Looking for new dishes that’ll fit your diet? If you’re visiting South Korea, you must’ve known about the variety of meals that they offer. They have fancy ones for those who eat meat, while they also have vegan Korean food! Here we’ll venture through different meals for a vegetarian in South Korea.
Something well-loved and appreciated in Korean cuisine is the wide variety of nutritious meals that give a pop of new flavors. Some Korean restaurants offer a mix of meat and vegetarian friendly-meals. So, even if you’re vegan or vegetarian in South Korea, you’ll still enjoy your stay there thanks to the inclusive food they offer!
Moreover, being a vegetarian in South Korea is an adventure that tantalizes your taste buds and ignites your creativity. The country’s culinary landscape offers a plethora of vegetarian delights, ensuring that your journey is filled with vibrant flavors, cultural immersion, and unforgettable gastronomic experiences.
Korean Vegan & Vegetarian Ingredients Vocabulary
Familiarizing yourself with the ingredients used in your meals as a vegan and vegetarian in South Korea is a must. So, here are some words you might want to note when checking the list of items used in preparing your meal!
| English | Hanggeul | Roman |
| Onion | 양파 | Yangpa |
| Garlic | 마늘 | Maneul |
| Lettuce | 상추 | Sangchu |
| Carrot | 당근 | Danggeun |
| Radish | 무 | Mu |
| Potato | 감자 | Kamja |
| Beef | 쇠고기 | Soegogi |
| Pork | 돼지고기 | Dwaejigogi |
| Chicken | 닭고기 | Dalgogi |
| Fish | 물고기 | Mulgogi |
Top 8 Meals For A Vegan and Vegetarian In South Korea
In the heart of Seoul, you stumble upon a trendy vegetarian restaurant that fuses traditional Korean flavors with contemporary techniques. The beautifully plated dishes are a work of art, each thoughtfully crafted to showcase Korean cuisine’s diverse tastes and textures. Prepare to savor a good plate of healthy and tasty meals that’ll definitely entice you to go for a second round!
1. Tteokbokki
These spicy Korean rice cakes are one of the most popular Korean street food that you should never miss in South Korea. Luckily, it’s a vegan and vegetarian-friendly snack allowing everyone to enjoy its unique flavor! Moreover, if you don’t like fiery flavors, you can always try other variations. Instead of Gochujang, use soy sauce instead!
2. Hotteok
Upscaling your ideals with a pancake is a skill that Korean foods possess. Who knew that you could get pancakes containing delicious fillings? This famous street food is a pan-fried yeast dough prepared with brown sugar and nutty stuffings. It’s ideal to eat them during winter, now, who’s up for a warm and flavorful bread?
3. Vegan Korean Fried Chicken
Without the fascinating flavors of Korea’s famous fried chicken, your tour in Korea would be a little disappointing. But with a touch of creativity, some vegan restaurants in Seoul and other places offer their vegan counterparts. With the right measurements of seasonings, a plain block of tofu can magically turn into something similar to meat products!
4. Kimchi Dumplings
Tofu has a lot of roles to play when it comes to concocting plant-based food for vegans and vegetarians. If you want to stop eating meat dishes but still wish to get a taste of these staple menu items in South Korea, you need to make Kimchi dumplings with tofu fillings. These dishes can imitate different main and side dishes if you put the suitable vegetables and seasonings!
5. Kimbap
Can you remember the last time you had a healthy on-the-go snack? With Korean dishes like Kimbap, you won’t need to leave home feeling hungry. It’s the perfect light snack that’ll save you from starving. There are tons of options when adding stuffings to this seaweed rice roll. Some like to add meat, while in vegan and vegetarian options, you can get one with avocado, sweet potato, and all sorts of nutritious vegetables.
6. Bindaetteok
Vegetarian and vegan food doesn’t need to be expensive. Getting street food like Bindaetteok is one of the best foods you can try during your visit to South Korea. It’s a pan-fried gluten-free snack that’s quite popular with South Koreans. What’s interesting about this Korean food is you’ll only need soaked mung beans, rice, vegetables, and different seasonings to elevate its flavor. For non-vegans or non-vegetarians, there’s also an option to add meat to it!
7. Hobak Juk
Feeling a little sick? Don’t worry. This pumpkin porridge is the perfect comfort food for you! It’s an anti-inflammatory meal usually served to locals as a gift after surgery. Making it only takes a few ingredients like sea salt, water, sugar, rice flour, and of course, the star of the show: pumpkins. See? It’s pretty easy to make, South Koreans even eat this savory dish for breakfast!
8. Vegan Kimchi
You may think Kimchi, the staple Korean food advertised in Korean dramas, is vegan. Unfortunately, it isn’t because the recipe contains fish sauce and shrimp paste to give it a unique flavor. But let’s turn your frown upside down, as this Korean food vegan option! Instead of using the mentioned ingredients, a vegetable-fruit stock can do the magic.
Best Vegan And Vegetarian Restaurants In South Korea
Are you looking for restaurants offering vegan versions of Korean foods you love? Look no further as we’ve scavenged top-rated places in the country offering vegan and vegetarian choices for you!
1. Monk’s Butcher
Location: 228-1 Itaewon-ro, Han Nam Dong Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
It’s a small yet relaxing restaurant that attracts vegans and non-vegans. It’s rated 4.4 stars on Google reviews and 5 out of 5 by 13 customers on TripAdvisor. Their visitors well-commended the dishes, so it must be worth the try!
Opening Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Monday to Thursday); 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Friday to Sunday)
2. Drunken Vegan
Location: 13 Wausan-ro 30-gil, Changjeon-dong, Seoul, South Korea, 03991
The sound of Wester-Korean foods’ infusion must’ve been music to your ears! Drunken Vegan is a small pub restaurant in Seoul that’s tourist-friendly as its menus are written in English and Korean, making it easier for foreigners to pick the meal they like. Plus, it received a 4.5-star rating from HappyCow and Google Reviews!
Opening Time: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Thursday to Saturday)
3. Vegetus
Location: 59 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Looking for plant-based dishes that incorporate the touch of international cuisine in South Korea? With Vegetus, you get to taste your typical Western brunch, although it quite defeats the purpose of visiting the country for their meals— if that is your goal. Nonetheless, we all have our preferences! So, if you want other dishes, you might as well check out this place, as it has garnered a 4.4-star rating from Google Reviews and 4.5 stars from HappyCow!
Opening Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Monday to Friday); 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM (Saturday to Sunday)
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Nothing can stop you from having an excellent trip to South Korea if you have the right resources. Always remember that they have several restaurants in Seoul that’ll help you enjoy a good meal! However, what can hinder you from having fun is the language barrier. Say, do you want to learn how to speak and read Korean today? Try Ling now!
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