Seoul Metropolitan Government has compiled a list of Seoul’s best Halal restaurants as recommended by the city’s Muslim residents. Various categories are introduced in the list, such as restaurants with a Muslim chef and owner, the only Korean restaurant in Seoul that has been Halal-Certified by the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), and restaurants using exclusively Halal ingredients, among others. In addition to six Muslim-friendly restaurants, this article features a list of Seoul Restaurants with the highest votes from the city’s Muslim Residents. Muslim visitors in Seoul can also refer to the list of six prayer rooms along with nine Halal-Certified restaurants and twelve Self-Certified restaurants presented at the end of the article. Halal eating in Seoul has gotten so much easier!.

 

 Halal Korean Restaurants in Seoul

Eid: Seoul’s Only Halal-Certified Korean Restaurant

Located near Seoul Central Mosque, Eid is the one and only Korean restaurant in Seoul that has been Halal-certified by the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF). There are four items on the menu: bulgogi (marinated beef), bibimbap (mixed rice bowl), grilled fish, and samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). The most popular item is the bulgogi (marinated beef), for which fresh pears and apples are used instead of sugar. Each dish comes served with three types of side dishes (banchan), which are made in-house daily with organic vegetables.

Try a Korean Musilm Chef’s Creations at Halal Kitchen

Housed in a quaint hanok (traditional Korean housing) in Samcheong-dong, Halal Kitchen is well-known in Seoul’s Muslim community for its Halal Korean cuisine. The menu isn’t large, yet each one of the featured dishes is impressive enough to have put this restaurant on the map. The most popular items are the bulgogi (marinated beef) and dak-galbi (sweet and spicy stir-fried chicken). The chef also recommends the bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) made with zucchini, mushroom, carrots, and eggs. Deliveries and lunch box orders are available. Halal Kitchen also allows its guests to order ahead before arriving at the restaurant.

Visit Osegyehyang for Soy-Based Vegan Delicacies

A vegan restaurant that even meat lovers enjoy, Osegyehyang offers a variety of vegan meat and Korean Chinese dishes. To make jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles) and tangsuchae (sweet and sour vegetables), the restaurant uses quality soy protein and perilla oil. The most popular items on the menu are the ttukbulgui (stone bowl veggie meat) and the bulgui deopbap (veggie meat rice). For those who would like to enjoy traditional Korean fare, the chef recommends the nutty, creamy ueong deulkkae-tang (white sesame and burdock root soup). All of the vegan meat items that are used in the dishes can also be purchased at the counter for home cooking.

 

 Halal Restaurants with Prayer Rooms

Kampungku: Muslim Prayer Room? Check. Malaysian Soul Food? Check!

Kampungku, located near Myeongdong, serves up true home-style Malaysian cuisine, including nasi lemak and rendang ayam. Made with a generous amount of coconut milk and pandan leaves, the traditional “soul food” of Malaysia, nasi lemak, is sweet and fragrant. The rendang ayam, made with chicken, lemongrass, turmeric, and star anise is savory, warm, and comforting. The restaurant also features a prayer room for Muslim guests.

Saffron, Seoul’s One-of-a-kind Middle Eastern Restaurant

Saffron specializes in Arabic and Middle Eastern cuisine, such as hummus and doner kebab. Complete with beautifully ornamented tiles, the lavish interior features a humble, yet elaborately decorated Muslim prayer room. There are seven types of appetizers on the menu, with the most popular item being the hummus made from fresh chick peas and olive oil. Saffron’s naan bread, which goes well with the appetizers, is made with milk, sesame seeds, and butter and it is baked in a tandoori oven. As for the main dishes, the chef recommends the mutton handi curry which comes served in traditional cookware.

 

 Halal Burgers Made with Reliable Halal-Certified Ingredients

Try Halal Pizza and Burgers at Pizza Burgers Plus

Located by Bogwang Elementary School in Itaewon, Pizza Burgers Plus serves up American-style burgers and pizzas using reliable Halal-certified ingredients. The restaurant has built a strong reputation over the years with generous portions and reasonable prices. The most popular item on the menu is the beef slice burger made with 100% premium quality beef.

 Seoul Restaurants with the Highest Votes from the City’s Muslim Residents

Seoul’s Best Halal Restaurants as Recommended by the Muslim Residents

Name	Address	Phone	Type	Recommended Dishes
Makan Halal Restaurant	52 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-2-6012-2231	Korean	- Bulgogi (marinated beef) - Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), grilled chicken, dak-bokkeum-tang (braised spicy chicken), Tteok-galbi (grilled short rib patties), Bibimbap (mixed rice bowl)
Bombay Grill	11 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-2-792-7155	Indian/Pakistani	Chicken Biryani, Curry, Naan, Chicken Masala
Eid	67 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-70-8889-8210	Korean	- Voted by many: Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), Bulgogi (marinated beef) - Jjimdak (soy sauce-based braised chicken)
Plant	20 Itaewon-ro 16-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-70-4115-8388	Vegetarian	Vegetarian Burger
Pizza Burgers Plus	19-1 Usadan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-2-790-4883	Western	Halal Fast Food
The Halal Guys	187 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	+82-2-794-8308	Middle Eastern	Iconic Chain/Food Truck of New York City
Kampungku Authentic Malaysian Restaurant	25 Toegye-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul	+82-2-310-9249	Malaysian	Halal Malaysian
Tofu151 Gwanghwamun Branch	19 Saemunan-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul	+82-2-733-3522	Korean	Bulgogi (marinated beef) Barbecue, Spicy Tofu Stew
Osegyehyang	14-7 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul	+82-2-735-7171	Vegan/Korean	Vegan Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles), Vegan Steak, Vegan BBQ
Gosam-I	38 Yonsei-ro 7an-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul	+82-2-324-1403	Korean	Mackerel Galbi (BBQ), Kimchi Stew
Alchon Ewha Women’s University Branch	14 Ewhayeodae 7-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul	+82-2-1661-1907	Korean	Flying Fish Roe Rice Bowl
Halal Kitchen	18 Seogang-ro 11-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul	+82-2-332-3106	Korean	Halal Lunch Boxes
Jjukkumi King	39 Neungdong-ro 13-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul	+82-2-469-3392	Korean	Grilled Fish

Seoul’s Muslim-Friendly Restaurants

The city of Seoul has been welcoming an increasing number of Muslim visitors over the past few years. This has spurred the Korea Tourism Organization to compile a list of ‘Muslim-friendly’ restaurants. More specifically, there are four types of restaurant categories on this list that was started in 2016: ‘Halal-Certified’, which requires an official certification from Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), ‘Self-Certified’, which is granted to Halal restaurants with a Muslim owner or chef, ‘Muslim-Friendly’, given to restaurants that offer a Halal menu unexclusively (with alcohol and non-Halal dishes available), and ‘Pork Free’, recognizing non-Halal restaurants offering meat dishes that do not contain pork. As of October 2017, there are a total of 100 Muslim-friendly restaurants located in Seoul, including nine ‘Halal-Certified’ and twelve ‘Self-Certified’ venues.

9 Halal-Certified Restaurants

         A list comprised of venue information and recommended food items

Name	Address	Type	Phone
Kervan Turkish Restaurant COEX	513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-556-4767
Kervan Express GFC	152 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-566-4767
Mr. Kebab	192 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-70-7758-1997
Kervan Turkish Restaurant Itaewon	190 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-792-4767
Eid	67 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Korean	+82-70-8889-8210
Makan Halal Restaurant	52 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Korean	+82-2-6012-2231
Salam Restaurant	39 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-793-4323
Istanbul Delight	40 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-4209-3391
Bombay Grill	11 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Indian	+82-2-792-7155

12 Self-Certified Restaurants

Name	Address	Type	Phone
Murree Restaurant	20 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Indian	+82-2-3785-1436
Sultan Turkish Kebab	126 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-2-749-3890
Foreign Restaurant	42 Usadan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Indian	+82-2-794-9292
Usmania	34 Usadan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Pakistani	+82-2-798-7155
Mr. Kebab 2nd Branch	42 Usadan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Turkish	+82-70-7532-1997
Taj Palace	39 Usadan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Indian	+82-2-790-5786
Hajj Korean Halal Food	39 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Korean	+82-2-749-5185
Dubai Restaurant	192 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Middle Eastern	+82-2-798-9277
Hibiscus	102 Tongil-Ro, Jung-Gu, Seoul	Asian	+82-2-577-3434

Muslim Prayer Rooms in Seoul

Location	Address	Hours	Inquiries
Seoul Central Mosque	39 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul	Duration of Salah (refer to the website)	+82-2-793-6908
COEX	513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Near Hall E)	05:00~22:00	+82-2-6000-0114
Lotte World	3F, 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (By the Jungle Adventure exit)	09:30~22:00	+82-2-411-3502
Lotte World Tower & Lotte World Mall	6F, 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul	10:30~20:30	+82-2-3213-2105
K-Style Hub	2F, 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul	09:00~20:00	+82-2-729-9457
Incheon International Airport	272 Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon (3rd floor Duty Free Area and 4th floor Passenger Terminal Boarding Gate 24)	00:00~24:00	+82-1577-2600

※ Please note that this article was published in November, 2017 and the above information is subject to change at any time.