🥢VEGAN IN South Korea

🧭 Preparation

Traveling through Korea as a vegan (and even gluten-free) tourist is possible - but good preparation helps enormously. The easiest way: research vegan restaurants in advance and ideally save them as a map in Naver Map (this is the most reliable on site, as Google Maps in Korea does not always show current opening hours). I made a note of restaurants nearby for every major attraction. And if you drift around the city, the saved map helps as a spontaneous lifeline. You can find my map below.
Also practical: ordering food via app (e.g. Baemin) is now possible with a foreign credit card - ideal if you're having a lazy day. For restaurants that are not purely vegan, I recommend taking small restaurant cards in Korean with you that explain the typical ingredients (“I don't eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy products”).

🥬 My vegan favorites in Seoul

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Jongno-gu 종로구 (Historical center - palaces, temples, alleys and galleries)
Maru (마루)
Traditional dishes such as bibimbap, gimbap, tteokbokki - everything here is vegan. Sitting outside between art galleries and the Kimchi Museum. Very friendly staff and the food is delicious. 
24-hour ramen bar Jongno (종로 24시간 라면)
Inexpensive, open around the clock. Self-service, also with vegan selection of ramen and banchan counter. Gluten-free is limited, but there is rice with banchan.
Neoldameun Gonggan Gyeongbokgung (널담은공간 경복궁점)
Café near Gyeongbokgung Palace. My highlight: vegan sesame latte - creamy, intense, perfect for a break. You can write a letter to the future while you're there. :-)
Seoulseo Duljjaero Jalhaneun Jib (서울서둘째로잘하는집)
Traditional teahouse with herbal teas. Authentic and perfect for cold days.
Ap-euroui Ppangjip (앞으로의빵집)
Modern vegan bakery with cakes and snacks - many of them gluten-free. In Ikseon-dong, somewhat hidden in a charming neighborhood full of small alleyways.
Jihwaja (지화자)
Traditional Korean restaurant in the Jongno district - high standard of quality and prices, but worth every penny. We've been there several times and you can pre-order gluten-free and vegan dinner menus. 

Yongsan-gu 용산구 (Itaewon - international, lively, culinary diversity)
Plant Itaewon (플랜트 이태원점)
Western-Asian fusion cuisine: bowls, burgers, curries. Many gluten-free dishes, including cakes. A vegan must-visit, always well frequented by tourists.
Ssong Thai (쏭타이)
Thai dishes with many vegan options. Gluten-free possible on request. The menu is clearly labeled for allergens. It's a chain, but it seems only the restaurant in Itaewon specializes so well.
Saravana Bhavan (사라바나 바반)
Indian chain with a fantastic vegan and gluten-free selection. We were quite overwhelmed when ordering because we wanted to try everything.
Panhonesta (판오네스타)
We went here for the vegan pistachio bingsu, made with gf oat milk according to the staff. It was definitely a dream! Beautiful view from the top floor.

Mapo-gu 마포구 (Hongdae & Mangwon - young, creative, vegan-friendly)
Plant Hongdae (플랜트 홍대점)
Small branch of the original. Sandwiches, cakes, bowls - all vegan. Very cozy, good gluten-free options. Found it a bit more comfortable to sit here than in Iteawon, with a small terrace.
Mangwon Market (망원시장)
Less touristy, but that seems to be changing now. Lots of fruit and vegetable vendors all around. We also bought some great perilla oil here.
La Moire (라므아르)
Café with gluten-free vegan cakes, coffee and great drinks. Definitely a 10/10 and complete overkill in front of the cake counter.


Seodaemun-gu 서대문구 (Cozy, lots of students, perfect coffee breaks)
Eum Eatery (음 이터리)
Purely plant-based brunch café with creative sandwiches & juices. Gluten-free on request. You can also pick up pastries to take away.


Seongbuk-gu 성북구
Akemi - Café & Ice Cream (아케미)
Vegan ice cream based on coconut or rice milk. Plant-based coffees also available. A highlight in summer. We had an ice cream cake with matcha and and sesame flavor. An absolute dream.

🏝️ Vegan food on Jeju – island finds

Jeju is not only a landscape dream, but also offers some great spots for vegans:
Pengohoda (펭오하다) - A cozy vegan café with heavenly cakes. Perfect for a relaxing break. Rumor has it that I traveled to Jeju again just for this.
Malgeun Pureun Vegetarian Restaurant (맑은푸른채식식당) - temple cuisine. You certainly won't leave the restaurant hungry after lotus rice and barley bibimbab. The staff only speaks Korean, but she is lovely.
Dasoni (다소니) - Vegetarian restaurant with vegan options that offers traditional Korean dishes. And great jujube tea.
Jeju Veggies (제주베지스) - You order Western-inspired dishes via a tablet. The salad with mushrooms was really delicious.
Sonong Road (소농로) - Vegan bistro with seasonal dishes and local vegetables. We had carrot juice and sorbet, they also serve vegan curry. We read the café owner's children's book. :)
Mumyeong Cookie (무명쿠키) - Vegan gluten-free baked goods handmade with love, ideal for those with a sweet tooth.
Tropical Hideaway (트로피컬 하이드어웨이) - Restaurant located right in front of the sea with a beautiful view and various relaxed seating areas. Falafel & hummus bowls.
Audrey Gimbap (오드리김밥) Here you can get purely plant-based gimbabs - so-called wellbeing gimbabs. Great as a snack for a day on Udo Island.

More favorites in Korea

Daegu (대구)
Bahnhal Gimbap (반할김밥)
Small gimbap store that also delivers. Vegan kimbabs on the menu.
Restaurant on the 1st floor of Dongdaegu Station (동대구역)
Bibimbap - ideal for a quick meal on the go. Fresh, colorful and with lots of vegetables. I left out the sauces that are served separately and removed the egg. 

🍢 Streetfood & Markets – Powered by plants

Vegan snacks can also be discovered amidst the hustle and bustle of the markets:
Grilled corn on the cob
Tanghulu (candied fruit)
Baked sweet potatoes
Mayak gimbap (check the ingredients!)
Freshly squeezed juices & Ade

Favorite: Mangwon Market (망원시장) is a (no longer quite) insider tip with a large selection of vegetables, even outside the main building. You can bring snacks from the market to the café next door and enjoy with your friends.

🛒 Supermarkets & Co(nvenience stores)

Supermarket
For larger purchases or if you are looking for special vegan and gluten-free products, it is worth visiting Lotte Mart at Seoul Central Station (롯데마트 서울역점). There is a good selection of fresh vegetables, tofu, rice, sprouts and various seaweeds. You will find some vegan products in the frozen food section in particular. There are also lots of ready-made products and salads with balsamic dressing. For breakfast, I like to go for microwave rice, soft tofu, mushrooms and seaweed.
Convenience store
Convenience stores such as CU, GS25 or 7-Eleven can be found everywhere and are open around the clock - perfect for a quick snack in between meals. Here you can often find pre-packaged microwave rice, radishes, sweet potatoes, bananas, potato salad (sometimes vegan), and sometimes gimbap, e.g. only with cucumber. Also potato chips, popcorn (without butter) and a few protein drinks.
You can find a list of allergens at the bottom of the page.

🍱 Ordering food in Korea - How to do it with a foreign credit card

Food orders via app (e.g. Baemin) now also work for tourists with a foreign credit card. Here are a few tips from our own experience:

• select location on the map, enter exact details such as floor, apartment or door code if necessary. It is best to translate delivery instructions with deepl.com or use the Google Lens/Papago app.
• Choose whether you want the delivery person to ring the doorbell, knock or simply leave it at the door.
• Enter your international cell phone number; enter SMS security code for confirmation.
• Close any login window by pressing X and order as a guest, otherwise the app will not work.
• Select “foreign credit card” for payment. It may help to switch off WLAN during verification.
• When searching by chance, it is best to use the keyword “vegan” or combine e.g. “gimbab”, “bibimbab”, ‘vegetarian’ or “healthy”.
• With gimbab, make sure that there are no eggs, ham or shrimp paste in it; with bibimbab, the chili sauce is often not gluten-free, so it's best to bring your own sesame oil and vegan chili sauce.
• However, despite the dishes being explicitly labeled vegan, I have had several occasions where something with egg was delivered.

👩‍🍳 Cookery course tip: Vegan & gluten-free with Ongo

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Korean cuisine, you might want to take a course at Ongo Food Communications (온고푸드커뮤니케이션). It's in English, well organized and can be adapted to be vegan & gluten-free upon booking.
Dishes such as bibimbap, japchae or fried tofu are prepared here depending on the day of the week. Ideal for beginners & foodies. We made japchae and tofu and were very satisfied. At Klook, the course is called “Korean Premium & Original Cooking Class Experience in Hanok Kitchen”.

⚠️ Pitfalls with vegan food - what you should look out for

Despite good preparation, there can always be surprises. Seemingly straightforward dishes such as vegetable gimbap sometimes contain surimi (imitation crab meat) or spam - even at markets, if you think you're buying “mayak gimbap” (a normally vegan snack), you might want to check the ingredients carefully. Otherwise the game of Jenga with chopsticks will start.
Soups are often cooked with animal broth, even if they otherwise have vegetarian ingredients. Popular snacks such as “10-won coin waffles” may suddenly contain meat as well as cheese. Eggs or dairy products are not always clearly declared in bread and pastries, which makes it difficult to find vegan baked goods.
Kimchi or banchan (small side dishes) also often contain fish sauce, shrimp paste or other animal ingredients. This happens even if you deliberately order only vegan food - so it's always better to ask again or go to well-known vegan restaurants.

💄 Vegan cosmetics & shopping in Korea

Korea is known for its highly innovative beauty industry, but vegans should take a closer look. Many products contain animal ingredients that are not immediately recognizable - such as snail slime, bee venom, honey or even more exotic substances such as salmon sperm are currently trending.
Popular drugstore chains such as Olive Young (올리브영) and the natural cosmetics brand Innisfree (이니스프리) carry a wide range of products, but not all of them are vegan or free from such ingredients. It is therefore worth checking the ingredients carefully using Google Lens or the Papago app to identify hidden animal ingredients.

🧵 Vegan fashion in Korea - tips for conscious shoppers

Korea is not only a hotspot for beauty, but also for fashion. As a vegan, it is also worth paying attention to animal-free and sustainable alternatives here. Leather, wool, silk and down are still very present in Korean fashion, but awareness of cruelty-free and sustainable labels is growing.
In districts such as Hongdae (홍대) or Garosugil (가로수길), you can increasingly find stores with plant-based or synthetic bags, shoes and clothing. Some Korean designers are focusing on environmentally friendly and eco-friendly materials.
Second-hand stores and vintage stores (often found in basements) are also a good place to shop more sustainably and find unique pieces.
If you are specifically looking for vegan fashion, you might want to check the product descriptions carefully and ask if you are unsure, as animal materials are often not recognizable at first glance.

🌿 Important ingredients & allergens for vegans

□ English	Korean (한글)	Where You’ll Find It
Dairy / Milk Products	우유 (Uyu)	Common in sweets, bread, ready meals
Egg(s)	달걀 / 계란 (Dalgya / Gyeran)	In baked goods, noodles, sauces
Pork	돼지고기 (Dwaejigogi)	Often in soups, stews, side dishes
Beef	소고기 (Sogogi)	Often in soups, stews, side dishes
Chicken	닭고기 (Dalgogi)	Often in soups, stews, side dishes
Fish	생선 (Saengseon)	Common in sauces, surimi, banchan
Seafood / Shellfish	해산물 / 갑각류 (Haesanmul / Gapgakryu)	Shrimp, clams — often in side dishes
Honey	꿀 (Kkul)	Found in sweets and teas

These ingredients are not vegan, even if the dish appears plant-based.
Always double-check kimchi, banchan (side dishes), and soups — fish-based sauces and broths are very common.

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By the way - what you get at the best Insta spots in Korea

Gluten-free and vegan in the most beautiful places - I hope you like coffee...

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Helpful?

The site is constantly being expanded - if you would like to buy me a vegan gluten-free coffee, you are welcome to do so using the button at the bottom left. This will support the next research on site. :D

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🌾❌ GLUTENFREE IN South Korea

After getting to know the country in 2013 - practically free and without a diagnosis - I came back in 2023 - as a gluten-free vegan. And then again in 2024 because I wanted to discover other cities besides Seoul and Seogwipo. And in 2025, because I wanted to hike the Hallasan and discover the east of the country. You can already find some videos about the trip and also about gluten-free on my YouTube channel.

🧭 Preparation

Before the trip, I did a few good hours of research and used google maps and Naver to find numerous restaurants that might be suitable. As I have to follow a gluten-free diet, I do this before every trip. You can certainly travel somewhere spontaneously if you are blessed with good nerves. However, I tend to save myself the frustration on vacation. Anyway, here are my maps, which I have saved:
Naver map: Karte glutenfrei und/oder vegan

Please always check the opening hours and current menus at Naver yourself and also note that they are vegan and/or gluten-free places.
I personally watched every vlog on YouTube that was even remotely related to vegan food beforehand and made a note of the names of the restaurants and looked them up. You have to investigate in every direction as an allergy sufferer.

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🎒 Packing your suitcase

For Korea, I strongly recommend that you take a suitcase with glutenfree snacks with you, preferably the whole suitcase. It has the advantage that you have space for things you have bought on the way back and, joking aside, it is definitely necessary, at least for beginners (in terms of gluten-free, but also for first-time visitors to Korea, I would say). However, if you only stay in the same place for the entire trip, you'll have an easier time than someone who goes on a 2-month road trip through the mountains. In Germany, my unofficial snack supplier is dm, and you can sometimes get even more products online. I only take vegan food with me. For milk/meat etc., please read the import regulations carefully.

🍱 In the restaurant

I didn't actually use them, but always translated the restaurant menu beforehand and asked specific questions if anything was unclear. Or bought gluten-free food safely.
But it can't hurt to have it in your luggage: Coeliac Travel Card 

🏨 Hotel

I selected the hotels according to various criteria that were convenient for our trip. For the topic of food supply, we decided in 2024: Always being able to cook our own food and staying as close to the nearest large supermarket as possible. This really worked out best for us, as it meant we could have a relaxed breakfast in the room and not spend the morning hungrily searching for food. In Seoul, for example, we stayed close to Seoul Station, which also had advantages for excursions on the KTX, buses and the way to the airport. The large Lotte Mart is located in Seoul Station. For vegans, there was actually a full line of frozen goods with substitutes and I checked every single one, not a single one was gluten-free. Nevertheless, we found enough to eat. Below you will find examples of the products I look for in the supermarket.
I was only able to enjoy breakfast at the hotel once, as it was Korean breakfast and not fluffy toast. So I had rice, radish, tomatoes, juice and coffee. I'm sure it's spartan for other people, but I was very happy about it.

✈️ On the plane - Special menu & special experiences

The topic really pushed me to my limits during preparation and apparently the standard for eating in economy class is still “Chicken or beef?”. In my experience, it was only ever possible to name one allergen and order a gluten-free or vegan special menu, for example. Too bad if you have more than one allergy or want to eat vegan at the same time.
I booked the flight in September '23 with Asiana Airlines through an external provider and was then referred from A to B and from B to A. I tried emails, return emails, chatbots, telefaxes and phone calls and finally got two gluten-free meals confirmed by email - even though I had requested one gluten-free and one vegan meal. I'm sure it was partly my fault, as I thought it would be enough at check-in and everything fell on a weekend. However, at checkin there was no food option available, which caused me a lot of stress before I left.
So when I flew with Air China in April '24, I wanted to take care of it earlier. It was ten times worse here. After hours of searching, I found out how to use the app, check in and order the special menu by chance - by chance on a thread in Reddit. After sending several early emails in German and English - which went unanswered - the solution was to call Air China's Spanish (!) hotline and order the special menu in German. And we did this for all flights on the ticket and all potential fellow travelers. By the way, you have to write your name all in one word in the app when you log in if you want to check in and book the special menu first, then check in. You're welcome.
At T'way '25 - a disaster. You can't book anything in advance and by chance there was a single dish left on the outbound flight. It was vegan and actually labeled gluten-free. On the way back there was nothing for 13 hours. (There were vegan wheat wraps...) Luckily I sat until 10pm the night before and rolled my own gimbabs, as the delivery service had stopped working due to heavy rain.
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​​🌾 My gf favorites in Seoul

ongno-gu (종로구)
Jihwaja - Traditional Korean restaurant (지화자)
Elegant restaurant with Han-jeongsik (한정식) in a vegan and also gluten-free version on request. I particularly liked the bibimbab, water kimchi, the grilled mushrooms, the soup served with a stove, ... - just like in the court kitchen of the Joseon dynasty.
Ap-euroui Ppangjip - Vegan Bakery (앞으로의빵집)
Tucked away in the alleyways of Ikseon-dong, this stylish bakery offers gluten-free pastries, some with oats - so be sure to ask. My pick: the little mugwort tarts.


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Yongsan-gu (용산구)
Plant - Vegan Café & Restaurant (플랜트)
Branch in Itaewon with international vegan cuisine. Many gluten-free options (bowls, curries, cakes) and a very detailed allergen menu - great for those with intolerances.
Ssong Thai - Vegan Thai restaurant (쏭타이)
Also in Itaewon. Original Thai taste, many gf dishes, clear allergen labeling. Check when ordering soy sauce.
Saravanaa Bhavan - South Indian restaurant (사라바나 바반)
Vegetarian-vegan South Indian restaurant. Many dishes are available gluten-free, allergens are clearly marked. The selection is very large. It was also very tasty.



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Mapo-gu (마포구)
Plant - Vegan Café & Restaurant (플랜트)
Second branch in Yeonnam-dong near Hongdae. Same concept as in Itaewon: vegan, many gluten-free dishes and very allergy-friendly. Cozy & popular.
La Moire - Vegan Glutenfree Pastry Shop (라무아르)
Located near Mangwon Market - creative glutenfree vegan cakes. Ideal for a sweet getaway away from the hustle and bustle.



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​🌾 My glutenfree favorites on Jeju 

Pengohoda - Vegan Café (팽오호다)
Cozy café, very small inside, but there is a nice outdoor area. The cakes are incomparable. My favorites are chestnut, matcha, strawberry. You can eat three pieces with two people, but then it gets strenuous. Better to take some more with you. 10/10
Mumyeong Cookie (무명쿠키) 
Vegan gluten-free baked goods lovingly made by hand, ideal for those with a sweet tooth. Located in Seogwipo.
Alice Cakery - Gluten-free bakery (앨리스케이크)
Stylish café with cakes and pastries - not vegan, but all cakes are gluten-free. There was a good selection with lots of strawberries and chocolate. And more chocolate.

​🌾More glutenfree favorites in Korea 

Daegu (대구)
Dripper Baker (드리퍼 베이커)
Modern bakery with a chic café area. There were gluten-free cookies - perfect for a coffee stop. Very tasty coffee.
Salady (샐러디)
Modern bowl chain with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients. Gluten-free and vegan options. Perfect if you want something light and nutritious. You can also have it delivered.

Pyeongtaek (평택)
Rebirth Café (리버스 카페)
Café with gluten-free cakes, some vegan options.

Daejeon (대전)
Goodday Project (굿데이 프로젝트)
Small café with a selection of gluten-free desserts and cookies - ideal for a short road trip break.

Sokcho (속초)
Seorak Strawberry Mochi (설악딸기모찌)
A real gem right by the sea! The mochis are labeled gluten-free, which is rare enough - and I can't deny that I screamed out loud with joy when I saw the sign (someone even turned around in surprise). Of course, I tried almost all the varieties - strawberry, matcha, red bean... fluffy, sweet, soft - a dream.

Streetfood everywhere in Korea

Waffle coins 10원빵
In Jeonju (전주) & Gyeongju (경주), I discovered gluten-free 10-won coin snacks (10원빵) - a sweet street food specialty in the form of a 10-won coin.
👉 Please note: so far I've only seen variants with cheese filling, so not vegan, but gluten-free. And be sure to check the GF label, as there are wheat-free versions that contain barley.

Walnut cookies / Hodugwaja 호두과자
These little cakes with red bean paste and walnuts are a popular snack at train stations and highway rest stops.
👉 They are also available gluten-free in some stores - I have discovered a few versions.
⚠️ Caution: Usually not vegan (often with egg & milk), so always ask - or simply take them with you for your travel companion 😉


Tanghulu - candied fruit on skewers 탕후루
Crunchy icing, juicy strawberries, grapes, mandarins or tomatoes - this snack is addictive.
✅ Gluten-free (sugar + fruit - that's it)
⚠️ Watch out for the spiky skewer, just carefully push up the next fruit with the cup.
​Baked sweet potato & corn on the cob (군고구마 & 찐옥수수)
Simple, hot, filling - baked sweet potatoes (gun-goguma, 군고구마) and steamed corn on the cob (jjin-oksusu, 찐옥수수) can be found in the market hall, supermarket, street stalls... Great as a snack for hiking.
✅ Natural & gluten-free
💡 Tip: Sweet potatoes from the heater at the CU (convenience store) are surprisingly good - and perfect for on the go.


Gimbap (김밥) - Korea's delicious rolls
Many varieties are gluten-free - but be careful:👉 Always ask!
Because even the supposedly vegetarian yachae gimbap (야채김밥) can contain surimi (crab imitation stick) or spam, which often contain gluten.
For a safe gluten-free option, it's best to order explicitly without such ingredients or check what's in it yourself.


Gingkonuts, edamame and hot chestnuts are available at the food stalls or in the traditional market halls. 

Supermarket shopping

Here are some examples of what we bought in the supermarket and what our meals at the accommodation often looked like

Favorite ​Drinks 

On Jeju, fresh citrus fruit juices are of course a must.
I also love fresh watermelon juice and lots of aloe drinks ( sugar-free ones too) and tea drinks. When it comes to tea, be careful with the ingredients, as blends often contain gluten - e.g. barley tea.
In cafés, I have tried my way through all the different ades. My favorites are grapefruit, yuzu and tangerines. Tomato/basil was also very tasty.

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□❌ Gluten-containing & gluten-free ingredients (Korean labels)

□❌ English	Korean (한글)	Explanation / Note
Gluten	글루텐 (Geulluten)	Rarely listed directly – but important to check
Wheat	밀 (Mil)	Main source of gluten
Barley	보리 (Bori)	Contains gluten
Rye	호밀 (Homil)	Contains gluten
Oats (often contaminated)	귀리 (Gwiri)	Technically gluten-free, but often cross-contaminated
Soy	콩 (Kong)	Usually gluten-free – watch how it’s processed
Corn	옥수수 (Oksusu)	Gluten-free
Rice	쌀 (Ssal)	Gluten-free
Buckwheat	메밀 (Memil)	Gluten-free

The key: Avoid wheat (밀), barley (보리), and rye (호밀) – and always double-check labels.
Oats (귀리) are often processed with gluten-containing grains.
If you see 무글루텐 (mugeulluten) on a label, it means: gluten-free.

Beispiele für die Zutatenlisten auf koreanisch - ihr könnt Papago oder Google Lense zum Übersetzen nutzen. 

Bring Korea to your home (coming soon)

Cookbook recommendations for Korean food

Shopping in the German “Asia Market”.