, yanggalbi and dakgalbi. Enjoy your beef bulgogi, thinly marinated slices of meat, barbecued to perfection. Have it with rice to satisfy your growling tummy. Indulge in the yanggalbi-jim (braised short rib lamb) with either the spicy or soy sauce, depending on your taste buds. Either way, the meat will certainly melt in your mouth.
#HHWT Tip: The restaurant provides a prayer space, so fret not, you can eat to your heart’s content without having to rush to a mosque!
P.S. If you've been to Halal Kitchen, tell us more about your experience here!
Halal Status: Muslim Owned, Prayer facilities in establishment
Address: 86-2 Samcheong-ro, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
How to get there: Gyeongbokgung Palace is your landmark. Find Samcheong police office and an e-mart convenient store. After 100m, you’ll see ‘Boy London’ fashion store. Take a right turn and you’ll see the ‘Halal Kitchen’ sign.
11. Osegyehyang
This restaurant has everything you need to enjoy halal Korean food in Seoul worry-free. From mock meats to vegetarian options, this restaurant will leave you full and satisfied. Plus, the seating arrangements give you an authentic Korean dining in experience.
From taking off your shoes to sitting on the floor on a cushion, eating here was absolutely delightful. Especially with the super delicious food! Find this restaurant at the Insa-dong shopping area, it's the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day of shopping.
Osegyehyang
Halal Status: Korea Muslim-Friendly Certified
13. Maji
Similar to Osegyehyang, Maji is a restaurant that specializes in vegan Korean-style temple food. Located in a traditional house in the Seochon district near Gyeongbokgung, dining here feels like a step back into an older version of the city! What sets Maji apart is that everything is prepared using organic ingredients, with minimal or no oil. They also don’t use any garlic or onion in their cooking.
Choose their dinner set menu which includes a selection of dishes like japchae, pancake, shiitake mushrooms, side dishes, lotus leaf rice and more. One of the main highlights of the meal is the gujeolpan (the colourful dish in the middle) - this dish was once only enjoyed by the nobility and there are 9 ingredients such as carrot, baby pumpkin, radish, mushroom, beetroot, paprika and more. P.S. It may seem like a simple dish but it actually takes 4 hours to make so you’d have to reserve in advance (by calling or through Facebook) if you want to try this.
14. Yell-O! Chicken
Craving for Korean chicken? Now you can munch your way through them at Yell-O! Chicken, South Korea's first ever FULLY halal chicken stall! Located in Itaewon, this place is bound to satisfy your Korean chicken cravings with a variety of flavours: honey butter, sweet & spicy and more! They even offer half-and-half menu, if you and your travel buddies want to try multiple flavours! They also have other dishes on their menu such as their juicy burgers and uber-cheesy cheese balls.
Halal status: Korea Halal-certified
Address: 14 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 12pm-9.30pm daily
BONUS: Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market 노량진수산시장 (Not halal-certified)
Credit: @whatiwaslookingat on Instagram
If you're a seafood lover, you MUST visit Noryangjin Fish Market for the freshest seafood – Korean style! King crabs, lobsters, abalone, scallop, prawns, the weirdest species of shellfishes and more. If you can name it, they have it!
*The restaurants at this fish market are not halal-certified so please visit at your own discretion!
Credit: @johwa_roi on Instagram
When you reach the market, head straight to the first floor to select your seafood and don’t forget to bargain! The stallholders are usually willing to lower their prices if you purchase more items from them.
Credit: @ashyllicious on Instagram
Once you've made your choice, it’s time to make your way up to the second floor for them to be prepared in a restaurant. You’ll have a choice of steamed, grilled or raw. Do note that there will be a preparation fee per item if you would like your seafood to be grilled or steamed.
Our recommendations:
Maeuntang매운탕 (Spicy fish soup) – Order this at the restaurant!
Jeonbok 전복 (Abalone) – The best way to enjoy your abalone is to have it steamed!
Fishes, e.g. Yellowtail, Flounder – Sashimi (Hoe, pronounced hway회)
Garibi 가리비(Scallop) – Grilled
Ge게(Crab) - Steamed
Halal Status: Seafood options available
Opening Hours: General Fish Market: 1.30am – 10pm
Price: This depends on the number of items you order. The most expensive dish would probably be a king crab, which can cost around S$105 (₩85,000), excluding the cost of preparation but we promise you, it's worth every won (so sweet and juicy).
Address: 674 Nodeul-ro, Noryangjin 1(il)-dong, Dongjak-gu, 서울특별시 South Korea
P.S. For more halal food in Korea, you can check out the ultimate halal food guide in Seoul!
Useful Phrases
We know it's really hard to find halal food outside of Itaewon so we've prepared some phrases that you may find handy when ordering your food!
- Does this dish contain meat / ham? – yi yorineun gogi/haem duroisseoyo 이요리는 고기/햄 들어있어요?
- Please do not put meat / ham – gogi/haem neotjimaseyo 고기/햄 넣지마세요
- Please remove meat / ham – gogi/haem paejuseyo 고기/햄 빼주세요
- I don’t eat meat – naneun gogireul an meogeoyo 나는 고기를 안먹어요
- I can’t eat meat – naneun gogireul mot meogeoyo. 나는 고기를 못 먹어요
- I can only eat vegetables and seafood – naneun yachaewa haemulman meogeul suyiseoyo 나는 야채와 해물만 먹을 수있어요.
- I’m a vegetarian – naneun chaesikjaimnida 나는 채식자입니다
If you've discovered any other halal Korean food places in South Korea, please share it with us by leaving a comment! :) And do share our guide with your friends and family if you find it useful!