UPDATE: We've updated our list so do check out the 7 Halal Korean Restaurants in Korea You Must Visit At Least Once!
And if you're planning your trip to Seoul, don't forget to download the HHWT Travel Planner app for Android and iOS! Find must-see attractions, halal food places and prayer spaces all in one app :)
We've stayed in Seoul for 6 months so trust us when we say we've found the top 3 halal local food in Korea! In the past, halal food in Korea meant Indian cuisine and kebabs. Thanks to the K wave, you can now enjoy the delicious local Korean food that your favorite Korean artistes have been eating!
KoreaKoreans
1. Murree Muslim Food마리무슬림푸드 - Itaewon
Murree Muslim Food FB Page
Haifa Hasim
If you're visiting Seoul, you have to try authentic halal Korean dishes at Murree! They have one of the most extensive menus serving halal Korean food such as Samgyetang 삼게탕 (Ginseng Chicken Soup), Kimchi Bokkeumbap 김치 볶음밥(Kimchi Fried Rice), Bulgogi 불고기 (Marinated Grilled Beef), Kimchi Jeon김치전 (Kimchi Pancake) and more. The best part? They provide a number of refillable banchan 반찬(sidedishes), which is as authentic as you can go in Korea!
Murree Muslim Food FB Page
Our personal favourites are the Bulgogi and Sundubu Jjigae순두부찌개 (Spicy Soft Tofu Stew).
Address: 140-7 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-858
Directions: Itaewon (Line 6) - Exit 3. Walk straight and turn right at the Kebab store. Walk up the hill past Salam Bakery and make a left turn at the hill's junction. Murree will be on your right next to a row of shop houses leading up to the Seoul Central Mosque. (Thank you, kayoskookies.com for the directions!)
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 11pm
Price: S$10 – 35
2. Yang Good BBQ - Yeoksam
Radin Fadli
jayzlam
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 authentic Korean BBQ at Yang Good!
Choose from either unmarinated 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!
*Alcohol is served here as the restaurant serves the locals too, but the ingredients and the lamb meat are halal certified!
Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Nonhyeon-ro, 95 gil, 15. 서울특별시 강남구 논현로95길 15
Directions: Yeoksam (Line 2). Do visit yanggood01 for clearer directions to Yang Good BBQ :)
yanggood01
Opening Hours: 3pm – 2am
Price: S$10 – 35 (₩11,000 - ₩30,000)
3. Namiok – Gyeonggi-do (Near Nami Island)
halaltour
If you're visiting Nami Island, you have to make a trip to Namiok for halal Dakgalbi닭갈비 (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!
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!
Opening Hours: 09:00 to 20:00
Price: S$12 – 18 (₩10,000 - ₩18,000)
*Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market노량진수산시장 (Not halal-certified)
theskinnybib
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!
Jake Ejercito
theskinnybib
When you reach the market, head straight to the first floor to select your dishes and don’t forget to bargain! The stallholders are usually willing to lower their prices if you purchase more items from them. 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.
Jake Ejercito
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
Address: 688, Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 동작구 노들로 688 (노량진동)
Directions: Noryangjin (Line 1) - Exit 1. Cross the overhead bridge and you'll find an open carpark area. Head down the stairs and brace yourselves for a bird's eye view of the fish market. (If all else fails, follow the smell of seafood :D)
Opening Hours: General Fish Market – 01:30 – 22:00
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).
You can find all these halal eateries along with the top attractions and prayer spaces on the HHWT Travel Planner app that is now available for download on iOS and Android! Download it now and plan your itinerary for your Seoul trip! Visit www.hhwt.io to find out more ? (And if you love the app, don’t forget to drop us a review too!)
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 notgoisseoyo 이요리는 고기/햄 놓고있오요?
- Please do not put meat / ham – gogi/haem notjimaseyo고기/햄 놓지마세요
- Please remove meat / ham – gogi/haem paejuseyo고기/햄 빼주세요
- I don’t eat meat – naneun gogireul an meogeoyo나는 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 난는 야채와 해물만 먹을 수있어요.
- I’m a vegetarian – naneun yachaejaimnida나는 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!