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 – onetwo – 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!