Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Seoul 2026: Best Restaurants, Apps & Korean Phrases

Korea's food scene revolves around pork belly, fried chicken and fish-based broths — so eating vegan or vegetarian in Seoul can feel daunting at first. The good news: the city now has an excellent and growing plant-based scene, from Buddhist temple cuisine to vegan Korean BBQ and late-night tteokbokki. This 2026 guide covers the best restaurants by neighborhood, the apps and Korean phrases you'll actually need, and the hidden animal ingredients to watch for.

Quick answer: Seoul is very doable for vegans and vegetarians if you plan a little. Head to Insadong for temple food, Itaewon/Hannam and Hongdae for vegan cafés and Korean comfort food, and use HappyCow or Naver Map (search "비건") to find spots nearby. The biggest trap is anchovy/fish stock hidden in soups, kimchi and side dishes — always name the ingredient, not just "vegetarian."

Is it hard to be vegetarian in Korea?

Less than it used to be — but awareness is still uneven. Many kitchens don't consider anchovy stock, fish sauce or beef-bone broth to be "meat," so a dish billed as vegetable-based may still contain them. The fix is simple: be specific about ingredients, lean on the dedicated vegan restaurants and temple-food spots below, and keep a few Korean phrases ready to show on your phone. In tourist-heavy areas like Itaewon, Insadong and Hongdae you'll have the easiest time.

Temple food (sachal eumsik): naturally vegan

Korean Buddhist temple cuisine is fully vegan — no meat, dairy or eggs, and it also excludes the "five pungent vegetables" (garlic, onion, leek, scallion, chives). It's one of the most memorable meals you can have in Seoul.

• Sanchon (Insadong) — famous tasting-menu temple restaurant. Around ₩39,000–₩55,000. Reserve ahead.
• Balwoo Gongyang (opposite Jogyesa Temple) — refined, modern temple course menus, roughly ₩50,000–₩120,000.
• Maji — more casual temple-style lunches.
• Temple stays at Jingwansa or Bongeunsa include temple meals (about ₩50,000–₩70,000 per session).

Best vegan & vegetarian restaurants by area

Insadong & Jongno

• Osegye Hyang — beloved vegan Korean classics: "bulgogi," vegan "fried chicken," mandu and bossam. Roughly ₩12,000–₩22,000 per dish.
• Sanchon / Balwoo Gongyang / Maji — temple food (see above).

Itaewon & Hannam-dong

• Plant Cafe & Kitchen — burgers, bowls and pastries; about ₩12,000–₩18,000 a dish. Also in Yeonnam-dong.
• Loving Hut — international vegan chain with Korean and pan-Asian dishes; lunches around ₩10,000.
• Vegetus (Haebangchon) — vegan burgers and pasta. ByTOFU — a tofu-focused café nearby.

Hongdae & Mapo

• Vegan Space — vegan Korean street food (tteokbokki, kimbap, ramyeon), open late.
• Plant Hongdae and Lounge V — casual vegan plates, bar food and cocktails.

Gangnam & Sinsa-dong

• Légume — vegetable-forward fine dining; tasting menus from around ₩120,000.
• Hummus Kitchen — Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, lots of plant options.
• Café Mamas — a chain with veggie sandwiches and salads.

Myeongdong

• Vegan Kitchen Myeongdong and Loving Hut Myeongdong — handy near the shopping streets. Plan ahead here, as many restaurants use seafood or pork stock.

Apps & resources for finding vegan food

Tool	How it helps
HappyCow	Global vegan/vegetarian map — the go-to for finding spots near you in Seoul.
Naver Map	Search "비건" (vegan) or "채식" (vegetarian) for local, review-rich results. (Google Maps is limited in Korea.)
Vegan Korea (Facebook group)	Active community for up-to-date recommendations.
Korean Vegan Society	Directory of vegan-certified restaurants.

Korean phrases for vegetarians & vegans

Screenshot this and show it to servers — it works better than explaining out loud.

English	Korean	Romanization
I'm vegetarian	저는 채식주의자예요	Jeoneun chaesikjuuija-yeyo
I'm vegan	저는 비건이에요	Jeoneun bigan-ieyo
No meat, please	고기 빼고 주세요	Gogi ppaego juseyo
No fish/seafood	생선이나 해산물 빼고 주세요	Saengseonina haesanmul ppaego juseyo
Without anchovy stock	멸치 육수 빼고 주세요	Myeolchi yuksu ppaego juseyo
Is this vegan?	이거 비건이에요?	Igeo bigan-ieyo?

Convenience-store & street-food picks

When you're between meals, Korean convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) have handy options:

• Vegetable (야채) triangle gimbap and kimbap — check the label for tuna/ham.
• Fruit cups, soy lattes, and roasted sweet potatoes (goguma) in colder months.
• Street food: hotteok (sweet pancake) is almost always vegan; bungeoppang is vegan unless filled with cream; be cautious with twigim, which may share frying oil with squid.

Always read labels: some instant ramyeon and snacks contain animal-stock powder or fish ingredients.

⚠️ Watch for hidden animal ingredients: anchovy stock (멸치 육수), fish sauce in most kimchi and many banchan, shrimp paste, and beef-bone broth. Many kitchens don't count these as "meat," so name the ingredient. If you eat kelp-only (dashima) stock, you can ask for it — some kitchens will make soups that way on request.

Frequently asked questions

Is Korean kimchi vegan?

Usually not. Most traditional kimchi is made with fish sauce, salted shrimp or anchovy, so it isn't vegan or strictly vegetarian. Some brands and temple-style kitchens make vegan kimchi, and dedicated vegan restaurants will serve it — but assume standard kimchi contains seafood unless told otherwise.

Can vegetarians eat at a normal Korean BBQ restaurant?

It's tricky. The meal centres on grilled meat, and shared grills mean cross-contamination. You can sometimes fill up on side dishes, rice, lettuce wraps, soybean stew (check the stock) and grilled mushrooms or tofu, but for a relaxed meal you're better off at a dedicated vegan Korean spot like Osegye Hyang, which does plant-based "bulgogi" and "bossam."

What's the easiest area in Seoul for vegan food?

Itaewon/Hannam-dong and Hongdae/Yeonnam have the highest concentration of vegan cafés and restaurants and the most English-friendly menus. Insadong is best for traditional temple cuisine. Use HappyCow to map spots around wherever you're staying.

Are soju and makgeolli vegan?

Yes — soju and makgeolli are generally vegan, and barley tea (served free at many restaurants) is too. One caveat: a few unfiltered craft beers use isinglass (a fish-derived fining agent), so check if that matters to you.

Eat well, plant-based, in Seoul

With a short phrase list, the HappyCow app and a couple of neighborhoods in mind, eating vegan or vegetarian in Seoul is genuinely enjoyable — temple food alone is worth the trip. Bookmark KRTAXPOLICY.COM for more practical Korea travel and living guides, from food and transport to visas and tax refunds. Happy (plant-based) eating! 🌱

---

Sources & verification: Seoul Tourism Organization vegetarian/vegan Seoul guide; established Korea travel and vegan-dining guides; HappyCow and Korean Vegan Society listings. Restaurant names and areas verified via multiple 2026 sources.
Last verified: October 2026. Restaurant menus, prices and opening status change frequently — confirm hours and current prices (and reservations for Sanchon, Balwoo Gongyang, Légume and Vegetus) before visiting. Prices are approximate and in Korean won.