Links provided below for Vegan Food In Seoul, Hapjeong and Hongdae :)
When I first traveled to South Korea, at first glance, I believed it to be a vegan mecca. I was lucky enough to stay with a friend in a neighborhood called HBC. Known mostly for its high volumes of foreign inhabitants. It’s true that around this area, it’s not too difficult to come across vegan food in Seoul.
However, after officially moving here two years later and exploring a lot more of the beautiful capital, I soon realised I’d had it pretty easy in HBC and finding vegan food day to day was going to be much more of a task. Personally, if you’re a vegan exploring Seoul and surrounding areas, it’s a good idea to plan ahead where you’re going to eat. Often, I have ended up in an unfamiliar district, lost in the labyrinth of streets, hunger growing by the second, and ended up eating at a convenience store. So here I decided to share a rundown of some of my favourite places to eat. (Definitely worth planning your sightseeing around.)
Table of Contents:
1. Yammy Yomil
Yammy Yomil is a cafe, bakery AND burger place. Situated in Hapjeong, there are a ton of beautiful cafes and streets to explore nearby. You’re also within walking distance of Hongdae. One of the busiest, eclectic shopping areas in Seoul. The decor is minimal, with lots of marble tables and wooden pallet-style display showcasing all the bakery treats. Since discovering this gem, we’ve eaten here a lot and never left disappointed.
The burger menu is extensive. You can choose between two types of burgers: a soy patty or a grain burger. There are also many variations of the two! You can have your burger with mushrooms, vegan cheese and bacon, vegan mayo, avocado, BBQ style, with apple sauce…the list goes on. There is also an option to turn your burger into a meal, adding fries (wedges) and a drink.
If you’re not in the mood for a burger, they have a ton of bread options, too. From vegan crab meat sandwiches, tomato and olive ciabatta, garlic bread, veggie-loaded baguettes…the bakery is fantastic.
Lastly, they also have a fairly wide range of desserts. They offer biscuits, cookies, cream buns, chocolate cake, cheesecake, muffins! I usually eat well and leave with treats for the next couple of days, too. The food here is divine, but what makes it even better is the price! For two burger meals (including fries and a drink), the total comes to a minimal 14,000 won. This is a lot cheaper than other vegan food in Seoul.
2. Cook & Book
Cook and Book is a lunch cafe with a very cosy and homely vibe. I really love this place; it’s perfect to sit and draw and while away the hours. They have a great menu that really feels super nourishing! Situated in Hapjeong – it’s a little off the beaten track but by no means hard to find if you’re using Naver maps.
They offer more Korean-style dishes. For example, the two burger options don’t have bread but sauce and lots of veggies. They also provide lasagne, cauliflower buffalo wings (spicy), and more. Everything I’ve eaten here so far has been so delicious and felt very healthy!
This great little place also offers some dessert options, like matcha brownies, strawberry chocolate cakes, and ice cream! I would highly recommend the Affogato! Also, on the floor above the cafe, you can usually see a cat in the window, which is obviously a bonus. If you’re looking for vegan food in Seoul, this is a spot you don’t want to miss!
3. Raw By Twins
Where I’m from, there’s a vegan doughnut shop I’ve been dying to try since I found it on Instagram. I haven’t yet had a chance to go (on account of living in Korea), Though it did awaken in me an unquenchable thirst for vegan doughnuts! When I found out there was a place in Hapjeong offering raw vegan doughnuts, I HAD to go.
Raw By Twins offers Smoothies, Raw doughnuts and cakes, fudge/protein balls and drinks. The place isn’t really set up like a cafe, so it’s better to take take away. There is a place to sit while you wait for your order, but the set-up does not promote staying a while.
Despite it not being somewhere you can get cosy with a book, it’s still a great place to visit. The place itself is beautiful and does have a bathroom. (A rarity for a lot of cafes in South Korea). The staff have been so wonderful and friendly each time we’ve visited. Everything gels together to make going here a pleasurable experience every time.
The food here is very delicious and feels very nourishing. However, I do feel it’s important to remember that it’s RAW. This is not vegan junk food. Also, be careful when you’re eating it; the doughnuts especially don’t always hold their consistency well. They stay hard when kept in the fridge, but after they’ve been out of the fridge for a while, they start to go very soft. Overall though, delicious! Last weekend, we visited here to get some treats to take to the Han River for a picnic- possibly one of our best ideas yet.
4. Drunken Vegan
When it comes to finding vegan food in Seoul, Drunken Vegan might be one of my faves due to the delicious vibe it has. It’s something I can
This being said, I believe if you book in advance, a bigger group can be accommodated, or if it’s a slow day, the people there have always been SO friendly; I’m certain they’d try their best.
The menu, like the scale, is small but divine! It seems to me they do a select number of dishes delightfully. They use meat substitutes, so they are able to offer a few typical Korean dishes, like seafood soup and pork belly. They also have a few more Western-style dishes, such as lasagne, deep-fried cauliflower, and prawns!! For me, vegan prawns were very surreal. I’d never seen them before! Most dishes cost between 12,000 and 18,000 won. In addition to this, if you visit between 12 and 3 on a weekend, they offer brunch!
It’s a great place for a date night. They have beers, wine, and soju, as well as tea and coffee if you’re planning a visit in the earlier hours. If you’re feeling spicy, this cosy vegan restaurant also offers a wide range of vegan sex toys. I believe the place is affiliated with a company called Eunhasun Toys (linked) and carry the products within. Also, this is certainly unusual. It’s really not off-putting. In my
5. Fell & Cole
Now on-to dessert…
Fell and Cole is a beautiful cafe in Hongdae offering ice creams, sorbets, ice coffees and other beverages. It’s not a totally vegan establishment, unfortunately. However, they do always offer at least two vegan ice creams that differ every week. So it’s still a good option for vegan food in Seoul.
The interior is very pretty and simple, so it’s a lovely place to spend an hour or so. Currently, Seoul summer is in full swing, so full disclaimer: if you take your ice cream out of the shop, it may not last long. The first time I went, they had a vegan mint chocolate chip, which was so delicious! The second time, I tried a strawberry daiquiri flavour, more like a sorbet but also truly scrumptious. (
6. Cafe Sukkara
So, disclaimer, Cafe Sukkara is not totally vegan. They just offer a few vegan options. However, I felt inclined to add this to my list of the best vegan food in Seoul, as when we first moved to Seoul, before we discovered all these other great places, Sukkara in Hongdae was our safe space for Vegan Food. We ate here so many times during our first few months in South Korea, so yeah, it will always have a special place in our hearts.
They label the vegan and vegetarian dishes so you can order with confidence. They offer a chickpea salad, a vegetable stew, bread with cashew cream cheese and a plater that includes tempeh and root veggies. Sukkara always has a changing special; too recently, it was a mushroom pasta. They also have a raw vegan dessert, organic beer and wine, coffee and tea. (The plum tea is a MUST TRY) Produce is sourced from a local farm in Yeoido, Pajeory.
Also, it’s beautiful! The atmosphere is really amazing and the aesthetic is divine. The tones are very earthy, and there are a ton of raw veggies around and things fermenting in jars.
Below, please find a link to the Insta of all these places so you can easily find the address or check our there feed to see if it tickles your fancy – So enjoy! Let me know if you visit any of these places; I’d love to hear your opinions ^^ if you have any more recommendations for vegan eats in SK, I am all ears!
Another good spot for Korean-style vegan food in Seoul is Soiroum; you can read about my experience HERE.