If you’re selecting a trip vacation spot, there are in all probability just a few stuff you’re aiming to examine off your listing. And it would go one thing like this: gorgeous surroundings, vibrant nightlife, wealthy tradition, and engaging historical past. However indubitably, for many vegan vacationers, scrumptious meals is among the most vital trip must-haves. And South Korea has it in spades—in addition to the surroundings, nightlife, tradition, historical past, and … effectively, you get the image, it has all of it.
If you consider Korean meals, kimchi might be one of many first issues to return to thoughts. The spicy, pickled cabbage is standard all around the world and has develop into a logo of the Asian nation’s delicacies. When made with out fish paste, kimchi will be veganized, which, regardless of the excessive charges of meat consumption within the nation, is definitely removed from uncommon for a conventional South Korean dish. Meat consumption didn’t begin to surge till after the Korean Battle, which implies that a lot of the nation’s dishes have vegetarian roots. And in lots of Buddhist temples, you’ll discover that plant-based delicacies remains to be the norm amongst monks and nuns (extra on that later).
However South Korea’s trendy vegan scene is surging—significantly within the capital of Seoul. Actually, Completely satisfied Cow truly has greater than 700 listings of vegan-friendly eating places on this one metropolis alone due to the demand by the nation’s younger individuals. In keeping with a survey carried out in 2022, South Koreans aged 18 to 29 are the group almost definitely to buy vegan meals merchandise. And the Korean Vegetarian Union says about half one million South Koreans determine as vegan, whereas 1.5 million are vegetarian or flexitarian.
To get an concept of simply how a lot plant-based delicacies is evolving, we spoke to a number of vegan journey consultants (all of whom have frolicked in South Korea) to get their suggestions for meat-free eating places in Seoul, in addition to their ideas for locating the tastiest Korean road meals. A warning for you and your financial institution steadiness: you’re going to need to guide a flight instantly.
Maji, one among many vegan-friendly eateries in Seoul, serves temple meals. | Korea Tourism Group
Kinds of Korean meals
Korean barbecue is a staple of the restaurant scene in most main US cities. Actually, some reviews counsel there are greater than 7,000 Korean barbecue eating places throughout the nation. However whereas barbecue is among the nation’s most-loved exports, there’s much more to South Korea than grilled meat.
When visiting, you’re sure to return throughout rice-based dishes such because the spicy, flavor-packed bibimbap. At its core, the dish is plant-based, though eggs and meat are sometimes added (merely ask for it with out). Like many standard dishes, bibimbap is made with assorted greens, together with mung bean sprouts, spinach, and Korean radish, in addition to namul (which refers to edible grasses or leafy greens) and a savory, candy paste with a kick referred to as gochujang.
There are additionally noodle dishes, like japchae, which options candy potato glass noodles and will be veganized simply (simply ask for no meat), mul naengmyeon (which is a seasonal noodle dish that’s vegan when made with radish water and no beef), and jjajangmyeon. The latter contains a thick black bean sauce, greens, and pork, however you may as well discover vegan variations in a number of eateries (trace: try our restaurant suggestions under).
“Jajangmyeon won’t be essentially the most attractive-looking meals you’ll eat while you’re in South Korea, however it’s so yummy (and never spicy if you happen to want a break from spice),” Verena Erhart of Vegan Excursions New York says. “It additionally occurs to be Korea’s hottest supply dish, like pizza within the US. You might need even noticed it in Okay-dramas.”
Erhart additionally recommends ordering loads of banchan, that are the small, usually vegetable-centered aspect dishes supplied in South Korean eating places.
However if you happen to’re a vegan customer, one of many first locations try to be heading for top-notch plant-based delicacies is a temple. “Don’t depart South Korea with out making an attempt temple meals,” Erhart says. “It’s a vegan’s greatest buddy.”
In these peaceable locations of Buddhist worship, meat-free is the norm. You’ll discover kimchi, after all, alongside easy, low-waste meals like tofu stew and rice soup. The meals is allium-free (so that you gained’t discover components like onions and garlic), strikingly minimalist, wholesome, sustainable, and vegan (aside from the occasional use of honey).
Donna Zeigfinger of Inexperienced Earth Journey, who visited Jingwansa, a Twelfth-century Buddhist temple in Seoul’s Bukhansan Nationwide Park, agrees that temple meals is subsequent stage in relation to taste and expertise. “I beloved the temple ambiance,” she says. “I actually thought that it will be bland meals and boy, was I incorrect.”
Seoul’s vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene is persistently rising. | Korea Tourism Group
Korean road meals is vegan-friendly
In the case of Korean delicacies, you can also’t ignore the varied vary of road meals that’s all the time on supply for natives and vacationers alike.
A major piece of South Korea’s cultural DNA for the reason that 1300s, meals stalls are half and parcel of native life. Actually, the main journey platform Tradition Journey has even described Seoul as “one large open-air restaurant.” And in additional nice information for vegan guests, whereas the scene is undeniably meat-heavy, you’ll nonetheless discover it straightforward to return by plant-based choices whilst you’re strolling the streets for a fast and engaging chew—if you realize what you’re on the lookout for. Zeigfinger recommends to start out by searching for out essentially the most conventional of dishes.
“Search for gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice desserts), and japchae,” she says, that are both animal-free already, or you may ask for modifications. “Don’t hesitate to ask meals distributors if they’ll make dishes vegan-friendly,” she provides.
Kim Giovacco, the founding father of Veg Jaunts and Journeys, additionally recommends searching for out gimbap or tteokbokki. “That is quite simple and informal meals, and I completely beloved it. It felt like consolation meals to me,” she recollects. And Erhon can also be an advocate of “the less complicated, the higher” motto in relation to navigating the road meals scene in South Korea. Like Giovacco and Zeigfinger, she has come throughout vegan-friendly gimbap and tteakbokki, however she additionally has just a few totally different solutions, too.
“Roasted chestnuts or ginko nuts are fantastic,” she notes. “In case you are touring within the fall, it’s best to strive recent persimmons (or purchase the dried form, it’s a entire course of). Gamjajeon can also be the Korean model of hash browns or Swiss Rösti and is a pancake that’s often simply fabricated from potato.” She provides that “another pancakes corresponding to bindaetteok (fabricated from mung beans) are sometimes, however not all the time, vegan (some use eggs).”
Count on to get pleasure from loads of matcha inexperienced tea in South Korea. | Getty
The way to plan a vegan journey to Korea
Most vacationers begin in Seoul once they go to South Korea, which provides vacationers the right mix of futuristic innovation and tradition together with gorgeous temples, landscapes, and culinary delights. However don’t sleep on the remainder of this stunning nation. For contemporary historical past, head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone; for volcanic seaside resorts, Jeju Island is a should; and the port metropolis of Busan has every part from shoreline to nature reserves to pure sizzling springs.
To get the perfect out of your go to, contemplate reserving a visit by a journey agent. Tour operator Sky Holidays simply introduced a vegan meals tour of Seoul scheduled for this Could, whereas World Vegan Journey is seeking to run a luxurious journey to Korea within the close to future. However if you happen to favor to determine issues out solo, you may as well head to the Go to Korea web site for recommendation and tips about actions, transportation, meals, lodging, and extra.
The highest 5 vegan eating places in Seoul, in response to journey consultants
Offering proof that Seoul is kind of the vegan hotspot, listed below are a few of the prime plant-based eating places to strive in response to our South Korea journey consultants. As a result of if you’re beginning off on this bustling metropolis, the perfect factor to prioritize above all whenever you get there’s a full stomach. And don’t overlook to say jal meokkessumnida earlier than you tuck in.
Oh Se-Gye-Hyang provides ‘heart-warming’ stews within the winter months. | Oh Se-Gye-Hyang
1 Oh Se-Gye-Hyang
“I actually just like the ambiance and meals at Oh Se-gye-hyang—through the sizzling summer season months, they provide glorious chilly noodle dishes, and within the winter, heart-warming stews,” Erhart says. “Whereas within the midst of a buying district, you’ll really feel like you’ve stepped into a conventional Korean home. You’ll need to take off your footwear (on the whole, be ready to take your footwear off usually!) and sit down on the ground to get pleasure from your meal. Western tables and chairs are additionally an possibility.”
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Head to Forest Kitchen for a style of inventive, scrumptious delicacies. | Forest Kitchen
2 Forest Kitchen
“This place is aware of how one can stand out with its implausible service, cool vibes, and a multi-course menu,” Brighde Reed of World Vegan Journey says. “It was a feast for the senses, with every dish artistically offered and full of flavors that made us go ‘wow.’ Forest Kitchen has a means of mixing Korean components with unique ones like recent truffle and white asparagus, and the outcomes have been mind-blowing.”
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Plant Cafe makes a speciality of Western-style meals and has two areas in Seoul. | Plant Cafe
3 Plant Cafe
“In case you are beginning to really feel a little bit longing for Western meals, I might head to Plant Cafe, which has two areas in Seoul,” Erhart says. “They make superb burgers and a few of the greatest vegan desserts, corresponding to banana cream pudding and black sesame cake.”
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Balwoo Gongyang provides a style of conventional temple meals. | Balwoo Gongyang
4 Balwoo Gongyang
“Whereas no alliums corresponding to onion and garlic are utilized in temple meals, this can be very flavorful and pure, and often displays what’s presently in season,” Erhart provides. “In Seoul, I like to recommend Balwoo Gongyang, which was as soon as awarded a Michelin star, however if you happen to get an opportunity to strive temple meals at an precise temple, it is going to be much more particular.”
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For an genuine temple meals expertise, head to Jinkwansa in Seoul. | Getty
5 Jinkwansa Temple
Jinkwansa is technically a temple, not a restaurant, however the expertise was a standout for Zeigfinger. “We had a sampling of crispy greens, marinated tofu, mushroom fritters, fermented radishes, chestnut stew, and candy sticky rice squares sprinkled with fruit and nuts. However I beloved the customs of the best way it was served,” she recollects. “Every part is grown proper on the temple, and it’s all natural. However I believe essentially the most memorable factor was the temple and its environment.”
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Thanks to the Korea Tourism Group for partnering with VegNews on this story.
For extra vegan journey, learn:
Charlotte is a author and editor primarily based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
