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Essential Vegan Food in Korea Travel Guide (2025)

ByRoseanne Ducut

I’ve been to South Korea five times in just the past three years, and overall, my experience of visiting as a vegan has been really good!

And the vegan food in Korea? Some of the absolute best. 💯

Here are my main tips for vegan food in Korea as a frequent visitor and vegan traveler:

  • vegan food in restaurants
  • convenience stores
  • street food
  • supermarkets.

At the end, I also included a list of vegan festivals in Korea, local vegans to follow, and vegan shopping.

If you’re new to South Korea, make sure to read my essential Korea travel tips for first-time visitors.

Quick Vegan Food in Korea Tips:

Friends at Dotori Cafe Seoul South Korea: Two people seated at a wooden table in a rustic café, surrounded by dried plants and earthy decor. A small window lets in natural light, contrasting with the warm glow of the pendant lights above, enhancing the cozy and intimate atmosphere of the space.
  • Bigger cities like Seoul and Busan have a large number of vegan restaurants and cafes.
  • Most cafes usually have a plant milk option, and if there are none, ades and teas are common.
  • In smaller cities, there’s usually a few vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
  • Fish sauce and anchovies are common ingredients in seemingly-all vegetable dishes.
  • While veganism is not widespread in Korea, the number of vegan options have been steadily increasing.
  • Many traditional Korean sweets are usually vegan.

Vegan Food Tours in Korea

Learn more about the vegan food in Korea from locals with a tour:

#1 Pick
Paper bowl of vegan japchae noodles with vegetables from a Myeongdong Food Street in Seoul South Korea

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gwangjang Market
Vegan Tour in Seoul

🥣 Try 15+ vegan dishes
🌱 Led by a professional chef

BOOK IT

#1 Pick
Vegan tofu kimbap - Maru Gimpab Vegan Restaurant in Seoul Korea: A plate of vegan tofu kimbap served on a white rectangular dish. The kimbap rolls are neatly sliced and arranged, showing the colorful filling of rice, carrots, cucumbers, pickled radish, and seasoned tofu wrapped in seaweed and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The dish is accompanied by a spoon and chopsticks placed on a wooden tray, highlighting the simple yet appealing presentation of this Korean vegan dish.

Vegan Korean Food
Cooking Class in Seoul

🍚 Main, side, + dessert dishes
🌱 Small group setting

BOOK IT

Vegan Restaurants in South Korea

The front view of 'Vegan Kitchen' restaurant in Myeongdong, Seoul, with a vivid green storefront and signage advertising diet food, poke, salad, TVP, and Korean food. Above it, signs for 'Restaurant Indonesia Bakso Bejo Korea' are also visible, indicating a diverse culinary experience.

Here are my vegan restaurants in Korea posts if you’re visiting these cities:

Apps to Download:

  1. HappyCow: You can download the app on your phone and read reviews from other vegans and vegetarians for vegan food in Korea they’ve tried.
  2. Google Translate or Papago app: Translate menus by using the camera tool to scan the menu to English, or use the translator to communicate with staff. Read more travel tips on my South Korea guide.
  3. Naver Map: Type in “비건” or vegan into Naver Map and results for nearby vegan options will appear.

Non-Vegan Ingredients to Look Out For in Korea:

Korean Vegetable Sides in small plates on table - Soban Vegan Restaurant Busan
  • Fish sauce and shrimp paste: Used for seasoning in stews and side dishes, including many kimchi.
  • Anchovy broth: A popular base for soups and stews.
  • Dairy: Used in breads and baked goods (plenty of vegan bakeries like For Four Bread)
  • Eggs: Used in toppings for bibimbap, noodles, or in pancake dishes.

Common Korean Dishes to Veganize:

Vegan tofu kimbap - Maru Gimpab Vegan Restaurant in Seoul Korea: A plate of vegan tofu kimbap served on a white rectangular dish. The kimbap rolls are neatly sliced and arranged, showing the colorful filling of rice, carrots, cucumbers, pickled radish, and seasoned tofu wrapped in seaweed and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The dish is accompanied by a spoon and chopsticks placed on a wooden tray, highlighting the simple yet appealing presentation of this Korean vegan dish.

Vegan food in Korea essentials:

These dishes are for times you’re not able to find any vegan restaurants or vegan options nearby, or are eating with non-vegans.

  • Bibimbap: Without meat or egg.
  • Kongguksu noodles: Without topped egg.
  • Vegetable gimbap rolls: Make sure it doesn’t have eggs in it.
  • Japchae noodles: All-vegetable ones without meat.
  • Bibim-guksu noodles: Without topped egg.
  • Bowl of rice with banchan side dishes: Aim for basic banchan that’s less likely to be seasoned with fish sauce.

Accidentally-Vegan Street Food in Korea

Here are some accidentally vegan street food in South Korea to try.

  • Hotteok: They often market this as honey hotteok but generally use brown sugar. Go for plain or seed-filled hotteok.
Folded Hotteok Korean pancake inside a paper cup in front of hotteok vendor Myeongdong Food Street in Seoul South Korea
  • Japchae noodles: All-vegetable ones without meat.
Paper bowl of vegan japchae noodles with vegetables from a Myeongdong Food Street in Seoul South Korea
  • Roasted sweet potatoes or seasonal chestnuts
Baskets of Roasted Sweet Potatoes being sold at Myeongdong Food Street in Seoul South Korea
  • Candied strawberries & fruit (aka tanghulu).
  • Turbo potatoes: Get it plain, with salt, or plant-based spices.
  • Fresh fruits and juice.
  • Mungbean pancakes: Not topped with meat, but do note it may be cooked on a grill with the non-vegan pancakes.
  • Mayak gimbap vegetable rolls.
  • Plain tteok rice cakes (generally the actual tteokbokki dish is not vegan).
  • Sweet tteok (similar texture to mochi).
  • Dalgona: toffee candy (yes, the ones you see in Squid Game).
  • Other traditional Korean sweets that are usually vegan:
    • Gangjeong (sweet rice puffs)
    • Yakgwa (sweet “honey” cookies – some are made with honey, some are not),
    • Songpyeon (sweet filled rice cakes, usually made during Chuseok holiday).
    • Just look out for honey ingredients.

Vegan Food in Korea: Convenience Stores

Beyond the basic nuts, dried fruit, and chips here are some vegan options at stores like 7-eleven, CU, GS25, and Emart (they’ll all vary):

Vegan banana milk

Made with almond and soy. I wish they sold this in bigger cartons. It’s so good! I bought the multi-packs in eMart supermarket.

*UPDATE: they rebranded and it now looks like the 2nd photo, and are rarer to find. 😭

7 boxes of yellow Vegan Banana Milk boxes from Convenience Store in Seoul South Korea
A box of Binggrae vegan almond banana-flavored plant-based milk. The packaging is beige with green and brown text, featuring images of almonds and a small banana icon. The label highlights that it is made from almonds and soy, and mentions the product is vegan. A red circular sticker in the top right corner indicates it is a 24-pack for online purchase.

Vegan ramen

This one is vegan and you can find it in most convenience stores.

Pair it with microwavable rice, gim/seaweed and pickled radish for a good last-resort meal.

Blue Bowl of Bibim Vegan Ramen from a Convenience Store in Seoul South Korea

Vegan pizza bread

This a newer item only found at CUs. They can be rare and limited, but I found one at a CU near Gwangalli Beach in Busan (November 2024).

It’s on the sweeter side and the bread is thick, but I’d get it again since it’s one of the few savory vegan options.

It cost 3,700 won ($2.50 USD). Remember to microwave it in-store if you don’t have a microwave at your stay (I forgot and had to blow-dryer it 😬).

A hand holding a packaged vegan corn pizza bread product from a Korean convenience store. The green and orange packaging displays an image of the pizza with drizzled sauce and corn toppings, alongside Korean text and a weight of 175 grams (415 kcal). Behind the hand, shelves stocked with various colorful snack bags are visible.

Caramel puffs

You’ll see a vegan label at the bottom left. These are addicting! eMart supermarkets in South Korea sells bigger bags of these (shown below, wish I had more luggage space).

Orange bag of vegan caramel puffs

Churro chips

These are more common than the caramel puffs and tastes like churros. Very addicting!

A yellow bag of Korean churro snacks with a cartoon-style design. The packaging features large white Korean characters with a brown outline, an image of churro-shaped crispy snacks in a bowl, and small red hearts around them. A smiling cartoon churro character appears at the bottom left with Korean text.

Plant milks

You’ll find tons of plant milk options from soy to chocolate milk, local brands and international brands.

Vegan triangle kimbap

The ones from Plantable and Veggie Garden are usually vegan, just make sure to check the ingredients. These can be rare to find.

Veggie Garden Vegan Kimbap next to a box of vegan chocolate milk box from Convenience Store in Seoul

Seaweed soup

Most seaweed soups in South Korea are not vegan, but this plain one is and you add hot water.

For a last-resort non-ramen convenience store meal, I get this, microwavable rice, and a packet of dried seaweed.

Sometimes I add potato chips to a seaweed wrap and call it a day. 😆

A person holds a cup of vegan Korean miyeokguk (seaweed soup) with "You Us" branding from GS Retail. The packaging is white and green, featuring a photo of a bowl of seaweed soup with dark green seaweed and broth, and Korean text indicating the product details.

Vegan ice cream

Many freezer sections will have these vegan ice creams in lots of flavors, though they’re quite pricey.

A freezer display showcasing various Natuur ice cream tubs at a convenience store in Seoul, Korea. The Natuur Vegan line is prominently featured, with flavors like "Dolce Maple & Nuts" and "Chocolate," priced at 14,900 won. Other tubs include classic flavors like "Green Tea" and "Alphonso Mango."

Vegan popsicles

Find these in the freezer shelves in most convenience stores. These are really good!

Two Korean vegan popsicle wrappers, one flavored 'passion fruit' and the other 'flat peach', showcased side by side. The packaging is vibrant with images of the respective fruits and has Korean text, set against a bright yellow background.

Vegan Food in Korea: Supermarkets

An array of vegan meat products displayed in a freezer at a South Korean eMart, with brands like Plantable and Pulmone offering plant-based options and vegan food in Korea

Here are just some of the vegan products you can find in most eMart and Lotte supermarkets, whether you’re cooking or bringing these back with you.

I put them in aluminum thermal bags I got from Daiso in Myeongdong and they were fine on a 13-hour flight.

Package of Plantable brand Vegan Bulgogi Onigiri Rice Balls, highlighting the plant-based ingredients with an image of two onigiri on the front
Plantable Vegan Bulgogi Rice Balls
Pulmone Vegan Meat Fried Rice packaging, prominently featuring a dish of fried rice with vegan meat, and plant-based labeling in Korean
Pulmone Vegan Meat Fried Rice
Plantable Vegan Kimchi Manu Dumplings packet, with the product name in English and Korean, and an appetizing image of kimchi-flavored dumplings
Plantable Vegan Kimchi Mandu Dumplings

Vegan tuna: You can buy vegan tuna in pouches and tin cans and in different flavors. I got the regular one. It’s on the sweeter side, but still quite realistic!

A supermarket shelf filled with vibrant green pouches labeled "My Plant," a plant-based product line. The pouches feature colorful plates of vegan dishes, including rice and pasta options. Price tags of 3,980 Korean Won are shown on the lower shelf. Above, rows of small cans of similar products are tightly stacked.

Vegan spam / luncheon meat: There a few vegan spam varieties. I brought some of the one by Plantable ones back to the US.

Review: the 2nd best vegan spam I’ve tried (first is OmniFoods vegan spam).

Vegan Food in Korea: Fast-Food Restaurants:

Lotteria Vegan Miracle Burger set with fries and soda

In case you’re unable to find vegan food in Korea in a small city or are eating with non-vegans, here are common restaurant chains with vegan options.

Lotteria

Lotteria is a popular burger chain throughout South Korea. They serve the vegan Miracle burger.

For $5 USD, you can get a whole set with drinks and fries. I’ve had this in a few cities, and enjoyed it. You can also order a double patty.

🎥 Watch vegan food in Seoul vlog:

🇰🇷 12 Best Vegan Cafes + Restaurants to Visit in Seoul, South Korea in 2024 🌱

Non-Vegan Restaurants in Korea to Look For:

Vegan meal at a Gyeongju restaurant, showcasing hummus, falafel balls, and a crisp salad with a drizzle of balsamic glaze

If you’re craving other cuisines or having trouble finding vegan food in Korea, try ordering these dishes that are generally vegan by default (always good to check).

  • Indian Restaurants: Chana Masala, Aloo Gobi, Dal, Vegetable Biryani, Roti, Samosa. (Ensure dishes are not made with ghee.)
  • Japanese Restaurants: Edamame, Inari Sushi, Vegetable Tempura (ask if made without egg in batter), Miso Soup (confirm no fish stock), Avocado Roll, Cucumber Roll.
  • Mediterranean Restaurants: Hummus, Dolma (grape leaves), Falafel, Tabouli, Fattoush, Pita Bread (confirm vegan), Roasted Vegetables.

Basic Korean Language Phrases for Vegans

Hello written on a lined paper with the translation in Korean underneath - language Seoul travel tips
  • Does this have __ ?: 이것에 __가 들어있나요? (Igeose __ga deureo-innayo?)
  • No, there is none: 아니요, 없습니다 (Aniyo, eopseumnida)
  • Yes, there is: 네, 있습니다 (Ne, itsseumnida)
  • Please do not put __: __넣지 말아주세요 ( __ Neohji marajuseyo)
  • I don’t eat meat: 저는 고기를 먹지 않습니다 (Jeoneun gogireul meokji anseumnida)
  • I am a vegetarian: 저는 채식주의자입니다 (Jeoneun chaesikjuuija-imnida)
  • I am a vegan: 저는 비건입니다 (Jeoneun bigeon-imnida)
  • Meat: 고기 (Gogi)
  • Milk: 우유 (Uyu)
  • Eggs: 계란 (Gyeran)
  • Cheese: 치즈 (Chijeu)
  • Chicken: 닭고기 (Dakgogi)
  • Fish: 생선 (Saengseon)
  • Shrimp: 새우 (Saewu)
  • Shrimp paste: 새우젓 (Saewujeot)

Vegan Festivals in Korea

The biggest annual vegan food festival in Korea is Vegan Festival Korea, which usually takes place in the fall.

Throughout the year, there are small vegan events and fairs, usually in Seoul. I’ll continue to update this section.

  • July 18-20, 2025. Korea Vegan Fair | Website
  • 2024 TBA, Vegan Festival Korea, usually October | Website

📖 Check out my full list of 130+ vegan festivals around the world.

Vegan Communities in Korea

Local Vegans to Follow in Korea

Vegan Shopping in Korea

Olive Young's shelf displaying 'make p:rem' vegan skincare products, including Rice Makgeolli Cleansing Foam and cleansing oils. The packaging is predominantly white with green accents, highlighting their vegan qualities and award badges
  • Beyond vegan food in Korea, there are lots of vegan skincare, makeup and other beauty and toiletry items you can buy in South Korea.
  • Most vegan products in shops like Olive Young will be labeled vegan. If you’re unsure, look up the product online or contact the company.
Variety of '7 DAYS' vegan face masks by the brand 'A by BOM,' including Calming (Herb), Lotus+N, and Bamboo+B. These Korean skincare masks feature vibrant floral designs and are showcased on a white background
  • Just because a brand has one or two vegan-labeled products, it doesn’t mean all of their products are vegan.
  • Olive Young stores usually have displays for their lines of vegan makeup products.
An in-store display titled 'LET'S VEGAN' features a range of vegan makeup products at Olive Young in Seoul, Korea. The display includes lipsticks, blush, eyeshadows, and a large image of a makeup brush and a compact powder highlighted in the center.

Hope this Vegan Food in Korea guide was helpful and enjoy eating all the great vegan food.

Korea Checklist: Have you booked these yet?

▢ Local sim card or Korea eSIM card

▢ Ride from the airport: schedule a pickup | airport bus | express train

▢ Purchase a KTX Pass online for travel to multiple cities

▢ Find the best hotels in South Korea for your trip

▢ Add a fun day tour to your itinerary

More South Korea Posts

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Roseanne Ducut is a solo female traveler and Filipina from the Bay Area, California. She creates ultimate travel itineraries + vlogs inspired by the rich history and pop culture in Asia. A veghead for over 17 years, Roseanne also writes vegan guides to help others plan their trips.