17 of the Best Vegan Restaurants in Seoul (I personally visited these!)
Seoul, South Korea has become one of my favorite cities for vegan food, and the number of vegan restaurants in Seoul has increased over the years.
Though eating vegan at non-vegan Korean restaurants is not impossible, I’ve found that the safest way is to eat at vegan restaurants or vegan-friendly vegetarian restaurants in Seoul, which are plenty.
If you’re looking for vegan or vegetarian food, here are 17 vegan restaurants in Seoul to check out that I’ve personally gone to, some multiple times. These include vegan bakeries and cafes as well.
📖 Make sure to read my Essential Vegan Food in Korea Travel Guide (updated 2024).
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Osegye Hyang is my favorite vegan restaurant in Seoul. It’s usually the first restaurant I go to when I land in Seoul (closed on Thursdays).
Osegye Hyang is located inside the popular Insadong Shopping Street. If entering the Ssamzigil Mall, it’s in an alleyway on the left when walking in.
They serve traditional Korean vegan food and have a large menu that you order on a screen at your table.
My favorites dishes: tofu jjigae stew, fried kimchi mandu dumplings, sweet and spicy chick’n, and ssambap lettuce wraps, or on the menu: spicy soy meat with vegetables (not spicy at all).
Most dishes are around $10 USD and come with lots of side dishes.
There’s not too many vegan restaurants in Myeongdong, so the vegan restaurants in Insadong are the nearest and worth it.
📍Maru Kimbap (Insadong)
Address: 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
If you’re craving traditional Korean street food, visit Maru. Maru is another vegan restaurant in Insadong Shopping Street.
It does have limited seating so expect to wait during busy hours. Prices range from $3-10 USD. They serve veganized dishes like odeng (fish rice cakes), kimbap rolls, and tteokbokki.
Their ramen here is also really nicely seasoned. Dip the kimbap in the tteokbokki sauce for a great combo.
📍Vegan Kitchen (Myeongdong)
Address: 21 Toegye-ro 20-gil Jung-gu, Seoul South Korea
Vegan Kitchen is a new vegan restaurant, and I believe the only vegan restaurant in Myeongdong.
It’s just a few minutes walk from the Myeongdong subway station and Myeongdong Night Market.
Prices are affordable and you even get served by a robot after ordering on a menu kiosk on the table.
I got the bulgogi plate with rice that came with small sides for $7.50 USD. It was so flavorful! I came back in another Seoul trip and had the vegan ssambap/BBQ and it was also solid!
📍Plantude inside COEX Mall
Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Plantude is located on level B1 inside the COEX Mall (the same mall with the famous Starfield library).
They serve healthy but filling vegan Korean-Western fusion cuisine. The average price is around $11 USD per dish. Their Korean dishes include bimimbap, bulgogi rice bowl, and tofu stew, or tofu jjigae.
I got the white truffle tteokbokki. The location can be a bit hard to find. It’s on B1 floor next to Godiva.
COEX Mall is the largest underground shopping center in Asia, so there’s plenty to do there as well.
📍ALT.a (Itaewon)
Address: 109 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
ALT.a is a Korean-Chinese vegan restaurant in Itaewon, serving stir-fry vegetable and vegan meat dishes.
I got the Jajangmyeon, or noodles in a black bean sauce, as well dumplings and their dessert option, cinnamon donut bun with palm sugar.
📍Vegan Insa
Address: 12-4 Samil-daero 32ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Vegan Insa is a newer restaurant located in the Ikseondong Hanok Village, which is a 10-minute walk from Insadong Shopping Street.
The restaurant is in a beautiful traditional hanok-style home with outdoor seating. You order from a kiosk.
I had a big bowl of Tteokguk soup with rice cakes and mandu dumplings, along with a plate of seasoned vegan chicken.
This combo was so filling and good! I would go here again!
BONUS:📍Cow Beer+
Address: 88-21 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Cow Beer+ is not a vegan restaurant, but a popular spot for vegans and vegetarians because of their special vegan menu.
Cow Beer+ is a tteokbokki restaurant and is located right next to Ewha Womans University.
You order on a kiosk near the door and enter the table you want to sit in and they bring the food to you.
I’ve gone twice and here’s what I got: vegan Rose tteokbokki ($13.70 USD) – this was highly recommended from other vegans and it was filling and creamy, but it’s definitely not a solo dish! The portions are meant for 2-3 people.
The second time I decided to try a bunch of their sides on the menu. Each one was SO TASTY:
- Fried king oyster mushrooms ($1 USD for 4)
- Fried sweet pumpkin (less than $1 USD for 4), and
- Gimbap mayo riceballs ($4.30 USD); you mix everything with a glove they give you and roll them into balls. 10/10
Here are other Korean vegan restaurants in Seoul that I haven’t tried yet:
- Maji Temple Food
- Hangwachae
- Vampire’s Chicken
Western Vegan Restaurants in Seoul:
📍Plant Cafe (Yeonnam + Itaewon)
Yeonnam (near Hongdae): 87 World cup buk-ro 4-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Itaewon: 2nd floor, 117 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Page: www.plantcafeseoul.com
Plant Cafe is one of the most popular vegan restaurants in Seoul and have two locations in Yeonnam/Hongdae and Itaewon.
They serve healthy comfort food, that leans more towards western dishes like burgers, wraps, salads and some fusion dishes.
I always go here when I crave western food once in a while. Most dishes are around $11 USD.
The chili cheese fries are 10/10. Definitely one of the most-recommended vegan restaurants in Seoul to try.
They also have a great section of vegan desserts like tiramisu, cookies, and cakes. The portions are very filling.
📍Rooted Seoul 루티드 (Songpa-gu)
Address: 101호, Ogumro 17gil, 7 Ogeum-ro 17-gil, unit101, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
If you’re visiting Lotte World or Seokchon Lake, visit Rooted Seoul, a vegan fusion cafe run by a really kind owner and chef. I believe it’s the only vegan restaurant in this area too.
I got the grilled cheese ($8.60 USD), rosemary lemonade ($3.50 USD), and the walnut chocolate chip cookie, which might have been one of the best cookies I’ve eaten.
📍byTOFU (Yongsan)
Address: 10 Sowol-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
byTOFU is located west of Namsan Park, so this vegan restaurant is perfect after a walk or hike at Namsan.
They serve sandwiches, bowls, and wraps primarily centered around tofu. They also practice sustainable dining.
I got the Sunrise Tofu bowl ($9 USD) with baked tofu, kamut grain, and broccoli, with a vegan mayo topping and lime dressing. It was so fresh but filling. I could eat this everyday if I could!
📍Loving Hut (Yeoksam + Gangnam)
Yeoksam: 828-51 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (UPDATE: Yeoksam location is temporarily closed, but the one in Gangnam is open.)
Gangnam: 35 Gaepo-ro 22-gil, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Page: www.lovinghut.kr
If you don’t already know, Loving Hut is an international vegan restaurant chain. And not gonna lie, I went to the Loving Hut in Yeoksam after visiting Yeoksam Station mentioned in the kdrama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. 😆
What I didn’t know was that the Yeoksam location only served western dishes (which were still great).
If you want vegan Korean dishes, go to the Loving Hut vegan restaurant in Gangnam.
Here are other western vegan restaurants in Seoul that I haven’t tried yet:
- Nammi Plant Lap
- Camouflage (more vegan Chinese)
- Chez Valerie
- Vegetus
- Monk’s Butcher Cafe
- SIVA
🔗 Save for later: Top 28 Things to Do in Seoul guide
Vegan Desserts in Seoul
Seoul has the most vegan dessert cafes I’ve ever seen. Here are some of my favorites.
📍Cafe Turtle (Seocho)
Address: 48 Bangbaecheon-ro 4an-gil, Bangbae 2(i)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Cafe Turtle is one of my favorite vegan cafes in Seoul, though it’s farther away from central Seoul.
They have a variety of cakes around $5 USD, including some pies. They indicate which ones are gluten-free. There’s also a variety of drinks like lattes, ades, smoothies, and teas.
I always got the mint-chocolate cake and lemon meringue pie.
📍Nuldam Space (Gyeongbokgung Palace and Haebangchon)
Nuldam Space has become one of my favorite vegan cafes in Seoul. The one I go to is located right across Gyeongbokgung Palace. They serve delicious vegan croissants and drinks.
So far I’ve tried the vegan mocha cream croissant ($4.70 USD) and vegan Biscoff croissant ($4.70 USD).
They also have a vegan croffle with ice cream that I’ll have to try next time. Their drinks include hot and iced lattes, coffee, ades and teas.
What makes Nuldam Space special and brings in even non-vegans is that you can write your future self a letter.
For $3 USD, you get a post card and envelope set that you write in and seal with wax, and they’ll send it to you to you or someone else in one year (a few more months for mines!).
📍Apbbang Future Bakery (Ikseongdong)
Address: 29-1 Samil-daero 32ga-gil, Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Apbbang Bakery serves organic and whole-grain desserts, including some raw and gluten-free items.
Their cakes are around $7 USD each and are pretty dense and filling. It’s located inside a beautiful red-brick building.
Not gonna lie, I tried this spot out because Monsta X’s member Shownu tried it during his plant based days. :’).
📍Overte Vegan Donuts (Jung-gu)
Address: 34 Toegye-ro 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
A whole vegan donut shop in Seoul?! Yes! Overte serves a wide range of vegan donuts with flavors like PB&J, Earl Grey, Raspberry & Pistachio, and Hazelnut Ganache.
You can buy the donuts individually or get a box set of 6 for $6.70 USD. The texture of the donuts were mix of baked and fried.
Note that they do serve cow’s milk for drinks, so make sure to ask for plant milk.
📍La Pause Cakes
Address: 60 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
La Pause serves all-vegan and gluten-free cakes, and were the moistest cakes I’ve tried in Seoul. Their cakes are around $6 USD each.
The cafe itself is very aesthetic with an antique interior and western memorabilia.
Like most cafes, they serve ade, lattes, and tea, but also beer. Note that they do serve cow’s milk for drinks, so make sure to ask for plant milk.
BONUS:📍Dotori Cafe (Yongsan and Jongno locations)
Address: 25-6 Hangang-daero 52-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Dotori Cafe is not vegan but has the most vegan options I’ve seen for a non-vegan cafe.
They serve vegan cakes and cookies, which are quite dense, but the main draw for visiting is the Ghibli-themed house and interior. Each vegan option was around $3.50 USD each.
Read my full review of the vegan options at Dotori Cafe.
Here are other vegan dessert spots in Seoul that I haven’t tried yet:
- Ggulneng Cookies
- Veganique (recently visited and will update!)
- Veganature
Vegan Bakeries in Seoul
Seoul has so many vegan bakeries! Plus, a lot of them offer gluten-free baked goods. These would be perfect for a vegan breakfast in Seoul.
📍For Four Bread (Hongdae)
Address: 18길 13 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
For Four Bread is a vegan bakery that sells fresh artisan bread and desserts. A lot of the items are gluten-free. The owner is very friendly too. Their prices range from $3-5 USD.
Their baked goods include madeleines, cookies, cakes, and raw cheesecakes. They’re quite dense and filling, but you can take any dine-ins to-go.
Read my full review of For Four Bread in Seoul.
📍Ooh Breado
Address: 3 Sangdo-ro 37-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Ooh Breado is a popular vegan bakery in Seoul amongst vegans and vegheads.
It’s a bit farther away from central Seoul, but 100% worth it. They serve both sweet and savory baked goods, including some breads.
I got the popular pizza rolls as well as a lemon pound cake. After taking a bite I understood why people love this place.
I took my food to go for a trip to Gyeongju, but you can also dine in and order drinks. This vegan bakery is self-serve, then you pay at the counter.
📍The Bread Blue
Address: 3 Sinchon-ro 12da-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
The Bread Blue is a popular all-vegan bakery in Hongdae. They have a self-serve bakery with savory and sweet breads and baked goods. You can also order cakes from the counter display as well as made-to-order food like pizza and burgers.
I got their mango cake, crispy tuna croquette, and chocolate vegan iced latte. Prices are pretty affordable and each item I had was solid. The cakes were perfectly sweet and moist. Would definitely go back again!
Here are other vegan bakeries in Seoul that I haven’t tried yet:
- Haemil (went here recently, will update!)
- Veganique (went here recently, will update!)
- Vegan Mama
- Sunny Bread
- Pan Honesta
Questions About Being Vegan in Seoul
📖 Make sure to read my Essential Vegan Food in Korea Travel Guide (updated 2024).
Is South Korea Vegan-Friendly?
Korean cuisine often uses fish sauce and anchovies, so are not vegan nor vegetarian. Both are used in side dishes and stews that may seemingly be just vegetables. There’s plenty of vegan food in South Korea and vegan restaurants in Seoul, though.
Of course, if you are planning to eat with non-vegans at non-vegan places, it’s best to learn basic Korean phrases to order veganizable food.
Make sure to download Google Translate or the Papago app to translate menus. Read more travel tips on my South Korea guide.
Some common Korean dishes you can ask to veganize at non-vegan restaurants in Seoul:
- Bibimbap (without meat or egg)
- Kongguksu (without topped egg)
- Vegetable gimbap
- Bowl of rice with banchan side dishes (aim for basic banchan that’s less likely to be flavored with fish sauce).
Is there Vegan Street Food in Seoul?
There are some accidentally vegan street food in Seoul and other cities in South Korea that you can eat.
If you go to to Gwangjang Market, they have the popular mungbean pancakes as well as the mayak gimbap rolls filled with rice, carrots, pickled radish, and spinach.
You can find most of this at Myeongdong Shopping Street:
- Hotteok (they often call this honey hotteok but generally they use brown sugar and not actual honey)
- Turbo potatoes (get it plain, with salt, or plant-based spices)
- Japchae noodles
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Candied strawberries & fruit (tanghulu)
- Fruits
- Pomegranate juice
What are the vegan options at convenience stores in Seoul?
Beyond the basic nuts, dried fruit, and chips, here are some vegan options at stores like 7-eleven, CU, GS25, and Emarts (they’ll all vary):
Vegan banana milk: It’s so good I drank this almost every day.
Vegan ramen: this one is vegan and you can find it in most convenience stores.
Chips: You can find regular potato chips. The caramel puffs below are my favorite and labeled vegan. I’ve only seen them a few times, otherwise eMart sells bigger bags of these. So good!
Plant milks: Tons of plant milk options from soy to chocolate milk.
Vegan triangle kimbap: these are usually found only in popular tourist areas. The ones from Plantable and Veggie Garden are usually vegan, just make sure to check the ingredients (use Google Translate or Papago to scan and translate it).
Inari: sushi rice in tofu skin pockets. These can be rare and only found in some convenience stores.
Seoul has become one of my favorite cities to visit as a vegan. It’s totally doable to eat vegetarian or vegan in Seoul.
I look forward to going again and visiting my favorite and some new vegan restaurants in Seoul!
Any vegan in Seoul recommendations?
Send me a message on Instagram @roseanneducut!
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