Welcome to Itaewon, veggie haven in a culture of meat consumption. Living in Korea can be difficult when you’re vegan or vegetarian, but we’re not just resigned to eating rice and veg. Plant cafe in Itaewon serves everything from skinny salads to hearty plates of burgers and fries — all vegan! Visit the Plant cafe: a vegan option for those craving good quality food and desserts at a reasonable price.
Introduction
The Plant Cafe is a vegan cafe and eatery in Itaewon, Seoul. The restaurant has a wonderful back story that you can read about on their website >> here << Created by Lee Mi-pa, both her and her head chef, Alex Saghir, dedicate Plant’s delicious flavours to their international travel and experiences.
I found the Plant cafe through a friend who’s been in a search of more vegetarian and vegan restaurants and, surprisingly enough, Plant was not only easy to find, but had great reviews already.
First Impressions
Most of the staff were foreigners, which made my first time in Itaewon easier than expected. Furthermore, the menu was also in English. The staff were all friendly and helpful and even gave suggestions when we couldn’t decide what to have! Everything looked so delicious…
Menu
Plant has a selection of brunch-like dishes such as salads, sandwiches and burgers, as well as smoothies and sweet treats. Some of the most popular dishes include:
- Hummus & Roasted Squash Salad – 14,500 KRW
- Tofu Caesar Wrap – 13,000 KRW
- Biryani Garden Bowl – 14,500 KRW
- Power Green Smoothie – 8,000 KRW
- Hibiscus Ade – 6,000 KRW
Additionally, there are several exciting menu items that you can’t find anywhere else, like the Banana Split Milkshake (9,000 KRW), Kale Colada Smoothie (8,500) and Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich (13,000 KTW) — all vegan of course!
As for desserts, you simply check what is on display at the counter. Instead of a menu, Plant bakes seasonal cakes and special desserts that vary depending on when you visit. However, you can be sure that when you go, there will be some tasty tarts, cookies or cakes available for around 7,000 KRW.
My Experience
I ordered a snickers tart and an iced chai latte. For the latter, I was able to choose between almond or soy milk. My friend ordered apple cinnamon cake and a hot chai latte. The photo below does not do our orders justice because wow, were they delicious! For one thing, I couldn’t notice the difference between the vegan tart and a regular one made with dairy. Moreover, as I am not a vegan myself, I could tell that the chefs at Plant take care in selecting their ingredients.
Location & Directions
Plant
Address: Floor 2 117 Bogwang-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Operating Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm everyday
Directions: Itaewon Station (Subway Line 6) Exit 4. Turn left out of the station exit and walk straight for 2 minutes until you reach Plant on your right, above Miso Real Estate Office.
