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 – one, two – 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.

 

List of restaurants and cafés to visit throughout your stay [disclaimer: the addresses are subject to change] that are off-campus:

Plant

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, South Korea

• 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, South Korea

• Vegan pizza, cream pasta, soy variety of Korean fried chicken
• Monday – Sunday (11:30 AM – 9:00 PM; closes the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th Sunday and 2^nd, 4^th Monday)

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, South Korea

• 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

 

List of restaurants that are nearby campus –

Gimbap Cheonguk (Gimbap Heaven)
Two locations: one near the back gate [orange signage] and one near the front gate [next to Innisfree, red signage].

Pomato
Located near the front gate – red signage.

For these restaurants, you can ask to remove eggs or meat from your dish by saying:

I am vegan.	저는 채식주의 자에요. Jeo-neun chaesigjuui ja-ae-yo.
Please do not put meat and eggs in it.	고기하고 계란 넣지 마세요. Gogihago gyeran nuhji maseyo.
Please remove the egg.	계란은 빼주세요. Gyeraneun bbaejuseyo.
Please remove the meat.	고기는 빼주세요. Gogineun bbaejuseyo.

For more useful phrases, refer to these two uploads: one / two.

 

HAPPY EATING!