Vegan Seoul

Seoul has quietly become one of Asia’s most exciting cities for plant-based eating — and its food scene proves it at every turn. From a Michelin Bib Gourmand Korean-Chinese bistro to serene Buddhist temple cuisine steps from a famous landmark, from a beloved Itaewon institution that’s been winning over vegans and non-vegans alike since 2013 to innovative bakeries tucked away in ancient hanok alleys, this city offers extraordinary depth and variety for plant-based travellers. Whether you’re based in Itaewon, Gangnam, or exploring Bukchon’s historic streets, here’s your guide to the very best vegan spots in Seoul — tried, loved, and highly recommended.

Seoul’s vegan scene stretches across a beautifully diverse set of neighbourhoods — from the international energy of Itaewon and Haebangchon to the cultural richness of Bukchon and Insadong, and the sleek modernity of Gangnam. You’ll find Michelin-recognised temple cuisine sitting alongside vegan fried tofu “chicken”, experimental pizza, and dreamy stone-oven bakeries, all within one of the world’s most dynamic food cities. Let’s dig in.

Best Vegan Restaurants in Seoul

1. Plant Cafe Seoul — The Beloved Itaewon Institution That Started It All

Plant Cafe Seoul is one of those rare restaurants that genuinely helped shape a city’s food culture. When it opened its doors in Itaewon in July 2013, there was almost nowhere in Seoul serving serious, satisfying, 100% plant-based food — and Plant changed that overnight. More than a decade later, it remains the cornerstone of Seoul’s vegan scene, beloved by long-time residents and first-time visitors in equal measure. The menu is a confident collection of Western comfort food done brilliantly: think loaded bowls, wraps, sandwiches, pasta, and hearty veggie burgers, alongside a bakery counter stacked with vegan cakes and pastries that are worth the trip on their own. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the portions are generous, and the cooking consistently delivers the kind of satisfying, unpretentious food that makes you want to return again and again. Plant isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an institution, and every visit feels like coming home to something familiar and wonderful.

💡 Tip: Don’t leave without trying something from the bakery counter — the vegan cakes and desserts are exceptional and frequently sell out by the afternoon. Plant is closed on Mondays; open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am–10pm, with a kitchen break from 3–5pm on weekdays (the bar and bakery remain open throughout).

📍 117 Bogwang-ro, 2F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | 📞 +82 2-749-1981 | 🌐 plantcafeseoul.com | 📸 @plantcafeseoul

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2. ALT.a — A Michelin Bib Gourmand Pick for Vegan Korean-Chinese

ALT.a is something genuinely remarkable: a 100% plant-based restaurant in Itaewon that has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand — the guide’s celebrated recognition for outstanding quality and value — with a menu rooted entirely in Korean-Chinese cuisine. If you’ve ever loved jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or tangsuyuk (crispy sweet-and-sour), ALT.a will absolutely stop you in your tracks. Every dish is made with plant-based ingredients, yet the flavours are deep, complex, and deeply satisfying in the way that great Korean-Chinese food always is. The vegan jjajangmyeon is rich and silky, the crispy tangsuyuk has the perfect crunch, and dishes like vegan jjamppong and mapo tofu showcase just how brilliantly plant-based cooking can reinterpret a beloved culinary tradition. The space is clean and contemporary, the service is attentive, and the prices — as befits a Bib Gourmand — are remarkably reasonable for the quality on offer. This is one of Seoul’s most exciting restaurants, full stop.

💡 Tip: The vegan jjajangmyeon and the crispy tangsuyuk are the signature dishes — order both if you can. Reservations are highly recommended as the space is small and demand is high since the Michelin recognition. Check their Instagram or CatchTable for the latest booking info.

📍 Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | 📸 @alt.a_official

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3. Balwoo Gongyang — Michelin-Recognised Buddhist Temple Cuisine at Jogyesa

Balwoo Gongyang is not simply a vegan restaurant that happens to serve temple food — it is one of South Korea’s most extraordinary culinary experiences, and one that holds a unique and irreplaceable place in Seoul’s food culture. Run by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism — the largest Buddhist denomination in the country — Balwoo Gongyang opened in 2009 with a mission to share the philosophy and practice of Korean temple cuisine with the world. It sits on the fifth floor of the TempleStay Integrated Information Center, directly across the street from Jogyesa Temple in the heart of Insadong, and the setting alone — serene, beautifully considered, and quietly removed from the city’s bustle below — makes dining here feel like a genuine occasion. The food follows traditional temple cuisine principles: entirely plant-based, with no garlic, onion, chives, leeks, or green onions (the “five pungent roots” avoided in Buddhist cooking), and made with seasonal ingredients and fermented components that reflect centuries of culinary wisdom. The result is cuisine of remarkable subtlety and depth — multi-course meals where every element is crafted with care, restraint, and a profound understanding of flavour. Michelin has recognised Balwoo Gongyang’s significance, and rightly so. This is not just a meal; it is a cultural and spiritual experience unlike anything else available in the city.

💡 Tip: Reservations are essential — Balwoo Gongyang operates on a session-based system for both lunch and dinner and fills up well in advance. Book through their official website or via AutoReserve. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Korean public holidays. Nearest metro: Anguk Station, Line 3, Exit 6 (3-minute walk).

📍 5F, 56 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 📞 +82-2-733-2081 | 🌐 eng.balwoo.or.kr | 📸 @balwoogongyang_official

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4. Plantude — Creative Vegan Dining in the Heart of COEX Mall

Plantude is one of the most exciting developments in Seoul’s plant-based food scene in recent years — a sleek, fully vegan restaurant operated by Pulmuone, one of Korea’s leading food companies, located right inside the iconic Starfield COEX Mall in Gangnam. What sets Plantude apart is its use of the Plantspired range — Korea’s own premium plant-based ingredient line — to create dishes that confidently bridge Korean and Western cooking traditions. The menu is inventive and wide-ranging: you might find veganised bibimbap alongside plant-based tteokbokki, a hearty brunch platter, falafel pita, or carefully crafted pasta, all made without any animal products and with a level of culinary polish that reflects the serious intent behind the concept. The space itself is modern and stylish, making it the kind of place you’d happily linger over a long lunch, and its position inside COEX means it’s wonderfully convenient whether you’re shopping, visiting the aquarium, or exploring the Gangnam neighbourhood. For a certified vegan dining experience in one of Seoul’s most visited destinations, Plantude is a genuinely impressive choice.

💡 Tip: Plantude holds full vegan certification — a rarity in Korea — so you can order with complete confidence. Open daily from 11am–9pm, making it a great option for lunch or an early dinner while exploring Gangnam. The restaurant is inside COEX Mall; follow the signs from the main mall entrance.

📍 Starfield COEX Mall, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 📞 02-551-3933 | 📸 @plantude.official

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5. Monk’s Butcher — Hearty Vegan Comfort Food With a Legendary Rooftop (Closing End of 2026!)

Monk’s Butcher has built one of the most devoted followings in Seoul’s vegan community, and it’s easy to understand why. This is hearty, unapologetically satisfying comfort food — the kind that silences sceptics and delights anyone lucky enough to sit down to it. The star of the show is the tofu “chicken” burger: crispy, juicy, deeply flavourful, and the kind of thing you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve left Seoul. Alongside it, the menu delivers a range of vegan Korean and Western comfort food dishes, from loaded fries to cheesy, satisfying plates that feel genuinely indulgent without a trace of compromise. The rooftop space is a real draw — especially on warm evenings, with views over the neighbourhood and the relaxed, convivial atmosphere that Monk’s Butcher does so well. It’s worth noting that the Dosan branch has already closed, but the Itaewon location is confirmed to be operating through the end of 2026 — so if you’re visiting Seoul this year, do not miss the chance to experience one of the city’s most beloved vegan spots before it closes its doors for good.

💡 Tip: The orange tofu chicken is the unmissable order — it’s what made Monk’s Butcher famous and remains the best thing on the menu. Open Monday to Friday from 5pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 2pm, closing at 10:30pm. Visit sooner rather than later — this restaurant is closing at the end of 2026.

📍 Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | 📞 +82 02-790-1108 | 📸 @monksbutcher

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6. Nammi Plant Lab — Innovative Plant-Based Western Cuisine With a Legendary Mushroom Risotto

Nammi Plant Lab is a genuine gem of Seoul’s vegan dining scene — a 100% plant-based restaurant run by a Colombian owner that brings innovative Western-leaning cuisine to the neighbourhood near Sadang Station with warmth, creativity, and real culinary ambition. The menu spans pasta, pizza, risotto, paella, and salads, all executed with the kind of care and confidence that makes every visit feel like a discovery. But it is the truffle mushroom risotto that has taken on near-legendary status among Seoul’s plant-based community: a deeply rich, beautifully creamy dish featuring nine different mushrooms with truffle oil and paste that delivers layer upon layer of earthy, luxurious flavour. It’s the kind of dish that demonstrates, without any argument whatsoever, that plant-based cooking can be extraordinary. The restaurant has a pet-friendly atmosphere, generous portions, and remarkably reasonable prices for the quality of food on offer. If you’re in the southern part of the city — or even if you’re not — Nammi Plant Lab is worth making the journey for.

💡 Tip: Order the truffle mushroom risotto — it’s the dish that has made Nammi Plant Lab famous and it genuinely lives up to the hype. Open Monday to Friday 12pm–4pm and 5:30pm–9pm, and Saturday 12pm–9pm. Closed Sundays. Nearest metro: Sadang Station, Lines 2 and 4.

📍 Seocho-gu, Seoul (near Sadang Station) | 📞 +82-2-522-1276 | 📸 @nammiplantlab

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7. Vegetus — 100% Vegan and Gluten-Free Comfort Food in Quiet Haebangchon

Vegetus occupies a special place in Seoul’s vegan landscape as one of the very few restaurants in the city that is simultaneously 100% vegan and comprehensively gluten-free. Tucked into the quiet, characterful streets of Haebangchon — a neighbourhood known for its relaxed, international feel just above Itaewon — Vegetus serves up Western comfort food classics reimagined entirely without animal products or gluten, and the results are genuinely impressive. The mac and cheese is the dish that regulars rave about most: made with gluten-free elbow pasta, a rich cashew cheese sauce, and soy cream, it’s indulgent, satisfying, and beautifully executed. Beyond the mac and cheese, the menu extends to lasagna, bolognese, burgers, falafel, and desserts including gluten-free brownies and pumpkin pie — all made with the same commitment to quality and inclusivity. The space itself is cosy and eco-friendly with a warm, retro ambiance that makes it a perfect spot for a long, relaxed meal. For vegans with gluten sensitivities — or anyone who simply wants to eat very well — Vegetus is an essential Seoul destination.

💡 Tip: The mac and cheese is a non-negotiable order — it’s the dish that made Vegetus famous, and for very good reason. The gluten-free brownie is equally essential as a finish. Vegetus is in Haebangchon (also known as HBC), a short walk uphill from Itaewon Station. Check their Instagram for current opening hours before visiting.

📍 59 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Haebangchon) | 📸 @vegetuskr

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8. Ashville Bakery — An All-Vegan Stone-Oven Bakery Hidden in the Bukchon Hanok Alleys

Ashville Bakery is the kind of discovery that makes exploring a city on foot so deeply rewarding. Hidden on a quiet lane in the Bukchon Hanok Village neighbourhood — one of Seoul’s most beautiful and historically rich areas, famous for its preserved traditional Korean houses — this all-vegan stone-oven bakery turns out some of the finest plant-based bread and pastries in the city. The ciabatta is the star: baked fresh in the stone oven every day, with a beautifully crackling crust and a light, open crumb that pairs perfectly with the range of creative vegan spreads on offer — from basil cream to garlic and onion butter. Alongside the ciabatta, the bakery produces a rotating selection of cakes, sandwiches, and pastries that make it the perfect stop for a slow morning or afternoon as you wander the hanok alleys. The space itself is welcoming and spacious, with an atmosphere that feels entirely in harmony with the ancient neighbourhood around it. Ashville Bakery is a genuine hidden gem — and one of the most charming places to eat in all of Seoul.

💡 Tip: Arrive in the morning when the bread is freshest and the full range of pastries is available — popular items sell out as the day goes on. Open daily from 10:30am to 6pm (until 7pm on Saturdays). Tucked at 5-5 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, a short walk from Anguk Station, Line 3.

📍 5-5 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 📸 @ashville_bakery

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9. Weirdough — Experimental Vegan Pizza and Pasta That Will Leave You Speechless

Weirdough is exactly what its name suggests: a deeply individual, experimental, wholly plant-based pizza and pasta restaurant that approaches its craft with a playful creativity and genuine artisan commitment that sets it apart from everything else in Seoul’s vegan dining landscape. Located near Yonsei University in the Seodaemun area, Weirdough makes everything from scratch — from the hand-stretched dough to the house-made plant-based cheese — and the results are extraordinary. The pizzas here are not just the best vegan pizza in Seoul; they are among the best pizza full stop, with a crust that achieves the kind of airy, blistered perfection that would impress in any pizzeria in Naples or Rome. The pasta dishes are equally inventive, with unexpected flavour combinations and techniques that make every visit feel genuinely one-of-a-kind. The space is cosy, intimate, and full of the kind of personality that comes from a place built entirely around craft and passion. If you eat at one experimental, off-the-beaten-path vegan restaurant in Seoul, make it Weirdough.

💡 Tip: Weirdough operates on limited hours — typically open Wednesday evenings, and Friday to Sunday for both lunch and dinner (roughly 12pm–3pm and 5pm–9pm, but check their Instagram for the current schedule). The restaurant fills up quickly, so arriving early or reserving ahead is strongly advised. Find them at 2F, 80 Jeongga-ro, Seodaemun-gu.

📍 2F, 80 Jeongga-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul | 📸 @weirdough.friends

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Tips for Vegan Travellers in Seoul

Seoul’s vegan scene is spread across several distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own energy and character. Itaewon and neighbouring Haebangchon are the most internationally-oriented hubs, home to Plant Cafe, ALT.a, Monk’s Butcher, and Vegetus — and are easily explored together on a single day. Insadong and Bukchon, on the northern side of the river, offer a more culturally rich experience: Balwoo Gongyang at Jogyesa Temple and Ashville Bakery in the hanok alleys make for a wonderful combination. For a Gangnam day, Plantude at COEX pairs beautifully with exploring the neighbourhood’s parks and galleries.

If you’re planning a full vegan day in Seoul, a wonderful route would begin with fresh-baked ciabatta at Ashville Bakery in Bukchon, followed by a visit to Jogyesa Temple and lunch at Balwoo Gongyang for the full temple cuisine experience. In the afternoon, head to Itaewon to explore Plant Cafe and pick up pastries, then finish the evening with dinner at ALT.a for the Michelin-recognised vegan jjajangmyeon. Add Weirdough for an experimental pizza dinner on a separate evening, and you’ll have experienced some of the finest plant-based food available anywhere in Asia.

A note on Monk’s Butcher: the restaurant is confirmed to be closing at the end of 2026, so if you’re visiting Seoul this year, prioritise it. It’s one of the most beloved spots in the city’s vegan community, and the tofu “chicken” burger alone is worth the trip. Don’t miss your chance.

Have you explored Seoul’s vegan scene? I’d love to hear your favourite spots — drop them in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions