Seoul. A grey city. Here, I search for real food. Food without meat. What my body wants. This is my journey to find the best vegan and vegetarian-friendly spots in Seoul.
Sinyongsan. Hi Thai
Between Yongsan Station and Sinyongsan Station. Beside Ginkgo Road. Next to Travertine Cafe. Summer was approaching. Hot outside. I went in.
People were there. 11:30 AM. There were still seats. Fifty minutes later, it was full.
A small machine on the table. Orders and payment. All at once. Good for office workers. Splitting the bill was easy too.
The space was not large. Voices mingled. Conversation was difficult.
Green curry. I ordered it vegan. Mushrooms and tofu. The main ingredients. I like green curry. I make it at home. This place’s green curry, I recommend it. It had a clear, deep taste.
There were other Thai dishes too. Som Tam. Morning Glory. Pad Thai. Pu Phat Phong Kari. The fried crab was a bit oily. The Pad Thai had chicken. For a vegan meal in Seoul, the green curry was enough.
Location Info
- Name: Hi Thai (Sinyongsan Branch)
- Type: Thai Restaurant
- Known for: Authentic Thai cuisine, vegan-friendly green curry.
- Address: 18-5 Hangang-daero 7-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Sindang-dong. KAKI.
Across from Hani Kalguksu. The owner of Eunhwagye runs it. It used to be a rice shop. The structure was the same. Now, a salad shop. This spot is a good find for healthy food in Sindang-dong.
Not fully vegan. Just no red meat. A healthy meal. A good salad. If that’s what you want, it’s worth a visit.
The menu could change, they said. Rice-based salads. Konjac noodle salads. Yogurt. You could choose your toppings.
I ordered at a kiosk. There were outdoor seats too. They would be nice in spring, summer, or fall. I went inside.
Grey tones. An industrial feel. Clean. An atmosphere where the food would stand out. They were preparing natural wines, they said.
Kaki Rice. No soft-boiled egg. Two falafel pieces. Diced vegetables. Tofu. Chimichurri dressing. Fried onions. I mixed it. The green beans had a slight smoky flavor. The cherry tomatoes were peeled and marinated. A lot of work went into it. Overall, a bit plain, but delicious.
Tomato sauce salad. Without the chicken breast, it was all vegetables. The tomato sauce was like ratatouille.
Vegetable chili. A side dish. The “meat” was plant-based. Green beans, chickpeas. I ate it with grain biscuits. Quite filling.
For an easy and delicious way to eat your vegetables. Recommended. This Sindang-dong vegetarian-friendly spot is a gem.
Location Info
- Name: KAKI
- Type: Salad Restaurant (Pescetarian, offers vegetarian/vegan options)
- Known for: Healthy salads, rice bowls, customizable toppings.
- Address: 34 Toegye-ro 87-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Note: address might vary or be updated, best to check recent sources)
Insadong. Maru Natural Kimbap.
Inside a building. The sign on the other side was easy to see. ‘Natural Kimbap.’ I had hopes for this Insadong vegan kimbap.
Takeout. Just kimbap. I wondered if the ramyun was vegan too. Didn’t ask.
There were foreign customers.
Two rolls of kimbap, packaged. Regular kimbap. The ham was soy meat. Yubu kimbap (fried tofu).
The ingredients were vegetarian. Yes. But the taste. Different from what I expected. Quite seasoned. Not the light, clean feeling I wanted. Maybe I expected too much. Hoped for a fresher taste. A pity.
Location Info
- Name: Maru Jayeonsik Gimbap (Maru Natural Food Kimbap)
- Type: Kimbap Restaurant
- Known for: Vegetarian and vegan kimbap, natural ingredients.
- Address: #105, 1F, Main Building, 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Oksu-dong. Local EAT.
I was going to Ok & Su. But I had no time to wait. So I went to Local EAT instead. It was nearby, on the second floor. Discovering this Oksu-dong vegetarian-friendly restaurant was a good choice.
A casual space. Book on Naver and you get bread and dip.
Local food. It’s familiar now. Vegetable-based starters. Pasta. Risotto.
Vegetable terrine. Roasted vegetables and hummus. Wrapped in chard leaves. A healthy, subtle taste. Pretty, too. The white hummus was made from beans. If you dislike beans, avoid it. It could be hit or miss.
Pumpkin cannelloni. The sweetness of pumpkin and cheese. A smooth, popular taste. (Not vegan).
‘Nduja lemon pasta. Spicy salami and lemon. (Not vegan).
Yeolmu (young radish) pickles came out. Refreshing and tasty.
Healthy Italian. Good for a women’s brunch. Especially if someone in the group is watching their calories.
It’s a bit of a climb uphill from Oksu Station.
Location Info
- Name: Local EAT
- Type: Italian Restaurant
- Known for: Seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, vegetable-focused Italian dishes, vegetarian options.
- Address: 2F, 33 Hallimmal-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
[Insert CTA button: Reserve a Table at Localit]
Finding vegan food in Seoul isn’t easy, but it’s there. Hi Thai’s green curry. KAKI’s custom salads. Each place interprets plant-based in its own way. Maru Kimbap fell short of my hopes. Local EAT used vegetables well. The choice is yours. The road continues.