GETTING TOGETHER

Alas, I still lament my computer skills are not sufficient to make VegetarianKorea fully interactive, so others could talk between themselves, etc. I STILL TOTALLY WELCOME THE HELP OF ANYONE WHO CAN MAKE IT SO!!!

I’ve linked the Seoul Veggie Club and other community websites, but I’d also like to suggest that people who haven’t already done so, check out http://www.couchsurfing.com/ and http://www.hospitalityclub.org/. Both of these sites cater to travellers looking for like-minded folks, and have groups for vegetarians. You can even search for other veggies in your location or intended location. Another popular networking site, Facebook, also has a group for veggies in Korea!

That said, I’ll be back in Korea in March, on an extended road trip writing and researching a rock-climbing guidebook. I’ll be looking for warm floors to sleep on (I’ll be happy to cook some great veggie meals in exchange!!) as I flit around. Y’all are also welcome to join me on my mission– you don’t have to be a rock-climber! If you can belay (or want to learn!), great, but sometimes I’ll just be checking out (beautiful) areas, taking photos, counting bolts, etc. . .

E-mail me or post if you have the time and space, esp say March 12-April (I have a car, so I really just need the .67mX2m for myself to sleep, though sometimes I curl up in a ball so it’s more like 1.5mX1.5m). . . I also have lots of cooking equiptment, a fold-out grill, etc. . . unfortunately my blender died before I left Korea, but if YOU have one, great!!!

Visiting (Dignitary!) Vegetarian/ American Thanksgiving

Posted on November 4th, 2007 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

Hello!  I’ve noticed a growing number of folks signing onto this website (can anyone make it interactive. . . ie, add a forum where people could contribute and discuss without going through me?! the guy who makes my website lives in Canada now, and isn’t even veggie, just a friend, so I’d feel bad asking him. . . as he’s done so much already!). . .

Anyway, on Friday, Nov 23, George Jacobs (bio follows) is coming into town, giving a talk Saturday at the Daejeon-Cheonan chapter of KOTESOL’s Global Issue’s Conference in Asan. As he’s interested in vegetarianism, I’m planning to meet with him for some touring in Seoul before he heads to Asan. On Sat we’re hoping to do a veggie dinner in Asan. Anyone interested?

Also, as I get off Thurs afternoon, I was thinking of heading to Seoul then. If someone can host, I’d love to do a vegetarian meal for Thanksgiving (USA) on Thursday. I would arrive in Seoul about 6, depending on where you lived, but maybe a latish dinner if people are interested. I am dying to do a “Turkey” made of vegetarian items. . . like a squash body with carrot feet, corn feathers, etc!! I’d be happy to supervise/do the cooking if someone could offer the space to host!
Dr George Jacobs – www.georgejacobs.net - has long been involved in Global Issues, writing books, publishing articles, doing workshops, helping to found TESOLers for Social Responsibility, and formerly serving as its newsletter editor. His main areas of interest with Global Issues are cooperative learning, environmental education, and the welfare of our fellow animals. Originally from the U.S., he also  taught in Thailand, China, and Central America before settling in Singapore in 1993.

Catching Up!

Posted on August 28th, 2007 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

I just got back from summer in Europe, where the convenience stores have organic foods. . . about half my return luggage was edible!

Anyway, I apologize for not updating or getting back to people, but I am glad y’all found the site and appreciate your input!

I would love to add an interactive forum, if anyone has the tech skills to do so!

Peace,

Sonia

Buddhist Monk Food

Posted on March 14th, 2007 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

Welcome new website-visitors! Sorry for any delays in moderating– I was on vacation for a month in Thailand– stayed away from the computer pretty much! I’ve been back looking for information and passing along what comes my way! Thanks to everyone!

Here’s an article on Buddhist Vegetarian Food translated by Deborah Odell:

사찰음식의 종류Buddhist temple foods죽

죽은 일단 안색을 좋게 하고 힘이 넘치고 수명을 연장한다. 안락이 있고 말솜씨가 시원하게 되고 음식물의 소화를 좋게 하고 감기에 잘 안 걸리는 이로움이 있다. 또한 공복감을 충족시키고 목의 갈증을 풀어주고 대소변을 잘 조절하게 한다.
죽에는 바죽, 현미죽, 연시죽, 비지죽, 개암죽, 우분죽, 늙은 호박죽, 잣죽, 콩나물죽, 흑임자죽, 옥수수죽, 땅콩죽, 야채죽, 팥죽, 들깨죽, 호두죽, 미역죽, 아욱죽, 녹두죽, 버섯죽, 대추죽, 오미자죽 등 모두 43종류나 있다.

Jook (porridge)

Jook is good for the complexion, gives abundant strength and prolongs life. The soup broth is easy and refreshing to the mouth, gives good digestion, and now you won’t catch a cold. It also satisfies an empty stomach, quenches thirst, and regulates bowel movements.

In all there are 43 types of jook, including plain, brown rice, soft persimmon, soybean curd, hazelnut, thick porridge, ripe pumpkin, pine nut, bean sprout, black sesame & rice, corn, peanut, vegetable, sweet red bean, green perilla, walnut, brown seaweed, mallow, green bean, mushroom, jujube, Omija, and more.

찰밥, 산나물비빔밥, 콩나물밥, 야채밥, 유부밥, 보리밥, 김밥, 김치밥, 무밥, 김초밥, 버섯덮밥, 오곡밥, 야채 영양소밥, 톳나물밥, 연잎밥 등이 있다.

Rice

Sticky rice, mountain vegetable bibimbap, bean sprout rice, vegetable rice, sweet fried bean curd rice, barley rice, seaweed rice, kimchi rice, radish rice, seaweed sushi rice, mushroom on rice, five grain rice, vegetable and beef with sauce on rice, laver rice, lotus leaf rice, and more.

무국, 미역국, 우거지국, 시금치국, 감자국, 쑥국, 냉이국, 김국, 거프국(해안가 절), 근대죽, 배추국, 토란국, 두부냉국, 냉콩국, 째가무냉국, 짠오이냉국, 청포묵국, 시래기국, 양해란국(음력 7,8월에 나며 생강잎과 비슷하며 썰어서 기름에 볶다가 쌀뜨물을 풀고 양념간장으로 끓인다) 등 그 종류가 44가자나 된다.

Soup

44 kinds in all - Radish soup, brown seaweed soup, outer cabbage leaves, spinach soup, potato soup, mugwort soup, shepherd’s purse, seaweed soup, geopeu-gook(by the sea), chard, cabbage, taro, cold tofu, cold bean, jjega cold radish, cold salty cucumber soup, green pea jelly soup, dried radish leaves, yanghaeran gook(when it comes in the 7, 8 month of the lunar calendar, slice like ginger leaves and stir fry in oil, then added to wet rice and boiled with flavored soy sauce), and 44 in all.

김치

젓갈류, 파 , 마늘을 쓰지 않는 사찰김치는 담백하고 독특한 맛이 있다. 사계절이 뚜렷하고 지역적 특성이 강하다.
경기 충청지역은 주로 잣을 이용하는 백김치, 보쌈김치, 고수김치, 깍두기
전라도 지역에서는 들깨죽을 이용한 고들빼기김치, 갓김치, 죽순김치
경상도 지역에서는 늙은 호박죽과 보리밥을 이요한 콩잎김치, 우엉김치, 깻잎김치 등이 있다.
북한 지역에스는 소금, 고추, 생강, 청각 등을 이용한 동치미나 백김치가 있다.

Kimchi

plain and buddhist kimchi made without jeotkal (fish paste), green onion, and garlic is tasty. The four seasons are distinct and regional specialties are strong.

In Gyeonggi and Chungcheon, usually pine nuts are used in white kimchi, bossam kimchi, gosu kimchi and ggakdugi (radish kimchi).

In Jeollado black sesame stems are used with Korean lettuce, mustard leaf kimchi, jooksoon kimchi.

In Gyeongsangdo, young pumpkin stems and barley rice are put into soybean leaf kimchi, oo-eong kimchi, sesame leaf kimchi and more.

In North Korea, dongchimina white kimchi is made with salt, pepper, ginger, and cheonggak.

나물 및 무침

시금치, 냉이, 비름나물, 더덕무침, 죽순채무침, 꽈리고추무침, 미사무침, 가지나물, 고사리나물 등 31가지가 있다.

Namool (Vegetables) and Moochim

Spinach, neng-ee, amaranth, dodeok, eggplant, gosari (fernbracken), 31 kinds in all.

조림

감자조림, 우엉조림, 무조림, 고구마, 물엿조림, 꼇질콩조림, 송이버섯조림, 곤약조림 등 27가자가 있다.

Jorim (stewed side dish)

potato, oo-eong, radish, sweet potato, sweet syrup, ggyeotjil bean, pine mushroom, konnyaku, 27 varieties.

*씬

쉼㉯謎봉* 야채볶음, 호박볶음, 머우볶음, 도라지볶음, 오이볶음, 말린추나물볶음, 죽순볶음 등 25가지가 있다.

Bokkeum (fried with meat, spicy)

Potato, Vegetable, Pumpkin, meo-oo, doraji, cucumber, dried pepper, jooksoon(roselike plant), 25 varieties.

찜과 부침류

가지찜, 배추찜, 채소찜, 연두부찜, 호박부침, 당근부침, 표고전, 김치부침, 감자부침, 녹두부침 등 19가지

Jjim (steamed) and Boochim (pancake)

eggplant, cabbage, cheso, yeon-tofu, pumpkin pancake, carrot pancake, pyeogo (mushroom) pancake, kimchi pancake, potato pancake, green bean pancake, 19 types.

튀김과 구이

버섯튀김, 깻잎튀김, 쑥갓튀김, 고추튀김, 가지튀김, 늦싸리부각, 들깨송이부각, 산동백잎부각, 아카시아꽃부각, 우엉구이, 표고구이 등 31가지가 있다.

Deep fried and Grilled. (Tweegim and Goo-ee)

Fried mushroom, fried sesame leaf, fried crown daisy, fried pepper, fried eggplant, neutssari boogak, sesame mushroom boogak, ginger tree leaf boogak, boogak(fried kelp) acacia flower fried, grilled burdock, grilled pyeogo mushroom, 31 types.

밑반찬류

산초장아찌, 절인고추, 콩장, 무말랭이, 절인오이, 짠배추, 무, 오이, 양희장아찌, 감장아찌, 참외장아찌

sweet side dishes

chinese pepper, salted peppr, dried seasoned beans, dried radish slices, salted cucumber, salty cabbage, radish, cucumber, yanghwee jangajji, persimmon jangajji, melon jangajji

호박오가니떡, 쑥개떡, 풋고추장떡, 메밀떡, 감자송평, 물호박떡, 호박찰시루떡 등 100여가지가 된다.

Ddok - rice cake

Pumpkin ogani, mugwort & sesame, buckwheat, potato songpyun (steamed on pine needles), mool hobak (with pumpkin) , pumpkin and bean powder –100 kinds in all.

다식

율무다식, 찹쌀다식, 콩다식, 깨다식, 녹두다식, 밤다식, 송화다식, 팥다식 등.

Dashik - a round cake made with grains, honey and sugar.

Adlay, fresh rice, bean, sesame, green bean, chestnut, pine flower, red bean, and more.

한과

유과 유밀과, 강정, 다식전고, 엿강정 등으로 구분

Traditional Cookies

Oil pastry; oil and honey pastry; rice candy with sesame seeds, pine nuts and beans; dashik; yeot; and more kinds.

된장, 간장, 고추장으로 나누는데 각 사찰의 물맛, 조리법 등에 따라 독특한 맛을 낸다.

Sauce

Soybean paste, soy sauce, and red pepper paste are shared, but each temple’s water flavor and methods brings out a particular flavor.

쑥차, 솔차, 작설차 등이 있다.

Mugwort tea, pine leaf tea, jaksoul tea and more.

What you can find on this site!

Posted on November 16th, 2006 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

I am no techie– but I am trying to make this site as user friendly as possible. So far it’s set up so you can click on a city or province to search for restaurants. I am trying to include more search terms (such as dong and gu), especially for Seoul. In addition to restaurants, there are internet shopping sites (veg/vegan/organic), useful websites, information on Korea’s organics industry. . . as well as groceries that sell imports, organics, vegetarian fare. . . these can be found as links on the right. Feel free to suggest a link. I welcome all of your suggestions as to what information might be added.After careful consideration, I decided I would like to include restaurants that have considerable vegetarian options (besides bibimbap without the meat!). After all, most vegetarians eat at restaurants that offer non-vegetarian items from time to time. In weighing inclusion, I look at whether the restaurants 1) have an English menu, preferably with ingredients listed 2) offer at least 25% or 6 vegetarian options 3) understand that vegetarian doesn’t include fish, chicken, even in sauces and broths in trace amounts, and including gelatin, lard, etc, 4) are not corporately owned excepting in the cases of importers (all corporate!) and grocers who buy local and or organic produce.

Every now and then I might post about an event, an article, a rumor or a rant! I’ll try to keep this for when I feel it’ll be helpful! Again, please share your ideas as this is really intended to help people and I may not be aware of everything that people would like to know!

disclaimer and how you can help!

Posted on November 15th, 2006 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

Unfortunately, my Korean is not that great. I include whatever information I could find– at the very least a phone number– for each restaurant. I highly recommend calling ahead to verify locations, hours, and that the restaurant is still in business. I hope to hear back from everyone who has found this list useful, and even those who may have found it frustrating.

Help me achieve greater accuracy!!

In particular, I’d like up-to-date information and specific directions, landmarks, busses. . .(count your steps) It can be especially frustrating to new arrivals who don’t know the neighborhoods and don’t read any Korean. Please try to get directions that would make sense to them. While you might have to have a taxi driver call initially for directions, try to write down any busses that stop near-by. Digital pictures would be great. Grab a brochure, business card, or menu if possible (English or Korean). Send them my way! Thanks to the computer god, Eric, you can post comments and contribute to this website now.

A word of caution: while I try for accuracy, this website’s content is not 100% guaranteed. When you dine at a vegetarian restaurant in Korea, please try to get as much info as possible as to any non-veggie or non-vegan ingredients, organic produce, etc. Obviously it would be near impossible for any one person to check out every restaurant. Your feedback is invaluable. Koreans, in general, do not understand vegetarianism, however, most of the restaurants listed are run by vegetarians, some by vegans, often with religious (from Christian to Buddhist) affiliation. None of them will try to convert you, except perhaps to a healthy sustainable lifestyle. As Elaine Cahill, a longtime Seoul resident and knowlegeable vegan/vegetarian points out, “people need to be warned that they will need to ask questions wherever they go and that there is a very good chance they may get wrong information if they choose to eat out at all. Sticking to restaurants on the list may greatly reduce the risk, but I don’t know if it’s possible to eliminate it unless you do your own cooking.” (The shopping pages are for all of you die-hards).

채식 or Vegetarian Korean

Posted on November 15th, 2006 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

Here’s a rundown of some useful words and expressions (and then how they might be used in sentences). Be aware that people still might not understand that anchovy sauce isn’t vegetarian. At the end are more words you might ask to “leave out”. Oh, and let me know if you see a mistake or think of something useful to add, please let me know!!

전고기를 안먹어요. I don’t eat meat.

고기를 전부빼세요. Leave out the meat. (Sometimes a simple 고기빼고 works)

채식 만먹슴니다. I eat only vegetables.

채식주의자임니다. I am a vegetarian.

산재 mountain vegetables (as in 산채비빔밥 or 산채백반)

채식 a vegetable diet; a vegetarian diet (요법)

채식하다 v. live on vegetables

채식주의 vegetarianism

채식주의자 a vegetarian

vegetarian[vdtrin]

채식(주의)자; 초식 동물.

1. 채식주의(자)의.

2. 채식주의자를 위한; (식사가) 야채만의.

  • be on a ~ diet 채식하다.

~·ìsm

a vegetarian restaurant: 채식 식당.

She’s become vegetarian. 그녀는 채식주의자가 되었다.

He is a thorough vegetarian. 그는 철저한 채식주의자이다.

I ordered a vegetarian meal. 난 야채류 식사를 하겠다고 주문했어요.

a vegetarian meal/diet/restaurant 채식주의자 식사/음식/식당

I didn’t think you, of all people, would become a vegetarian.

나는 하필이면 네가 채식주의자가 되리라고는 생각지 못 했다.

a restaurant specializing in Indonesian/vegetarian dishes

인도네시아/채식 요리전문 식당

More food words:

쌀 uncooked rice 밥 cooked rice 보리 barley (used as a healthier substitute for rice)

계란 egg 닭 chicken 소고기 beef 돼지고기 pork 양고기 lamb 햄 ham

해산물 seafood 생선 fish 대함 clam 새우 shrimp 굴 eel 낙지 octopus

Often I ask if a food contains an ingredient, ie: “고기 있 어요?” and if the answer is affirmative, request “고기 없어요.”

I also came across this fun source.

Veg Options in a Non-Veggie World

Posted on November 12th, 2006 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

I have already diluted the main pages of this site with some non-100% vegetarian restaurants, but this entry is more for the desperate vegetarian traveler or person who is traveling amongst a bunch of meat eaters and needs someone to throw them a bone. . .er, not exactly, so to not speak.

ShinpoWoori Mandu
www.sinpomandoo.co.kr (in Korean, but will help you to recognize the logo)
Korean restaurant with some Chinese and Japanese items. They also have a NY branch! Many locations menus have English explanations and there are several vegetarian/vegan options. Learn to recognize the sign (Green and Orange with a simple, cartoonish outline of a cook; sign says in English: since 1971) They are literally everywhere in the country, even in fairly small towns.

In Seoul, a nice place to go (listed on several vegetarian sites, though I’ve also heard that not all locations are 100% vegetarian):
Pulhyanggi (”Table d’Hote”) http://www.pulhyanggi.co.kr/new/
Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong 726-54
02)794-8007
2nd location:
Kangnam-Gu, Shinsa-Dong 632-2
02)545-0415
3rd location:
Jung-Gu, Jangchung 2-Dong 190-12
02)2265-1320
4th location:
Yeonhwi-Dong
02)325-3075
5th location:
Apgujeong-Dong 02)548-0351
12:00-10:00
Korean set course meals; including vegetarian options.
I’m not sure if the Namsan Restaurant is affiliated.
Pulhyanggi
Yongsan-Gu, Yongsan 2-Dong, San1-3 (basement 1 of Seoul Tower)
02)777-9393
W17,000-38,000
View of Namsan. Herbal Korean Table d’Hote set menus.
Traditional performances from 7-8:00; live performances 9:30-11:30

Casa Loca Mexican Grill
Apgujeong 02)541-5671
Yeouido 02)780-8133 www.casaloca.co.kr They advertise “Food guaraunteed to have: no msg, no preservatives, no microwave, no artificial color, no animal fat.”

LaTavola
Itaewon 02)793-6144 has great wood-oven pizza with fresh ingredients and many options. If you don’t see it on the menu, they can still accomodate reasonable requests. Near the Hamilton Hotel.

Ashoka
Indian restaurant; though not all that vegetarian considering it’s Indian, but this is Korea!
http://www.ashoka.co.kr/e_ashoka.php

Chakraa
Indian Restaurants 4 locations in Seoul;
02)1588-7270 (English)
www.chakraa.co.kr
Also offers delivery and catering. Fewer veggie options than you’d hope with Indian food, but typical Indian fare at typical Korean prices. Most vegetarian entrees are W10,000. Accepts credit cards.

Cafe Alle
Kangnam-Gu, Shinsa-Dong 648-1
From Kinema theater, go straight to the Ralph Polo store street, then go to the end of the T-zone; it is on the left side.
02-544-5766
11-11:00 herb teas: W7,000; Pita sandwich W9,000; light pizza W8, yogurt (herb, mint, lemon bum, peppermint W9,000; herbshake W9,000, cake W15,000
Herb dishes, fragrant scents, and unique vegetable spices add to the taste. Herb dishes combination of sweet, bitter, and sour tastes and scents. The current trend of using herb has been rapidly developing in food herb tea, oil, wine, to vinaigrette.Cafe Alle inclines to the natural and therefore specializes in herb dishes and tea. Located near Doosan park, its interior is mainly black and white, and dried flowers, orchid, and dried herbs are everywhere in the cafe.Herbshakes are milkshakes made with mint herb, and they offer a fresh scent and flavor that will make you feel refreshed. Instead of using tomato sauce, herb olive oil is used pizza. In fact, rosemary, basil, and fresh herbs are used to make the house pizza at Alle. Accepts credit cards. Parking for 20 cars.

Looking for upscale Greek?

Santorini
How to get there: Subway line 6 to Itaewon, go out exit 1. Walk past KFC and turn right up the alley. Turn left at Moghul and walk about half a block. It’s on the 2 nd floor of the building that Bricx is in. Phone: 02) 790-3474
Although it’s not the most vegetarian friendly food, Greek cuisine is one of my favorites. It’s rich and diverse. It’s robust and warm. It’s Mediterranean at its best. It’s also unfortunately hard to find in Seoul . Santorini in Itaewon fortunately serves great Greek eats. I went to Santorini with three friends on a Saturday night around 9:00 ; the place was hopping, though not over-packed. The decor was soft and Grecian, and the atmosphere was pleasant. The servers are very friendly and speak English very well, however they need to work on service speed. The wine list is compact and includes several Greek wines which are quite nice and very affordable. We decided on the Kreitikos Boutari white (KRW20,000) which was dry yet mildly fruity. The wine service needs a bit of work, but after a hot day, we were just glad to have a cold wine to sip. Aside from wine they offer beer, soft drinks and of course, ouzo. To start we shared the 4 bowl appetizer (KRW12,000), which includes ztatziki (a yogurt, garlic and dill dip), taramoslata (a fish egg, potato and garlic dip), an eggplant dip (eggplant, red peppers and olive oil), and skordalla (a mashed potato and garlic dip). This is served with a thick, hearty, tasty bread, although we all agreed that pita would be preferable, as the bread was very heavy. The tzatziki was by far the table favorite, with its intense garlic flavor and creamy texture. The eggplant dip is also very nice with chunks of red pepper and olive oil flavor. The taramoslata is a pleasant salmon color, and apparently was good. The skordalla delivers exactly what promises, it’s a smooth potato and garlic dip. For a main dish myself and the other veggie at the table both chose their Greek salad (KRW14,000) and Spanakopita, or spinach pie (KRW7,500). The Greek salad is served in the traditional Greek style, without lettuce. It is full of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. Red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and olive are brought on the side. The salad is tasty, though a tad heavy on onions. As well, I prefer my Greek salads with red onions. The olives are perfect and not the generic black olives some restaurants attempt to pass off as kalamata. The spanakopita was delicious. It was served in triangle shaped filo pastry stuffed full with spinach, accompanied with ztatziki. My carnivorous eating partners chose the pork gyros plate (KRW18,000) and the slouvaki plate (KRW18,000). Both plates were served first with a small green salad. The plates themselves were served copiously with potatoes, pita bread, red cabbage, and tzatziki and of course the meat of choice. As with previous visits, my eyes were much larger than my stomach. Sadly, I had no space for dessert. They offer traditional Greek desserts, though I’ve never had enough space left to try them out, but they look delicious. Dinner for 4 people including wine and taxes was KRW123,000.
Review by Tiffany Candlish | ms.tiff@gmail.com

Marche
Yeoksam-Dong 02)508-0231
Kangnam 02-3482-7755
COEX 02)6002-6890
Lotte World 02)418-7757
Bundang 0342-707-7755
Ilsan 0344-903-7055
Daejon branch 042-535-7754
salad bar: W11,900/W8,500/W5,900; potato gratan: W3,500won
European family restaurant, offers great fun, delicious food, and affordable prices. All the food at Marche is cooked in front of customer and include Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican dishes, along with pizza. Some menu items decisively unhealthy or downright nasty sounding, but: Marche was the first restaurant in Korea to use organic vegetables and agricultural products in its food. Thus, the salad bar, which offers only organic vegetables, is a favorite among customers. Marche is perfect for families. A children’s playroom, (little ponds with turtles?!) slides, and lego blocks mean that children’s needs are exceeded. Also, there is a professional baby sitter so children can be taken care of while tired parents eat.
The Waegook Cook
Gyeongsanbuk-Do, Gumi, Songjeong-Dong 27-2
054) 444-3775
Pieter 010-8542-9374, Sugi and Derrick 011-546-3775, Jang-gun 011-1761-3775
http://waegook-cook.tripod.com/ The website has menu and all the info you could possibly need.

Indian/Pakastani Restaurant
Daegu, Dalseo-Gu, Shindang-Dong 1797-5
053)584-5722 (fax: 053)584-5723) e-mail: gulkhan74@yahoo.com
Almost across from the main gate of Keimyung University in Sungseo (one block deeper into the university’s restaurant district) Some bus numbers that go to Keimyung Main gate…. 564, 402, 508

Biwon, in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, is not 100% vegetarian, but let them know and they can do vegetarian. Their focus is on organic and sustainable agriculture.
Address : 509-1 , Hwado-eup, Namyangju
Tel: 031-592-1230/0927
Business hours : 10:00 ~ 22:00
Menu: Biwon jeongsik (table d’hote) Gejang jeongsik (table d’hote with seasoned crabs) Beoseot jeongol (mushroom casserole prepared at the table)
Description: The specialty here is in complete Korean set Dinners; guests are initially welcomed in its graceful and well kept garden. As a formal Korean restaurant, it does not feature any special interior facilities, but its cozy and comforting atmosphere makes its guests feel as if they were visiting their hometown away from the city. The owner is a member of a research group that concentrates on local foods in Namyangju City. The restaurant offers 32 different side dishes; the vegetables ingredients are grown organically in a vinyl-covered greenhouse, and even the soy sauce used here is home-made. Although the restaurant does not have a very imposing appearance, the dishes are excellent, traditionally prepared and reasonably priced. As the owner himself grows the vegetables and raises the ducks and rabbits served at the restaurant, it is a good place for family outings and for children to learn about and play in nature.
Seating Capacity: 100 seats Parking: Capacity of 20 cars
Location: 3.5 km. after turning left at Saeteo intersection on the way to ChuncheonNearby Tourist Attractions: Bukhangang River Tourist Site, Tomb of Jeong Yag-yong, Moran Museum.
In Jeonju, an organic pizza parlor recently opened up. They have “organic” chicken as well. Most of their pizza has meat, but if you ask very specifically (and they are learning about vegetarian foreigners!) you can get an organic vegetarian pizza. When you need a pizza fix. . .
M’wum’s Yuginong Pizza (Jeonju)
Wansan-gu, Junghwasan-2 dong 760-9
063) 226-6235
N from Total Sauna.

Please post here to add your own local favorites and/or to comment on these!!

Shopping

Posted on November 12th, 2006 in Posts (regular) by Sonia

The basements of department stores have large groceries with many import items. All will have pasta and vegetarian pasta sauces; most have organic foods sections (expect to pay outrageous prices for imports, though. A 12 oz can of organic soda can be $3!! On the other hand, I found cans of Annie’s organic lentil soup on sale at Lotte in Daegu for $2.50. . . buy when you find it!). E-Mart and large local supermarkets often carry organic products and some imports, though they are often scattered among the aisles. There is one brand of vegetarian instant ramyon available widely– bright green packaging with Chinese writing on front, and smaller in Korean that (both) say “Vegetarian Food ‘belief’” (Chaeshik Juui) with a prominent logo of an onion face with lentil eyes, mushroom nose and bean mouth! Nong Shim Co, Ltd makes it, and it’s about W700 at E-Mart.Vegetarian Ramyon

In Seoul, Namdaemun Market has a large import/black market section, and most markets in cities over 100,000 carry some imports– some rather aged, however. Another possibility is friends in the US military. While the BX/PX’s carry mostly the usual products that young men would buy, it definitely can add some comfort foods from home to your diet.

Most cities have an import store or two– here in my city (Jeonju) it’s Feel House across from E-Mart. Inventory changes fairly regularly.

If you live in Seoul, most of the links here under “shopping” have actual stores for you! Itaewon has numerous international groceries, each catering to different tastes. Hannam House is perhaps the best and best known of these in Hannam-Dong.

Busan has Dar Enterprises (Sasang-Gu, Kaebub-Dong 389-10) Take the subway to Sasang Station, McDonald’s/Lotteria exit. After leaving the station, turn right and cross the street at the lights. Walk down the side street. Walk up the hill. At the end of the street, turn right. 051-316-6465, fax - 051-316-6466 dartradingco@hotmail.com A wonderful little imported food and products shop. They offer a range of products from Pakistan like curry powder, spiced vegetables, beans, and basmati rice. And note, it is an import store, if there is any product you are looking for they will try to import it for you. A great place to shop if you want to spice up your diet. Another Busan option is Vege-love Get off the subway at Yeonsan station. Look for the Alak exit. After leaving the station, turn right at Lotteria. Walk to Aram mart and cross the street at the lights. It is, about a five minute walk from Aram mart. 051) 867-0390, 017-544-8009 www.vegelover.com Vege-love sells 100% pure vegetarian foods–no egg, fish or meat. The owner, H. Choi, speaks passable English. Although off the beaten path, this cute little shop is still quite easy to find.

If you live in or just pass thru Iksan it might be worth jumping off the train as there is a Pakistani “Hallal” store just across from the station that carries many veggie imports inclusing Indian, Indonesian, SE Asian. . . at reasonable prices.

Many of the vegetarian restaurants on this site also sell vegetarian food for cooking. The “shopping sites” may seem intimidating for a newcomer to Korea, but check out the ones with English links. In Korea, “shipping” is usually free and payment can be made by bank transfers (if you have a Korean account, you can do it at an ATM– and most of them have buttons that will wlk you nthru it in English). . . your order shows up promptly at your door. Or ask a Korean friend to help! At any rate, I recommend looking at the 100% vegetarian sites– you’ll see many of the items at your local supermarket and if you can’t yet read Korean, print out the items you are looking for!

OK– wherever you are, please post here for what you’ve found in your city for some vegetarian shopping!!

This is a KVU (Korean Vegetarian Union) veggie ramyon available at veggie groceries and online for W1,000. vegrampost.jpg