Looking for halal restaurants in Seoul? Start with two useful areas: Itaewon for Korean and Egyptian dining, and COEX for a Turkish meal during a Gangnam sightseeing day.
This guide compares three restaurants listed in Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) resources and explains what their halal categories mean. Choose the certification standard you need before choosing the menu.
Updated October 16, 2026, using official restaurant and tourism listings. The notes below explain branch details and halal categories; check the current certificate at your chosen outlet.
Understand Korea’s halal restaurant categories first
KTO uses four categories in its Muslim-friendly restaurant guide. They describe different levels of assurance:
- Halal certified: certification by an accredited halal agency, such as the Korea Muslim Federation.
- Self-certified: a Muslim owner declares the food halal; this is separate from external certification.
- Muslim friendly: halal dishes are available, but the whole menu may not be halal and alcohol may be sold.
- Pork free: pork is absent, but that alone does not establish halal ingredients or preparation.
If you require formal certification, ask to see a current certificate and check the branch name, scope, and validity. A chain’s certification should not be assumed to cover every outlet.
Three restaurants to consider
1. Eid — Korean food in Itaewon
Eid (이드) appears as halal certified in KTO’s directory. For visit planning, the newer Seoul Tourism Organization entry provides the following details:
- Address: 1F, 15 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Phone: +82-70-8899-8210
- Published hours: 11:30–21:00; last order 20:30
- Menu examples: bulgogi ₩15,000; sweet-and-sour chicken ₩16,000
- Regular closing day: not specified in this source; ask before a dedicated trip.
Visit Seoul: Eid’s address, hours and menu · Find the listed address on Google Maps
Avoid an address mix-up: the older KTO directory gives 67 Usadan-ro 10-gil and 070-8889-8210. The newer Visit Seoul entry, edited June 29, 2026, gives the address and number above. Confirm the entrance with the restaurant instead of following an old saved pin. The two listings differ, so use the restaurant’s confirmation to choose your map destination.
2. Kervan COEX — Turkish food for a Gangnam day
Kervan’s COEX branch appears as halal certified in KTO’s directory. The mall operator’s own branch page is a useful source for locating this specific outlet.
- Address: B1, Starfield COEX Mall, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Phone: +82-2-556-4767
- Published hours: 10:30–22:00 on the official mall branch page
- Menu focus: Turkish kebabs; confirm the exact dish, portion and price at this branch.
- Last order, break and weekly closure: not specified on the checked mall page.
Official Starfield COEX Mall branch page and location · Find Kervan COEX
Planning tip: use the B1 floor guide to find the restaurant, then check the menu, kitchen closing time and current certificate at this outlet.
3. Cairo BBQ — Egyptian food in Itaewon
Cairo BBQ (카이로 바베큐) is listed as self-certified, rather than externally halal certified. KTO lists Egyptian dishes including koshary and molokhia with meat.
- Directory address: 45 Usadan-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Directory phone: +82-70-4110-0087
- Directory hours: 11:00–23:00 in the indexed KTO listing; current service has not been independently confirmed.
- Current prices, closing day and last order: not verified; telephone before making this your only meal option.
KTO Cairo BBQ listing · Find the directory address
This entry relies on an older KTO directory. Call to confirm current service and hours, and check whether self-certification meets your requirements before planning a meal here.
A meal budget you can actually check
Using Visit Seoul’s listed Eid prices, two bulgogi orders would total ₩30,000, or bulgogi plus sweet-and-sour chicken would total ₩31,000, before any extras. Check portion sizes and whether rice or drinks cost extra. Ask “밥이 포함되어 있나요?” — Is rice included?
For Kervan and Cairo BBQ, check the current priced menu rather than applying Eid’s budget to a different restaurant. Ask “이 메뉴 가격과 오늘 마지막 주문 시간이 어떻게 되나요?” — What is the price of this dish, and what time is the last order today?
Planning details rechecked October 16, 2026 (Korea time). Eid details use Visit Seoul; Kervan’s floor and hours use the mall operator. Cairo BBQ remains a directory lead requiring confirmation. Halal categories describe the linked directory entries and do not verify a current certificate.
Fit a halal meal into your Seoul itinerary
Itaewon option: Choose Eid or Cairo BBQ according to your certification requirements, then build the rest of your neighborhood visit around that meal. Select one main restaurant and keep a second suitable option saved as a backup.
Gangnam option: If your sightseeing day includes COEX, investigate Kervan COEX before crossing the city just for lunch. Confirm your arrival time and allow time to locate the branch inside the complex.
For transport planning, use our Seoul subway guide for first-time visitors and useful apps for traveling in Korea. Our Seoul neighborhood accommodation guide can also help you plan meals around your hotel.
Useful questions to show restaurant staff
- Is this branch halal certified?
이 지점은 할랄 인증을 받았나요? - Can I see the current halal certificate?
현재 유효한 할랄 인증서를 볼 수 있을까요? - Does this dish contain pork or alcohol?
이 음식에 돼지고기나 술이 들어가나요? - What time is the last order today?
오늘 마지막 주문은 몇 시인가요?
These questions help you start a conversation; a verbal answer about pork alone is not a substitute for the certification or preparation details you need.
Frequently asked questions
Is all food in Itaewon halal?
No. Choose an individual restaurant and branch based on its certification or stated preparation practices. A neighborhood name does not establish a restaurant’s halal status.
Does “pork free” mean halal?
No. KTO separates pork-free restaurants from halal-certified restaurants. Ask about meat sourcing, ingredients, and preparation according to your requirements.
Can I use a vegan restaurant as a halal alternative?
A vegan menu describes the exclusion of animal ingredients. It does not establish halal certification, alcohol-free cooking, or the preparation standards you need. Verify those separately.
Traveling with someone who eats plant-based meals? See our vegan restaurants in Seoul guide for five neighborhoods. Vegan menus and halal standards should still be checked separately.
Before you go
Save the exact branch address, check the certificate where relevant, and confirm hours on your travel date. Planning one suitable meal near the day’s sightseeing is more practical than treating every restaurant on a citywide list as interchangeable.
Cover food photograph: Markus Winkler / Unsplash. Restaurant details and classifications are based on the linked KTO resources.