Korean BBQ and meat stews rule the Korean food scene, but tucked away in Seoul are some of the best vegan cafes and bakeries. From veggie burgers and mac and cheese to double chocolate cake, here’s a breakdown of the best vegan food in Seoul!
When I went to Seoul—besides being super excited to explore the country—I was worried about whether or not I would be able to find some decent vegan food or any vegan food at all. Coming from New York City, which has over 140 vegan restaurants, you could call me spoiled.
But I was definitely proven wrong. Seoul is home to more vegan food than you think and all of it is delicious! Here are some of my favorites:
Plant Cafe Seoul
Plant Cafe was number one on my go-to list! Before I got to Seoul, I did some “vegan food in Korea” Google stalking and found the now defunct blog Alien’s Day Out. The owner of Plant Cafe, Mipa, used to run the blog where she shared her favorite vegan places before eventually opening up one of her own.
Plant Cafe is located in Itaewon, the foreigner district of Seoul (this is definitely the area to go to if you’re craving food from back home). The menu changes on a weekly basis, but you’ll find everything from yummy lentil veggie burrito bowls to West African peanut stew. Trust me, everything is so good. There are also plenty of desserts! Much like the entree menu, the dessert options change frequently depending on what’s in season. Red velvet, chocolate peanut butter, and carrot cake are some of their staples.
Huggers
Huggers is a vegan burger joint also conveniently located in Itaewon and it has some of the best vegan food in Seoul. Their menu features any kind of veggie burger you could want, from a bulgogi one to a “double cheese burger.” Plus, if you get there early enough, you can try their brunch special, which has pancakes, tofu scramble, wedge fries, a salad AND a coffee. Decent prices and delicious food…what more could you want?
The Bread Blue
When I went to Korea, I was super excited to discover that there was a vegan bakery right around the corner from my hostel in Hongdae, and you can bet I went there way too much. It was called Veggie Holic and since then I heard it closed down, but I was excited to find out that the owners have reopened another location in Hongdae under a new moniker: The Bread Blue.
This place is a vegan in Seoul’s dream come true. They have shelf after shelf of delicious vegan pastries and breads! They even have traditional Korean pastries like red bean bread too. But if you were too ask me, their chocolate croissants are what to get.
If you’re craving something sweet, definitely go check it out! They also have another location in Sinchon.
Cook and Book
Cook and Book is a cooking school in the Hongdae/Hapjeong area, but they also have a café. They have your traditional café favorites, like iced Americano, as well as tons of yummy cakes and pastries. The best part of all: the vegan ice cream!
Loving Hut
Loving Hut is a vegan chain of restaurants that you can find all around the world, and if you’re craving something quick and easy, this is the place to go. They have two locations in Gangnam—one is called Loving Hut Smile and the other is called Loving Hut Cafe.
The café has frappuccinos, fruit smoothies, and tons of organic herbal teas. They even have a vegan version of the famous Korean dessert, Patbingsu (a shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings, such as ice cream, fruit, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and red beans). The Smile location is all about entrees—from vegan pizza and cream pasta to soy varieties of Korean fried chicken.
Vegetus
Vegetus is a relatively new vegan restaurant that opened up in Itaewon last November. They’ve got spicy coconut curry, vegan tuna wraps, and even some homemade iced teas. Their menu is focused on fresh and seasonal dishes that are both healthy and delicious! They were even featured on the JTBC Korean show We Will Eat Well (잘 먹겠습니다 in Korean).
According to their Instagram, they are planning to open up a small space within their restaurant to sell organic and vegan products too, so if you’re craving some So Delicious soy milk, you know where to go.
After you’re done spending all day checking out the beauty and skin care products in Myeongdong or the trendy fast fashion of Hongdae and you can’t walk another second without eating, now you know where to find the best vegan food in Seoul!