Struggling to find halal options? As a Muslim person living in or visiting South Korea, searching for halal food can be a challenging task. But worry not, as we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll delve into halal food options available in the Greater Pyeongtaek area. This blog post provides a list of halal restaurants and grocery stores, along with some useful tips to help you find halal food options with ease.
Halal in Korea
Halal is an Arabic word that means “lawful or permitted.” The term halal is generally used in reference to Islamic dietary practices, but it extends to other Islamic practices as well.
When I first arrived in Korea, one of my main worries as an observing Muslim was access to halal and Muslim-friendly food. With a bit of research and helpful recommendations from new friends, I was able to locate halal food options in South Korea, even beyond the capital city of Seoul.
Korea has a Muslim population of over 200,000. As the Muslim community continues to grow in Korea, so do the halal and Muslim-friendly food options. The diversity of the Muslim population in the area creates a wonderful environment to enjoy and explore a variety of halal cultural cuisines. Continue reading to discover some of the halal resources available in Pyeongtaek.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that the restaurants mentioned in this blog may self-certify as halal, but they may not have official certification from a recognized halal certification authority. The information provided in this blog post is based on research and recommendations, but it’s always advisable for individuals to exercise their own discretion and verify the halal status of the establishments before dining.
Halal Restaurants in Pyeongtaek
There are a variety of halal and halal-friendly restaurants in Pyeongtaek for a quick bite or a sit-down meal with friends and family. The restaurants below are only a few of the locations listed in the South of Seoul app in the Pyeongtaek area. Download the South of Seoul app for easy access to halal options in your area.
Paengseong-eup
Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek-si exists near Camp Humphreys US Army base.
MG Doner Kebab
031-653-9937
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Delicious kebabs actually served in a pita. Most places serve them in a tortilla. They also have falafel and hummus.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정쇼핑로 5-1
Red Onion
031-656-6660
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
This is owned by the same owners as the Nazar Kebab restaurant but was updated to offer more contemporary options. The name changed in 2019 from Nazar to Red Onion.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정순환로 110-4
Crazy Wings And Burgers
A restaurant with a little something for everyone.
King Hamburger
0316519937
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Family burger restaurant that’s filled with flavor.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정쇼핑로 4
Arati Indian Restaurant
031-657-2548
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Located on the second floor, this flavorful restaurant has a beautiful outdoor deck. There is an additional location in Pyeongtaek City.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정순환로138번길 56
Nazar Kebab Stand
031-651-9951
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Nazar Kebab is a well-loved Turkish style kebab stand near the walk-in gate to the Camp Humphreys walking gate.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 팽성읍 안정쇼핑로 2
Pyeongtaek-dong
Pyeongtaek-dong, Pyeongtaek-si exists near AK Plaza which is also known as the Pyeongtaek Train Station.
Himalayan Danfe Restaurant
0316560977
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A tasty Indian restaurant across from Moti Mahal near AK Plaza.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택1로9번길 1
Swoyambhu Restaurant
031-652-3305
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Northern Indian Food in a Stunning Atmosphere. Swoyambhu Restaurant restaurant, located a stones-throw from AK plaza, is surprisingly authentic, with unique menu items people who have visited India will appreciate. We recommend getting all the courses when you go because they are all impressive. Its also an excellent place for vegetarians to dine because there are so many flavorful options. The interior is also quite sexy and makes for an intimate meal with a lovely view if you sit next to the window. Its swoon worthy and makes Swoyambhu one of the best date locations in downtown Pyeongtaek City.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택2로 5-1
Mountain Restaurant
031-651-3612
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
This restaurant is owned by the same person as Mount Fishtail near Cheonan Station, a very popular restaurant for many years. Worth giving a try.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택2로 10
Sinjang-dong
Sinjang-dong, Pyeongtaek-si exists near Osan Air Force Base and Songtan Station.
Efes Kebab
070-8116-3131
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A well liked Kebab stand in Songtan. This blue delight has been a long time favorite with the locals that stick around. The friendly staff and rich food keep us all coming back for more. They also make their own bread which is truly wonderful.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 19
Taj Palace Indian Halal Restaurant
031-668-4444
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Indian food perfect for the halal diner.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 17-1
Star Kebab
031-668-5582
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
One of the longest running kebab restaurants in Shinjang, otherwise known as the SED. A great place for a late night meal or a place to dine with visiting Muslim friends.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 19
King Hamburger Songtan
0316659951
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 14
Anjung-eup
Anjung-eup exists near Pyeongtaek’s KTX Station which should open in late 2023.
Cafe Islam Halal Food
01021757107
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
AN Uzbek restaurant located on the second floor. They serve up all the Uzbek favorites.
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 안중읍 안현로서2길 14
Halal Grocery Stores in Pyeongtaek
If you prefer cooking at home or are craving a home-cooked meal, visit the halal grocery stores in Pyeongtaek for what you may need. The marts have a variety of offerings like halal meats, herbs, spices, international food products, and more.
Anjung-eup
Halal Market
A small, Muslim Grocery story.
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 안중읍 안중로114번길 10
Pekarnya Bakery
01085954554
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A bakery and small grocery that specializes in Uzbek nan.
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 안중읍 안현로서2길 27
Tashkent
01068918388
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Small Uzbek / Russian grocery. Great sausage selection.
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 안중읍 안현로서5길 53
Seojeong-dong
World Mart Seojeongri
One of the best world/ international markets. Halal meats, fresh herbs, lots of spices, and more. Parking: this is next to the Seojeongri Market parking garage where you can park for free for 2 hours.
Hangul Address
경기도 평택시 서정역로 39
Tongbok-dong
NR Mart
Halal grocery story in Pyeongtaek
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 중앙로 19
Online Resources and Apps
Along with the growing number of Muslim-friendly restaurants and grocery stores in South Korea, there are now several convenient online delivery options available for those seeking halal groceries. The following websites offer a range of halal meats, spices, produce, pantry staples, sweets, and more.
Yes!Halal
- You can place orders directly on the Yes!Halal website.
- Some Yes!Halal products are available for purchase through Coupang. Purchases made through Coupang require a Korean bank account. Foreign credit and debit cards are not accepted for payment.
- Yes!Halal also offers products on Gmarket if you don’t have a Korean debit or credit card. Gmarket supports foreign cards and PayPal payments.
Al Bazaar
- You can place orders directly on the Al Bazaar website.
Coupang
- Halal offerings from various vendors available for home delivery, such as:
- You can search for more options by typing “halal” or copying and pasting “할랄” in the Coupang search bar.
- Purchases made through Coupang require a Korean bank account. Foreign credit and debit cards are not accepted for payment.
MUFKO App
- The MUFKO app provides a variety of helpful services for Muslims residing in Korea. One of its most popular features is the barcode scanner, which allows users to scan a food product’s barcode and receive information about its ingredients. This enables users to make informed decisions about whether or not to consume the product.
South of Seoul App
- You can explore more halal establishments as they are added to the SOS app.
- To find halal restaurants and marts in the SOS app, type “halal” into the search bar. If the listing doesn’t appear upon your initial search, switch the filter in the top left corner of the screen from “Closest” to “New” for additional listings in the surrounding area.
- The SOS app is also a great tool for discovering restaurants with vegetarian and vegan options. To do so, type “vegetarian” in the search bar and explore a range of delicious options.
Naver Maps/Kakao Maps
- To search for establishments that offer halal options, copy and paste the following into Naver or Kakao Maps:
- 할랄 or 할랄 식당 – halal or halal restaurant
- 해산물 or 해산물 식당 – seafood or seafood restaurant
- 채식 – vegetarian
- 비건 – vegan
General Local Resources
- The local mosques/masjids listed on the Seoul Central Mosque website may be able to provide additional information and resources for Muslims residing in Korea.
Additional Tips for Muslim-friendly Food in Korea
Aside from halal meat options, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan restaurants are also great options for Muslim travelers or residents. Korea is a peninsula, so there is an assortment of fresh seafood offerings throughout the country. View the “Online Resources and Apps” section above for helpful tips on finding seafood and vegetarian restaurants.
We also want to offer some information that may be helpful during day-to-day shopping and eating out during your time in Korea.
Checking Ingredients of Packaged Goods
As you’re shopping in Korean grocery stores, it’s important to be able to navigate nutrition information on food packaging to check for non-permissible ingredients. The allergen warning line will generally alert if the product contains meat or uses meat by-products (e.g., gelatin). Learn more in the following SOS blog post which addresses reading food labels: Looking for Halal: Reading Korean Food Labels
Helpful Phrases When Ordering Food
Some restaurants may offer foods that contain non-permissible ingredients, but you may be able to ask them to adjust your order so those ingredients are not included. You can try saying or showing the following phrases when placing an order.
- Please remove [X] = [X] 빼주세요 (ppae-ju-seh-yo)
- Example: Please remove the meat = 고기 빼주세요 (gogi ppae-ju-seh-yo)
- Example: Please remove the pork = 돼지고기 빼주세요 (dwaeji-gogi ppae-ju-seh-yo)
- Does this contain [X]? = [X] 들어있나요? (deu-reo-in-na-yo)
- Example: Does this contain meat? = 고기가 들어있나요? (gogi deul-reo-in-na-yo)
- Example: Does this contain pork? = 돼지고기 들어있나요? (dwaeji-gogi deul-reo-in-na-yo)
Translation programs, such as Papago or Google Translate may also be helpful in translating your requests while ordering food.
Sharing Halal Information with the Community
While the above list provides a good starting point, it’s important to note that there may be additional halal resources in Pyeongtaek that are not included. We encourage you to explore and try out different halal establishments during your stay or travels in South Korea. If you come across any new halal or Muslim-friendly spots, we would love for you to share them with us in the South of Seoul groups (listed below) so that we can continue to expand our information and lists.
Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group
Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group! This South of Seoul moderated community group of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. Additionally, the shared posts introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again.
Volunteer with South of Seoul
Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.
Zahra Alsafi is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon, South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan.
Ms. Alsafi was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Iraqi refugee parents. Inspired by her community and international experiences, she hopes to pursue public health dentistry with a focus on preventative care for immigrant and refugee populations. She is particularly interested in disseminating educational information through accessible formats.
Ms. Alsafi’s public health practicum with South of Seoul Public Health will focus on dental health education for school-aged children and adults in South Korea.
