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[RealFood=Reporter Seong-yeon Yook] Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, kicked off a sharp rise in dining out for Iftar—the meal that breaks the daily fast—and for late-night Moreh snacks.
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s export information service (KATI), local eateries rolled out time-targeted promotions to capture crowds both at dinner, when the fast ends, and during the late-night hours after prayers.
Franchise chains leaned into dessert-forward buffets and dinner-focused deals to win over neighborhood customers. Inside Scoop, an ice cream shop, ran a limited dessert buffet that paired its ice cream with local kuih treats.
Local coffee brand Bask Bear Coffee ran a daily time sale: for app orders placed after 7 p.m., customers who entered the code (B1F1PUASA) got buy-one-get-one-free on all drinks.
Global chains responded with bold value plays and large, all-you-can-eat offerings. KFC rolled out a limited-time, in-store Buka Puasa all-you-can-eat fried chicken buffet at select locations.
Korean retailers and food brands also introduced Ramadan-only packages and late-night promotions. Kyochon Chicken offered a Ramadan-only sharing pack designed for groups, along with special discounts.
Convenience store Emart24 ran a promotion from Feb. 18 to March 20: between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., shoppers who bought a popular snack received the second item at 50% off. CU kept a standing offer of 40% off when customers bought two popular items, regardless of time.
An aT official advised that Ramadan shouldn’t be seen as a short-term demand spike, but as a “Peak Time” economy where nighttime spending explodes after the fast ends. They suggested that restaurants develop Moreh-specific late-night menus, create multi-person sharing packs for Iftar, and adopt pre-order app marketing to cut wait times—tactics that could pay off during these concentrated peak hours.
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