Wardah

Wardah is a Yemeni restaurant in Jeju City, South Korea. It opened on November 7, 2018, and was reported in 2019 to be one of the very few halal restaurants in Jeju Province. The restaurant was established by South Korean Ha Min-gyeong and Yemeni refugee Mohammad Al-Mamari, who is also known by the name Amin. Its name comes from “Wardah,” a nickname given to Ha by members of the Yemeni community in South Korea. The Arabic word is associated with a flower, while the name is also rendered in Korean as “Warda.” The restaurant emerged from the founders’ involvement with Yemenis and other refugees in Jeju. Al-Mamari arrived in South Korea in May 2018 after fleeing the Yemeni civil war. Ha had become active in the refugee community after offering accommodation and assistance to refugees; she reportedly sheltered approximately 100 people over the course of a year. Seeking to provide suitable food for this community, she decided to open a halal restaurant. Wardah subsequently developed beyond a conventional dining venue and was described as a gathering place or community center for local Muslims and refugees. Wardah serves Yemeni food alongside other Arab dishes. The available accounts also describe a special policy under which Yemenis could eat at half price, reflecting the restaurant’s community-oriented role. Although it was created partly to meet the needs of displaced Yemenis and other Muslims, the restaurant also attracted Korean residents and tourists. Ha and Al-Mamari married in April 2019, linking the restaurant’s public identity with the personal and community history that shaped its creation. The available reference material does not establish the restaurant’s current operating status, a formal corporate structure, additional locations, financial performance, or an official website. Wardah should therefore be distinguished from unrelated brands using the same name, including cosmetics businesses.

Wardah was established in Jeju City in 2018 by South Korean Ha Min-gyeong and Yemeni refugee Mohammad Al-Mamari, also known as Amin. Its opening followed a period in which Ha became closely involved with refugees living in South Korea. After offering shelter to members of the refugee community, she reportedly accommodated around 100 people over a year. This experience gave her direct awareness of the community’s need for halal food and a social space, leading to the creation of Wardah. Al-Mamari arrived in South Korea in May 2018 after leaving Yemen because of the Yemeni civil war. Wardah opened on November 7 of the same year. The restaurant’s name reflects its relationship with the Yemeni community: “Wardah” was a nickname given to Ha by Yemenis in South Korea. The name is associated with the Arabic word for flower and is also written in Korean as “Warda.” The restaurant serves Yemeni cuisine and a wider selection of Arab dishes. Its role was not limited to commercial food service. Accounts published after its opening characterized Wardah as an important meeting point for Muslims and refugees in Jeju. Yemenis were reportedly offered meals at half price, an arrangement that reinforced the restaurant’s role as a support-oriented venue. At the same time, Wardah attracted Korean customers and visitors, making it a point of contact between Jeju’s local population, international tourists, and the island’s Muslim and refugee communities. In April 2019, Ha and Al-Mamari married. By that time, Wardah had been reported as one of the very few halal restaurants in Jeju Province. The available material does not provide evidence about later expansion, franchising, ownership changes, revenue, formal registration, or the restaurant’s present operating status. It also does not identify an official website or additional branches. The restaurant should be treated as a distinct entity from unrelated businesses named Wardah, especially the Indonesian cosmetics brand.

• 2019

  Recognition as a rare halal restaurant in Jeju

  [1]Wardah (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Wardah was reported as one of the very few halal restaurants in Jeju Province.

• 2019

  Founders marry

  [1]Wardah (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  The restaurant’s co-owners, Ha Min-gyeong and Mohammad Al-Mamari, married in April 2019.

• 2018

  Wardah opens in Jeju City

  [1]Wardah (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org

  Ha Min-gyeong and Mohammad Al-Mamari opened the Yemeni restaurant on November 7, 2018.

A community-oriented halal Yemeni and Arab restaurant serving refugees, Muslims, local residents, and tourists in Jeju.

• Restaurant food · 2018

  Yemeni cuisine

  Wardah’s core offering is Yemeni food prepared for halal dining. The restaurant was created in part to provide familiar meals for Yemenis and other Muslims living in or visiting Jeju. Specific dishes are not identified in the available reference material.

• Restaurant food · 2018

  Arab cuisine

  In addition to Yemeni food, Wardah serves other Arab cuisine dishes. This broader menu supports the restaurant’s appeal to Muslims, Arab visitors, Korean customers, and tourists, although the available source does not list individual dishes or menu categories.

• 2018

  Open a halal restaurant to support the refugee communityStrategy

  Background

  Ha Min-gyeong’s involvement with Yemeni refugees and her experience providing shelter exposed a need for halal food and a communal meeting place in Jeju.

  Action taken

  She opened Wardah with Mohammad Al-Mamari in November 2018 and operated it as both a restaurant and a gathering place for Muslims and refugees.

  Aftermath

  The restaurant became associated with Jeju’s Muslim and refugee communities and was also reported to attract local residents and tourists.

  Source

• 2018

  Offer discounted meals to YemenisStrategy

  Background

  The restaurant was established partly to serve Yemenis displaced by the Yemeni civil war and other members of the Muslim community.

  Action taken

  Wardah reportedly allowed Yemenis to eat at half price.

  Aftermath

  The pricing policy reinforced Wardah’s role as a community-support venue rather than only a conventional commercial restaurant.

  Source

1. 1Wardah (restaurant)en.wikipedia.org