Korean food has plenty of vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, seaweed, and fresh side dishes, so it may look surprisingly easy for vegetarians and vegans to eat in Korea.
And in many cases, it is.
But there is one important thing to know before you order: some Korean dishes contain animal-based ingredients in the broth, seasoning, or batter.
Anchovy broth, fish sauce, salted shrimp, eggs, and meat-based stock are common examples.
So eating vegetarian or vegan in Korea is less about avoiding Korean food and more about knowing what to check before you order.
🐰 Tosil: "I'm vegan. Am I even going to be able to eat anything in Korea?"
🐯 Hodong: "More than you'd think. Korean food uses a lot of vegetables and namul, so you have more options than you might expect."
🐰 Tosil: "Really? I imagined it would be mostly meat and seafood."
🐯 Hodong: "Some dishes are. But plenty of everyday Korean food is built around vegetables. You just need to know what to look out for — some things look vegetarian but aren't."
🐰 Tosil: "Okay. Then let's start there."
The Short Answer
Yes — vegetarians and vegans can eat Korean food.
There are many vegetable-based dishes, tofu dishes, mushrooms, seaweed, rice dishes, and vegetable side dishes to choose from.
The important part is that vegetarian-looking food is not always vegetarian or vegan.
Broth, sauces, seasonings, and batter can contain animal-based ingredients even when there is no obvious meat on the plate.
Show This to the Restaurant Staff
If explaining your dietary requirements feels difficult, you can simply show the following phrases to the restaurant staff on your phone.
저는 채식주의자예요.
Jeoneun chaesikjuuija-yeyo.
I'm a vegetarian.
고기랑 해산물 빼주세요.
Gogi-rang haesanmul ppae-juseyo.
Please leave out meat and seafood.
멸치육수 말고 맹물이나 채수로 해주실 수 있나요?
Myeolchi-yuksu malgo maengmul-ina chaesu-ro haejusil su innayo.
Can you make it without anchovy broth, using plain water or vegetable broth instead?
계란 빼주세요.
Gyeran ppae-juseyo.
Please leave out the egg.
Korean Foods to Look For
1. Namul
Namul refers to Korean seasoned vegetables and greens.
You may find dishes made with spinach, bean sprouts, fernbrake, bellflower root, mushrooms, and other vegetables.
Namul can be a great place to start, but check the seasoning because some varieties may contain fish sauce or salted shrimp.
2. Bibimbap
Bibimbap is one of the easiest Korean dishes to customize.
A basic bowl may contain rice, vegetables, egg, and sometimes meat.
For a vegetarian version, ask for no meat.
For a vegan version, ask for no meat and no egg, and check whether the gochujang or other seasonings contain animal ingredients.
3. Kimchi
Kimchi is not automatically vegetarian or vegan.
Traditional kimchi may contain salted shrimp, fish sauce, or other seafood ingredients.
If you are vegan, ask specifically whether the kimchi contains seafood.
4. Tofu Dishes
Tofu itself is plant-based, but the broth or sauce used with it may not be.
Some tofu dishes use anchovy broth, seafood, meat stock, or fish sauce.
When ordering tofu stew or another tofu-based dish, ask about the broth as well as the tofu.
5. Jeon
Jeon are Korean savory pancakes or pan-fried dishes.
Vegetable jeon may look completely plant-based, but many are coated or bound with egg.
Some varieties may also contain meat or seafood.
If you are vegan, ask whether egg is used in the batter.
Top 5 Hidden Ingredients to Watch For
1. Anchovy Broth — 멸치육수
Anchovy broth is commonly used in Korean soups, stews, and noodle dishes.
2. Salted Shrimp & Fish Sauce — 새우젓 / 액젓
These are common Korean ingredients, especially in kimchi and some seasoned vegetable dishes.
3. Egg Batter — 계란 옷
Egg is frequently used to coat or bind jeon and other pan-fried dishes.
4. Fish Cake — 어묵
Fish cake appears in dishes such as tteokbokki, soups, and many Korean street foods and side dishes.
5. Meat-Based Stock or Seasoning
Some soups, stews, sauces, and restaurant dishes may use meat-based stock or seasoning even when the main ingredients look vegetarian.
What Vegans Need to Check
Vegetarians generally have more options than vegans because eggs and dairy may be acceptable depending on the person's diet.
Vegans need to check a few additional ingredients:
- Eggs — common in bibimbap, jeon, and some other dishes.
- Honey — sometimes used in sauces, drinks, or desserts.
- Dairy — may appear in bread, desserts, creamy sauces, or modern fusion dishes.
If your dietary requirements are strict, it is better to ask about individual ingredients rather than simply asking whether a dish is "vegetarian."
Vegetarian vs. Vegan
| Food | Vegetarian | Vegan | What to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namul | Often | Often | Fish sauce, salted shrimp |
| Bibimbap | Often | Possible without egg | Egg, meat, sauce |
| Kimchi | Often no | Often no | Fish sauce, salted shrimp |
| Tofu dishes | Often | Often | Broth, seafood, meat |
| Vegetable jeon | Often | Often no | Egg batter |
| Sundubu-jjigae | Depends | Depends | Seafood, egg, broth |
| Traditional temple food | Generally yes | Generally yes | Confirm preparation |
Useful Korean Phrases
These questions can help you check individual ingredients before ordering:
고기 들어가나요?
Gogi deureoganayo?
Does it contain meat?
생선 들어가나요?
Saengseon deureoganayo?
Does it contain fish?
멸치육수인가요?
Myeolchi-yuksu-ingayo?
Is the broth made with anchovies?
새우젓 들어가나요?
Saeujeot deureoganayo?
Does it contain salted shrimp?
계란 들어가나요?
Gyeran deureoganayo?
Does it contain egg?
For strict dietary requirements, specific questions are often clearer than one general question.
Korean Temple Food
Traditional Korean temple food is another option worth knowing about.
It generally avoids meat and certain strongly flavored ingredients associated with Buddhist practice, and it places a strong emphasis on vegetables, grains, mushrooms, and other plant-based ingredients.
For travelers interested in Korean food culture as well as vegetarian eating, temple food can be an especially interesting experience.
However, modern restaurants and individual preparations can vary, so it is still worth confirming the ingredients if you have strict dietary requirements.
Is Vegetarian Food Easy to Find in Korea?
Korea's vegetarian and vegan food scene has been growing, particularly in Seoul and other major cities.
There is no single official nationwide count of vegetarian restaurants, so it is difficult to give one reliable number for the whole country.
Travelers will generally find more dedicated vegetarian and vegan choices in larger cities, while smaller towns may require more flexibility and advance planning.
A useful strategy is to combine:
- Dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurants
- Temple food restaurants
- Restaurants offering customizable dishes
- Convenience stores and supermarkets for simple plant-based foods
- Restaurant staff communication using the Korean phrases above
If you are traveling outside major cities, checking restaurant menus in advance can save time.
Since the early 2020s, Korea has seen a steady rise in dedicated vegetarian restaurants, especially in bigger cities like Seoul, Busan, and Daegu — and the trend has gradually spread to other regions as well.
There is no single official nationwide count, but estimates based on food trend reports, vegetarian communities, and restaurant listings in Seoul and other major cities have put the number of dedicated vegetarian restaurants in Korea at roughly 200 to 300 around 2024.
That includes everything from fully vegan restaurants to places specializing in vegetarian food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Korean food vegetarian-friendly?
Yes, there are many vegetarian-friendly Korean dishes, especially vegetable-based side dishes, tofu dishes, rice dishes, and some temple foods. However, broth and seasoning should always be checked.
Is kimchi vegan?
Not necessarily. Traditional kimchi often uses ingredients such as salted shrimp or fish sauce, although vegan kimchi is also available.
Can vegans eat bibimbap in Korea?
Often yes, if the meat and egg are removed and the sauces and seasonings are suitable. Ask before ordering.
Is Korean temple food vegan?
Traditional temple food is generally plant-based and avoids meat and certain ingredients associated with Buddhist practice. Individual restaurant preparations can vary, so confirmation is still recommended.
Do I need to speak Korean to eat vegetarian in Korea?
No. A few simple Korean phrases can make ordering much easier, and showing the phrases on your phone can be helpful when communication is difficult.
One of my friends, who's vegan, once told me something after her trip to Korea:
"Korea was much easier for a vegan than I expected."
At first, that surprised me. When I think of Korean food, meat and seafood are usually what come to mind first.
But Korean food has another side.
A traditional Korean table is also built around vegetables and namul. Bean sprouts, spinach, doraji, bracken fern, mushrooms, tofu, and countless other plant-based ingredients appear in everyday meals.
The challenge is knowing what's underneath the dish.
A bowl of soup may contain anchovy broth. Kimchi may contain fish sauce or salted shrimp. A vegetable pancake may contain egg.
Once you know what to look for, eating in Korea becomes much easier.
You don't need to memorize every Korean dish.
Just ask, check, and choose as you go.
You may have to make a few adjustments, but with a little preparation, you can discover a very different — and surprisingly vegetable-rich — side of Korean food.
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