Wardah (Korean와르다; Arabic: وردة, lit.'flower'[1]) is a Yemeni restaurant in Jeju City, South Korea.[2] It first opened on November 7, 2018.[3] It was reported in 2019 that the restaurant is one of very few halal restaurants in Jeju Province. The restaurant is owned and operated by a couple: South Korean Ha Min-gyeong and Yemeni refugee Mohammad Al-Mamari ("Amin"). The restaurant is named for a nickname given to Ha by the local Yemeni community.[2][3]

Wardah
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedNovember 7, 2018 (2018-11-07)
Food typeYemeni cuisine
Street address24-1 Gwandeok-ro 8-gil, Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea
Coordinates33°30′40″N 126°31′23″E / 33.5110°N 126.5231°E / 33.5110; 126.5231

Al-Mamari arrived in South Korea in May 2018, fleeing the Yemeni civil war. Ha became involved in the refugee community after she offered to provide shelter for refugees; she would end up sheltering 100 over the course of a year.[2][4] Ha decided to open a halal restaurant to help feed the community; it soon reportedly became a local Muslim community center.[3] The two were married in April 2019.[2]

The restaurant serves Yemeni cuisine as well as other Arab cuisine dishes. Yemenis were reportedly allowed to eat at half price.[5] The restaurant has reportedly become popular amongst Korean locals and tourists as well.[6][5]

References

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  1. ^ 임, 재우 (2019-04-03). "[단독]"제주에서 만난 축복"…예멘 난민 '아민', 제주도민 '와르다'를 만나 결혼하다". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  2. ^ a b c d "Romance between Yemeni refugee and Jeju woman blossoms into marriage". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  3. ^ a b c 박, 지순 (2019-05-14). "할랄음식점 운영하는 예멘 난민 출신 아민씨와 제주 중앙본당 하민경씨 부부". 가톨릭신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  4. ^ 박, 준수 (2018-12-12). "예멘 난민과 손잡고 할랄 음식점 열었어요". 시사IN (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  5. ^ a b 오, 수진 (2019-02-09). "제주에 한국인 사장·난민 셰프가 손잡은 할랄 음식점". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  6. ^ "[아무튼, 주말] 제주에 할랄 식당 연 예멘 난민들". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2024-08-22.