Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Korea

Most foreign residents who eat vegetarian or vegan figure out quickly that "just vegetables" does not mean animal-free in Korean cooking. The real issue is not what you can see on the plate. It is what is in the broth, the seasoning paste, and the kimchi that came as a side dish before you ordered anything.

This guide explains the hidden ingredients to know, the dishes that work with or without modification, Korea's remarkable plant-based temple food tradition, and how to find restaurants that make it easy.

The core challenge: hidden broth and hidden seasoning

Korean cooking builds its base flavors from two sources that are almost never listed prominently on menus: anchovy broth (멸치육수) and fermented seafood (젓갈).

Anchovy broth is the default cooking liquid in most Korean soups and stews. Even a soup that contains only tofu, vegetables, and doenjang paste is likely simmered in anchovy broth. The flavor is mild and does not announce itself, which is why so many vegetarian residents are surprised to learn it is there.

Fermented seafood, particularly salted shrimp (새우젓) and anchovy paste (멸치젓), is mixed into nearly all kimchi during preparation. Fish sauce (액젓) is added to kimchi and used to season namul side dishes in many kitchens. Again, these are invisible in the finished dish.

Knowing this changes how you order, and gives you the right questions to ask.

Hidden-ingredient traps: a dish-by-dish guide

What you can order more confidently

A few dishes work well as a starting point, with the caveats noted above.

Vegetable gimbap (야채김밥) is rice, pickled radish, spinach, carrot, and burdock rolled in seaweed. Ask for it without egg if you need it fully plant-based. Most convenience stores sell it and it is vegan-friendly by default in most versions.

Bibimbap is one of the most adaptable dishes in Korean cooking. Ask for it without beef and without the fried egg, and confirm whether the restaurant's gochujang contains fish sauce. Many restaurants can prepare it cleanly.

Japchae can be ordered without meat at many restaurants, especially at Chinese-Korean (중식) places where the dish is a staple. Ask clearly and confirm there is no oyster sauce in the seasoning.

Doenjang jjigae is a genuinely nourishing option if you ask for vegetable broth (채소육수) instead of anchovy broth. The miso-like paste is fermented soybeans and salt. The tofu, zucchini, and mushrooms that fill the stew are all plant-based. Changing the broth base is the only modification needed.

Korean temple food: the deep plant-based tradition

Korea has one of the oldest and most sophisticated plant-based culinary traditions in the world. Temple food (사찰음식) is the cuisine of Korean Buddhist monasteries, practiced for roughly 1,700 years. It excludes meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. It also excludes the five pungent vegetables (오신채): garlic, green onion, Chinese chives, wild leek, and one further variety. These are believed to agitate the mind.

The result is a cuisine built on fermentation, careful seasoning with perilla, sesame, and doenjang, and a deep knowledge of seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, and grains. In May 2025, the Korean government designated temple food as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and it is a candidate for UNESCO recognition.

How to experience temple food in Seoul

The Korean Temple Food Center in Insadong runs hands-on cooking workshops and introduction classes. Some scheduled programs, including Saturday classes, are open to foreign participants with English interpretation, making it one of the most accessible entry points for foreign residents. The center's website is edu.koreatemplefood.com and the phone number is +82-2-733-4650. Check the current schedule directly, as program timing changes seasonally.

Templestay is the formal program that pairs an overnight or day visit to a Korean Buddhist temple with an experience of temple life, including meals. Programs range from a single afternoon to a multi-night stay. The English booking platform is eng.templestay.com, and temples across the country participate. The food served is always temple food.

Balwoo Gongyang (발우공양) in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a plant-based restaurant run by the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist order in Korea. It serves temple-style cuisine in a formal setting and has received significant recognition for its cooking. Verify its current hours and booking requirements before visiting, as details change.

Useful phrases for ordering

Showing these on your phone is often more reliable than speaking them, especially at smaller local restaurants.

One practical note: "vegetarian" (채식주의자) is understood in many Seoul restaurants, but specifying "I don't eat meat or seafood" is clearer and reduces the chance of fish sauce or anchovy broth being overlooked.

Finding vegetarian and vegan restaurants

HappyCow (happycow.net/asia/south_korea/seoul/) is the most reliable live resource for vegetarian and vegan-friendly dining in Seoul. It lists over 100 venues, with user reviews and recent updates. The densest concentrations are in Itaewon and Hongdae, where dedicated vegan cafes, pizza places, and full-service restaurants operate alongside mainstream venues.

The vegan and vegetarian scene in Seoul has grown considerably in recent years. Dedicated vegan menus have appeared at chain cafes and several well-known Korean restaurant groups. Outside Seoul, options are thinner but cities like Jeonju, Busan, and Daejeon have small vegan communities and a handful of dedicated restaurants.

For supermarket shopping, look for the 비건 인증 (vegan certification) label on packaged food. Vegan kimchi (비건 김치) and plant-based protein products are increasingly available at larger grocery stores and online Korean grocery platforms, though selection varies by location. To track down harder-to-find ingredients, Seoulstart's grocery directory lists foreign and international grocery stores around the country.

FAQ

Is Korean food vegetarian-friendly?

Some dishes are and some are not, but the challenge is that animal-based ingredients are hidden in broths and seasonings rather than visible in the dish. Most soups use anchovy broth (멸치육수) or beef broth. Most kimchi contains fermented seafood. With some knowledge of which dishes are naturally safe and a few key phrases, eating well as a vegetarian in Korea is very manageable, especially in Seoul.

Does kimchi contain fish?

Standard kimchi contains fermented seafood, typically salted shrimp (새우젓) or anchovy paste (멸치젓). White kimchi (백김치) looks safer but also usually contains jeotgal. Vegan kimchi (비건 김치) does exist: look for the label in Korean supermarkets and specialty stores, or buy from dedicated vegan brands online. The selection has grown noticeably in recent years.

What Korean dishes are naturally safe for vegetarians?

Vegetable gimbap (야채김밥) without egg is a reliable starting point. Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) has a vegan base if you ask for vegetable broth (채소육수). Bibimbap can be ordered without beef and without egg. Japchae noodles are vegan on their own but usually come with meat, so ask for it without. Namul side dishes vary depending on whether the cook uses fish sauce.

What is Korean temple food and how can I try it?

Temple food (사찰음식) is a plant-based Buddhist culinary tradition with roughly 1,700 years of history in Korea. It excludes meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. It was designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in May 2025. You can experience it through the Templestay program (eng.templestay.com), which pairs a temple stay with meals, or through the Korean Temple Food Center in Insadong, Seoul, which runs introduction workshops with English interpretation on selected classes.

How do I ask about ingredients in Korean?

These phrases cover most situations. "I don't eat meat or seafood" is "저는 고기랑 해산물 안 먹어요." "No broth, please" is "육수 빼고 주세요." "No fish sauce" is "액젓 빼고 주세요." "Does this have meat or seafood?" is "이거 고기나 해산물 들어있어요?" Showing these written is often more reliable than speaking them, especially at smaller restaurants.

Where do I find vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Seoul?

HappyCow (happycow.net) is the most up-to-date community resource, with over 100 listings in Seoul. The strongest concentrations are in Itaewon and Hongdae, where dedicated vegan cafes and restaurants have opened in numbers. Balwoo Gongyang (발우공양) in Jongno-gu, run by the Jogye Order, is a well-known plant-based restaurant serving temple-style cuisine. Check its current status and hours before visiting.

@misc{seoulstart-vegetarian-food-korea-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Korea (2026)}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/vegetarian-food-korea-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 5, 2026}
}