I had my 20s out of my home country. I was in Middle East and Southeast Asia. When I could feel was the fact that I’m a foreigner sometimes and hard to find somewhere to have myself rest like in my home country. Though I’m a born-traveler and love my life in other countries and cultures, but from time to time, I need a place that I can belong to. When I came back to Korea after 10 years life overseas, I started to think about visitors from other countries to Korea. Where can they find a place for a scent of home?
Eat, pray, love
I thought I myself had an international taste. I don’t have intolerant food, except allergic food like raw prawn or crab (yes, you can have them sushi in Korea) and even I really enjoy authentic cuisine wherever I visit any part of the world. But truly, I cannot help to confess I also miss mom’s kitchen.
In my case, it was just matter of a taste of my own. I still should survive with any other foods where I lived, and even I could cook some with the help of ingredients I brought from home and recipes from Youtube.
However, the taste from the creed or the belief if totally different story. I learned it’s really matter ‘cause I have lived in Middle East. Halal for Muslims and Kosher for Jewish are the most common dietary regulations. In Middle East where those rules are basic, it’s not hard to follow. Literally it’s basic to the most of restaurants to keep Kosher or Halal, but out of the area, it becomes nightmare.
I had Jewish clients who visit Korea for business and found they brought all foods - such as biscuits or canned foods. At first I didn’t understand but later I felt sorry while in Korea we don’t have Kosher restaurant and they didn’t dare to break the rule.
Give us daily bread
Last winter, I met a couple on the bus running through Itaewon, the most international town in Seoul. They were from Indonesia and looking for a halal restaurant to have meal - but they hardly find one neither the restaurants nor someone who can speak English, Shame. Anyway, fortunately I have googled some halal restaurants nearby and could help them find the way to get to.
Korea has become international city but it’s still not friendly to minority, I mean, minority in sense of Korean culture. In Itaewon, it was rather easy to find halal restaurants but in other places even in Seoul, the capital of Korea, it is very rare to have one. Furthermore, I don’t have any idea yet where Kosher restaurant is in Korea (even we have one, at least).
So, I’d like to be a guide for guests to Korea. Others attractions or transportations information are already on Google Maps, well introduced, but minor but important information is still missed.
Not only for the halal meals, but also other minors (again, minors in Korea) such as vegetarians and vegans, or nuts-free (surprisingly, many Koreans still don’t understand there are people who are allergic to peanut) restaurants will be on my list. Also, English-speaking clinic, or any other public stations should be helpful.