Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Korea: A Practical Guide
You can eat vegetarian in Korea, but plan ahead: kimchi often contains fish sauce, and many soups use anchovy or beef stock. Vegetable bibimbap, yache gimbap (about 1,500 to 2,500 won at convenience stores), temple food and dedicated vegan cafes are the safest choices. Ask for the broth.
- Biggest trap
- Fish sauce, shrimp paste and anchovy stock
- Easy meals
- Vegetable bibimbap, yache gimbap, buchu jeon
- Typical cost
- About 12,000 to 22,000 won at a vegan cafe
- Official guide
- Seoul Tourism Organization vegetarian guide
What should I know before I arrive?
Information checked October 19, 2026
Korean cooking is built on stocks and fermented sauces that contain fish, so a dish that looks plant-based may not be. Rice, tofu, vegetables and noodles are everywhere, but meat-free by default is rare outside dedicated restaurants.
- Worth knowing: The Seoul Tourism Organization says anchovy stock (myeolchi yuksu) is common in soups and stews, including doenjang jjigae, and that fish sauce is in most kimchi.
- A common mistake: Assuming "no meat" covers seafood. Say separately that you want no fish, seafood or stock.
- Local tip: Download HappyCow and search Naver Map for 비건 (vegan) before you go; the same guide says Naver Map is more accurate than Google Maps for this.
Which ingredients are not vegetarian?
Fish sauce, shrimp paste, anchovy stock and beef bone broth are the main hidden animal ingredients. The Seoul Tourism Organization guide lists them, and notes that many instant ramyeon use animal-stock powder.
- Anchovy stock (멸치 육수): the base of many soups and stews.
- Fish sauce (액젓) and shrimp paste (새우젓): used in most kimchi and some banchan.
- Beef bone broth (사골): the base of seolleongtang, gomtang and many noodle soups.
- Fillings: japchae often includes beef, and pajeon often includes seafood.
Practical example: a traveller who orders doenjang jjigae at a standard restaurant may get anchovy broth, so ask "Yuksu-ga mwoyeyo?" (what is the stock?) before ordering.
What can I order, and what should I say?
Start with vegetable bibimbap, vegetable gimbap and chive pancakes, and use a few fixed phrases to remove meat, seafood and stock. The Seoul Tourism Organization guide suggests the dishes below; confirm each one with the kitchen.
- Bibimbap without meat or egg.
- Yache japchae (vegetable japchae) and buchu jeon (chive pancake).
- Hotteok and bindaetteok, which are usually plant-based; confirm bindaetteok has no pork.
- Patbingsu, if you ask for no condensed milk.
- Sundubu jjigae is usually seafood-based, so skip it unless confirmed.
| Meaning | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| I'm vegetarian | 저는 채식주의자예요 | Jeoneun chae-sik-ju-ui-ja-yeyo |
| I'm vegan | 저는 비건이에요 | Jeoneun bigan-ieyo |
| No meat, please | 고기 빼고 주세요 | Gogi ppae-go juseyo |
| No anchovy stock | 멸치 육수 빼고 주세요 | Myeolchi yuk-su ppaego juseyo |
| Is this vegan? | 이거 비건이에요? | Igeo bigan-ieyo? |
For general ordering etiquette, see our guide on how to order at a Korean restaurant, and for dishes to try see 20 Korean dishes to try on your first trip.
Where can I find vegan and temple food?
Seoul has the widest choice, especially around Insadong, Itaewon and Hongdae, and temple cuisine is the most traditional plant-based meal. The Seoul Tourism Organization lists restaurants by area; hours and menus change, so confirm before you go.
- Insadong and Jongno: Osegye Hyang (vegan Korean classics), Sanchon (temple-cuisine tasting menu) and Balwoo Gongyang, a temple-food restaurant opposite Jogyesa.
- Itaewon and Hannam-dong: Plant Cafe & Kitchen, Loving Hut and Vegetus.
- Hongdae and Mapo: Vegan Space for street-style vegan food, open late.
- Myeongdong: described as the trickiest area; the guide suggests Vegan Kitchen Myeongdong, Loving Hut or convenience stores.
- Beyond Seoul: the MICHELIN Guide lists ARP and Bibijae in Busan among plant-friendly picks (article dated January 9, 2026).
Temple food is plant-based and traditionally avoids the five pungent vegetables: onions, garlic, chives, green onions and leeks, according to Korea JoongAng Daily (2019 article, so confirm current details). The Seoul Tourism Organization notes that Jingwansa and Bongeunsa offer temple food sessions, and that Jingwansa is the most accessible from central Seoul.
How much does vegetarian eating cost?
Convenience-store gimbap is about 1,500 to 2,500 won, a vegan cafe meal about 12,000 to 22,000 won, and a temple or fine-dining menu about 40,000 to 120,000 won or more. These are approximate figures; confirm on the linked official page.
| Option | Approximate cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience-store vegetable gimbap | About 1,500 to 2,500 won | Quick, cheap snack |
| Loving Hut lunch | About 10,000 won | Affordable casual meal |
| Vegan cafe or Osegye Hyang dish | About 12,000 to 22,000 won | Korean classics without meat |
| Sanchon temple-cuisine menu | About 39,000 to 55,000 won | Traditional experience |
| Balwoo Gongyang temple menu | About 50,000 to 120,000 won | Michelin-listed special meal |
Soju and makgeolli are listed as vegan by the same guide, while unfiltered craft beers may use fish-derived fining, so ask. Barley tea (boricha) is often served free.
How do I order a vegetarian meal step by step?
Choose a plant-friendly place, state your diet, name what to remove, and check the broth before you eat.
- Search first. Look up 비건 on Naver Map or use HappyCow to find nearby options.
- State your diet. Show 저는 비건이에요 or 저는 채식주의자예요 on your phone.
- Remove stock and fillings. Ask for no meat, no seafood and no anchovy stock.
- Check the sides. Kimchi usually contains fish sauce or shrimp paste, so skip it if you avoid fish.
- Keep a backup. Convenience stores sell gimbap labelled 야채 (vegetable) for a fallback meal.
FAQ
Is Korean food vegetarian-friendly?
It is partly. Many side dishes are plant-based, but kimchi usually contains fish sauce or shrimp paste and many soups use anchovy or beef stock, so you need to ask. Seoul Tourism Organization lists these hidden ingredients in its vegetarian guide.
What can vegetarians order in Korea?
Bibimbap without meat or egg, yache gimbap (vegetable gimbap), buchu jeon (chive pancake), hotteok and temple food are the usual safe starting points. Always confirm the broth and any pork or seafood in fillings.
How do I say I am vegan in Korean?
Say 저는 비건이에요 (Jeoneun bigan-ieyo), then add 멸치 육수 빼고 주세요 (Myeolchi yuk-su ppaego juseyo) to ask for no anchovy stock. Showing the Korean text on your phone helps.
Is temple food always vegan?
Temple food is plant-based and traditionally avoids the five pungent vegetables: onions, garlic, chives, green onions and leeks. Confirm any dairy or honey with the restaurant when you book.
Which apps help vegetarians in Korea?
Seoul Tourism Organization recommends HappyCow for maps and hours and Naver Map, where searching 비건 (vegan) is described as more accurate than Google Maps.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Prices and menus above are approximate; verify on these pages.
- Seoul Tourism Organization: Vegetarian and Vegan Seoul restaurants by area, hidden ingredients, phrases and costs
- MICHELIN Guide: vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Korea Seoul and Busan plant-based picks, dated January 9, 2026
- Korea JoongAng Daily: temple food background on temple cuisine and pungent vegetables (2019)
- HappyCow vegetarian and vegan restaurant maps and reviews
- VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization) official tourism information in English
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