VEGAN / PLANT-BASED SURVIVAL GUIDE
Eating out as a vegetarian in Seoul is tough. However, eating out as a vegan is even more difficult. Although you might not require a warning at this stage, it is going to be extremely challenging to come across a variety of vegan meals on a day to day basis. [Refer to these uploads – one, two – for more information.] Which is where this guide comes in to make sure your vegan cravings are met! You definitely won’t miss out on the fun.
First: It is important to remember that cross-contamination is inevitable – especially if you’re going to a non-vegan catering restaurant. Refer to this blog post for more details. Korean staff reuse their utensils for everything – whether it be cutting vegetables or cutting meat; it will be from the same knife, gloves, grills, deep fryer etc. Please be understanding of this.
Second: Most kimchi contains seafood – fish sauce primarily. Although there are vegan alternatives, it will be rare to come across.
Third: The cafeteria sometimes offers vegetarian/vegan meals, so keep a look out for those; otherwise, you will most likely have to eat off campus.
Fourth: Bibimbap and gimbap will become your greatest friends. Sometimes this will be the only option for you on the menu. You will most definitely become sick of this; which is why the following restaurants will aid you in your diet.
Lastly: It is integral that you learn some basic Korean phrases that will help you communicate with the staff to ensure that you receive the correct meal.
Remember to say you ate well after the meal! And thank the staff too, courtesy is key.
비빔밥 [Bibimbap]
김밥 [Gimbap]
List of some restaurants and cafés to visit throughout your stay [disclaimer: the addresses are subject to change]:
Plant Café & Kitchen
Address: 117 Bogwang-ro, Itaewon 1 (il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Vegan / 100% plant-based restaurant and bakery / gluten-free
Monday – Saturday (11 AM – 10 PM; kitchen closes at 9 PM)
Dine-in
Smoothies, green juice, sandwiches & wraps, salads
Starters & mains
Staff speak English
Plant Bakery
Address: 2-10 Itaewon-ro 20-gil, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Vegan / 100% plant-based restaurant and bakery / gluten-free
Monday – Saturday (11 AM – 8 PM)
Dine-in & take out
Changing menu
Cakes, smoothies, green juice, tea & coffee
Staff speak English
Bombay Grill
Address: 137-42 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Indian & Pakistani cuisine
Dine-in & take-out
Vegan options
Huggers
Address: 686-22 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Vegan menu
Friday – Sunday (11 AM – 10:30 PM; last food orders at 9:30 PM)
10% of profits/tips go towards helping an animal organisation
Vegan burgers, desserts, drinks
Brunch special
Petra
Address: 552, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Vegan options, halal
Middle-eastern cuisine
Falafel, kebabs
Ppuri on the Plate
Address: 31, Changgyeonggung-ro 26-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Vegan / gluten-free / sugar-free / macrobiotic
Reservation only
Owner speaks English & offers cooking classes
Friday – Saturday (12:00 PM – 8:00 PM; reserve by Thursday each week via phone or through Facebook for the cooking class)
Monthly changing menu
March Rabbit
Address: 153-45 Nonhyun-ro, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hot salad, detox juice
Loving Hut
Loving Hut Smile –
Address: 1171 Gae Po-Dong, Gang Nam-Gu , Seoul
Vegan pizza, cream pasta, soy variety of Korean fried chicken
Monday – Sunday (11:30 AM – 9:00 PM; closes the 1st, 3rd, 5th Sunday and 2nd, 4thMonday)
Loving Hut Café
Address: 1218-16 Gaepo 4(sa)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Smoothies, coffee & tea
Shaved ice (patbingsu)
Vegetus
Address: 22-12 Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Serves a variety of menu items – pizza, pasta, side dishes & pastries
Fusion dishes
trading hours: Tuesday – Friday (5:00 PM – 9:30 PM); Wednesday – Friday (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM); Saturday – Sunday (12:00 PM – 9:30 PM); kitchen closes at 9:00 PM
The Bread Blue
Address: 54-58 Nogosan-dong, Mapo-gu, Nogosan-dong, Seoul
Vegan pastries & drinks
Monday (10:00 AM – 9:00 PM); Tuesday – Saturday (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM); Sunday (8:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
Amorino
Address: 536-3 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Vegan ice-cream
For these restaurants, you can ask to remove eggs or meat from your dish by saying:
| I am vegan. | 저는 채식주의자예요. Jeo-neun chaesigjuui ja-ae-yo. |
| Please do not put meat and eggs in it. | 고기와 계란 넣지 마세요. Gogi-wa gyeran nuhji maseyo. |
| Please remove the egg. | 계란은 빼주세요. Gyeraneun bbaejuseyo. |
| Please remove the meat. | 고기는 빼주세요. Gogineun bbaejuseyo. |
HAPPY EATING!