Solo halal meal in Hongdae with review-event fries: Halal Steaks

There's a place where you can feel the full heat of a Manhattan street without ever going to New York.😚

It's the Hongdae restaurant Halal Steaks (할랄스텍스)! My wallet is empty so New York is out of reach, haha🤣

But I can get to Hongdae, so I went there to eat something unusual!

Halal Steaks location and opening hours

Halal Steaks is at 26 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd floor. It's open daily 11:00 - 22:00.

It was easy to find from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station! 🚶‍♀️

It used to be the much-loved Halal Guys shop, and I heard that it recently moved and only the name changed! I remembered it tasting good before, so I went for a solo meal!!🫡

Here's my review of a colorful, unusual meal at a place that feels like a food truck moved indoors.

It's the perfect place to visit when you're sick of eating the same old menu every day! ✨

Is Halal Steaks good for eating alone in Hongdae?

Inside, Halal Steaks has roomy, pleasant seating. There are cozy spots for solo diners too, so someone like me who came alone could eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious. 🫰💚

I snapped this quickly when everyone had left! It's so clean and comfortable.😀 The air conditioning was cool too. I love powerful AC.

I happened to sit at the window seat, and with the open view I could watch the outside and enjoy my solo meal at a leisurely pace~

It feels so open!

The shop was colorful and hip. There were lots of foreign customers when I visited! Great when you're eating something unusual 👍

Kiosk ordering and free fries from the review event

You order at the kiosk by the entrance at Halal Steaks. If you join the review event, you get free fries.

How to order at the kiosk

There's a kiosk by the entrance, so ordering was quick and easy! Takeout is possible too, so if you live nearby, you could take it home. 🛍️ Lots of delivery and takeout orders were going out too!

Halal Steaks review event

They give free fries for the review event, so join in quickly and enjoy some tasty fries~🥔

What halal means and the New York food truck story

Wait! Let me briefly explain 'halal' and the famous New York food truck here!🫡

The Halal Guys food truck started at a street stand in front of the New York Hilton, became famous for its huge lines, and was a must-stop on any New York trip.

And you can taste that New York flavor at Hongik Univ. Station~😚

What I ordered at Halal Steaks and prices

At Halal Steaks I ordered a small combo platter, shrimp rings and a cola.

• Combo platter (small): ₩12,900
• Shrimp rings: ₩3,900
• Cola: ₩3,000

For prices these days, that's really not bad, right?

Small combo platter

Drumroll 11111111111 the main dish finally arrived, the combo platter! Even the small size was hefty and generous!

Look how colorful and tasty it looks 🍅🥗 It had a real local vibe.

It's piled with beef and chicken grilled golden on the spot,

and underneath are fluffy rice, fresh vegetables and even pita bread~

Mix in the signature sauce and take a bite, and the taste is so exotic! 😋

I loved the flavor of exotic spices that's hard to find in Korea! The savory meat and the sweet-spicy sauce really got my appetite going! Even a total Korean-food-lover girl like me ate it happily!🫡

Shrimp rings

Drumroll 2222222222 The shrimp rings I ordered as a side were crispy and went well with the platter. 🍤

When I'm sick of the usual stuff like jjigae (stew) or jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), I'm sure I'll think of this place.

Who Halal Steaks in Hongdae is best for

💌 I recommend it to:

• People tired of the same old food who want an unusual restaurant
• People who want to eat alone in Hongdae comfortably, without worrying about stares
• People who want a taste of New York street food at an easy price

I'll visit Halal Steaks near Hongik Univ. Station again.