Before we dive into where and what to eat, here’s some tips for vegetarians and vegans going to Korea.

Tips for ordering

• Although plant-based eating is getting more popular, knowledge of what “vegan” or “vegetarian” isn’t common, even if you know the term in Korean. 
• If you want to search for food on Naver, you will need to search in Korean. For vegan restaurants, you can search for “비건” (vegan)
• Korean cuisine is very meat dominated. There are only a few things that can be easily vegetarian/veganized at non-veg restaurants: kimbap, bibimbap. However, you will need to have knowledge (and maybe a bit of Korean language skills) about what ingredients specifically to tell the restaurant staff to omit.
  • Kimbap: contains meat, egg
  • Bibimbap: contains meat, egg
• Most soups (tofu stew, cold noodle broth, seaweed soup) contain either meat or seafood broth. 
• At non-fully veg restaurants, even if you have successfully communicated with the waiter what you’d like to omit from a certain dish to make it vegetarian/vegan, many restaurants also serve banchan (side dishes). This will probably be served to you by default. Banchans, while mostly vegetables, are not vegan – many are seasoned with some sort of seafood (fish sauce, shrimp paste – kimchi is not vegan!). You will again need to communicate with the waiter to understand which banchans are vegan.

However, there are many great vegetarian/vegan restaurants and cafes in Seoul, so you can still get the full Korean food experience!

While in Seoul, I prioritized eating Korean cuisine. There are many highly rated veg restaurants, however, if they did not serve Korean cuisine, I did not eat there. At the end of this article, I’ve compiled a list of other veg restaurants that are popular in Seoul from my research that you may be interested in checking out (but I have not personally visited).

I solo-traveled to Seoul, thus all of these places are suitable for solo dining.

*Prices are from the time of my trip, April 2024. Please double check the restaurant’s menu on Naver to ensure the veg options are still available as the menu/ingredients are always subject to change!

Meals

VegGreen

This is a fully vegan buffet. All the food was freshly cooked and delicious. The variety here is great, so it’s a good value for your money to try different veganized Korean foods. I especially loved the banchan. There were a lot of locals here. However, this restaurant is not located near a subway station, so just note you’ll have to also take a bus.

Here’s some of the selection (signage of items available in both Korean & English):

Fried sweet potatoes
Tteokbokki
Soy meat bulgogi
Soy meat tangsuyuk (sweet and sour “pork”)
Fried soy meat “chicken”
Naengmyeon
Mixed grain rice
Sundubu (tofu stew)
Kimbap

Price: 13,000 won per person
VegGreen, located in Gangnam (need to take bus). 🌱 Vegan

황금룡 (Hwanggeumnyong)

This restaurant serves Korean-Chinese food, where you can find Korean “versions” of Chinese dishes. There is a separate vegan menu here! Some Korean-Chinese food dishes that can be found at Hwanggeumnyong are 짜장면 (black bean noodles), 버섯탕수 (sweet and sour fried mushroom), 깐풍가지 (spicy fried eggplant), 마포두부 (mapo tofu), and various 덮밥 (stir fry over rice). English menu available.

Price: 8000 won – 유니짜장면 (onion jjajangmyeon)
황금룡, located near Mangwon. 🌱 Vegan

한석화 (Hansukwha)

This is a cozy 돌솥비빔밥 (hot stone bowl bibimbap) spot run by the kindest owner who I got to practice some of my Korean with! While not a vegetarian restaurant, there is always a vegetable bibimbap on the menu. It does contain egg, so you should let the owner know ahead of time if you’d like to omit it. This restaurant has counter seating, making it perfect for solo diners. 

English menu available.

Price: 8,000 won – 나물비빔밥 Vegetable bibimbap
한석화, located near 상수 Sangsu station (Hongdae area). Not fully vegetarian.

Veganchan

One of the things I was most excited about trying was banchan. However, most veg restaurants don’t provide banchan. Thus, I made the trek out to Veganchan, which is not centrally located, specifically in search of vegan banchan! This restaurant has both a pay-by-weight buffet or Korean dishes that you can order off a main kiosk (check out the “Menu” section on Naver for those dishes). While the dishes look good, I instead filled up my plate with banchan!

In total, the plate cost me 5,000 won and then I went back for seconds to fill up a second plate. Everything I tried was seasoned very well and fulfilled my banchan cravings.

* There are no English signs on any of the dishes on the buffet. I communicated with the staff via a translator app.

Veganchan, located near 연신내 Yeonsinnae or 불광 Bulgwang station. 🌱 Vegan
*Banchan pay-by-weight bar might be not available anymore, however they still serve some banchans with their other dishes.

Monin Jam

This restaurant has a seasonally changing menu that they post on their Instagram account. When I went in April, there was a 비빔 막국수 (spicy cold noodle) on the menu. It was good that I went back here on my last day in Seoul to have it again! They also had self-serve iced barley tea that was so good and refreshing. Unfortunately, since the dishes change seasonally it’s possible you can’t get a dish favorite again. English menu available.

Restaurant not listed on Naver, so you’ll have to manually input the address from their Instagram page into Naver for directions. (Most recent menus have been 🌱 vegan).

채육식당 (Chaeyuk Sikdang)

This place is quite the hidden gem because it’s not a vegetarian restaurant, however it’s also not located in a central location. This spot has a few clearly labeled vegan dishes on their menu (*side dishes not vegan):

I ordered the 콩고기 제육 정식, which is a vegan version of spicy stir-fried pork. The mock meat is made from soy and is dressed in a spicy sauce (not actually spicy by my standards) with carrots, onions, and chives. It comes with a side of rice, which I ordered the 곤드레밥 (Korean thistle rice). You can make wraps with the perilla, lettuce, and chard leaves also provided. The portion was huge and I could not finish it all.

The rice options are located on the menu at the counter, not on the wall as in the picture above. The set also comes with an egg and banchans. Do note that the kimchi is likely not vegan. (Egg and banchan were served to me by default with the set). English menu is not available. 

Price: 13,500 won for the entire set (콩고기 제육 정식)
채육식당, Multiple branches available, I went to the 왕십리점 (near Sangwangsimni station) location (광진점 Children’s Grand Park location does not have seating). Not fully vegan.

Vamchi

Of course, when people think of Korean cuisine, they likely think of Korean fried chicken! While many vegetarian restaurants serve some sort of fried “chicken”, it’s typically just store-bought plant-based nugget tossed in sauce. What attracted me to Vamchi was the fact that their vegan chicken, made from seitan, was developed in-house. Although now serving both vegan and non-vegan chicken, at the time I went they focused only on serving vegan fried chicken.

I am still searching for authentic, super crispy vegan fried chicken in Seoul. While Vamchi’s fried chicken was good, the breading is not the crispy potato-starch style that Korean fried chicken is known for. Although I ordered the seasoned spicy sauce, the sauce was not spicy (by my standards) and was on the sweeter side.

Price: 17,000 won (portion big enough for 2 people) with 양념 (seasoned spicy) sauce (price & menu has changed since time of visit as this restaurant is no longer fully vegan, see their Naver page for details)
Vamchi, Not fully vegan. This restaurant is located in Gangnam (Nonhyeon Station) with limited seating. When I went, the restaurant only opens for dinner, so you’ll need to plan accordingly with Gangnam rush hour traffic. There is limited seating. English menu available.

삼형제김밥

Kimbap is a rice + seaweed roll filled with various fillings, usually carrots, spinach, burdock, and egg. Because kimbap is a very cheap and quick, yet extremely delicious option for a meal, kimbap stores are located every few blocks.

I decided to get kimbap to take over to Seoul Forest to eat while enjoying the cherry blossoms, so I looked up a place that had a tofu kimbap.

At 삼형제김밥, there’s a 원조유부김밥. According to their Naver menu, the burdock and tofu is stewed for 2 hours. Sooooo delicious! I love the kimbaps in Korea as they’re much larger, have a larger variety of ingredients, and are so cheap. Look how beautiful it is…

*Most kimbap restaurants don’t list all the fillings. This kimbap contained egg.

Price: 4,000 won, 원조유부김밥
삼형제김밥, located in 성수 Seongsu (multiple locations available). Not fully vegetarian. No English menu.

Snacks / Desserts

남대문야채호떡 (Namdaemun Vegetable Hotteok)

This hotteok filled with vegetables and japchae from a stand at Namdaemun Market was raved about from several people and I doubted how good it could possibly be… After trying it out, I was very wrong! Seasoned perfectly, the combination of the japchae with the deliciously fried hotteok dough is the perfect breakfast or lunch appetizer. 

The hours are not listed on Naver, but it was closed on a Sunday when I tried to go back to get a second one. Namdaemun Market is quite big to navigate, so look for the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. The hotteok stand is right across the street. There is always a line, but it goes fast (I waited 20 minutes) as the staff is constantly churning out tasty, freshly fried hotteoks.

Price: 2,000 won for the 야채호떡 🌱 Vegan
남대문야채호떡 (Namdaemun Vegetable Hotteok), located at Namdaemun Market.

Twisted Donuts (Kkwabaegi) 찹쌀꽈배기

Ah, the famous donut stand at Gwangjang Market. I wouldn’t recommend eating at Gwangjang Market as most of the food is catered to tourists with marked up prices and low food quality, but the one exception I’ll make is for the 찹쌀꽈배기 donut. It tastes like a yeast donut rolled in a churro-like coating. That being said, it’s good, but not so good I’d make a special trip to Gwangjang again for it if I’m not in the area.

Price: 1,000 won 
광장시장 찹쌀꽈배기, located at Gwangjang Market.

Overte Donuts

I was a frequent visitor at this vegan donut shop and every time I asked for their original glazed donut. If you don’t see it in the display case, just ask for it (it’s on the menu) – it’s the same base donut as the other flavors before additional toppings are added.

Besides being vegan, these donuts had to be the best donuts I’ve had in my life. The texture is a cross between cake and yeasted donuts (reminds me of Krispy Kreme, but better) – they have the perfect density, moistness, and sweetness. Every other donut I’ve had ever since pales in comparison to the glazed donut at Overte…

Price: 1,800 won, original glazed donut
Overte, located near 회현 (Hoehyeon) station. 🌱 Vegan

Salt Bread (소금빵)

Another super popular Korean baked good, with several bakeries dedicated to making salt bread only, salt bread is a super buttery roll in a flaky, crescent roll shape. The area I stayed in, Insa-dong, has 2 famous salt bread cafes on the same block (Soha Salt Pond & 자연도소금빵). I tried both, and honestly they tasted pretty similar. I think the biggest difference is eating it right out of the oven (which you can get at 자연도소금빵). 

Price: 3,000 won for one roll at Soha Salt Pond

You can find vegan salt bread at 비고미 but I have not personally tried it.

Bingsu (빙수)

Korean shaved ice (bingsu) is my favorite version of shaved ice because the shaved “ice” is not ice, but made with milk instead of water. The bingsu machines then cut it into flakes, rather than crush the ice, to get it super fluffy. The most popular chain for bingsu is Sulbing, however it’s not that cheap, so I prefer to go to local cafes for bingsu instead.

My favorite bingsu cafe ended up being ifcha. You’ll have to take a bus here as it’s located near Namsan Tower, but it was only 10,000 won for the most perfect tea flavored bingsu! The tea flavor was strong and to my liking. They also have hojicha (which I also tried, and was satisfying), and matcha. As this spot is further away, it’s more quiet and you can easily find seating.

Price: Milk tea bingsu (밀크티 빙수) 10,000 won. No English menu.
ifcha

While I have not personally tried these, there is vegan bingsu available at: 

마르뜨빙수카페 (made from soymilk)
Yeonnam Salon 연남살롱 (made from pear)

Rolled Ice Cream (Dippin Dots)

Okay, I know this was not invented in Korea, but dippin dots are much easier to find in Korea. They’re located in convenience stores (not all carry them), but there are also dedicated cafes that carry dippin dots. And if you’ve never had dippin dots: it’s basically ice cream in rolled ball form that somehow tastes 1000% better than scooped ice cream.

Dorrk Ice Cream, 4,000 won

Convenience store food

If you’re in Korea, of course you have to stop by the convenience stores that are located on every block! Here are a couple vegan favorites…

Sweet potatoes

These are cooked in a machine that is similar to an air fryer. They’re not actually cooked on the rocks (cooked in the drawer below), contrary to what I initially believed. Just tell the convenience store employee you’d like one and they’ll grab a pair of tongs to pack one for you.

These are super sweet and make the perfect quick and healthy breakfast. If the employee tells you they are still cooking and not yet ready, I suggest heading to a different convenience store around the block as the ones that have been sitting longer are cooked better and sweeter.

Not all convenience stores have the sweet potatoes, but the ones that do usually have a sign on the entrance door advertising them.

Price: 2000 won for one sweet potato.

Triangle kimbap

The convenience store triangle kimbaps are also a very popular snack amongst locals and tourists. These are seaweed wrapped rice triangles that usually have meat inside. There are a few brands (such as PlanTable or VeggieGarden), that make ones using plant-based meat (to be sure, translate the label).

Unfortunately, the vegan ones are difficult to find. I checked nearly every convenience store while I was out and about and only saw it at one convenience store. So if you’re looking for one – buy it when you see it!

Price: 1,200 won

Banana milk

To complete your convenience store run, don’t miss out on a Korean-created drink: banana milk. This is milk that is, well, banana-flavored. There’s are a few vegan banana milks, but the most common one that I saw in every convenience store was this one made with almond and soymilk by Binggrae.

There are also other boxed soymilks (such as black soymilk) widely available at convenience stores.

You can also find these at grocery stores for cheaper, but you’ll have to buy a larger pack, whereas you can buy a single one at convenience stores.

Other veg-friendly restaurants

Here’s a list of other restaurants in Seoul that are vegetarian/vegan (but I have not personally tried):

Alt. A: Korean Chinese food
Maru: Korean street food
오세계향: Korean cuisine
Vegan Insa: Korean cuisine
Vegan Cafe Dalyang: Western and some Korean cuisine
Plantude (two locations): Western and some Korean cuisine
Plant: Western food (Multiple locations)
카페시바, Cafe Siva: Western and some Korean cuisine
Balwoo Gongyang 발우공양: Korean temple food
Maji 마지: Korean temple food

Not fully vegetarian/vegan, but clearly labeled veg options (but I have not personally tried):

Mother’s Table: Korean
다옴국수집 Daom Noodles: Menu includes mandu and noodles
카우떡볶이, Cow Tteokbokki: Tteokbokki and fried foods
가원 Gawon: Korean Chinese cuisine