Hongdae halal lunch with Mom: gyro & shrimp rings, Halal Steaks

The weather has been so nice lately that I want to run off somewhere, so I went to a hot spot in Hongdae with real New York street vibes! It's hugely popular for takeout and delivery, but the interior and atmosphere are so hip that eating in felt like being on a trip, and it was much better.

It's Halal Steaks (할랄스텍스, "Halalstacks") in Hongdae.

What is Halal Steaks, and how do you get there from Hongik Univ. Station?

Halal Steaks is a halal fast-food restaurant about 5–6 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station, in an alley off Seogyo-dong Festival Street. Clean. Fresh. Halal! Halal food you can trust!! It's trendy fast food that reinterprets the halal street food loved by Muslims around the world for Korean tastes, haha.

• Address: 26 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Subway: about 5–6 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station (Line 2, AREX, Gyeongui-Jungang Line)
• Come out of Exit 9, pass the main street, and it's tucked into a hip alley inside Seogyo-dong Festival Street, so it's easy to find

Halal Steaks takes New York's signature street food, the halal guys style, and turns it into a modern, clean fast-food concept. It keeps the charm of exotic spices while adding a broadly appealing savory depth so that Koreans who are sensitive to strong aromas can enjoy it without any love-it-or-hate-it split, and it's so yummy.

What's the atmosphere like at the Hongdae branch?

The Hongdae branch is a photo-worthy spot decorated with vivid colors, typography and posters. The moment you step in, you get these hip, stylish colors!! Bright, vivid interior colors, stylish typography and posters fill the walls, so every spot you shoot comes out as an Instagram-style shot.

The music is light rather than heavy, so it's nice for chatting with friends over a meal. The inside is kept clean and pleasant, and on a nice day like these, it's just right for looking out through the big windows at the Hongdae alley and soaking up the hip mood at a relaxed pace!

What I ordered for lunch with Mom: gyro platter, shrimp rings and fries

At Halal Steaks, Mom and I ordered a gyro platter, shrimp rings and fries instead of a regular lunch. The delicious smell filling the shop got me, and since we were hungry, I ordered a bit of everything.

Will the gyro platter suit your parents' taste too?

The signature gyro platter was something even my mother, who is getting on in years, ate really well. The combination of tender meat with an exotic flavor, fresh vegetables and the special white sauce was crazy good. From the first bite I thought, "Is this New York?" It was exotic yet had a savory depth tuned exactly to Korean tastes.

The gyro platter comes generously piled on one plate: fluffy, exotic yellow basmati rice topped with plenty of tender, flame-grilled-scented meat, plus crisp lettuce and tomato and chewy pita bread.

The tangy, nutty special white sauce and the spicy hot sauce cut right through the richness of the meat. Mix it all up, take a bite, and it felt like the exotic flavor of eating in front of a New York food truck filled my mouth. The spices aren't overpowering, and the addictive savory taste is tuned to Korean palates, so I enjoyed it down to the last spoonful without getting tired of it.

Now and then, dip the meat in sauce and wrap it in the pita like a ssam (leaf wrap) for a different texture and taste. If you run short, you can order extra, which is a nice touch.

Are the shrimp rings and fries worth adding?

Of the sides at Halal Steaks, the shrimp rings are my favorite. They look cute and round, and the inside is packed with plump shrimp, so the pop of each bite and the crispy batter work together really well.

The fries are textbook crispy outside, moist inside! Served fresh and piping hot, with an extra nutty flavor, they're a magical side you can't stop eating alongside the gyro platter, so I strongly recommend adding them!

Halal Steaks in Hongdae: my verdict after visiting

On a nice day like these, Mom and I were really happy to enjoy the feel of New York street food on the hip streets of Hongdae. Having eaten it myself, I immediately understood why it's so popular for takeout and delivery.

With ingredients described as fresh, clean and 100% halal certified, you can eat with peace of mind, and it nails that addictive savory taste Korean palates go for too.

If you want to try an exotic, special flavor and culture, or you're looking for a hip, casual place to go with a friend in Hongdae, do visit Halal Steaks! From the first bite, I think you'll feel the excitement of a trip to New York.