Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Korea for Travelers: Phrases and Tips
Travel Korean · Plant-Based Dining
Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Korea: Phrases and Tips
Find suitable restaurants, explain exactly what you do not eat, check broths and seasonings, and order Korean dishes with clear plant-based requests.
Quick Answer
Dedicated vegan restaurants are usually the simplest option. In a general restaurant, do more than say “비건” or “채식주의자”: list what you avoid—meat, fish, seafood, anchovy broth, fish sauce, egg, dairy, or honey—and ask whether each dish, sauce, broth, garnish, and side dish contains those ingredients. If the staff cannot verify the recipe or accommodate your diet, choose another dish or restaurant.
Explore More Korean
Read “Vegetarian” and “Vegan” in Korean
채식주의자 — Vegetarian
Romanization: chae-sik-ju-ui-ja
Sentence: 저는 채식주의자예요. — I am a vegetarian.
chae · ㅊ+ㅐ
sik · ㅅ+ㅣ+ㄱ
ju · ㅈ+ㅜ
ui · ㅇ+ㅢ
ja · ㅈ+ㅏ
비건 — Vegan
Romanization: bi-geon
Sentence: 저는 비건이에요. — I am vegan.
bi
ㅂ + ㅣ
geon
ㄱ + ㅓ + ㄴ
Explain Exactly What You Eat
The words “vegetarian” and “vegan” may be understood differently. State your specific boundaries rather than expecting one label to communicate every ingredient.
| Diet | What to Clarify | Useful Korean |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan | No meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, egg, or other animal-derived ingredients; mention honey if you exclude it. | 동물성 재료를 먹지 않아요. |
| Lacto-ovo vegetarian | No meat, fish, seafood, fish sauce, or animal-based stock; dairy and egg are acceptable. | 고기와 해산물은 안 먹지만 우유와 달걀은 먹어요. |
| Your variation | List each excluded ingredient and whether shared equipment or broth matters to you. | [재료]는 먹지 않아요. |
How to Find Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants
- Search Korean terms: Try 비건 식당 (vegan restaurant), 채식 식당 (vegetarian restaurant), 비건 카페, or 사찰음식.
- Use local map apps: Search Naver Map or KakaoMap with Korean keywords and inspect recent photos, menus, and reviews.
- Use plant-based directories: HappyCow can help discover vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-option venues. Listings are community-maintained, so verify current hours and menu details directly.
- Contact the restaurant: Message or call outside peak hours with a precise list of ingredients you avoid.
- Keep backup options: Save several venues and packaged-food choices in case a restaurant is closed or cannot accommodate your diet.
Korean Dishes Worth Investigating
These dishes can be plant-based in some versions, but their names alone do not confirm ingredients. Verify the exact restaurant recipe.
| Dish | What to Check | Suggested Question |
|---|---|---|
| Temple food 사찰음식 | It excludes most animal-derived ingredients, but official tourism guidance notes an exception for dairy. Confirm the venue's ingredients and your definition of vegan. | 우유나 유제품이 들어가나요? |
| Vegetable bibimbap 야채 비빔밥 | Meat, egg, gochujang ingredients, cooking oil, and side dishes | 고기와 달걀 없이 만들 수 있나요? |
| Vegetable gimbap 야채김밥 | Ham, egg, fish cake, imitation crab, mayonnaise, and shared preparation | 햄, 달걀, 어묵, 맛살이 들어가나요? |
| Cold soybean noodles 콩국수 | Noodle ingredients, broth additions, egg garnish, and kimchi served alongside | 면이나 국물에 동물성 재료가 들어가나요? |
| Mixed noodles 비빔국수 | Fish sauce, broth, meat, egg, and sauce ingredients | 양념에 액젓이나 육수가 들어가나요? |
Hidden Animal-Derived Ingredients to Check
| Ingredient | Korean | Where It May Appear |
|---|---|---|
| Anchovy broth | 멸치 육수 | Soups, stews, noodles, sauces, tteokbokki |
| Fish sauce | 액젓 | Kimchi, seasoning mixtures, side dishes |
| Salted shrimp | 새우젓 | Kimchi, soups, stews, sauces |
| Meat stock / bone broth | 고기 육수 / 사골 육수 | Soups, stews, sauces, rice dishes |
| Fish cake | 어묵 | Gimbap, tteokbokki, soups, side dishes |
| Egg / dairy | 달걀 / 유제품 | Noodles, bakery items, batter, drinks, sauces, garnishes |
Kimchi and banchan recipes differ. Some use fish sauce or salted seafood and some do not. Ask about the exact batch instead of treating every example as universal.
Essential Korean Vegan and Vegetarian Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 비건이에요. | Jeo-neun bi-geon-i-e-yo. | I am vegan. |
| 저는 채식주의자예요. | Jeo-neun chae-sik-ju-ui-ja-ye-yo. | I am a vegetarian. |
| 동물성 재료를 먹지 않아요. | Dong-mul-seong jae-ryo-reul meok-ji a-na-yo. | I do not eat animal-derived ingredients. |
| 고기, 생선, 해산물, 달걀, 유제품을 먹지 않아요. | Go-gi, saeng-seon, hae-san-mul, dal-gyal, yu-je-pu-meul meok-ji a-na-yo. | I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, eggs, or dairy. |
| 육수에 멸치나 고기가 들어가나요? | Yuk-su-e myeol-chi-na go-gi-ga deu-reo-ga-na-yo? | Does the broth contain anchovy or meat? |
| 양념에 액젓이나 새우젓이 들어가나요? | Yang-nyeom-e aek-jeo-si-na sae-u-jeo-si deu-reo-ga-na-yo? | Does the seasoning contain fish sauce or salted shrimp? |
| 이 메뉴를 비건으로 만들 수 있나요? | I me-nyu-reul bi-geon-eu-ro man-deul su in-na-yo? | Can this menu item be made vegan? |
| 성분표를 보여 주세요. | Seong-bun-pyo-reul bo-yeo ju-se-yo. | Please show me the ingredient label. |
Real-Life Restaurant Dialogues
1. Checking Bibimbap
Traveler: 저는 비건이에요. 이 비빔밥에 고기나 달걀이 들어가나요?
I am vegan. Does this bibimbap contain meat or egg?
Staff: 고기와 달걀이 들어가요.
It contains meat and egg.
Traveler: 양념과 육수에도 동물성 재료가 들어가나요?
Do the seasoning or stock also contain animal-derived ingredients?
Staff: 확인해 볼게요.
I will check.
2. Checking a Noodle Sauce
Traveler: 비빔국수 양념에 액젓이나 육수가 들어가나요?
Does the bibim-guksu sauce contain fish sauce or stock?
Staff: 네, 액젓이 조금 들어가요.
Yes, it contains a little fish sauce.
Traveler: 알겠습니다. 다른 비건 메뉴가 있나요?
I understand. Is there another vegan menu item?
3. Asking at a Café
Traveler: 우유 대신 두유나 오트 음료로 바꿀 수 있나요?
Can you replace the milk with soy or an oat drink?
Barista: 오트 음료로 변경할 수 있어요.
We can change it to an oat drink.
Traveler: 이 시럽이나 토핑에도 유제품이 들어가나요?
Do the syrup or topping contain dairy too?
Packaged Foods, Convenience Stores, and Cafés
- Look for 비건: A vegan claim or certification is useful, but confirm that it matches your standards and inspect the current package.
- Read 원재료명: This means “ingredients.” Check compound ingredients, flavorings, powders, and sauces.
- Check 함유: It means “contains” and often appears near an allergen declaration.
- Do not judge by the product name: Vegetable gimbap, rice snacks, bread, instant noodles, and sauces can still contain animal-derived ingredients.
- Ask about café extras: Plant-based milk availability varies, and syrups, whipped toppings, powders, pastries, and shared equipment may not be vegan.
Practice Quiz
Select each question to reveal the answer.
1. How do you say “I am vegan”?
Answer: 저는 비건이에요.
2. Which phrase asks whether broth contains anchovy or meat?
Answer: 육수에 멸치나 고기가 들어가나요?
3. Why can vegetable gimbap still be unsuitable?
Answer: It may contain egg, ham, fish cake, imitation crab, mayonnaise, or other ingredients.
4. Does 사찰음식 always equal vegan?
Answer: Not automatically. Official tourism guidance notes that temple food may make an exception for dairy, so verify the venue.
5. What does 성분표를 보여 주세요 mean?
Answer: Please show me the ingredient label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is kimchi vegan in Korea?
Some kimchi is vegan and some contains fish sauce, salted shrimp, or other seafood ingredients. Ask about the recipe or choose a product clearly labeled for your diet.
Is Korean temple food vegan?
It excludes most animal-derived ingredients, but Korea Tourism Organization guidance notes an exception for dairy. Confirm the particular restaurant or temple program.
Is kong-guksu always vegan?
No dish should be assumed vegan from its name. Check the noodles, broth additions, garnish, and side dishes at that restaurant.
Is Korean soy sauce always vegan and gluten-free?
Do not assume either. Formulas differ, and many products contain wheat. Check the exact product label and any other ingredients relevant to your diet.
Is HappyCow reliable for Korea?
It can help locate plant-based options, but listings and reviews are community-generated. Confirm the venue's current opening hours, menu, and ingredients directly.
Key Takeaway
Search with Korean keywords, favor dedicated venues, define your exact diet, and ask about broth, sauces, seasonings, garnishes, and side dishes. Treat dish names and directory listings as starting points—not ingredient guarantees.
