Written by: Devyani Segan, Delhi
Edited by: Pooja Vishwanathan, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
Indulge in the best vegetarian dishes and explore the chef d’oeuvre of South Korea through these marvellous restaurants.
South Korea is a paradise for people who love and breathe spicy Asian food. The craze for authentic Korean food and traditional dishes has increased massively. However, what prevents many Indians from exploring the delicious delicacies of Korea is the difference between the cultures of both nations. Many of these dishes use meat and seafood as their base. For example, anchovies are used to make broths for stews and noodle soups.
Is South Korea good for vegetarians?
Fortunately, the West has witnessed many “vegan and vegetarian” movements that have influenced Asian countries like Thailand and China. Traditionally, Koreans ate a lot of vegetarian dishes and had plenty of plant-based items on the menu. Today, we are exploring the best vegetarian restaurants in South Korea that you must visit even if you are on a strict diet.
Oh Se Gae Hyang
One of the most popular vegan restaurants located in the Insadong district of Seoul is Oh Sae Gyae Hyang. It is a must-visit for Korean food lovers and contrary to popular belief, most of the food served here is properly cooked. The restaurant has been serving vegan dishes for years and has many varieties on the menu for which exceptional chefs have been employed. The eatery has a traditional Korean vibe and allows seating on the floor. The atmosphere is comfortable and cosy. Some of the top recommendations include vegan bulgogi, soft tofu stew, and fried vegetable dumplings. If you have a knack for spicy food, we recommend cold noodles and tteokbokki. The menu is also available in English, as it is convenient for tourists who need more understanding when it comes to the Korean language.
Plant Cafe Seoul
Here comes the second option on the list, which is yet another healthy and fulfilling alternative. It is popularly known as Plant Cafe Seoul and is one of the best eateries in Itaewon because it serves dishes made with natural and fresh ingredients. The eatery has a clean and bright interior, perfect for gram lovers. They also have a menu written on a blackboard. It is also pet-friendly and is usually full in the summer season. The place is a delight for fitness freaks.
We recommend a mushroom burger, a falafel salad bowl, cheese fries, and a mango smoothie. Their best-sellers are lemon pound cake and vanilla berry cake. The portions are huge, so be mindful while ordering.
Loving Hut
Loving Hut is another restaurant that aims to promote a healthy lifestyle that excludes animal products. They offer mouth-watering versions of iconic Korean dishes like bibimbap, fried chicken, kimchi rice, jjigae, jjajangmyeon, and red rice cakes. The highlight of the menu is their vegan lunch boxes and smoothies. The best part is that they have locations all over South Korea.
Vegan Kitchen
The most fascinating aspect of Korean culture is their acceptance. They wholeheartedly welcome people of all religions and backgrounds and try their best to make them feel comfortable. If you are on the hunt for vegan, vegetarian, and halal food items, then this is it. Vegan Kitchen is located in Toegye, Seoul, near Namsan Tower. It is a little expensive but it is worth the visit. They also have robot services for easy functioning of the eatery and also for some entertainment.
We recommend fried chicken, japchae, and the poke bowl. If you are full, you can also visit the Myeongdong market for a shopping spree.
Vegetus
Vegetus is a vegan restaurant that serves gluten-free dishes. It is a cozy little diner located in Yongsan-gu. Their expertise is Italian food and they constantly experiment by clubbing the two cuisines together. We recommend Mexican chilli sauce salad and carrot cake. The stars of the menu are the jalapeno burger and bulgogi panini. They are even open on weekends.
Alt.a
If you are desperately craving some Asian food, then ALT.a should be your destination. ALT.a offers contemporary Asian cuisine with a wide variety of nonalcoholic drinks and vegan wines. The best part of all is that they have more than a hundred items on their menu. Every single one is completely plant-based. Their best-sellers are mapo tofu, tuna salad, and stir-fried aubergine on bread. The eatery is pocket-friendly and accommodates almost all flavours of Korean cuisine.
As tourists, it can be overwhelming to find safe, healthy, and vegan options in a country that is the largest exporter of seafood in the world. After the influx of Korean Mukbang (an online eating show wherein the participants eat and sometimes prepare their native dishes), people have articulated some general stereotypes regarding the nation. However, there are an ample number of restaurants and eateries in South Korea that offer a wide variety of vegetarian options. Buddhism is one of the most popular religions in the country, thereby making it easier to access vegan and permissible food items. If you visit any of these places, please tag us on your social media. Happy, cruelty-free eating!
Tell us in the comments below your favourite choice and which one of these places you would pay a visit to first and tick off your impending itinerary.
Such a helpful post for Indian people visiting Korea.😍
Might come handy someday 😁
You’re amazing
Nice
Nice information ℹ️
🩷🩷🩷🩷
The recommendations seems really yum
Saved the article for when i visit South Korea 🫡😌
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Thank you for putting this together! Very helpful
😚😭
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😲😲😲
💗💗
❤️💕❤️❤️
😋😍💜
Good 👍🏻
Thankyou Hallyusim for ths Article🎀✨🩷
Amazing article ❤️❤️❤️
Thankyou Hallyuism for this article ❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wowww
Very informative 👍🏻
Much needed article for vegetarians , very insightful
How interesting!
It was informative
Important information.. thank you!
As a vegetarian this article is really helpful. I hope I will visit south korea soon and try this places 😍🤞🏻🫶🏻
Amazing food
This is so informative
thats helpful
As a vegetarian, i really appreciate this article. I’d love to explore these places if i visit South korea. <3
This is very helpful for the people who are vegetarian living in Korea and who are vegan
Great information for vegetarians
It’s really helpful for the vegetarian people in Korea
This article is really helpful for vegetarians! Since most Korean restaurants use meat or seafood, it can be difficult to find vegetarian options, so guides like this make exploring Korean cuisine much easier
As a pure vegetarian I always wonder if I get a chance to visit Korea what I should eat there because as a largest exporter of seafood there is not any vegetarian options for me but after reading this article I get to know that Korea also has some vegan or pure vegetarian restaurant like mention in the article well if I get a chance to visit Korea I loved to go vegetas and alta restaurant for my meal as they servers wide range of vegan food so I can I have it without thinking twice thank you to the author for giving me such price less information
Wow, I didn’t realise how many good vegetarian restaurants there are in Korea until reading this. Loving Hut’s vegan versions of classic dishes (bibimbap, kimchi rice) jump out as a must-try. The idea of trying ALT.a’s plant-based mapo tofu in Itaewon feels exciting too. Thanks for making veggie dining feel way more doable in Korea!
This honestly made me so hungry while reading 😭✨ As someone who always struggles to find pure veg options while travelling, this list feels like a lifesaver! I love how each place has its own vibe, from cosy, traditional spots to bright cafés perfect for pictures. Plant Cafe Seoul and ALT.a instantly went on my must-visit list (those cakes and 100+ vegan dishes?? yes please!).
If I ever go to Korea, I’m definitely starting with Oh Se Gae Hyang… something about floor seating and warm Korean flavours just feels so comforting.
This list is really eye-opening — it shows that South Korea isn’t just about meat and seafood, but also has plenty of delicious vegetarian options. I love how the article highlights cozy, vegan-friendly spots like Oh Se Gae Hyang and Plant Cafe Seoul that make vegetarian eating easy even while travelling. Makes me feel there’s something for everyone, no matter your diet. Great guide for anyone wanting to explore Korea’s plant-based food culture!
This was such an insightful and refreshing read! It’s amazing to see how many vegetarian and vegan options South Korea truly offers. The way this article highlighted each restaurant made the journey feel so inviting. As someone who loves Korean culture but eats veg, this list feels like a lifesaver!
Wow, this list is a vegetarian food lover’s dream! So many amazing vegan and vegetarian spots in Seoul—Oh Se Gae Hyang and Plant Cafe Seoul sound especially tempting. I’d love to try the vegan bulgogi and mushroom burger first!
This article beautifully shows that Korea has something for everyone, with delicious vegetarian and vegan options that make plant-based travel easy and exciting
Helpful article for vegetarians like me
Usually in outside countries it’s really hard to find veg. food.. its nice to read about places that provide it in Korea
“This is such a comprehensive and lifesaver of a guide! As someone who loves Korean culture but often worries about the meat-heavy base of traditional broths and stews, seeing places like Oh Se Gae Hyang and ALT.a listed gives me so much confidence for a future trip.
I particularly love that you mentioned Vegetus for gluten-free options and Vegan Kitchen for the halal-friendly aspect—it shows how inclusive the food scene in Seoul is becoming. The ‘Vegan Bulgogi’ and ‘Mushroom Burger’ are officially at the top of my itinerary now! Thank you, Hallyuism, for breaking the stereotype that Korea is difficult for vegetarians. This is exactly the kind of practical advice Indian travelers and plant-based foodies need!”
Being an Indian and finding a vegetarian restaurant in Korea has always been difficult, but this article has made my day easier. Thank you