Best Vegan Restaurants in Seoul (2026): Plantude, a Michelin Star and Temple Food

Korea is famous for barbecue, but Seoul has quietly become one of Asia’s best cities for vegans, with a Michelin-starred vegan tasting menu, a Michelin Bib Gourmand vegan noodle bar inside a traditional market, centuries-old Buddhist temple cuisine, and casual cafés where you can order without reading a single ingredient label.

Photo: by Richy! at flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

We picked restaurants that are fully vegan or have clearly vegan menus, and checked for signs that each one is still operating in 2025–2026. For live ratings, hours, and directions, use the Naver Map and Google Maps links under each restaurant. Naver Map is usually more accurate in Korea.

Tank’s #1 pick: Plantude, the fully vegan-certified restaurant at COEX, Yongsan, and Godeok. Don’t leave Seoul without trying it. Also great: for a special night, Légume (Michelin star, 100% plant-based). For a cheap, famous lunch, Gosari Express (Michelin Bib Gourmand). For temple food, Balwoo Gongyang across from Jogyesa Temple. For a casual vegan burger, Plant Cafe in Itaewon.

Restaurant	Area	Style	Price level
Plantude (Tank’s pick)	COEX / Yongsan / Godeok	Vegan Korean & fusion	₩–₩₩
Légume	Sinsa	Vegan fine dining	₩₩₩
Gosari Express	Sindang	Vegan noodles	₩
Balwoo Gongyang	Jongno	Temple food	₩₩–₩₩₩
A Flower Blossom on the Rice	Insadong / Bukchon	Organic Korean	₩₩
Osegyehyang	Insadong	Vegan Korean	₩
Plant Cafe & Kitchen	Itaewon	Vegan café	₩
Monk’s Butcher	Itaewon	Vegan bistro	₩₩
byTOFU	Haebangchon	Vegan brunch	₩
Ashville Bakery Cafe	Bukchon	Vegan bakery	₩

Tank’s Pick: Plantude (플랜튜드), the One Vegan Restaurant You Shouldn’t Miss

If you only eat at one vegan restaurant in Seoul, make it Plantude. It’s my top recommendation for anyone visiting Seoul, vegan or not. It’s run by Pulmuone, one of Korea’s biggest tofu and fresh-food makers, and every item on the roughly 30-dish menu is certified vegan by a Korean vegan certification body. It was the first vegan-certified restaurant run by a major food company, and its three Seoul branches have welcomed nearly half a million visitors. – Tank

The menu mixes Korean flavors with comfort food, so it’s an easy, delicious introduction to plant-based Korean cooking, and it’s located in malls, which makes it convenient between sightseeing stops.

Type: 100% vegan (all dishes vegan-certified)
What to order: gosari (bracken) oil pasta (about ₩16,900), mushroom-tofu gangjeong (about ₩13,500), crumbled-tofu bibimbap with tomato soft tofu stew (about ₩18,000), soup curry (about ₩16,500), and the red bean mochi dessert (about ₩8,000). Sets for two are available.
COEX branch: Starfield COEX Mall B1, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu. 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00). Nearest stations: Samseong (Line 2) or Bongeunsa (Line 9). Naver Map · Google Maps
Yongsan branch: IPARK Mall Taste Park 7F, 55 Hangang-daero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, right by Yongsan Station (Line 1 / KTX). 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00). Naver Map · Google Maps
Godeok branch: Gangdong IPARK The River Mall 4F, 51 Godeokbizvalley-ro, Gangdong-gu (opened April 2025). Naver Map · Google Maps
Booking: walk-in; order on the tablet at your table. Weekday lunch is the easiest time.

1. Légume (레귬): Michelin-Starred Vegan Fine Dining

Asia’s first Michelin-starred vegan restaurant, holding one star in both 2025 and 2026. Seasonal Korean vegetables are turned into a precise, creative tasting menu. Ideal for a celebration.

Type: 100% plant-based tasting menu
What to order: The seasonal tasting menu (price varies; check when booking)
Address: 2F Sinsa Square, 652 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu
Nearest subway: Sinsa Station
Booking: Reservation required; book directly via the restaurant (legume.kr)
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

2. Gosari Express (고사리 익스프레스): Michelin Bib Gourmand Vegan Noodles

A tiny vegan noodle bar inside Seoul Jungang Market that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026. The signature bowl is built around gosari (bracken fern), a classic Korean mountain vegetable.

Type: Vegan
What to order: Gosari Classic noodles (about ₩11,000), perilla bibim noodles (about ₩18,000), gosari butter rice (about ₩5,000)
Address: 1F, 12-10 Toegye-ro 85-gil, Jung-gu (inside Seoul Jungang Market)
Nearest subway: Sindang Station, Exit 2 (2–3 min walk)
Booking: No reservations. Join the queue on the kiosk outside and get a KakaoTalk alert. Open Tuesday–Saturday
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

3. Balwoo Gongyang (발우공양): Korean Temple Cuisine

Run by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Balwoo Gongyang serves elegant temple food courses made without meat, fish, garlic, or onions, in a calm dining room opposite Jogyesa Temple. It was Michelin-starred from 2017 to 2020 and holds two Blue Ribbons.

Type: Temple food; plant-based by tradition (ask if you avoid dairy)
What to order: Seasonal temple food course, from about ₩30,000 for a weekday lunch
Address: 5F, Templestay Information Center, 56 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu
Nearest subway: Anguk Station (Line 3) or Jonggak Station (Line 1)
Booking: Reserve online up to a month ahead. Closed Sundays and public holidays
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

4. A Flower Blossom on the Rice (꽃,밥에피다): Organic Korean

A long-time Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star restaurant known for its beautiful bojagi bibimbap, rice wrapped up like a gift. The rice, soup, and side dishes are vegan by default, with optional meat or seafood add-ons. Some dishes may use egg, so tell staff you are vegan when ordering.

Type: Vegan-friendly Korean (order the vegan versions)
What to order: Bojagi bibimbap, vegan full course
Address: 3-6 Insadong 16-gil, Jongno-gu (the Insadong shop was remodeled in early 2026); second branch at 39 Bukchon-ro
Nearest subway: Anguk Station (3 min walk)
Booking: CatchTable, in timed seatings
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

5. Osegyehyang (오세계향): Vegan Korean Comfort Food

A relaxed, fully vegan Korean restaurant in Insadong with plant-based versions of classic dishes. A good, affordable way to try bulgogi or sweet-and-sour “pork” without the meat.

Type: 100% vegan, no alcohol
What to order: Vegan bulgogi, soft tofu stew, mandu, tangsuyuk (about ₩12,000–22,000)
Address: 14-5 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu
Nearest subway: Anguk Station, Exit 6
Booking: Walk-in. Closed Thursdays
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

6. Plant Cafe & Kitchen (플랜트): Vegan Burgers in Itaewon

One of Seoul’s longest-running vegan cafés and a favorite with expats. Generous burgers, pasta, and some of the best vegan cakes in the city.

Type: 100% vegan
What to order: Avocado burger with fries (about ₩16,500), Earl Grey cake (about ₩7,000)
Address: 2F, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu (second branch in Yeonnam-dong)
Nearest subway: Itaewon Station (Line 6)
Booking: Walk-in, tablet ordering. Closed Mondays
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

7. Monk’s Butcher (몽크스부처): Vegan “Meat” Bistro

A stylish vegan bistro that plays with meaty textures, good for a date night or a group with non-vegan friends. Only the Itaewon location is open; the Dosan branch has closed.

Type: 100% vegan
What to order: Orange tofu “chicken,” mushroom bourguignon, banana pudding
Address: 228-1 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu
Nearest subway: Itaewon area (check the map link for the closest exit)
Booking: CatchTable
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

8. byTOFU (바이두부): Vegan Brunch in Haebangchon

A bright brunch spot built around tofu bowls and fresh salads, up the hill in the expat-friendly Haebangchon neighborhood.

Type: 100% vegan
What to order: Sunrise Bowl, broccoli tofu salad bowl, seaweed pesto pasta
Address: 10 Sowol-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu
Nearest subway: Noksapyeong Station (about a 15-minute uphill walk)
Booking: No reservations; opens 9 a.m.
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

9. Ashville Bakery Cafe (애쉬빌 베이커리 카페): Vegan Bakes in Bukchon

A vegan bakery-café near Bukchon Hanok Village, handy for a break between palace visits. Look out for its vegan take on the viral Dubai chewy cookie.

Type: Vegan bakery
What to order: Mushroom ciabatta sandwich, pistachio cake, black sesame buns
Address: B1, 5-5 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu
Nearest subway: Anguk Station
Booking: Walk-in; opens 10:30 a.m. (food 11 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Ratings & directions: Naver Map · Google Maps

Tips for Eating Vegan in Korea

Learn one phrase: Gogi, saengseon, jeotgal ppaejuseyo (고기, 생선, 젓갈 빼주세요) means “No meat, fish, or fermented seafood, please.” Jeotgal (salted seafood) hides in kimchi and many side dishes.
Kimchi is usually not vegan because it often contains fish sauce or salted shrimp. Vegan restaurants make their own.
Broths are the trap: many soups use anchovy or beef stock even when no meat is visible.
Temple food is your friend: Korean Buddhist cuisine avoids meat and fish by tradition.
Look for the word 비건 (vegan) or 채식 (vegetarian) on menus and packages.

Planning more meals? See our guide to Michelin restaurants in Seoul and how to book with CatchTable.

Restaurants in Seoul open, move, and close often. We checked each listing for 2025–2026 activity, but please confirm hours on Naver Map before you go. Prices are approximate. Spot a change? Email hello@yum82.com. Last checked: October 2026.