When choosing a vacation destination, there are probably a few things you’ll want to check off your list. And it might be things like: stunning scenery, vibrant nightlife, rich culture, and fascinating history. But without a doubt, for most vegan travelers, good food is one of the most important holiday necessities. And Korea has a lot of it. The scenery, the nightlife, the culture, the history, and…well, you guessed it, it has it all.
When you think of Korean food, the first thing that comes to mind is probably kimchi. Spicy pickled cabbage is popular all over the world and has become a symbol of the cuisine of Asian countries. You can make kimchi vegan by making it without using fish paste. Despite the high rate of meat consumption in this country, this is by no means unusual for traditional Korean cuisine. Meat consumption began to rapidly increase after the Korean War. This means that most of the country’s cuisine has vegetarian roots. And you’ll find that in many Buddhist temples, plant-based cuisine is still the norm among monks and nuns (more on this later).
But South Korea’s modern vegan scene is burgeoning, especially in the capital, Seoul. In fact, Happy Cow lists over 750 of his vegan restaurants in this one city alone, thanks to the demand of the country’s youth. According to a survey conducted in 2022, the group most likely to purchase vegan food is Koreans aged 18 to 29. According to the Korean Vegetarian Federation, approximately 500,000 Koreans identify as vegans, and 1.5 million are vegetarians or flexitarians.
To find out just how far plant-based cuisine has evolved, we spoke to several vegan travel experts (all of whom have spent time in South Korea) to share their recommendations for meat-free restaurants in Seoul. I asked for the hint. Find the most delicious Korean street food. A warning to you and your bank balance: You’ll want to book your flight right away.
One of Seoul’s many vegan-friendly restaurants, Maji serves temple cuisine. | Korea Tourism Organization
Types of Korean food
Korean barbecue is a staple of the restaurant scene in most major cities in the United States. In fact, it is reported that there are over 7,000 Korean barbecue restaurants nationwide. But while barbecue is one of this country’s most beloved exports, there’s a lot more to South Korea than just grilled meat.
When you visit here, you’re sure to find dishes made with rice, such as spicy and flavorful bibimbap. The basis of this dish is plant-based, but eggs and meat are often added (just ask without). Like many popular dishes, bibimbap is made with a variety of vegetables such as mung bean sprouts, spinach, and radish, namul (an edible grass or leafy vegetable), and a flavorful and sweet paste called gochujang.
Noodle dishes such as japchae (just ask for no meat), which features sweet potato vermicelli and can be easily made vegan, and mul naengmyeon (a seasonal noodle dish that can be made vegan without beef and made with radish water) There is also. Jajangmyeon. The latter features rich black bean sauce, vegetables, and pork, but you can also find vegan versions at some eateries (hint: see recommended restaurants below).
“Jajangmyeon may not be the most appealing food you’ll eat while in Korea, but it’s very tasty (and not spicy if you want a break from spice),” says Verena Ehrhart of Vegan Tours New York. Masu. “It’s also the most popular delivery dish in South Korea, similar to pizza in the United States. You may have even seen it in Korean dramas.”
Erhard also recommends ordering a big order of banchan, which are small, vegetable-based side dishes served at Korean restaurants.
But if you’re a vegan visitor, one of the first places you should head for top-notch plant-based cuisine is the temple. “Don’t leave Korea without eating temple food,” Ehrhart says. “It’s a vegan’s best friend.”
In such a peaceful place of Buddhist worship, it is normal not to eat meat. Of course, you can find kimchi, but also simple, lean meals like tofu stew and soup. The food is allium-free (which means it doesn’t contain ingredients like onions or garlic) and is amazingly minimalist, healthy, sustainable, and vegan (with the occasional use of honey). except).
Donna Zeigfinger of Green Earth Travel, who visited Jeonggwansa, a 12th-century Buddhist temple in Seoul’s Bukhansan National Park, agrees that temple food is next level in terms of taste and experience. To do. “I really liked the atmosphere of the temple,” she says. “I thought the food was really bland, but I was wrong.”
Seoul’s vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene is consistently growing. | Korea Tourism Organization
Korean street food is vegan friendly
When it comes to Korean food, we also can’t ignore the variety of street food that is always offered to locals and tourists alike.
An important part of Korea’s cultural DNA, food stalls have been part of local life since the 1300s. In fact, leading travel platform Culture Trip even describes Seoul as a “big outdoor restaurant.” And even more great news for vegan visitors: While there are definitely plenty of meat dishes, plant-based options are easily available as you stroll the streets in search of a quick and delicious snack. Thing. you are looking for. Seigfinger recommends starting by looking for the most traditional dishes.
“Look for gimbap (seaweed rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and japchae,” she says. These are either already animal-free or have been modified to be animal-free. “Don’t be afraid to ask your food vendor if they can make vegan-friendly dishes,” she added.
Kim Giovacco, founder of Veg Jaunts and Journeys, also recommends looking for gimbap and tteokbokki. “It was very simple, casual food, and I loved it. It felt like comfort food to me,” she recalls. Erhard is also a proponent of the motto “the simpler the better” when navigating the Korean street food scene. Like Giovacco and Zaigfinger, she’s found vegan versions of kimbap and tteokbokki, but she also has some other suggestions.
“Roasted chestnuts and ginkgo nuts are great,” she says. “If you’re traveling in the fall, try fresh persimmons (or buy dried ones, it’s all about the process). Gamjajeong is also the Korean version of hash browns or Swiss rosti. “Other pancakes, such as bindaetok (made with mung beans), are often, but not always, vegan (some also contain eggs). ” she added.
Why not enjoy plenty of matcha in Korea? | Getty
How to plan a vegan trip to South Korea
When most tourists visit South Korea, they start in Seoul. South Korea offers travelers the perfect blend of futuristic innovation and culture, as well as stunning temples, landscapes, and gastronomy. But don’t sleep on the rest of this beautiful country. For modern history, visit South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone. When it comes to volcanic beach resorts, Jeju Island is a must. The port city of Busan has everything from coastlines to nature reserves to natural hot springs.
To make the most of your trip, consider booking your trip through a travel agent. Travel company Sky Vacations has just announced a vegan food tour of Seoul scheduled for May this year, and World Vegan Travel is planning a luxury trip to South Korea in the near future. However, if you want to figure it out on your own, you can also visit his website at Visit Korea for advice and tips on activities, transportation, food, accommodation, and more.
Top 5 vegan restaurants in Seoul, chosen by travel experts
Proving that Seoul is a vegan hotspot, here are some of the top plant-based restaurants you must try, according to Korean travel experts. Because if you’re leaving this bustling city, your first priority when you arrive is a full stomach. Don’t forget to say “jal mokkesumnida” before entering.
Oh Segehyang serves “heartwarming” stews during the winter. | Oh Se-gye-hyang
1 Oh Segehyang
“I love the atmosphere and food at Oh Segehyang. They serve great cold noodle dishes in the hot summer and heartwarming stews in the winter,” Ehrhart says. “Even though it’s in a shopping district, you feel like you’ve stepped into a traditional Korean house.” Take off your shoes (usually be prepared to take them off often!) and sit on the floor. You need to enjoy your meal.Western-style tables and chairs are also an option.”
learn more
For artistic and delicious food, head to Forest Kitchen. | Forest Kitchen
2 Forest Kitchen
“This place knows how to stand out with great service, a cool atmosphere, and a multi-course menu,” says Bright Reid of World Vegan Travel. “It was a feast for the senses. Each dish was artistically presented and packed with flavors that made us go ‘wow’. Forest Kitchen has a way of blending Korean ingredients with exotic ingredients like fresh truffles and white asparagus, and the results were amazing. ”
learn more
Plant Cafe is a Western food specialty restaurant with two locations in Seoul. | Plant Cafe
3 Plant Cafe
“If I’m craving some Western food, I’ll probably go to Plant Café, which has two locations in Seoul,” Erhard says. “They make great burgers and the best vegan desserts like banana cream pudding and black sesame cake.”
learn more
Balwoo Gongyang offers traditional temple cuisine. | Baru Gongyan
4 Baru Gongyan
“Temple meals do not use alliums such as onions or garlic, but they are very flavorful and pure, and usually reflect what is currently in season,” Erhardt added. “In Seoul, we recommend the former Michelin-starred Baru Gongyang, but having the opportunity to taste Buddhist vegetarian cuisine in an actual temple makes it even more special.”
learn more
If you want to experience authentic Shojin ryori, head to Jinguangsa Temple in Seoul. | Getty
5 Chinkanji Temple
Although Jinkwangsa is technically a temple rather than a restaurant, the experience was outstanding for Zaigfinger. “I sampled crunchy vegetables, marinated tofu, mushroom fritters, fermented radish, chestnut stew, and sweet sticky rice squares sprinkled with fruit and nuts. But I love the custom in which it is served. ” she recalls. “Everything is grown in the temple and everything is organic. But I think what was most memorable was the temple and its surroundings.”
learn more
Thank you to the Korea Tourism Organization for partnering with VegNews on this article.
Read below to learn more about vegan travel.
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s south coast.
