Embracing Healthy Eating through Korean Vegetable Dishes : VISITKOREA

Embracing Healthy Eating
through Korean Vegetable Dishes

Korean Cuisine: A Fusion of Flavor and Health

According to a 2021 Survey of Overseas Korean Food Consumers conducted by the Korean Food Promotion Institute, foreigners perceive Korean cuisine as Flavorful(40.4%), Healthy(38.7%), and Vegetable-oriented(38.4%). In essence, the image of Korean food abroad is interpreted as “healthy and delicious food made primarily with vegetables.” Korean vegetable dishes offer diverse tastes by employing various cooking methods using the same ingredients. Thanks to this, one can savor new flavors daily, even without including meat.

Temple Food, Purifying Body and Mind

Enjoying Temple Food in a Hanok

Korea's Temple Food Gaining Attention Abroad

Deep-fried Golden Oak Mushrooms with Sweet and Sour Sauce

Light and Clean Flavor of Bean Curd Steak

Korea's temple food has garnered attention overseas. In 2015, an article titled “Jeong Kwan, the Philosopher Chef” in The New York Times praised the temple cuisine of Korean Monk Jeong Kwan, introducing Korean temple food to the world. Renowned chefs and production teams from abroad visited Korea to cover Jeong Kwan's temple cuisine. Recently, many domestic and foreign travelers have been experiencing temple food through temple stay programs and specialty restaurants offering these unique dishes.

Korean temple food is characterized by its simplicity, excluding animal-based ingredients, with the exception of milk, and avoiding “Oshinchae” the five zesty-flavored vegetables of garlic, green onions, chives, wild chives, and Chinese squill. Its essence lies in preserving the natural flavors and characteristics of vegetables, grains, and mushrooms, emphasizing both taste and exceptional nutritional and health benefits.

Maji
19 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-507-1418-5228
11:30-20:00 (Closed at 15:00 on Sunday-Monday) / Break time 15:00-17:30 / Closed Tuesdays
Lunch or Dinner Course KRW 23,000
Today's Set Menu KRW 11,000
Premium Set Menu (1 Serving) KRW 65,000

Doosoogobang
3F, Around Life, Alleyway Gwanggyo, 80 Gwanggyohosugongwon-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-548-1912
10:00-22:00 / Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
One Table Live Dining KRW 100,000-130,000

Geolgujaengine
707 Gangmun-ro, Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-885-9875
10:00-20:00 / Last order at 19:00 / Open all year round
Temple Set Menu (1 Serving) KRW 15,000 / Salad Rice Set Menu KRW 18,000

Buckwheat Dishes, Daily Comfort Food

Vegetable Dishes Using Buckwheat, Buckwheat Noodles and Buckwheat Pancake

Warm Buckwheat Noodles Topped with Colorful Garnishes

Buckwheat Noodles with a Fresh Taste from Vegetable Broth

Savory Buckwheat Pancake with Great Texture Enhanced by Carrots and Chives

To enjoy some of the most popular and typical vegetable dishes in Korea, consider exploring dishes featuring buckwheat. Buckwheat, a familiar ingredient in Korea, is globally recognized as a superfood due to its health benefits. It contains more protein than bean curd, aids in preventing various adult diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and is safe for those with gluten allergies. Though lacking gluten, the dough may have minimal stickiness after kneading, but its characteristic aroma and texture contribute to its popularity.

Gangwon State is renowned for its ideal conditions for cultivating buckwheat, which has earned it a reputation for producing high-quality buckwheat. Consequently, the region has developed local specialties utilizing this crop, including Buckwheat Noodles, Buckwheat Jelly, Buckwheat Pancake, and Buckwheat Crepe. For those seeking to experience the flavor of buckwheat along with the health benefits of vegetables, consider trying a combination of Buckwheat Noodles in Radish Water Kimchi broth instead, along with a Buckwheat Pancake filled with chives, carrots, and cabbage leaves.

Kkumkkuneun Memil
7F, The Center, I'Park Mall, Yongsan Station, 55 Hangang-daero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2012-0735
11:00-21:00 / Last order at 20:45 / Open all year round
Buckwheat Noodles with Buckwheat Sprouts KRW 11,000
Spicy Buckwheat Noodles with Buckwheat Sprouts KRW 11,500
Buckwheat Pancake KRW 10,000

Yeonggwangjeong Memilguksu
446 Jinmi-ro, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon State
+82-33-673-5254
10:00-19:00 /
Closed Tuesdays and on the day of Seollal(Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving Day)
Buckwheat Noodles KRW 10,000
Buckwheat Crepe KRW 8,000
Potato Pancake KRW 12,000

Hallasanaraecheonmaeul Yeongnongjohapbeobin
675 Sallongnam-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island
+82-64-792-8245
10:30-18:00 / Break time 15:00-16:00 / Closed Mondays
Jeju Seasonal Buckwheat Mixed Noodles KRW 12,000
Jeju Cold Buckwheat Noodles KRW 12,000
Jeju Spicy Buckwheat Noodles KRW 12,000

Soft Bean Curd, The Subtle Elegance of Mild Bean Flavor

Delight in the Gentle Taste of Soft Bean Curd, Unaffected by Strong Seasoning

A Spoonful of Savory Seasoning atop Soft Bean Curd

A Table with Various Side Dishes Accompanying a Traditional-style Soft Bean Curd Meal

Bean Curd, a staple in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines, has enjoyed enduring popularity. The soy protein derived from bean curd has garnered attention amid the rising trend towards vegetarianism, providing an alternative to meat protein consumption.

For vegetarian-friendly Korean bean curd dishes, traditional Soft Bean Curd dishes come highly recommended. While the widely embraced Korean bean curd dish abroad is the Soft Bean Curd Jjigae, blending spicy seasoning with soft bean curd, the most suitable bean curd dish for a vegetarian theme remains the traditional Soft Bean Curd, which emphasizes the subtle flavor of bean curd itself. This classic dish involves preparing Soft Bean Curd in a salty broth using traditional methods. It is paired with a soy sauce-based seasoning atop the gentle texture of the soft bean curd, delivering a simple yet pleasantly mild and savory taste.

Baengnyeonok
2407 Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-523-2860
10:00-21:00 / Open all year round
Soft Bean Curd KRW 13,000
Soft Bean Curd Stew Hot Pot KRW 13,000
Red Bean Porridge KRW 13,000

Changnim-dong Dubu-maeul
358-5 Jangnyu-ro, Sunchang-eup, Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk State
+82-507-1400-8773
12:00-18:00 / Closed Mondays
Soft Bean Curd KRW 8,000
Pureed Soybean Bibimbap KRW 8,000
Bean Curd KRW 6,000

Chodang Halmeoni Sundubu
77 Chodangsundubu-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State
+82-33-652-2058
08:00-19:00 (Closed at 15:00 on Tuesday) / Closed Wednesdays
Soft Bean Curd Set Menu KRW 11,000
Spicy Venus Clam Soft Bean Curd Jjigae KRW 12,000
Bean Curd KRW 15,000

Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu, A Fragrant Herb Feast

A Variety of Salad and Vegetables in the Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu

Healthy Mixed Pot Rice with Beans and Black Rice Accompanying Various Side Dishes

The Robust and Savory Flavor of Wild Vegetables

A Spoonful of Spicy Acorn Jelly Salad

Potato Pancakes Topped with Chives and Red Chili Pepper as Garnish

With over 70% of its land being mountainous, Korea has a tradition of foraging wild vegetables from the mountains for side dishes. This dietary habit has significantly contributed to the perception of Korean cuisine as healthy, balancing protein, fiber, and diverse nutrients within a single meal.

The Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu is a table full of dishes prepared with various vegetables harvested from the mountains, including bracken, aster leaf, mushroom, Deodeok, and acorn. Most of these dishes are not heavily seasoned, emphasizing the natural taste and aroma of these fresh mountain vegetables. The unique, slightly bitter taste of mountain vegetables stimulates the palate and is often recommended as a nourishing meal, especially when one feels fatigued. To fully appreciate the flavors of the Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu , it's best served as Bibimbap. Mixing preferred mountain vegetables with sesame oil and Red Chili Paste creates a delicious vegetable medley.

Odaesan Sanchae Jeonmunjeom
1F, 2640-11 Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-571-4565
11:30-22:00 / Break time 16:00-17:00
Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu (Regular) KRW 23,000
Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu (Whole) KRW 26,000
Golden Oak Mushroom Rice KRW 14,000

Heundeulbawi
1 Taegi-ro, Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon State
+82-507-1407-6788
10:30-20:00 / Break time 15:10-16:30 /
Last order at 18:50 / Closed Wednesdays except during national holidays
Heundeulbawi Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu KRW 23,000
Gangwon State Potato Rice Cake KRW 5,000

Narichon Sikdang
31-115 Nari 1-gil, Buk-myeon, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-791-6082
08:00-17:00 (Inquiries by phone before visiting)
Wild Vegetable Dish Set Menu KRW 25,000
Wild Vegetable Bibimbap KRW 15,000
Deodeok Salad KRW 25,000

Food is not only about taste; considering health is equally important. Korean vegetable dishes are recommended for those seeking to satisfy their appetite for delicious food while also prioritizing their health.

* The column was written in November 2023, hence some of the details may have changed. Please check with the restaurants before visiting.

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