My Life as a halal girl in the Land of Korean BBQ

When I first arrived in Korea, I was excited to try everything until I realized that almost every dish seemed to have (not halal)meat, seafood, or a hidden spoonful of fish sauce. (Basically now am vegetarian) As a halal person, I quickly learned that surviving here meant being curious, creative, and sometimes a little bold. My first real win was discovering bibimbap a beautiful bowl of rice topped with colorful vegetables, gochujang, and sesame oil. I remember shyly telling the restaurant, “고기 빼주세요” (Please remove the meat), and she smiled, nodding. When the bowl arrived, it was perfect fresh, spicy, and satisfying. Then came japchae, stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables. One tiny request no meat and it instantly became one of my favorite comfort foods. On weekends, I ventured into temple cuisine (사찰음식). Sitting cross-legged in a quiet dining hall, eating naturally vegan dishes made from mountain vegetables, I felt like I was tasting Korea’s history. Street food turned out to be a lifesaver. In winter, I’d warm my hands with roasted sweet potatoes or sweet hotteok pancakes. In summer, patbingsu shaved ice with sweet toppings was my escape from the heat. Of course, I’ve had my share of surprises biting into “vegetable” soup only to taste anchovy broth taught me to ask questions twice. But now, I see being vegetarian in Korea not as a limitation, but as an adventure. Every meat-free meal here feels like a little victory and a delicious reminder that with some effort, I can enjoy this amazing food culture without giving up my values. I hope my experience in Korea also helped you, if you come to Korea be prepared and do research before you come. Thank you for reading, have a great day ahead!