Halal Food in Seoul 2026: Myeongdong Restaurants and Tips
Quick Answer: Stay near Myeongdong and you can eat halal Korean food every day without crossing the city. In the Busanjib alley on Myeongdong 8-gil you can have Korean BBQ at Busanjib KBBQ, which its operator presents as halal, and fried chicken around the corner at BSJ Chicken & WOK. For the widest choice, go to Itaewon near the Seoul Central Mosque. Hongdae and Insadong also have halal Korean restaurants. Outside these restaurants, assume Korean food contains pork or alcohol until you ask.
There is no up-to-date public list of halal-certified restaurants in Seoul. KMF, which certifies restaurants in Korea, does not publish one. So this guide lists restaurants that describe their food as halal on their own website or social media, or whose Google listing and reviews from the past year describe them as halal, and that were still open in October 2026. Each entry says what the halal basis is, so you can decide what to ask when you arrive.
Where Muslim travelers eat in Seoul
Itaewon has the most halal restaurants in Seoul, packed into the streets below the Seoul Central Mosque. We cover it in a separate guide: Itaewon halal food and the Seoul Central Mosque.
Myeongdong is where many first-time visitors stay, and it now has enough halal restaurants for a full trip: Korean BBQ, fried chicken, Malaysian and Korean home cooking, Uyghur noodles and Indian curry, most within a 10-minute walk of Myeongdong Station (Line 4).
Hongdae and Insadong each have halal Korean restaurants worth planning a meal around. You can browse every listed venue on our Seoul halal restaurant map.
Myeongdong: halal food near your hotel
Busan Jib and Busanjib KBBQ (Myeongdong 8-gil)
Busan Jib is a Korean restaurant in central Myeongdong that serves Korean rice dishes, warm stews and Korean fried chicken. It is run by BSJ Studio, a company that operates several halal restaurants in Seoul. Next door at 11-8 Myeongdong 8-gil, Busanjib KBBQ grills beef over charcoal at the table, from Hanwoo striploin to wagyu ribeye and set menus for 2 to 6 people.
The operator presents Busanjib KBBQ as a halal restaurant and says it renews halal certification every year. It also says it handles ingredients to prevent cross-contamination with pork. Busan Jib presents its food as halal, and its page asks guests to contact the team for the current certificate for that location. Busanjib KBBQ states that no alcohol is served.
- Busan Jib: 11-6 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu
- Busanjib KBBQ: 1F-2F, 11-8 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4) or Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2)
BSJ Chicken & WOK
From the same operator, BSJ Chicken & WOK pairs Korean fried chicken with Korean-Chinese dishes: jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). The operator describes its food as halal, and its site says prayer and wudu facilities are available inside.
- 1F-2F, 7 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4)
Namsan Garden Halal Korean BBQ
Namsan Garden sits on the Namsan side of Myeongdong, below N Seoul Tower. It serves Korean BBQ and seasoned chicken dishes. Its Google listing and diners' reviews from 2026 describe it as halal, and diners also mention a prayer room.
- 13-8 Toegye-ro 24-gil, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4)
Das'Han Uyghur Halal Restaurant
A family-run Uyghur restaurant on the third floor of a building in Myeongdong. Order laghman (hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetables), manti (steamed dumplings) or a rice and chicken dish, with ayran to drink. Dishes are made to order, so allow a little time. Its Google listing and diners' reviews from 2026 describe it as halal.
- 3F, 48 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4)
Mari Meokja (Halal Korean and Malaysian)
Mari Meokja is a small cafe-style restaurant with Korean and Malaysian dishes, a good choice if you want nasi lemak one day and Korean food the next. Reviewers recommend the nasi lemak with salted egg and the grilled mackerel with rice. A November 2025 review places it on the second floor next to a CU convenience store, opposite the Migliore Hotel. Its Google listing and recent reviews describe it as halal.
- 1-10 Hoehyeon-dong 3-ga, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4)
Indian Restaurant Taj
Taj is an Indian restaurant on the second floor of the Page Myeongdong building, with curries, dal, paneer dishes, biryani and fresh breads. Taj describes itself as halal on its Instagram profile.
- 2F, 73 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
- Nearest station: Myeongdong (Line 4) or Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2)
Insadong: Cherry Garden
Cherry Garden serves Korean dishes with plenty of side dishes, on the third floor of a building on Insadong's main street. In the evening, reviewers watch the street performers below from the window. Its Google listing and diners' reviews from 2026 describe it as halal, and recent reviews mention a prayer room.
- 3F, Inchang Building, 29 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu
- Nearest station: Anguk (Line 3) or Jonggak (Line 1)
Hongdae: halal Korean BBQ near the university
Busanjib Hongdae
The Hongdae branch of Busanjib serves Korean dishes and Korean BBQ, with cuts such as LA galbi (marinated short ribs) and wagyu bulgogi rice bowls. BSJ Chicken is on the floor above, and the operator says its fried chicken can be served at your table. The operator describes the food as halal, states that no alcohol is served, and says there are prayer and wudu facilities.
- 2F, 100-6 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu
- Nearest station: Hongik University (Line 2, Airport Railroad, Gyeongui-Jungang Line)
Eid Halal Korean Food (Hongdae Branch)
Eid also runs a restaurant in Itaewon. Its Hongdae branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant with beef and chicken, side dishes, and cheese corn. EID describes itself as a halal Korean restaurant on its Instagram, and diners' reviews of the Hongdae branch from 2026 describe it as halal.
- 1F, 36-8 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu
- Nearest station: Hongik University (Line 2)
Where to pray in central Seoul
The simplest option in Myeongdong is to eat where you can pray. The operator of the Busanjib restaurants says there are prayer and wudu facilities at Busan Jib Myeongdong, at BSJ Chicken & WOK, and at Busanjib Hongdae. Busanjib KBBQ guests can use the prayer room on the second floor of the group's seafood restaurant next door. Recent reviews also mention a prayer space at Namsan Garden, Mari Meokja and Cherry Garden. Ask the staff before you go in.
For Friday prayers, go to the Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon. It is a short subway or taxi ride from Myeongdong. See our Itaewon and Seoul Central Mosque guide for details.
How to eat halal Korean BBQ and fried chicken
Most Korean BBQ restaurants are built around pork, especially samgyeopsal (pork belly). Grills and tongs are shared, and the beef and chicken are not halal unless the restaurant says so. If you want the Korean BBQ experience, book one of the halal BBQ restaurants above.
Beef on a Korean tabletop grill. Illustrative photo. Photo by Rebel Sam Photos on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-steak-on-the-grill-23383499/)
- Go in a group of two or more. At Busanjib KBBQ, set menus are for 2 to 6 people and charcoal BBQ has a two-serving minimum.
- Ask about drinks. Busanjib KBBQ and Busanjib Hongdae state that they serve no alcohol. For other restaurants, ask whether alcohol is served if that matters to you.
- Fried chicken: a fried chicken shop is not halal unless it says so. In Myeongdong, BSJ Chicken & WOK and Busan Jib both serve Korean fried chicken and present their food as halal.
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Convenience stores: what to check
You will pass a CU, GS25 or 7-Eleven every few minutes in Seoul. Snacks and drinks can be useful, but ready meals need care. Triangle kimbap, sandwiches and instant noodles can contain pork or meat extracts. Read the ingredient list (원재료명) for these words:
A GS25 convenience store in Korea. Illustrative photo. Photo by Tuan Vy on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/exterior-of-a-gs25-convenience-store-in-a-korean-city-20124001/)
- 돼지고기 or 돈육: pork
- 돼지: pig (for example in 돼지뼈 추출물, pork bone extract)
- 라드: lard
- 젤라틴: gelatin (the source is often not stated)
- 주정, 맛술 or 미림: alcohol, cooking wine or mirin
- 햄 and 베이컨: ham and bacon
Unless the pack shows a halal mark (할랄), assume the beef (소고기) and chicken (닭고기) in it are not halal-slaughtered. Point your phone's camera translator at the label if you cannot read Hangul.
Useful Korean phrases
| What you want to say | Korean | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Does this contain pork or alcohol? | 돼지고기나 술이 들어 있나요? | dwae-ji-go-gi-na su-ri deu-reo in-na-yo? |
| Is this halal? | 할랄인가요? | hal-lal-in-ga-yo? |
| Where is the prayer room? | 기도실이 어디예요? | gi-do-si-ri eo-di-ye-yo? |
Show the Korean text on your phone if you are not sure about pronunciation. If you are traveling beyond Seoul, see our 3-day Muslim-friendly Busan itinerary and 8-day Jeju Island itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easy to find halal food in Seoul?
Yes, if you stay in the right area. Itaewon has the most halal restaurants, and Myeongdong now has halal Korean BBQ, fried chicken, Malaysian, Uyghur and Indian food within walking distance of Myeongdong Station. Outside these areas, choices are thin, so plan your meals before you go out.
Which area of Seoul is best for halal food?
Itaewon has the widest choice, near the Seoul Central Mosque. Myeongdong is the most convenient base for sightseeing and shopping, and its halal restaurants cover most meals of the day. Hongdae and Insadong also have halal Korean restaurants.
Where can I eat halal Korean BBQ in Seoul?
In Myeongdong, try Busanjib KBBQ on Myeongdong 8-gil or Namsan Garden Halal Korean BBQ. In Hongdae, try Busanjib Hongdae or Eid Halal Korean Food.
Are halal restaurants in Seoul certified?
Some are. KMF (the Korea Muslim Federation) certifies restaurants in Korea, but it does not publish a public list, and certificates are renewed every year. Some restaurants describe themselves as halal without naming a certifier. If certification matters to you, ask the restaurant to show its current certificate and check the date on it.
How do I ask about pork and alcohol in Korean?
Say or show "돼지고기나 술이 들어 있나요?" (dwae-ji-go-gi-na su-ri deu-reo in-na-yo?), which means "Does this contain pork or alcohol?"
What we could and could not verify
Every restaurant source we used is dated October 2025 or later, or was live on the restaurant's own website when we checked on 19 October 2026. For each restaurant, we confirmed on Google Maps on 19 October 2026 that the listing was still open, and we found reviews from 2026. The halal basis is what the restaurant states on its own website or Instagram, or, where it does not publish a statement, its Google listing together with diners' reviews from 2026 that describe it as halal. KMF does not publish a public list of certified restaurants, and the certificates we could find online had already expired, so we do not describe any restaurant here as certified. We could not confirm alcohol policies except where the operator states them (Busanjib KBBQ and Busanjib Hongdae). Older official guides list prayer rooms at a few malls and tourist centers in Seoul, but we found no confirmation from October 2025 or later, so we have not listed them. Opening hours change often, so check the restaurant's map listing before you go. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Sources
- BSJ Studio (operator of Busan Jib, BSJ Chicken and Busanjib KBBQ), brand page: https://bsjstudio.kr/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busanjib, Halal & Visit Info (halal statement, prayer and wudu facilities): https://busanjib.kr/en/halal/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busanjib KBBQ Myeongdong: https://busanjib.kr/en/restaurants/kbbq/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busan Jib Myeongdong: https://busanjib.kr/en/restaurants/myeongdong/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- BSJ Chicken & WOK: https://busanjib.kr/en/restaurants/chicken-wok/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busanjib Hongdae: https://busanjib.kr/en/restaurants/hongdae/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busanjib KBBQ, Google Maps listing: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJMQO3xy2jfDUR9LvUKc0m2Iw (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busan Jib, Google Maps listing: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJu6IjP_CifDURsPhMzrztNvA (checked 2026-10-19)
- BSJ Chicken & WOK, Google Maps listing: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJfagKuXmjfDURIJbhWBpCaXQ (checked 2026-10-19)
- Namsan Garden Halal Korean BBQ, Google Maps listing and reviews dated 2026-04 to 2026-06: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJHz79ShejfDURwmaq6b8laQU (checked 2026-10-19)
- Das'Han Uyghur Halal Restaurant, Google Maps listing and reviews dated 2026-03 to 2026-09: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJXw7RVACjfDURdj9yFsWRT20 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Mari Meokja Halal Korean & Malaysian, Google Maps listing and reviews dated 2025-11 to 2026-08: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJUQUefG2jfDURvVSzOfM3-H8 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Indian Restaurant Taj, Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/taj.seoul (checked 2026-10-19) and Google Maps listing: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJi4SF_POifDURW-FpzyIj1E4 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Cherry Garden Restaurant (Halal) Insadong, Google Maps listing and reviews dated 2026-06 to 2026-08: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJn19fTwCjfDUROvWBurVXBaE (checked 2026-10-19)
- Busanjib Hongdae, Google Maps listing: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJOT_oMqaZfDURk6nmiqjey3I (checked 2026-10-19)
- Eid Halal Korean Food (Hongdae Branch), Google Maps listing and reviews dated 2026-05 to 2026-06: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJjUkObgqZfDURsSqMlmmw2og (checked 2026-10-19)
- EID Halal Korean Food, official Instagram (latest post 2026-09-24): https://www.instagram.com/eid.halal.korea/ (checked 2026-10-19)
About this article
Written and halal-verified by Zeshan Hayat, CMO & Head Halal Auditor, Halal Navi.
Update policy: If you spot outdated information, we will review and correct it within 7 days.
Disclosure: Halal Navi receives no payment from any restaurant or hotel in exchange for inclusion, and all recommendations reflect independent editorial judgment based on Muslim-friendly criteria. Some articles contain affiliate booking links (e.g. Trip.com); if you book through one, Halal Navi may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Last verified: 2026-10-19
