Seoul Vegan Guide: Plant-Based Restaurants and Tips

Seoul’s plant-based dining scene has developed significantly over the past decade. The city now has enough dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants to eat varied, interesting food through a full trip — though it still requires planning compared to more vegan-mature destinations. Here is where to find the best options.

Temple Food Restaurants

Balwoo Gongyang (발우공양) Located inside the Jogyesa Temple complex in Jongno, Balwoo Gongyang is considered one of the best temple food restaurants in South Korea. The multi-course meal changes with the season and uses traditional Buddhist temple cooking techniques — fermented vegetables, dried mountain herbs, and tofu preparations, all free of meat, fish, and the five pungent vegetables (garlic, green onion etc.). Reservation is required and should be made well in advance for weekends. The setting within the main Buddhist temple of Seoul adds to the experience.

Sanchon (산촌) In the Insadong traditional arts district, Sanchon offers an accessible introduction to temple food in a more casual setting. The restaurant serves a fixed multi-course plant-based meal with communal dishes that rotate seasonally. It is more expensive than standard Korean restaurants but the quality is high and the experience is a significant meal. No advance reservation needed for weekday visits.

Dedicated Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Hongdae area: The district around Hongik University has a concentration of younger, independent food businesses. Several plant-based and vegan cafés operate here, often mixing Korean-influenced dishes with international vegan food culture. The area rewards exploration — new openings appear regularly and HappyCow listings for this area are reasonably up to date.

Mangwon and Mapo: Residential neighbourhood with a cluster of independent vegan restaurants that have opened over the last five years. Less tourist-oriented than Hongdae; a more local eating experience. Vegan ramen, Korean plant-based set meals, and international vegan options are available in this area.

Itaewon: Seoul’s most internationally diverse food district has several vegan-friendly restaurants offering cuisines that are naturally more accommodating — Middle Eastern, Indian, and some East Asian vegetarian options. Easier for lacto-ovo vegetarians but also has strictly vegan options.

Insadong: Beyond Sanchon, Insadong has traditional teahouses (dakhang) and small vegetarian-oriented restaurants that serve set meal options. The area around the Ssamziegil courtyard has various food options. Less reliably labelled as vegan but suitable for vegetarians seeking traditional Korean food.

Vegan at Standard Korean Restaurants

Several dishes are navigable without specialised restaurants:

• Sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) — can be ordered as the vegetable version (야채 순두부찌개) but confirm stock is not anchovy-based
• Mushroom dishes (버섯 요리) — stir-fried or braised mushrooms are often available as a side or main
• Gamja tang — a potato and pork bone stew that is not vegan, but the plain gamja jorim (braised potato) version is sometimes available as a side
• Dooboo jorim (braised tofu) — spiced pan-fried tofu, commonly available as banchan; may be cooked in anchovy stock

Always asking explicitly about the stock base is the most reliable approach.

Convenience Store Vegan Options

All of Seoul’s convenience chains stock:

• Triangle gimbap with plain vegetable fillings (spinach, pickled radish, kimchi — check kimchi for fish sauce)
• Soon Veggie Ramyun by Nongshim (clearly labelled as vegetarian)
• Plain fruit, nuts, and grain bars
• Some stores carry packaged salads and tofu snacks

Useful Resources

• HappyCow — has reasonable Seoul coverage; filter by “vegan” rather than “vegan options” for strictly plant-based restaurants
• Seoul Veggie app — a local English-language resource specifically for plant-based dining in Seoul
• Naver Map — search “비건 맛집” (vegan restaurant) for current listings including smaller places not on international apps