There are vegan or vegetarian options at various local restaurants. Know which veggie-friendly dishes you can eat and then you can specifically look for the corresponding location. Instead of attempting to list all existing restaurants [which would be impossible!], this is a selection of locations which are worth mentioning – because of quality, uniqueness, or because they are practical when in company of non-veggie friends.
Below list gives brief descriptions of selected locations, while highlighting their key characteristics and specialties for easy browsing.
Since taste is very subjective, they are not rated here.
In addition, you will be able to find more options along with personal reviews and ratings in my contributions on HappyCow [BonBon is an active Ambassador with more than 400 reviews and 5000 photos in total!] or GoogleMaps!
For up-to-date info, please refer to the information provided by each location directly.
🍡🍜🍲TRADITIONAL K-FOOD🍛🍚🍠
Bonjuk 본죽 and similar porridge restaurants
– Korean traditional porridge
– ⭐️ specialties: Vegan options are red bean porridge (동지팥죽, 단팥죽), pumpkin porridge (호박죽), black sesame porridge (흑임자죽), pine nut porridge (잣죽), mung bean porridge (녹두죽), plain white porridge (흰죽).
– 📍 location: countless branches of this franchise exist in the country.
– links: Homepage / Instagram
Cow Tteokbokki 카우떡볶이
– street food, e. g. tteokbokki 떡볶이
– ⭐️ specialties: diverse veganized tteokbokki creations, e.g carbonara, black sauce (짜장), mara
– 📍 location: near Ewha Women’s University 이화여대
Daehyeondong 34-40, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
서울 서대문구 대현동 34-40
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression -work in progress-
Neungra Babsang 능라밥상
– North Korean dishes
– ⭐️ specialties: North Korean-style mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok 빈대떡), veganized ground soy bean stew (biji jjigae 비지찌개), rice cake soup with pumpkin and potato dumplings (hobak ongsimi tteok-guk 호박옹심이떡국)
– 📍 location: near Jongno 3-ga station 종로3가역
197-1 Nakwon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 낙원동 197-1
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression 👉on Instagram
Food stalls at Gwangjang Market 광장시장
– Traditional market offering various dishes at food stalls and in restaurants
– ⭐️ specialties: mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok 빈대떡), mini kimbap with sauce (마약김밥), mixed barley bowl (영양보리밥), mixed umuk jelly noodles (우묵가사리) and more
– 📍 location: near Jongno 5-ga station 종로5가역
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression 👉on Instagram
Rice cake factories (떡방 / 떡집)
In general, rice cake factories provide mostly vegetarian and many vegan versions of Korean rice cakes (tteok 떡). This applies to local stores as well as franchises. Most of the time, rice cakes are available as a snack/dessert for take-away. 🥡 Some larger locations also offer a seating area for eating in and enjoying a beverage.☕️
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🍆🇨🇳🥟CHINESE FOOD🍚🥢🌶
The listings here can also be found in one of my lists on Google: Veganized Chinese-Korean Food 🗺 There, you can see the locations on a map, but more detailed descriptions of the specific restaurants are below! 👇
Gawon 가원 嘉苑 中餐厅
– Chinese restaurant in which a couple of dishes can be veganized. Communicating in Korean or Chinese is recommended!
– ⭐️ specialties: jjajangmyeon (짜장면 炸醬麵), jjamppong 짬뽕, sweet and sour mushrooms (버섯탕수 香菇), kkanpunggi-style mushrooms (香菇 乾烹鷄), tofu-filled eggplant with chili sauce (豆腐茄子辣椒酱汁 가지칠리소스) and more
– 📍 location: near Mangwon station 망원역
65 Worldcup-ro, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 망원동 월드컵로 65
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression 👉on Instagram
Hwang-Geumnyong 황금룡 黃金龍
– Chinese restaurant in which a few vegan dishes are listed on a separate menu
– ⭐️ specialties: jjajangmyeon 짜장면, jjamppong 짬뽕, Mapo Tofu 마파두부, kkanpunggi-style eggplant 깐풍기가지 etc.
– 📍 location: Mapo-gu
90 Poeun-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 포은로 90
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression: work in progress
Shin Dong Yang 신동양 반점 新東陽
– Chinese restaurant with a separate vegan menu
– ⭐️ specialties: jjajangmyeon 짜장면, jjamppong 짬뽕, sweet and sour mushrooms (버섯탕수), fried dumplings (군만두), fried eggplant etc.
– 📍 location: near Yeouido station 여의도역
42 Yeouinaru-ro, Yeoui-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
서울 영등포구 여의동 여의나루로 42
– links: Homepage / Instagram
– personal review and impression 👉on Instagram
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✍️ This list is not complete and will be expanded gradually.
Suggestions are welcome!✍️
♣️Sesame Sprinkles♣️ 