A Vegan’s Seoul

Posted on 20 February 2013 at 4:31AM by Ashley Fruno

Seoul is one of the most populated places in the world, and on my first trip to the megacity, I learned why it’s such a great place to call home—the vegan eats! From Insadong to Itaewon, there are enough food choices to make any hungry herbivore happy.

My very first stop was for street food. I’ve relied on cheap and tasty street stalls in many of my travels, and Korea did not disappoint. My brother, a vegan and long-time Seoul dweller, acted as my tour guide and translator as we made our way through the streets of the city. The first thing I tried was hoddok, a warm and sweet Korean pancake filled with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. It was so delicious that I immediately bought a second—and a third.

We had dinner after dessert at the well-known Osegyehyang Vegetarian Restaurant. The menu is huge and offered a great introduction to Korean-style dining. We took off our shoes, sat on the floor, and ordered more dishes than we could eat. Bibim udon and donkatsu (a vegan version of a breaded pork chop) were among my favorites. Kimchi and other pickled Korean vegetables were strewn across the table, and by the end of the meal, I found it difficult to rise from my comfy pillow on the floor.

During my stay in Seoul, I found tasty vegan treats in almost every neighborhood and street, including Egyptian food in Itaewon and a classic Loving Hut in Seodaemun. I was impressed at every corner. Ice noodles, falafel, and more bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables) than you could imagine made my stay a very happy one. If you’re ever looking for a great food-travel location, check out Happycow.net and board a plane for Seoul!