Veganuary post #1 - Top 9 Seoul vegan restaurants
- Top food grub
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 13
#1 Seoul vegan restaurants - Korean traditional food
Happy Veganuary! The next five posts will be dedicated to the best vegan restaurants in Seoul, categorized by cuisine. Korean traditional dishes, Chinese dishes, cafes, and bar foods in Seoul are truly amazing, and you won’t want to miss them during your visit to Korea.
Korea is notorious for being challenging for vegans and vegetarians, but you will change your mind after reading this post. I spent many years in Korea as a vegetarian and enjoyed the most amazing veggie dishes that you will never find outside Korea! Most Korean traditional dishes are based on the natural flavours of vegetables and traditional sauces like fermented bean paste ‘Doenjang’, spicy sauce ‘Gochujang’, and the ultimate sesame oil. They are also masters in tofu making, creating many flavors out of beans. It is true that most Korean restaurants don’t even have vegetarian options, but there is an increasing number of vegan restaurants and plant-based dishes being introduced in all-meat restaurants.
If you are not a vegetarian, why not join Veganuary in Seoul?
Gosari Express (고사리 익스프레스)
12-10 Toegye-ro 85-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Gosari is a Korean word referring to bracken-fern, which is rarely consumed outside Korea. This restaurant uses authentic Korean vegetables like Gosari, which you might have no idea how to cook outside Korea. They are brilliant masters at recreating traditional Korean ingredients into Western-style pasta and rice dishes. Gosari and perilla seed powder will present unique flavours that will make you fall in love with Korean traditional ingredients.
Highly recommend Gosari noodle, Crown daisy noodle and perilla seed powder noodle
(Source: Naver review) Junhwan Mael Bu-uk BobpulGgod (전환마을 부엌밥풀꽃)
This place offers home-style vegan meals just like what a Korean mom would make for you. All of their Banchan (small plates) are vegan and made with organic vegetables. Their two outstanding dishes are Namul Bibimbap and Vegetable Gaejang, a spicy soup primarily made with beansprouts.
Recommends Namul Bibimbap and Vegetable Gaejang
Jaha Son Mandu (자하손만두)
This is THE BEST place to try Korean mandoo (dumplings), and it was also selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul 2024. They offer a wide selection of vegan mandoos, including those made with Castor aralia seasoned young shoots and shiitake mushrooms.
Recommend the steamed vegetarian mandoo made with shiitake mushrooms and annuls.
Pul (대안부엌 풀)
Another lovely vegan restaurant in Seoul, where you will enjoy organic and fresh ingredients with a different menu each season. The photo below is a Korean-style noodle dish based with sesame oil and topped with namuls, it's hard to describe the flavour exactly but super delicious.
Vege Studio (베지 스튜디오)
This place has just opened in Mapo-gu. They offer Korean style grilled veggies with creative seasonal sauces. It's a popular spot for those following a plant-based diet.
Vegan Insa (비건 인사 채식당)
This place is already famous among vegans and vegetarians in Seoul. They offer not only traditional Korean dishes like Bibimbap but also fusion meals like fried plant-based meat and Mushroom Tangsu. Personally, I prefer their Mushroom Tangsu than the no-meat chicken.
Recommends Mushroom Tansu
Season Storage (계절곳간)
This place offers Bunsik, Korean street foods, in vegan versions. They have an amazing selection of Kimbab made with tempeh and other namuls that are hard to find in other Kimbab restaurants. The Kimbab is filled with fresh vegetables and just the right amount of sesame oil, making it nutritious. Not all menu items are vegetarian or vegan, so make sure to select the veggie options.
This place is located right next to Hwaseong Fortress, where you can enjoy a nice walk after your Kimbab. Kimbab is actually a popular Korean picnic food, so it's also a great idea to take some Kimbab to go and have a picnic while exploring the Hwaseong Fortress.
Recommends fried cauliflower and tofu with sweet chilli and wasabi mayo
Balwoo Gongyang (발우공양 )
This place is run by the Korean Temple Association and typically does not use strong-flavored spices like spring onion, garlic, and chive. While most Korean foods heavily rely on these spices, Korean monks are truly amazing at creating flavor from natural ingredients. Here, you can expect authentic Korean temple foods and immerse yourself in Korean temple culture. It's pricier than other places, at over $35 per person, but it's totally worth the visit.
Maru JaYeonSik Kimbap (마루 자연식 김밥)
Another amazing Kimbab place in Jongno but this place is more like a small street shops selling bunsik. While their Kimbab is good, the buckwheat noodles and other dishes are highly recommended!
Are you still finding hard to find a vegan restaurants near you in Seoul?
Find any Korean restaurants and order those dishes which are very likely to be vegan in high chance!
Bibimbap (If you are vegan, ask for no eggs and no minced beef on top)
Kimbab (Ask for no ham, no fake crab, no egg if you are vegan)
Kong-guksu (Beansoup noodle, redbean soup)
Japchae (there may or may not put pork but noodle itself is vegan)
Veggie Jeon (Buchu jeon, mushroom jeon, ...it depends on restaurant where they may or may not use egg water. Make sure to check if you are vegan!)
Soon dubu (this is pure white tofu soup)
If the restaurant serves vegan kimchi, then order Kimchi jeon!
Go to any big franchise bakery - Tour les Jours, Paris Baguette, and others, they always have few selection of vegan breads (Steamed bread with bean)
These are my useful tips for vegan/vegetarian traveling in Seoul! Hope this post makes your trip in Korea pleasant :)
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