VEGAN TRAVEL | Creatrip Locals' Guide
A Complete Guide On Vegan Eateries And Cafes In Korea
Korea is full of unique and delicious foods to enjoy. However, if you are a vegan, you might have a difficult time finding a suitable place to dine. Today we will introduce you to the vegan culture in Korea and recommended Vegan Restaurants by the locals!
Vegan Culture in Korea
Korea is not your #1 meat consuming nation. Korea eats 50% of what the US consumes and 80% of the OECD average. However, it's hard to find authentic vegan food in Korea. Why is that?
First, Korean people use meat to give flavour to the food. Korean people call it yuksoo and even naengmyeon (Korean cold noodles) and doenjang stew (bean paste stew) that doesn't have meat, all use yuksoo from meat or fish.
Also, the most well known Korean foods are all meat cuisine. Chimaek (Chicken and beer), Korean barbeque, bulgogi are all meat menus. If you go on a gathering with fellow workers or students, you'll go to a barbeque restaurant and won't be able to find a vegan menu.
However, as more people become aware of the natural environment, and animal rights, awareness of veganism in Korea is continually rising. Following this trend, more vegan specialized restaurants are gaining popularity.
Korea has the best conditions to adopt vegan style food. The main meal is rice, and kimchi, namul, and many basic dishes are in vegetables. Also, Korea has its cultural background in Buddhism, and if you visit temples or temple food restaurants, you can find the most authentic vegan foods with natural ingredients.
Let's find out restaurants where you can find authentic vegan foods in Korea.
Vegan Restaurant
*Restaurants introduced here might be a vegan-option restaurant. In that case, you need to choose a vegan meal from the menu.
Address: 서울 용산구 우사단로10길 81
Hours: 12:00-20:00
Mon: Closed
Best Menu: Kung Pao Tofu over Rice ￦11,000
Recently renewed vegan restaurant named Vegan Kitchen is located in Itaewon. Their dishes range from fusion pastas to rice dishes. The kitchen has a very cozy, warm interior. It felt like a perfect place for a relaxed dinner with friends or family, especially if one or more people in the group are vegan! Check Creatrip's latest blog to get exclusive benefits!
The Royal Food & Drink (Itaewon)
Address: 서울 용산구 신흥로20길 37
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-22:00
Best Menu: Tempeh Hummus Plate ￦15,500
instagram@theroyalfad
This is where you can enjoy the great view of Haebangchon, vegan plates and wine. Tofu Scramble Plate, Soy Yogurt Bowl are other popular vegan menus. A great place to spend a night with a beautiful atmosphere.
Address: 서울시 강남구 논현로 175길 75
Hours: Lunch 12:00-15:00
Dinner 17:00-22:00
Best Menus: Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Pasta ￦21,500
instagram@mahina_vegan_table
You wouldn't believe it when you see it for your self. But all menus, even the pizza dough, are made with vegan ingredients. It's a great place to enjoy vegan food without worry, along with the high-quality western cuisine.
This World Is A Playground (Sinchon)
Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 이화여대길 88-15
Hours: 11:30-20:00
Best Menu: Mushroom Topping Rice
instagram@lets_twip
It's a small restaurant that serves homemade food with all vegan ingredients. There are only two fixed menus, Mushroom Topping Rice and Chaegaejang, and one daily menu at dinner hours. All side dishes taste fresh and clean. It's a small restaurant so you might have to wait a little bit.
Address: 서울특별시 서초구 반포동 97-5
Hours: 11:00-20:30
Best Menu: Cauliflower Steak ￦26,000
instagram@food_does_matter
It's a vegan restaurant that does not use milk, butter, fish, meat, or egg. It's a restaurant where you can find creative and high-quality food. It's a restaurant that offers limited amounts only, so you have to make an online reservation to enjoy.
Address: 서울특별시 용산구 한남동 이태원로 228-1
Hours: 18:00-22:30
Best Menu: Beyond Burger ￦18,000
instagram@monksbutcher
Monk's Butcher used to offer vegan and vegetarian options that you could choose. Now it's a completely vegan restaurant. The meats used here are 'Beyond Meet' made with vegetarian protein. It's a hot spot on the instagram, and it is safer to make a reservation to get a seat.
Address: 서울특별시 용산구 이태원1동 보광로 111
Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-24:00
Sat-Sun 12:00-01:00
Best Menu: Pad Thai ￦14,000
FB@SSONGTHAI.ITAEWON
It's more of an authentic Thai restaurant than a vegan restaurant. But, you can choose the vegan option for most of the menus. The soups used vegetable stocks to make the flavour, which is no less delicious than the meat using dishes.
Address: 서울특별시 성북구 성북동 성북로8길 11
Hours: 12:00-09:00
Wed: Closed
Best Menu: Bangsil Bibimbap ￦9,000
Little Mananim is a small restaurant with all-vegan menus. All dishes are traditional Korean dish with ingredients delivered from all parts of Korea, except for the olive oil. All the food tastes fresh and light, and it is a perfect place to enjoy authentic Korean homemade dishes. The garden-like atmosphere makes you feel fresh from the entrance!
Address: 서울 종로구 인사동길 30-13
Hours: 11:30-22:00
Best Menu: Sanchon Lunch ￦33,000
Source: bapsangnews.com
Sanchon is a temple cuisine restaurant. It uses fresh vegetables and least spices so that you can taste the natural taste of each ingredient. The whole place has a Buddhism atmosphere, and you can enjoy a quiet meal at peace.
You'll get a fixed menu with a variety of kimchis and salads. The servings are quite large, so don't worry about being hungry.
Maru Jayeonsik Gimbap (Insadong)
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 35-4 본관
Hours: 10:30-20:30
Best Menu: Soy Ham Gimbap ￦3,000
Even if you are vegan, you would want to taste all the specialties in Korea. Gimbap and tteokbokki are must-have snacks if you are in Korea. Enjoy vegan food made with soy meats and tofu. It's a small place with only a few tables, so think about taking it to go.
Address: 서울 강남구 강남대로152길 69
Hours: 11:30-21:00
Last Order 20:30
Best Menu: The Vegan Salad ￦8,000
Source: chickpeace.co.kr
Chick Peace is a Mediterranean food restaurant where you can get fresh salads in exotic styles. They have vegan menus to normal meat menus, so you don't have to worry about visiting the place with your non-vegan friend! The price is very reasonable, and salads come with a pita, so you don't have to worry about being hungry after the meal.
Address: 서울 마포구 상수동 336-18
Hours: 11:00-01:00
Best Menu: Mushroom Soymilk Cream Risotto ￦14,000
Source: slunch.co.kr
Slunch is a compound of 'Slow' and 'Lunch,' and it tries to give you an experience where you can enjoy a relaxed and healthy meal.
Slunch use natural spices only and ingredients freshly purchased every day. There are menus for non-vegans too, but it doesn't use dairy products, and most menus meet the needs of vegan customers.
Address: 서울특별시 서초구 강남대로 455 강남태영데시앙루브
Hours: 11:30-22:00
Best Menu: Vegetable Bowl ￦7,800
Dos Tacos is a Mexican food restaurant, and not all menus are vegan, but you can choose the ingredients that will be added. Burrito uses milk to bake, so if you want strict vegan, order a vegetable bowl and take out the cheese.
All branches have similar menus, so visit the restaurant nearest to you for a convenient vegan food.
Chuncheon Makguksu (Dongdaemun)
Address: 서울특별시 동대문구 휘경동 286-234
Hours: 11:00-20:00
Best Menu: Makguksu ￦7,000
Even though noodles doesn't have meat in it, it uses meat stock to flavour it. Chuncheon Makguksu near Hoegi station uses vegetable stock, and you can have Korean style noodles without worries about meats.
Dumplings also use kimchi, vegetable and no meat. When you order, you'll have to ask the manager to take the egg out from your noodle.
Onmaeul (Samcheongdong)
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 삼청동 삼청로 127
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Best Menu: Tofu Mushroom Jeongol ￦12,000
Source: Korea Tourism Organization
Jeongol usually uses meat to make it full of flavour, but Onmaeul uses vegetables and tofu for deep flavour. It specializes in tofu dishes, and even the tofus in side dishes tastes beautiful.
There are non-vegan meals on the menu, so ask the staff for the vegan menus before you place an order.
New York B&C (Sinchon)
Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 연세로12길 39
Hours: 09:00-01:00
Best Menu: Grilled Mushroom Topping ￦9,100
FB@newyorkbnc
New York B&C is a brunch cafe in the Sinchon area. There are various brunch menus, and you can choose the vegetable toppings for a vegan meal. The prices are very reasonable and easy to visit. There are menu non-vegan menus, so be careful to find the right menu for you.
Jeongol Tteokbokki Deokmiga (Sinchon)
Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 이화여대길26 이화빌딩
Hours: 11:00-21:30
Sun Closed
Best Menu: Mushroom Vegetable Tteokbokki ￦13,000
Tteokbokki is the most loved local snack in Korea. But, some tteokbokkis have eggs or fish cake in it. Jeongol Tteokbokki Deokmiga has a vegan option, and if you order the Mushroom Vegetable Tteokbokki and ask for a vegan option, all meat will be taken out from your plate.
Buckwheat House (Jamsil)
Address: 서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 240
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Best Menu: Buckwheat Noodle ￦7,000
This is another noodle shop that uses vegetables to flavour the soup. Except for the dumplings and seafood noodles, there is no meat in other menus, so just ask the staff to take out the eggs for the vegan option.
Address: Gangnam Branch 서울특별시 서초구 서초동 서초대로74길 11
Jongno Branch 서울특별시 종로구 청진동 종로 33
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Best Menu: Tofu Buritto Bowl ￦6,900
FB@cucharaofficial
Cuchara is another Mexican food restaurant. You can choose which ingredients you will put into your bowl, and if you choose the tofu option, you can get a perfect vegan meal. The prices are reasonable, and the food tastes quite authentic.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 삼성1동 테헤란로 521
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Best Menu: Hummus Avocado on Pitta ￦23,800
FB@hummuskitchen.kr
Hummus Kitchen is a middle eastern food restaurant located in COEX. Hummus is a very well balanced vegan sauce that goes well with both salads and pitta breads. The price is quite high, so if you are not familiar with middle eastern food, ask the staff to find the food you can enjoy.
Address: 서울 영등포구 의사당대로 127 롯데캐슬엠파이어
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Best Menu: San-namul Table ￦16,000
Source: edendining.com
Eden Sikdang specializes in namul (Korean style salads), and you can enjoy fresh-picked vegetables. For the main menu, you can choose from bossam or other vegetable menus, so you can get an authentic Korean style vegan meal.
March Rabbit Salad (Garosu-gil)
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 신사동 논현로153길 45
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Best Menu: Happy Vegan ￦14,000
FB@Marchrabbitsalad
March Rabbit Salad is a salad bar loved by locals and celebrities. It specializes and various types of salads, and there are menus for non-vegans to vegan-menus. You can add avocado or mushrooms for a more nutritionally balanced meal. If you want a vegan menu, tell the staff before you order just in case.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 신사동 압구정로10길 14
Hours: 11:30-22:00
Best Menu: Basil Fried Rice with Tofu & Vegetable ￦11,000
instagram@kungthale
Kung Thale is a restaurant where you can taste authentic Thai food. If you ask for a vegan menu, you'll get the all-vegan menu. Fried rice with tofu and various vegetables are Kung Thale's specialties.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 역삼로98길 23
Hours: 10:00-15:00, 17:30-20:30
Best Menu: Lunch Course Menu ￦29,500
Source: chaegeundaam.com
Chaegeundaam was selected as the 2017 Michelin Guide. It specializes in Korean style vegetarian food. Korea is known for kimchi, namul and many vegetable menus, and you can try most of them in the most high-end style here in Chaegeundaam.
Address: 서울시 광진구 구의강변로 57
Hours: 09:00-22:00
Best Menu: Vegetable Buffet ￦23,000
instagram@nalildalwol
Nalildalwol is a buffet with uncooked vegetables. It's even more special than other vegan restaurants because they are even fresher. You can feel the original texture of the food, and it is an unusual experience. You can get unseasoned chicken meat along with the vegetables, and even your non-vegan friend can enjoy it!
Address: 서울특별시 용산구 용산2가동 22-12
Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-21:30
Best Menu: Jalapeno Burger ￦13,500
Source: vegetus.kr
In Haebangchon, you can find an all-vegan restaurant Vegetus. Burger buns are gluten-free, and the patties are made of lentil beans. If you want some healthy western-style vegan foods, this is for you!
Address: 서울특별시 마포구 창전동 와우산로30길 13
Hours: Wed-Sun 17:00-23:00
Mon-Tue: Closed
Best Menu: Chili Shrimp ￦18,000
It's a great place to enjoy alcohol with vegan dishes. Chilli shrimp is made with potato, and lasagna is made of tofu. Surprisingly, they taste like real shrimp and noodles.
Keep in mind that it is a small restaurant and you might have to wait in line, and unlike its name, there was nothing special about the beverages.
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 견지동 우정국로 56
Hours: 11:30-21:30
Sun: Closed
Best Menu: Seon Course ￦30,000
Source: balwoo.or.kr
Balwoo Gongyang means the way of having a Buddhist meal. In real temples, you wouldn't get a course menu but the most humble dish without any waste. However, in Balwoo Gongyang, you'll get the temple food in the most luxurious form.
Address: 서울시 종로구 인사동 12길 14-5
Hours: 11:30-21:00
Best Menu: Cirsium Setidents Bibimbap ￦10,000
Osegyehyang is located right next to Ssamjigil and is easy to visit after you visit Insadong. All soups are made with vegetable stocks, and meats are replaced with soy meats. The price isn't so cheap, and the meats don't taste that special. I recommend that you have rice menus rather than the soy meat menus.
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 체부동132-1 자하문로5길19
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30-22:00
Sun 12:00-21:00
Best Menu: Maji Lunch Special ￦10,000
Maji is a temple food restaurant in hanok style building, and it feels like entering into an old temple. There are course menus for important meetings, and you can get single menus that are priced reasonably. Temple cuisine is a great way to learn the humble culture of Korean Buddhism.
Address: 서울특별시 종로구 누하동 필운대로 41
Hours: Tue-Sat 12:00-21:00
Sun 12:00-19:30
Mon Closed
Best Menu: Soiroum Set Meal ￦17,000
Iroum means 'be beneficial,' and it aims to be beneficial to the world. It is a compound of Soy and Iroum, and the name means 'be beneficial to the world through soybean. The spices are not too strong, and you can have a clean and light meal at Soiroum. The drinks are based on soy milk, and you can enjoy thick authentic taste.
Jeoksubang (Dongguk Univ)
Address: 서울특별시 중구 장충동2가 188-6
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30-19:00
Sun Closed
Best Menu: Buffet ￦7,000
Jeoksubang is a temple cuisine restaurant, but what's even more unique is that it's in Taiwanese style. Bulgwangsansa is Taiwan's largest temple, and its Seoul branch is located right next to Dongguk Univ. Station. There are about six to ten dishes you can choose from. If you want to take a look at what Taiwanese temple would look like in Korea, it is definitely worth a visit.
Address: 서울특별시 서초구 방배2동 방배천로4안길 55
Hours: Tue-Sat 12:00-21:00
Sun 12:00-20:00
Best Menu: Nammi Tomato Fettuccine ￦10,000
Nammi means South America in Korean, and the place is named Nammi because the chef is from the South American region. The place is loved by vegan and non-vegan locals. South American style pizza, burger and pasta menus are all very delicious using vegan ingredients only.
Veg Green (Gangnam)
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 개포동 개포로20길 24-10
Hours: 12:00-14:30, 18:00-21:00
Best Menu: Buffet ￦12,000
If you take a look around the menu, it wouldn't seem different from other ordinary buffets. Veg Green has meat menus, but if you take a look at the menus, they are made of mushrooms or soy meat. It's a great place to taste various types of vegan menus as much as you want!
Vegan Cafe
Address: 서울특별시 용산구 우사단로14길 33
Hours: 11:00-20:00
Mon-Tue: Closed
Best Menu: Sunny Sandwich ￦12,000
This bakery became a sensation on the internet when it shared a surveillance footage of a thief breaking in, then staying at the site for over 4 hours eating multiple muffins and then taking his time picking out cakes to eat.
The owner has intolerance to gluten herself and really puts her thoughts, efforts and passion into developing healthy, gluten-free, vegan menu items while not compromising their deliciousness.
Address: 서울시 종로구 창경궁로 35길 40 알파라운드
Hours: Tue-Fri 10:00-20:00
Sat 12:00-20:00
Best Menu: Black Sesame Ice Cream ￦4,000
It would be difficult to imagine an ice cream made without milk, and Seori's ice creams are more of a grain sherbet. Ice creams are not only vegan but made with healthy ingredients, which makes it even better to enjoy.
Address: 서울 마포구 월드컵로 13길 79
Hours: 09:00-22:00
Best Menu: Sweet Pumpkin Cube ￦4,500
This bakery in Mangwon uses no eggs, milk, butter, and gluten to bake breads. Many people feel allergic or find it hard to digest dairy products or gluten.
Those of you can eat Ooh Breado's bread without any difficulty. Vegan doesn't mean bland, and you can find many sweet and delicious desserts here in Ooh Breado.
Address: 서울특별시 마포구 성산동 239-24번지
Hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-20:30
Best Menu: Real Vegan Pizza ￦3,500/piece
Haemil's breads are both healthy and delicious, and you can even get it delivered to your home. If you need some healthy snacks for you and your family, this is the easiest to get it.
Address: 서울시 마포구 서교동 327-9, 산울림소극장
Hours: 11:30-23:00
Best Menu: Vegan Ice Cream
FB@cafesukkara
Sukara is a vegan cafe and restaurant, and it continually develops and introduces healthy menus to satisfy the vegans in Korea. Sukara opens vegetable markets to encourage veganism and healthy way of living.
Cafe Banchanggo (Dongdaemun)
Address: 서울특별시 동대문구 경희대로 경희대로 1가길18
Hours: Mon-Fri: 12:00-22:00
Sat:13:00-22:00
Best Menu: Carrot Cake ￦4,000
If you want some desserts sweet and fresh taste, Cafe Banchanggo offers cakes made of fresh carrots. You can also find special non-caffeine barley coffee here along with the cake!
Address: 서울시 송파구 올림픽로 240 B1
Hours: 09:00-21:00
Best Menu: Bagel ￦1,700
Bagel is one of the most popular desserts, and in Hoop Hoop Bagel, you can enjoy it with no eggs, butter, milk, and oil. It is located in Lotte Department Store and easy to find!
Address: 서울시 강동구 고덕로20길 26
Hours: Tue-Sun 12:00-19:00
Mon Closed
Best Menu: Berry Banana Cake ￦39,000
If you have an event coming up to celebrate, try vegan whole cakes from Pyeongsangshi. The cake you want might run out, so it is safer to make a reservation before you pick it up.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 신사동 강남대로162길 32
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Best Menu: Carrot Cake ￦7,500/piece
The Nilk Factory specializes in gluten-free cake and almond milk for vegans. Instead of flour, they use almond, rice powders to make the crunchy texture.
Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 대현동 이화여대7길
Hours: Mon-Fri 08:30-09:00
Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00
Best Menu: Coconut Milk Cafe Latte ￦3,900
There are over 30 menus in Blackburn's, and you can clearly see which ones are vegan menus. Ask for coconut milk, and you can get vegan desserts you want. Just keep in mind that you have to choose the vegan options, or you might get drinks with animal milks.
Address: 서울특별시 마포구 서교동 신촌로12다길3
Hours: Mon-Fri 09:30-22:00
Sat-Sun 09:30-21:00
Best Menu: Sweet Potato Tart ￦6,800
The Bread Blue has grown up to be a franchise with three branches. It uses vegan ingredients and grains from local farms, which makes it even more special. You can order the bakery menus home through their official website.
Address: 서울 마포구 성지3길 61
Hours: 12:00-20:00
Tue: Closed
Best Menu: Carrot Cake ￦7,000
instagram@cookandbook
Cook and Book is a cafe and a cooking class for vegans. It's a great place to enjoy some healthy and light desserts, but you can also sign up for cooking classes for your favourite vegan dish. Famous stars like Han Ye-seul also enjoys the food from Cook and Book.
Address: 서울시 마포구 망원동 포은로5길 47
Hours: 12:00-21:00
Sun: Closed
Best Menu: Black Bean Steak ￦13,500
instagram@around_green
Around Green has a bright atmosphere and is a great place to spend a peaceful afternoon. The place not only serves cafe menus but lunch and dinner menus as well. It has one of the best brown rice muffins!
Address: 서울시 마포구 포은로2가길 6
Hours: 11:30-19:00
Sun-Mon: Closed
Best Menu: Raw Doughnut ￦4,800
instagram@theraw_bytwis
The Raw by twins is a vegan cafe famous for its vegan doughnuts. As you can tell by the cafe's name, all menus are raw, and you can feel the actual ingredients. The Raw by twins' doughnut is seasoned with fresh grains and has a unique taste.
Address: 서울시 마포구 성미산로 153-13 2F
Hours: Tue-Sat: 12:00-22:00
Sun: 12:00-20:00
Mon: Closed
Best Menu: Pumpkin Pound Cake ￦3,500
instagram@panhonesta
Pan Honesta delivers honest bread to your table. It uses no flour, dairy products, eggs, or sugar. Special menus like tofu cakes and vegan bingsu are something you can only find in Pan Honesta.
Address: 서울시 성수동 뚝섬로3길9, 1F
Hours: Tue-Sun 12:00-21:00
Mon: Closed
Best Menu: Pumpkin Mousse Cake ￦6,000
instagram@cafe_planv
Vegan drinks and desserts are made with fresh ingredients, and they are better for your health and easy to digest. There are a variety of cakes, and the price is very reasonable, so you can enjoy without worrying about your budget.
Address: 서울시 용산구 이태원동 130-43 2F
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-22:00
Sun: Closed
Best Menu: Plant Classic Cakes ￦45,000
All menus and descriptions in Plant Cafe Seoul are in English, and the staff are fluent in English. All bakery menus are vegan, and it is a perfect place for foreign vegan travellers to visit. Make a pre-order if you want to get a whole cake.
Vegan Products
Vegan Dosirak
Since more and more people are interested in vegan menus, there are many vegan items you can find in convenience stores. There are vegan dosirak, bean bulgogi burgers, gimbap you can enjoy without worry. Check our latest blog to find out more vegan option menus in convenience stores.
Vegan Burger, Gimbap
Vegan Salad
Vegan Snacks
Here are some of the halal/vegan option snacks we have tried. Check out the posting for more information. 
Mat Bam (맛밤) ₩3,500
Mat Goguma (맛 고구마) ₩3,500
Petitzel Water Jelly (쁘띠젤 워터젤리) ₩1,900
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