Vegetarianism in Seoul - Some Places to Go
Wow, of late my blog is completely a pro-Obama tome and has very little to do with Korea. Then again, I've been more focused than not on my country these last few weeks. I just got back a few days ago from a week in my hometown of L.A. I was there for a wedding and I had a blast.
Anyway, before I left I decided that I would go back to mostly eating vegetarian style meals simply because I've not been eating as healthy as I should and my body shows it. "Vegetarian style" also means I'm not a strict vegetarian. I'm someone who will still eat meat from time to time. I decided this for purely health reasons. If I force myself to eschew meat, I'll just make healthier choices. As an insulin dependent diabetic, I've got to say that if it comes between me and a lab rat in researching possible cures for my disease, I'm all for taking the lab rat out. In that sense, it's simply hypocritical for me to even try to be a moral vegetarian. That sort of reasoning has been constant with me, when I was a vegetarian in college I was never a judgmental one.
With that said, living in Korea as a vegetarian can be a challenge. There are traces of animal products in so many foods and, if you don't know the language, it can be difficult knowing what is what.
Since I'm coming back to the fold, at least in part, let me help others who think like I do with a list of vegetarian restaurants and healthy food stores someone forwarded to me.
This is all from the Happy Cow website.
Vegetarian Restaurants: (19 Listings)
Shigol Shaenghwal (at Gangnamgu Shinsa St, subway 3, gate 2)
NOTE: As of March 2008, restaurant has relocated... please send new address and information to HappyCow - thanks!
Reviews(5): read reviews / write review 
30-9 Guan Hoon Dong, Jong Ro gu, Insadong (at Insadong Street, subway 3/An-Kuk station, gate 6)
Seoul vegan restaurant serving home style traditional Korean food in a friendly and clean atmosphere. Buffet restaurant, costs around 10,000 won. Accept credit cards. Open 11:30-14:30 and 17:00-20:30, closed Sunday.
Reviews(2): read reviews / write review 
Hoeghie subway 1
Also an organic food market and Christian bookstore. Stock varies and might include veggie meat, organic legumes, medicinal honey.
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196-6 Kwanhun-dong, Chongno-gu
Korean vegetarian will consist of a lot of tofu, probably bibimbap, (vegetables on top of rice with an egg on top) a lot of tofu and seaweed based soups, savory thin pancakes with green onions and chile peppers, lots of side dishes (different kinds of kimchi and rice, seasoned seaweed, thin soups) and fried vegetable fritters. It will be as flavorful as you like, usually you can add your own seasoning.
Reviews: write review
Gangnamgu Seounryung (at subway 2)
Seoul vegetarian restaurant serving veggie Korean food. Uses some organic ingredients.
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Insa-Dong 4 Gil (at Metro:1 line JongGak/3 line AnGuk/5 line JongRo3Ga)
Seoul vegetarian restaurant owned by well-known Korean vegetarian food company, Vegifood. 60-seats and Korean style seating. Each 12 tables introduce the world 12 Saints' wise sayings and their pictures. Food is mostly Korean and Chinese, yet you can have pasta and salad as well. No use galic & green onion. Located at Insadong near NakWonSangGa where there are many Korean traditional crafts and art works in the area.
Reviews(4): read reviews / write review 
Insa-Dong
Features excellent panchan (side dishes), soups, vegetable dishes, and traditional music & dance. Started by a former monk.
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229-10 Poi-dong (at Yangjae station on Orange line, Exit 5)
Vegetarian restaurant operated by a meditation center with a small vegetarian grocery store inside that is open throughout the day. Buddhist monks dine here often. Around US10 dollars (12,000 won) for all-you-can-eat buffet featuring some vege meats and changing dishes. Open 12-2:30 pm and 6-9pm. Directions: South of the Han River in Poi-dong. Take the subway to Yangjae Station, go out exit 5 and turn right, walk about one minute to the bus stop, and take bus 4430 and get off two stops later. There's a Starbucks across the street. Cross the street and turn right. You'll see the restaurant sign on your left. Or take a taxi from Yangjae Station to the Samhomulsan area (around 3,000 won).
Reviews(6): read reviews / write review
Insa-Dong Gil Street (at Anguk station on Line 3 (Orange line), exit Insa-Dong)
Nice vegetarian restaurant in basement of building. Menu is in Korean and English, and English is spoken. Sample items include Korean pancake, bi-bim-bap (Korean traditional vegetables and rice) without egg upon request, free refills of rice and side dishes. Also offers a fixed menu meal for around 10,000 won (about US$10.50). Interior is natural wood, and guest sit at regular tables or on the floor. A popular place with monks from nearby chogye-sa (temple), though the restaurant is run by Christians. Closed Sunday. Directions: After train exit, walk straight pass Tourist Information booth on right, art store on left. Walk across Insa-Dong Street towards convenience store in front. Go right when you get to convenience store. Entrance is between GS25 convenience store and bank, and is marked by large vertical black-and-white sign with the name in two Chinese characters, the English words "Sosim" and "Vegetarian Restaurant."
Reviews(7): read reviews / write review
Itaewon Station, Exit 1
Not 100% Vegetarian. Seoul Indian restaurants operated by an Indian family from Punjab. Menu incudes some vegetarian dishes. Will host parties at around 15,000 won per person for a custom-order vegetarian buffet. Open daily. Directions: From Itaewon Station Exit 1, go straight, and turn right at the second alley (there's a shoe store at the mouth, restaurant is on the left, across from a bakery.
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84-14 Gwanhun-dong (at Exit 6, Jongno-gu, Subway Line 3, Anguk Station)
Not 100% Vegetarian. Korean food based on medicinal herbs and roots. Menu is largely vegetarian though one dish features snails. Owner speaks English. Accept credit cards. Closed Sunday. Direction: Take Exit 6 from Anguk station, there's a small side street between the exit and the police station, follow the block around to the left, and look for the signs.
Reviews(108): read reviews / write review
Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu
Not 100% Vegetarian. The vegetarian set meal comes with a shrimp side-dish and small fish side-dish so ask about it. Note: Korean vegetarian will consist of a lot of tofu, probably bibimbap, (vegetables on top of rice with an egg on top) a lot of tofu and seaweed based soups, savory thin pancakes with green onions and chile peppers, lots of side dishes (different kinds of kimchi and rice, seasoned seaweed, thin soups) and fried vegetable fritters. It will be as flavorful as you like, usually you can add your own seasoning.
Reviews: write review
190-12 Changchung 2-ga, Chung-gu
Not 100% Vegetarian.
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726-54 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu
Not 100% Vegetarian.
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632-2 Shinsa-dong, Kangnam-gu
Not 100% Vegetarian
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Moon-Jung Dong, Song-Pa Gu
Not a restaurant. Bakery only, offers vegan-friendly cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, and more. No butter, milk, or eggs used. Open 8.00-22.00. Confirmed open as of Nov 07 in this new Seoul headquater location. Also confirmed open as of Nov 07 at other locations all hours approximately 10.30-22.00 at: Sinsegae Department Store, Myung-Dong Branch, Seoul; Sinsegee Department Store, Kang-Nam Branch, Seoul; Sinsegae Department Store, Jook-Jun Branch, Gyung-Gi-Do; Hyundai Department Store, Mok-Dong Branch, Seoul; Hyundai Department Store, Chun-Ho Branch, Seoul; Samsung Plaza Store, Bundang Branch, Gyung-Gi-Do.
Reviews(2): read reviews / write review
Health Food Stores: (1 Listing)
Huckleberry Farms
Apgujeongno, Gangnam (at Eonjuro)
Sells a range of organic products including fresh fruits and vegetables. Has a small section of beauty products, baby food, and organic korean ginseng. Also a branch in Bundang at Jongja, near Quiznos.
Reviews: write review
Having taken a step into the world of blogging, I've been browsing, and came upon your blog. When I was vegan, there was this amazing restaurant in Incheon, which I think was contingent upon a nunnery or something of the sort. Anyhow it was called "산달바람". They were very conscious of also using free-trade coffee and such.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot and good luck in the blogosphere ;)
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