Travelling as a vegan in South Korea can be a richly rewarding experience - think bold flavours, fresh vegetables, fermented foods, bustling markets, street-snacks and an increasing number of vegan-friendly or entirely vegan restaurants!
With a little planning, a few key phrases and an understanding of which traditional dishes are naturally plant-based, you can enjoy Korean cuisine without missing out.
Good news: South Korea is becoming more vegan-aware every year! In Seoul, for example, many restaurants now provide vegan menus or at least a couple of plant-based options. Traditional Korean cuisine also lends itself naturally to vegan eating, thanks to its emphasis on vegetables, fermentation and seasonal produce. Add to this a thriving street-food culture where you can graze on small snacks throughout the day and you’ll discover that travelling vegan in Korea can be exciting and satisfying (rather than limiting).
While Korea has many naturally plant-forward dishes, there are hidden animal ingredients you’ll need to look out for:
Even cross-contamination on grills and pans is worth bearing in mind. Carrying a translation card or using Google Translate to check menus will help you avoid these pitfalls!
One of the joys of travelling in South Korea is finding dishes that are already vegan or can be made so with just a small request:
For something warming and soothing, try juk (rice porridge), especially pumpkin porridge (hobakjuk), which is often naturally vegan.
Why travel to South Korea as a vegan
Good news: South Korea is becoming more vegan-aware every year! In Seoul, for example, many restaurants now provide vegan menus or at least a couple of plant-based options. Traditional Korean cuisine also lends itself naturally to vegan eating, thanks to its emphasis on vegetables, fermentation and seasonal produce. Add to this a thriving street-food culture where you can graze on small snacks throughout the day and you’ll discover that travelling vegan in Korea can be exciting and satisfying (rather than limiting).
What to Watch Out For
While Korea has many naturally plant-forward dishes, there are hidden animal ingredients you’ll need to look out for:
- Fish sauce, anchovy broth and shrimp paste are common in soups and sauces;
- Eggs and dairy appear in pancakes, bread, and some desserts;
- Honey is often used in rice cakes and biscuits;
- Meat broths can also slip into dishes that appear vegan at first glance.
Even cross-contamination on grills and pans is worth bearing in mind. Carrying a translation card or using Google Translate to check menus will help you avoid these pitfalls!
Accidentally Vegan and Easily Veganised Foods in South Korea
One of the joys of travelling in South Korea is finding dishes that are already vegan or can be made so with just a small request:
- Bibimbap, the famous rice bowl topped with vegetables, can be enjoyed by asking for no meat and no egg and making sure the chilli paste (gochujang) doesn’t contain fish (you can also carry your own chilli paste);
- Gimbap, often described as Korea’s answer to sushi, is another good option: request a roll filled with vegetables, tofu, or pickled radish and leave out the egg or meat!
- Japchae, a dish of sweet potato noodles stir-fried with vegetables is often vegan if you ask them to skip the beef.
- Pajeon, the savoury pancake is trickier because the batter usually contains egg, but some kitchens are happy to make a version without.
For something warming and soothing, try juk (rice porridge), especially pumpkin porridge (hobakjuk), which is often naturally vegan.
Street food can also provide pleasant surprises. Hotteok (sweet pancakes) are sometimes filled with nuts, seeds and sugar - just check the batter for egg or milk! Rice cakes such as tteok, chapssaltteok, or songpyeon are often vegan too, though it’s worth confirming they don’t contain honey. In summer, look out for kongguksu, a refreshing noodle dish served in cold soy milk. And of course, simple street-vendor staples like roasted sweet potatoes, steamed corn, and fresh fruit are always a safe bet!
For peace of mind, you’ll find a growing number of vegan-dedicated restaurants in Korea. In Seoul, popular choices include Ashville Bakery Cafe (for baked goods), Mahina Vegan Table (for Korea's take on Western food), Weirdough (for pizza) and Alt.a (for Korean food).
Where to Eat: Vegan Restaurants and Cafés in South Korea
For peace of mind, you’ll find a growing number of vegan-dedicated restaurants in Korea. In Seoul, popular choices include Ashville Bakery Cafe (for baked goods), Mahina Vegan Table (for Korea's take on Western food), Weirdough (for pizza) and Alt.a (for Korean food).
In Busan Pyeonhan Jipbap and Obuthan have the best vegan Korean food and in Gyeonggi-do was my favourite, but they've maybe closed :(
Another excellent option no matter where you are in Korea is a Buddhist temple stay, where you’ll experience temple food (sachal eumsik). This cuisine is traditionally free of meat, fish, eggs and dairy, and it’s not only nourishing but also a deeply cultural experience!
If you’re preparing food yourself or asking for substitutions, small swaps can make many Korean dishes vegan-friendly. Meat can usually be replaced with tofu or tempeh, while soups that rely on anchovy or meat stock can be made with vegetable broth. In pancakes, eggs can be substituted with a flaxseed “egg” or omitted entirely, using a mixture of flour, water and rice flour for crispness. Porridges and sweet soups are easily made with soy, almond or oat milk instead of dairy.
Making Traditional South Korean Dishes Vegan
If you’re preparing food yourself or asking for substitutions, small swaps can make many Korean dishes vegan-friendly. Meat can usually be replaced with tofu or tempeh, while soups that rely on anchovy or meat stock can be made with vegetable broth. In pancakes, eggs can be substituted with a flaxseed “egg” or omitted entirely, using a mixture of flour, water and rice flour for crispness. Porridges and sweet soups are easily made with soy, almond or oat milk instead of dairy.
When buying sauces such as gochujang, always check the label, as some contain animal products! Fortunately, vegan versions are easy to find in supermarkets and markets. For cooking oils, stick with sesame, perilla or vegetable oils rather than butter (duh).
A few key sentences will make your life much easier. Here are some of the most useful, with pronunciation:
Having these written down or saved on your phone to show staff is often the simplest way to communicate your needs.
Travelling vegan in South Korea is easier with a bit of preparation. Carrying a translation card or list of the phrases above will save you stress when ordering food. Ingredient-scanning apps can help you double-check packaged snacks, and patience goes a long way - veganism is still relatively new in much of Korea, but people are often kind and accommodating once they understand.
Handy Vegan Korean Phrases
A few key sentences will make your life much easier. Here are some of the most useful, with pronunciation:
- I’m vegan / I don’t eat animal products: 저는 비건이에요 / 동물성 제품을 안 먹어요 (Jeoneun vegan-ieyo / dongmulsung jepumeul an meogeoyo.)
- I don’t eat meat: 고기를 안 먹어요 (Gogireul an meogeoyo.)
- I don’t eat eggs: 계란을 안 먹어요 (Gyeraneul an meogeoyo.)
- I don’t eat fish or seafood: 생선 / 해산물을 안 먹어요 (Saengseon / haesanmul-eul an meogeoyo.)
- I don’t eat dairy: 유제품을 안 먹어요 (Yujepumeul an meogeoyo.)
- I don’t eat honey: 꿀을 안 먹어요 (Kkul-eul an meogeoyo.)
- No fish sauce / no anchovy broth please: 액젓 / 멸치육수 빼 주세요 (Aekjeot / myeolchi yuksu bbae juseyo.)
- Is this vegan?: 이거 비건이에요? (Igeo vegan-ieyo?)
Having these written down or saved on your phone to show staff is often the simplest way to communicate your needs.
Further Tips for Smooth Vegan Travel In South Korea
Travelling vegan in South Korea is easier with a bit of preparation. Carrying a translation card or list of the phrases above will save you stress when ordering food. Ingredient-scanning apps can help you double-check packaged snacks, and patience goes a long way - veganism is still relatively new in much of Korea, but people are often kind and accommodating once they understand.
It’s also a good idea to check restaurant opening hours carefully, as smaller vegan cafés may close on unusual days. For emergencies or travel days, convenience stores and markets are useful for fruit, rice cakes, nuts and other simple vegan snacks.
To give you an idea of what a vegan day in Korea might look like: breakfast could be a bowl of pumpkin porridge or a pastry from a vegan bakery. Mid-morning, you might snack on roasted sweet potatoes from a street vendor. Lunch could be a colourful bibimbap with no egg or meat, or a vegetable-filled gimbap roll. In the afternoon, you could enjoy tea with rice cakes or a vegan dessert from a café. And for dinner, why not wrap tofu and vegetables in lettuce leaves for a vegan BBQ-style meal with plenty of side dishes?
Travelling vegan in South Korea is absolutely possible - and rewarding! With a bit of knowledge, flexibility and curiosity, you’ll discover that Korea offers a wealth of vegan options, from humble street snacks to elaborate temple cuisine. When it comes to planning your South Korean journey in general, consider working with a DMC in South Korea (Destination Management Company) to ensure you experience the best the country has to offer. These local experts can provide insider knowledge, arrange unique experiences, and help navigate language barriers while ensuring your trip runs smoothly.
A Day of Vegan Eating in Korea
To give you an idea of what a vegan day in Korea might look like: breakfast could be a bowl of pumpkin porridge or a pastry from a vegan bakery. Mid-morning, you might snack on roasted sweet potatoes from a street vendor. Lunch could be a colourful bibimbap with no egg or meat, or a vegetable-filled gimbap roll. In the afternoon, you could enjoy tea with rice cakes or a vegan dessert from a café. And for dinner, why not wrap tofu and vegetables in lettuce leaves for a vegan BBQ-style meal with plenty of side dishes?
Final Thoughts
Travelling vegan in South Korea is absolutely possible - and rewarding! With a bit of knowledge, flexibility and curiosity, you’ll discover that Korea offers a wealth of vegan options, from humble street snacks to elaborate temple cuisine. When it comes to planning your South Korean journey in general, consider working with a DMC in South Korea (Destination Management Company) to ensure you experience the best the country has to offer. These local experts can provide insider knowledge, arrange unique experiences, and help navigate language barriers while ensuring your trip runs smoothly.
