← Guides · By Ray Lei · Published 2026-11-14

How do you eat vegetarian in Korea when kimchi and stews have fish or meat broth?

Q: What is Korean temple food and is it vegetarian?

Korean temple food (사찰음식, sachal eumsik) is Buddhist monastic cuisine that is strictly vegetarian and excludes not only meat and fish but also the 'five pungent vegetables' (오신채, osinchae): garlic, green onions, leeks, chives, and green onions. It is one of the most purely plant-based traditional food cultures in the world. Temple food restaurants and dining experiences are available in major Korean cities; the Templestay program at Buddhist temples across Korea also offers temple food meals. Temple food uses no MSG and minimal processed ingredients.

Q: Is doenjang jjigae vegetarian?

Doenjang jjigae (된장찌개, fermented soybean paste stew) is typically made with either anchovy broth (멸치육수) or pork. The doenjang paste itself is a fermented soybean product without animal ingredients, but the broth base of the stew typically contains anchovies or pork. At vegetarian restaurants and temple food restaurants, vegetable stock is used instead. At most standard Korean restaurants, confirm: '국물이 뭐로 만들어졌어요? 멸치 없이 채소 국물로 만들 수 있나요?' (What is the broth made from? Can it be made with vegetable stock without anchovies?)

Q: What Korean dishes are reliably vegetarian?

Korean dishes that are often vegetarian or can be made vegetarian include: bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables, ask for no meat and no beef broth), kongnamul gukbap (soybean sprout soup, ask for vegetable broth), tteok (rice cakes, often vegan), banchan vegetable sides like sigeumchi namul (spinach), hobak bokkeum (zucchini), and gamja jorim (braised potatoes), and temple food (사찰음식). Japchae can be made vegetarian. Doenjang jjigae can be made with vegetable broth on request at some restaurants.

Q: How do you say 'I am vegetarian' in Korean?

채식주의자예요 (Chaesik juuijayeyo) means 'I am vegetarian.' However, the concept of vegetarianism in Korea may be understood differently from Western interpretations — many Koreans understand it as 'no meat' but may not consider fish sauce or anchovy broth as excluded ingredients. For clearer communication, also say: 고기 안 먹어요 (Gogi an meogeoyo — I don't eat meat), 멸치 국물 없이요 (Myeolchi gungmul eobiyo — without anchovy broth), and 젓갈 빼주세요 (Jeotgal ppaejuseyo — no fish sauce).

Traditional kimchi often contains fish sauce (젓갈) or salted shrimp (새우젓). Most stews use anchovy or pork broth. The practical solutions: seek Korean temple food restaurants (사찰음식), ask specifically about anchovy broth in every dish, and use the specific Korean phrases below — "vegetarian" alone may not communicate your full requirements. Confirm with staff and carry a written card.

Korean food culture is one of the world's most vegetable-rich cuisines in terms of the variety of plant-based preparations — dozens of vegetable banchan, fermented vegetables, seasoned greens — but it simultaneously uses fish sauce, dried anchovies, and meat broth as foundational flavor bases in ways that are invisible on a menu. For vegetarian and vegan travelers, this combination makes Korea both rewarding and challenging.

The critical insight: in Korean cooking, the visible ingredients of a dish and the stock it was cooked in are separate questions. A bowl of vegetable soup with no meat on the surface may have been simmered in anchovy broth. A vegetable banchan may have been dressed with fish sauce. Knowing this, and knowing the Korean vocabulary to ask the right questions, is what makes vegetarian dining in Korea work.

Important: This guide provides language tools and practical guidance. If you have a severe seafood allergy (not just a vegetarian preference), treat every dish as potentially containing fish sauce or anchovy broth until confirmed otherwise. Confirm with staff and carry a written card for every restaurant visit.

Dish safety guide for vegetarians in Korea

Dish	Korean	Vegetarian status	What to watch for
Kimchi	김치	Often not vegetarian	Traditionally contains fish sauce (멸치액젓) or salted shrimp (새우젓); ask specifically
Bibimbap	비빔밥	Can be vegetarian — ask	Ask for no meat and confirm the rice was cooked in vegetable, not beef broth
Japchae	잡채	Can be vegetarian — ask	Often contains beef; ask for a vegetarian version (채식 잡채); confirm no meat broth
Pajeon	파전	Sometimes vegetarian	Plain pajeon (green onion pancake) is often vegetarian; haemul pajeon contains seafood — confirm
Doenjang jjigae	된장찌개	Often not vegetarian	Broth is typically anchovy or pork-based; ask for vegetable broth version at vegetarian-friendly places
Naengmyeon	냉면	Often not vegetarian	Cold noodle broth is traditionally beef-based; ask whether a vegetable or non-meat broth version is available
Haemul pajeon	해물파전	Not vegetarian	Contains seafood (shrimp, squid, oyster); order plain pajeon instead
Vegetable banchan	채소 반찬	Often vegetarian — confirm	Sigeumchi namul, hobak bokkeum, gamja jorim are often vegan; some may contain fish sauce in dressing
Temple food	사찰음식	Strictly vegetarian	No meat, fish, fish sauce, or pungent vegetables (garlic, onion); the most reliably vegetarian Korean food
Tteok (rice cakes)	떡	Often vegan	Plain tteok is typically made from rice flour and water; tteokbokki sauce may contain anchovy broth — confirm

Korean temple food: the safest vegetarian option

Korean Buddhist temple food (사찰음식, sachal eumsik) is strictly plant-based — no meat, no fish, no fish sauce. It also excludes the five pungent vegetables (오신채, osinchae): garlic, green onions, leeks, chives, and chrysanthemum greens. These exclusions come from Buddhist practice (the pungent vegetables are believed to stimulate desire and anger).

Temple food restaurants are found in major Korean cities and near Buddhist temples. Seoul has several dedicated temple food restaurants. The government-funded Templestay program at Buddhist temples across Korea offers experiences that include temple food meals.

Temple food is not identical to what a Western vegetarian might expect — the flavor philosophy is different, emphasizing natural fermentation, dried mushrooms, and the pure taste of each ingredient without enhancement. It is excellent food in its own right.

Korean phrases for vegetarians

Korean	Romanization	English
채식주의자예요.	Chaesik juuijayeyo.	I am vegetarian.
고기 안 넣어 주세요.	Gogi an neoeo juseyo.	No meat, please.
멸치 국물 없이요.	Myeolchi gungmul eobiyo.	Without anchovy broth.
젓갈 빼주세요.	Jeotgal ppaejuseyo.	No fish sauce (jeotgal), please.
새우젓 없이요.	Saeujeot eobiyo.	Without salted shrimp, please.
채소 국물로 만들 수 있어요?	Chaeso gungmullo mandeul su isseoyo?	Can it be made with vegetable broth?
이 음식에 고기나 해산물이 들어가요?	I eumsik-e gogi-na haesanmul-i deureo gayo?	Does this dish contain meat or seafood?

Practical notes for vegetarian dining in Korea

"Vegetarian" may be understood narrowly. In Korean, 채식주의자 (chaesik juuija) refers to vegetarianism, but staff at non-specialist restaurants may interpret it as "no visible meat" rather than "no fish sauce or anchovy broth." Use specific phrases about anchovy broth and fish sauce in addition to saying you are vegetarian.
Ask specifically about fish sauce in banchan. Even at a restaurant that makes an effort to serve you vegetarian food, the banchan that arrive automatically at the table may contain fish sauce in their dressing. Ask: 반찬에 젓갈이 들어가 있나요? (Do any of the banchan contain fish sauce?)
Temple food is the most reliably vegetarian Korean dining experience. If you are in Seoul, visiting a temple food restaurant removes most of the uncertainty. The standard of food is high and the cooking style is genuinely interesting.
Vegetarian Korean is not rare, but requires communication. Korea has a growing vegetarian restaurant scene in major cities, particularly Seoul. Itaewon and Hongdae neighborhoods have vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants. Apps like Happy Cow list vegetarian restaurants in Korea.

Navigate Korean menus with ChefBear

ChefBear filters dishes by your dietary restrictions — scan a Korean menu and tell it you are vegetarian to see which dishes fit. Always confirm with staff and carry a written vegetarian card for the most reliable communication. This is not medical advice; confirm with restaurant staff before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Is traditional Korean kimchi vegetarian?

Traditional kimchi typically contains fish sauce (멸치액젓, anchovy sauce) or salted shrimp (새우젓, saeujeot). Vegan kimchi (비건 김치) made without these ingredients is increasingly available. At most standard Korean restaurants, the default kimchi contains fish sauce. Always ask explicitly.

What is Korean temple food and is it vegetarian?

Korean temple food (사찰음식) is Buddhist monastic cuisine that is strictly vegetarian — no meat, fish, or fish sauce. It also excludes the five pungent vegetables (garlic, green onions, leeks, chives). Temple food restaurants and the Templestay program at Buddhist temples offer this cuisine. It is one of the most purely plant-based traditional food cultures in the world.

Is doenjang jjigae vegetarian?

Doenjang jjigae is typically made with anchovy broth or pork. The doenjang paste itself is a fermented soybean product without animal ingredients, but the stew's broth base typically contains anchovies or pork. At vegetarian restaurants, vegetable stock can be used instead.

What Korean dishes are reliably vegetarian?

Temple food (사찰음식) is strictly vegetarian. Bibimbap can be made vegetarian (ask for no meat, confirm no beef broth). Plain pajeon is often vegetarian. Vegetable banchan like sigeumchi namul, hobak bokkeum, and gamja jorim are often vegan. Japchae can be made vegetarian on request.

How do you say "I am vegetarian" in Korean?

채식주의자예요 (Chaesik juuijayeyo) means "I am vegetarian." For clearer communication, also say: 고기 안 먹어요 (I don't eat meat), 멸치 국물 없이요 (without anchovy broth), and 젓갈 빼주세요 (no fish sauce). The word "vegetarian" alone may not communicate your full requirements to all staff.