A Vegan's Guide to Eating Well in Seoul

I'm not going to lie — when I first arrived in Seoul three years ago as a vegan, I was genuinely scared. Korean cuisine is pretty meat and fish-heavy, and I'd heard horror stories about hidden anchovy powder (멸치 - myeolchi) in everything. But here's the good news: Seoul is actually one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Asia, especially if you know where to look.

Finding Vegan Restaurants

The best resource I've found is Happy Cow (happycow.net or the app). It's literally saved my life. Search "Seoul" and filter by vegan, and you'll get tons of options. My personal favorites include:

Vegan Thieves in Hongdae — amazing vegan fried chicken (₩14,000-16,000) and zero judgment

Loving Hut (multiple locations) — Vietnamese-Korean fusion, very reliable, mains around ₩9,000-12,000

We Are Vegan in Gangnam — fancy spot for special occasions, ₩18,000-25,000

Also, many Korean restaurants have vegan temple food (사찰음식 - sachal eumsik) options. Just ask the staff if they have 채식 (chaesik - vegetarian) dishes.

Apps That Actually Help

Download Naver and Kakao Map immediately — these are like Google Maps but better for Korea. Search "비건 (vigan)" or "채식" and you'll find nearby spots. I also use Instagram hashtags like #서울비건 to discover hidden gems that might not be on major apps yet.

For delivery, both Coupang Eats and Naver Order let you filter by dietary preferences, though options are more limited than dine-in.

Grocery Shopping Strategy

GS25 and CU convenience stores have surprisingly good vegan snacks — grab their kimbap (김밥) without the meat, instant noodles (라면 - ramyeon) made with vegetable broth, and vegan ice cream. They're everywhere and cheap (₩2,000-5,000 range).

For serious grocery shopping, hit up Lotte Mart or E-Mart — they have organic/vegan sections. But honestly? Coupang is my secret weapon. Order vegan products online and get delivery in 24 hours. Their plant-based brands include Korean options like Veganday and international stuff too.

The Hidden Traps

This is crucial: always ask if dishes contain 새우젓 (saeujeot - shrimp paste) or 멸치 국물 (myeolchi guk-mul - anchovy broth). Even "vegetable" soups often contain these. I learned this the hard way. If you're unsure, the phrase "비건이에요. 생선 없어요" (vigan-ieyo. saengseon eopseyo - "I'm vegan. No fish") usually gets the point across.

My Best Tip

Join the Seoul Vegan Community Facebook group. Seriously. There are hundreds of English-speaking vegans here who give real-time restaurant recommendations, host potlucks, and answer weird questions like "Is this Korean brand tofu vegan?" (it often isn't). People are incredibly helpful.

After three years, I can honestly say I eat *better* as a vegan in Seoul than I did back home. You just need patience and these resources.

Personal rec: Try the vegan kimbap from Kimbap Heaven — order it with no egg, add extra vegetables. It's ₩4,500 and surprisingly satisfying.