Eating Vegetarian in Seoul: Tips From 8 Months in Sinchon

Eating vegetarian in Seoul is very doable, but it takes a bit of planning. Korean food is full of vegetables, rice, tofu and noodles, yet many dishes hide meat broth, anchovy stock or fish sauce. With a few safe dishes, some written notes in Korean and a list of options you can rely on, you will eat well.

I lived in Sinchon for eight months in 2020 while studying at Ewha University, and I was vegetarian the whole time, mainly because of climate change. I eat meat and fish again, but I still remember how to eat well in Seoul without meat. This guide shares what worked for me, plus general tips for vegetarians and vegans.

Is Seoul Vegetarian Friendly?

Better than its reputation, but not as easy as cities with a big vegetarian culture. Most traditional Korean restaurants are built around meat, seafood or anchovy based broths, and the idea of vegetarianism is not always understood. Saying “no meat” may still get you a dish with fish stock, ham or a few slices of pork.

When I lived there, I had vegan friends in Seoul and there was a real hype around vegan restaurants. Many of the places from that time have since closed, so always check recent reviews or an app like HappyCow before you go. New spots open regularly, especially in areas popular with young people and expats.

I was also not 100% strict about fish sauce. I was used to it from travelling in Thailand, and in Korea it shows up in many places, kimchi included. If you are strict vegetarian or vegan, you need to be more careful than I was.

Hidden Animal Ingredients to Watch Out For

• Anchovy broth (myeolchi yuksu): the base of many soups, stews and tteokbokki sauces.
• Salted seafood (jeotgal) and fish sauce: common in most traditional kimchi.
• Beef stock powder: often used in soups and seasonings.
• Ham, fish cake and egg: regular fillings in gimbap.
• Pork: often added to kimchi stew, tofu kimchi and some pancakes.
• Seafood: squid and shrimp are common in pajeon (savoury pancakes).

My Go To Vegetarian Meals in Seoul

Mala xiang guo

My absolute favourite. Mala xiang guo is a spicy Chinese stir fry where you pick your own ingredients from a buffet of vegetables, tofu, noodles and mushrooms, then pay by weight. Because you choose everything yourself, it is one of the easiest meals for vegetarians. I ate it at least once a week, and my favourite ingredient was always lotus root. Mala restaurants are everywhere around university areas like Sinchon.

The mala places in Sinchon are all quite similar. The best one is saved in the Google Maps list of my Seoul insider guide.

Fresh gimbap

My tip: go to small shops that make gimbap fresh to order instead of buying pre made rolls. You can ask them to leave out ham, fish cake and egg. My guilty pleasure was a gimbap filled only with chilli. It is simple, spicy and cheap.

Plain sundubu

Most sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) is made with seafood or pork, but plain, white Chodang style sundubu is a gentle, tofu focused dish. I ate it in Gangneung, where Chodang sundubu comes from, and it is one of the safer tofu dishes to look for.

Roasted chestnuts

My favourite street snack was roasted chestnuts. Street carts usually sell them in the colder months, and they are warm, filling and naturally vegan.

Other Vegetarian Friendly Korean Dishes

For a wider overview of Korean cuisine, see my Korean food guide, and if you have a sweet tooth, my guide to bingsu.

How to Order Vegetarian in Korean

My Korean was poor, so I showed written notes to restaurant staff. It worked much better than trying to explain. Write a short note on your phone or a card, for example:

• 저는 채식주의자예요 (jeoneun chaesikjuuijayeyo): I am vegetarian.
• 고기 빼주세요 (gogi ppaejuseyo): Please leave out the meat.
• 고기, 햄, 해산물 없이 주세요 (gogi, haem, haesanmul eopsi juseyo): Without meat, ham or seafood, please.
• 멸치 육수 들어가요? (myeolchi yuksu deureogayo?): Does it contain anchovy broth?

Convenience Stores and Temple Food

Korean convenience stores have some vegetarian snacks, but I mostly skipped convenience store food because I wanted to eat healthily. If you rely on them, read labels with a translation app, since many ready meals contain meat or seafood.

Korean Buddhist temple food is fully plant based and very interesting, and some temples offer temple stays. I never did a temple stay myself, so I cannot recommend a specific one, but it is worth researching if you want traditional vegan Korean food.

I cannot recommend one specific vegan restaurant. Places in Seoul open and close all the time, because Korea is a country of trends, so always check current listings before you go.

Vegan vs Vegetarian in Seoul

Being vegetarian in Seoul is much easier than being vegan. Egg and dairy are common in bakeries, cafés and street food, and many sauces contain fish products. Vegans should plan more meals in advance, rely on dedicated vegan restaurants and temple food, and use the written notes above to ask about broth and fish sauce. Bakeries and cafés increasingly offer plant based milk, so ask for soy or oat milk with your coffee.

Best Areas in Seoul for Vegetarians

• Sinchon and Hongdae: student areas with many affordable international restaurants, mala places and cafés. See my Sinchon guide.
• Itaewon: the most international area, with many foreign cuisines and vegetarian options.
• Insadong: known for traditional tea houses and restaurants serving temple style food.

Choosing your accommodation in one of these areas makes vegetarian eating much easier. My guide on where to stay in Seoul compares the neighbourhoods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Seoul is an amazing food city, even without meat. Plan your days with my Seoul itinerary and add a mala xiang guo stop to every day.