Glutenfree & vegan

🥢VEGAN IN SÜDKOREA

Getting Ready

Traveling through Korea as a vegan (and even gluten-free) is definitely possible – it just takes some planning. The easiest route: research vegan restaurants in advance and save them as a custom map in Naver Map (it’s the most reliable app in Korea; Google Maps often shows outdated hours). I pinned spots near every major sight I visited. And if you're just wandering the streets, that saved map becomes a spontaneous lifesaver. You’ll find mine below.
Also great: food delivery apps (like Baemin) now accept foreign credit cards – perfect for a cozy night in. For non-vegan restaurants, I recommend carrying small vegan restaurant cards in Korean, explaining which ingredients you don’t eat ("No meat, fish, eggs, dairy").

🥬 My Vegan Favorites in Seoul

Jongno-gu 종로구 (Historic center – palaces, temples, alleys & galleries)
Maru (마루) Traditional dishes like bibimbap, gimbap, tteokbokki – all vegan. Cozy outdoor seating between galleries and the kimchi museum. Lovely staff, really tasty food.
24-Hour Ramen Bar Jongno (종로 24시간 라면) Affordable and open round the clock. Self-serve with a vegan ramen and banchan selection. Gluten-free is tricky, but they offer rice with sides.
Neoldameun Gonggan Gyeongbokgung (널담은공간 경복궁점) Café near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Highlight: the vegan sesame latte – creamy, intense, perfect break. You can write a letter to your future self on the side 😊
Seoulseo Duljjaero Jalhaneun Jib (서울서둘째로잘하는집) Traditional herbal teahouse. Super authentic and ideal for colder days.
Ap-euroui Ppangjip (앞으로의빵집) Modern vegan bakery with breads, cakes, and snacks – many gluten-free options. Tucked away in Ikseon-dong, a picturesque maze of alleyways.

Yongsan-gu 용산구 (Itaewon – international, lively, food diverse)
Plant Itaewon (플랜트 이태원점) Western-Asian fusion: bowls, burgers, curries – many gluten-free dishes and cakes. A popular vegan go-to for visitors.
Ssong Thai (쏭타이) Thai food with lots of vegan options. Gluten-free possible with clear communication. Great allergy labelling. A chain, but the Itaewon location stands out.
Saravana Bhavan (사라바나 바반) Indian chain with excellent vegan and gluten-free variety. We were overwhelmed trying to order – because everything looked amazing.
Panhonesta (판오네스타) We came for the vegan pistachio bingsu, reportedly made with gluten-free oat milk. It was a dream. The upstairs view is lovely, too.

Mapo-gu 마포구 (Hongdae & Mangwon – young, creative, vegan-friendly)
Plant Hongdae (플랜트 홍대점) Smaller branch of the original. Sandwiches, cakes, bowls – all vegan. Cozy spot with some great gluten-free choices. A bit more relaxed than Itaewon, with a small terrace.
Mangwon Market (망원시장) Less touristy (but that’s changing). Tons of fruit & veggie stalls outside. We also scored some amazing Perilla oil here.
La Moire (라므아르) Café with vegan gluten-free cakes, coffee, and great drinks. 10/10, especially the overwhelming cake display.

Seodaemun-gu 서대문구 (Chill, student-friendly, perfect café breaks)
Eum Eatery (음 이터리) All-vegan brunch café with creative sandwiches and juices. Gluten-free on request. Great for grabbing pastries to-go, too.

Seongbuk-gu 성북구
Akemi – Café & Ice Cream (아케미) Vegan ice cream made with coconut or rice milk. Plant-based coffee drinks available. A summer highlight! We had a matcha-sesame ice cake – dreamy.

🏝️ Vegan Eats on Jeju – Island Highlights

Jeju isn’t just a natural paradise – there are some fantastic vegan places too:
Pengohoda (펭오하다) – Cozy vegan café with heavenly cakes. Perfect break spot. Rumor has it, I returned to Jeju just for this place.
Dasoni (다소니) – Vegetarian restaurant with vegan traditional Korean dishes. Loved their jujube tea!
Malgeun Pureun Vegetarian Restaurant (맑은푸른채식식당) – Temple cuisine. After lotus rice and barley bibimbap, you’ll leave very satisfied. Staff only speaks Korean, but they’re super sweet.
Jeju Veggies (제주베지스) – Tablet ordering, Western-style dishes. I loved the mushroom salad.
Sonong Road (소농로) – Vegan bistro with seasonal dishes and local veggies. We had carrot juice and sorbet, plus vegan curry. Read the café owner’s children’s book while we were there 🙂
Mumyeong Cookie (무명쿠키) – Vegan gluten-free baked goods, lovingly handmade – a dream for snack lovers.
Tropical Hideaway (트로피컬 하이드어웨이) – Beachside restaurant with ocean views and comfy seating. Also view at Falafel & hummus bowls!

🍢 Street Food & Markets – Plant-Based Adventures

Even in the middle of bustling markets, you can discover vegan snacks:

Grilled corn
Tanghulu (candied fruit)
Roasted sweet potatoes
Mayak Gimbap (check ingredients!)
Fresh-pressed juices & ades

Favorite: Mangwon Market (망원시장) – not such a secret anymore, but still fantastic for veggie shopping even beyond the market building. Best part? You can bring your snacks into the neighboring café.

🛒 Supermarkets & Co(nvenience Stores)

SupermarketsIf you’re planning a bigger grocery run or looking for specific vegan and gluten-free items, it’s worth visiting Lotte Mart at Seoul Station (롯데마트 서울역점). They offer a solid range of fresh produce, tofu, rice, sprouts, and various seaweeds. The frozen food section has a few vegan finds. You’ll also discover plenty of ready meals and salads with balsamic dressing. For breakfast, I like to grab microwaveable rice, mushrooms, and seaweed from here.
Convenience StoresConvenience stores like CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven are everywhere and open 24/7 – perfect for a quick bite or a late-night snack. You’ll often find packaged microwave rice, pickled radish, sweet potatoes, bananas, potato salad (sometimes vegan), and occasionally gimbap, e.g. just cucumber rolls. Also available: chips, butter-free popcorn, and various protein drinks.
📌 A list of common allergens is available at the bottom of the page.

🍱 Food Delivery in Korea – Yes, Even With a Foreign Credit Card

Ordering food via apps (like Baemin) now works for tourists using foreign credit cards! A few tips from experience:

Pin your delivery spot on the map and add specific details (e.g. floor, apartment number, door code).
Use translation tools like DeepL, Google Lens, or Papago to translate delivery notes if needed.
Choose whether the delivery person should ring the bell, knock, or simply leave it at the door.
Enter your non-Korean mobile number and confirm with an SMS verification code.
Close any login popup (hit the "X") and proceed as a guest – otherwise, the app may not work.
Select “foreign card” for payment. If verification fails, try switching off Wi-Fi.
Searching randomly? Try keywords like “vegan,” or combine terms like “gimbap,” “bibimbap,” “vegetarian,” or “healthy.”
Watch out: gimbap may contain egg, ham, or imitation crab; bibimbap sauces often aren’t gluten-free – best to carry your own sesame oil and vegan gochujang.
Note: Despite dishes being labeled vegan, I still received egg in a few deliveries – so stay alert.

👩‍🍳 Cooking Class Tip: Vegan & Gluten-Free with Ongo

Want to dive deeper into Korean cuisine? Try a class at Ongo Food Communications (온고푸드커뮤니케이션). It’s in English, well-organized, and can be adapted to your vegan and gluten-free needs when you register. Depending on the day, you’ll cook dishes like bibimbap, japchae, or pan-fried tofu. Great for beginners and foodies alike – we made japchae and tofu and loved it.

⚠️ Vegan Food Pitfalls in Korea – What to Watch Out For

Even with the best prep, surprises happen. “Simple” dishes like veggie gimbap sometimes contain surimi (imitation crab) or even spam. Even in markets, always double-check ingredients – even mayak gimbap, usually vegan, can surprise you.
Many soups use animal-based broth, even when other ingredients seem veggie-friendly. Popular snacks like 10-won waffles might contain cheese… and suddenly, meat too. Breads and pastries often include eggs or dairy – but don’t always say so, making vegan baking a scavenger hunt.
Even kimchi or banchan (side dishes) may contain fish sauce, shrimp paste, or other animal products – even if you order from a “vegan-friendly” restaurant. When in doubt, ask (again), or stick with trusted vegan spots.

💄 Vegan Cosmetics & Shopping in Korea

Korea’s cosmetic industry is incredibly innovative – but if you’re vegan, read labels carefully. Many products contain animal-derived ingredients that aren’t obvious: snail mucin, bee venom, honey, or even (yes) salmon sperm are trending.
Popular shops like Olive Young (올리브영) and natural brand Innisfree (이니스프리) carry a wide variety of products, but not everything is vegan or animal-free. Use Google Lens or Papago to help you scan and identify sneaky ingredients.

🧵 Vegan Fashion in Korea – Tips for Conscious Shoppers

Korea’s not just a beauty hub – it’s a fashion hotspot, too. But if you’re vegan, you’ll want to be mindful of materials. Leather, wool, silk, and down are still common in Korean fashion. That said, awareness for vegan and eco-conscious brands is growing!
In neighborhoods like Hongdae (홍대) or Garosugil (가로수길) you’ll find more shops with vegan bags, shoes, and clothing made from synthetic or plant-based alternatives. Some Korean designers are now embracing sustainable, cruelty-free materials.
Secondhand and vintage stores (often hidden in basements) are also great for shopping more sustainably and finding unique pieces.
When in doubt, always check product tags or ask – animal materials aren’t always obvious at first glance.

GLUTENFREE IN SOUTH KOREA

After visiting Korea in 2013 — diagnosis-free and spontaneous -- I returned in 2023 as a gluten-free vegan. Then again in 2024 to explore beyond Seoul and Seogwipo. And once more in 2025 to hike Hallasan and discover Korea’s eastern coast. You’ll already find some travel and gluten-free videos on my YouTube channel!

□ Preparation

Before each trip, I spent hours researching restaurants on Google Maps and Naver. Because I need to eat gluten-free, I always plan ahead. Traveling spontaneously might work for people with nerves of steel — but I prefer my vacations without food-related stress. That’s why I built custom maps for myself:

Naver Map: gluten-free and/or vegan spots saved

Always double-check the business hours and menus on Naver, and remember that some places are vegan *or* gluten-free — but not always both.

I watched every travel vlog that even *mentioned* vegan food and made a list of potential restaurants. As someone with dietary restrictions, you need to investigate in all directions!

□ Packing for Korea

I highly recommend packing a suitcase full of gluten-free snacks — seriously, fill it up! On the way back, you’ll have space for souvenirs. Jokes aside: if you’re new to gluten-free or a first-timer in Korea, it’s a must. If you’re staying in one place for a week, it’s easier. But if you’re on a two-month mountain road trip… you’ll thank yourself for packing food.

□ Eating at Restaurants

Honestly, I never used official allergy cards — instead, I translated menus in advance and asked direct questions if I had doubts. Or I just bought safe, clearly labeled foods.

Still, it can’t hurt to carry a Coeliac Travel Card just in case!

□ Hotels

I chose accommodations with one goal: making food access easy. In 2024, we decided — if possible — always book a place with a kitchen and close to a big grocery store. That strategy worked amazingly well. We could have relaxed breakfasts in our room and didn’t start our day hangry and searching for food.

In Seoul, we stayed near Seoul Station, which was ideal for KTX trains, buses, and airport access. The big Lotte Mart there had a dedicated vegan freezer section — I checked every item. Not one was gluten-free. Still, we found plenty of basics to build on.

Breakfast at hotels? I only managed once. Korean-style breakfast saved me: rice, radish, tomatoes, juice, and coffee. No floppy toast — pure joy!

✈️ On the Plane – Special Meals & Special Headaches

Food on planes nearly broke me. Apparently, airline catering still runs on “Chicken or beef?” Only *one* dietary request is allowed — so you get gluten-free *or* vegan. Not both. □

Asiana Airlines (Sept. 2023): I booked through a third-party provider, got bounced between contacts, and sent emails, forms, chatbot messages — even tried a fax. Eventually got confirmation for two gluten-free meals… but no vegan option. Possibly my fault, I assumed I could request it at check-in — nope. Since it fell on a weekend, there was no way to update the order. Pre-departure panic level: high.
Air China (April 2024): Worse. Like, ten times worse. The app? Confusing. The menu system? Hidden. I only figured it out thanks to Reddit: You have to call the Spanish hotline (no joke!) and speak in German to book a special meal — for every leg of your trip and for every passenger. Bonus: when logging in, merge your first and last name. Book your meal before check-in. You’re welcome.
T’way (2025): Total disaster. You can’t request special meals in advance. On the outbound flight, I got lucky: one leftover vegan/gluten-free meal. On the return? Nothing. For 13 hours. Thankfully, I rolled my own gimbap the night before because all delivery services had shut down due to heavy rain. □