Date-night halal restaurant in Hongdae: seasoned fries, Halal Steaks

Why go to Halal Steaks near Hongik Univ. Station on a date?

Halal Steaks is a restaurant near Hongik Univ. Station that serves New York street food-style halal platters. I was on an evening date with my boyfriend around Yeonnam-dong and Hongdae when I got a huge halal craving, and after a frantic search I found this place.

The weather is so nice these days, perfect for going around eating good food, right?! I recently went on a la-la-la evening date with my boyfriend around Yeonnam-dong and Hongdae for the first time in a while! Right in the middle of it, I suddenly wanted halal food, the poster child of street food, so so badly, you know?!

When I lived in the US, the Halal Guys were practically my soul food and I ate there all the time. I missed that savory handmade sauce, the nutty rice and the meat all together, so after a frantic search I ended up at Halal Steaks, a Hongik Univ. Station spot that really captures that exotic flavor and vibe. Let me tell you about my very happy visit 💖

Halal Steaks location and opening hours

Halal Steaks is on the 2nd floor of the building at 26 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It is open every day from 11:00 to 22:00.

Ahh, just looking at the menu makes my mouth water...

What is the atmosphere like at Halal Steaks?

Halal Steaks feels like a stylish, hip American shop, and it was clean and comfortable. It would suit a Hongdae date with a partner or a casual meal with friends.

The moment I walked in, it felt like I had arrived at a stylish, hip American shop, haha. The New York street food vibe was so strong that from the second I entered, I was chattering away to my boyfriend, "Wow, this reminds me of when I was in the US!" 😆

Overall the place was clean and comfortable, so it would be great for a Hongdae date or a casual meal with friends. The mood is exotic yet easy for anyone to enjoy, and I had a feeling that if you like New York-style chili or platters, it would become your favorite among restaurants near Hongik Univ. Station!

How to order at Halal Steaks and what the Couple Set includes

You order at Halal Steaks with a kiosk.

After studying the menu carefully, we ordered the well-packed Couple Set! It comes with 2 platters, fries and 2 soft drinks, so it is a signature menu item that is good value and nicely hearty.

• 2 platters
• Fries
• 2 soft drinks

Does the Halal Steaks platter taste like the Halal Guys?

The Halal Steaks platter is meat, fresh vegetables, white sauce and hot sauce over basmati rice, and it tasted exactly like the Halal Guys flavor the writer remembers from the US. The creamy, nutty white sauce especially boosted the savory taste.

As soon as the food came out, the sight of a big bowl packed full made me so happy, hahaha! That halal meat!!! with fresh vegetables, and white sauce and hot sauce generously poured over basmati rice, my mouth was watering just looking 🤤 I grabbed my fork right away, mixed the platter well and took a big bite, nom.

I almost cried the moment I ate it... 🥹 It was truly the nostalgic Halal Guys taste I ate all the time in the US, can you believe it?! That signature white sauce especially, it had been so so long, and I was happy the whole meal... Creamy and nutty with a bit of tang, it lifted the meat and rice by 200%. A little spicy hot sauce on top meant it was never heavy, and I devoured it to the last spoonful, marveling the whole time.

The thick meat was well seasoned and a bit salty, tender with no gamey smell, and the crunchy lettuce and tomato here and there kept it fresh. The combination was simply perfect.

Will people new to halal food enjoy it?

My boyfriend was a bit unfamiliar with halal food, but after one bite of the Halal Steaks platter he said, "Wow, this is seriously addictive!" and dug in even more excitedly than me! I was so proud of myself for bringing him, thinking it was really worth coming to Halal Steaks 💯

Couple Set fries and whether I would return

The fries in the Couple Set come smothered in seasoning and toppings, and my boyfriend said they were so good that he ate them all by himself. I was busy devouring the platter, LOL.

It fully satisfied my soul food cravings from my US days, and thanks to the fresh ingredients and the fantastic white sauce, it was a day of healing with a belly full of food!

If you want to enjoy something different, tasty and exotic near Hongdae, or try a halal platter of proper quality, go to Halal Steaks, a rising favorite among restaurants near Hongik Univ. Station, two or three times! For halal food fans, I declare it a lifetime hot spot you will never regret 👍 My boyfriend and I plan to come back without hesitation every time we go on a date in Hongdae! Highly, highly recommended~ 🤍