Vegetarian Taiwanese Buddhist cuisine, with an abundance of vegan dishes on menu. Buffet during lunch, ala carte in the evening. Run by the temple. Dongguk Uni station, exit 2. Reopened Aug 2019. 대만 사찰음식 전문점입니다. 베지테리언(유란채식) 메뉴를 판매하나 비건 메뉴도 상당히 있습니다. 점심은 뷔페, 저녁은 단품메뉴로 제공이 되며, 해당 식당은 서울불광산사가 운영하고 있습니다. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm.
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Seoul-si, Jung-gu, Jangchung-dong, 2-ga, 188-6, Fo Guang Monastery, Seoul, South Korea, 100-855
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Last update on 19 Apr 2024 by worldschoolingvegan
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Added by sasham on 05 Feb 2016
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36 Reviews
First Review by amandateng
Grace425
Points +490
Chill vibes - Edit
I think it was all you can eat? Idk but I went back for another half of the sweet potato buns because they were gooood.
Read moreThings I wish I knew! Once you enter it is a few levels down and the door is open! They have little snacks for sale on the counter thar is how you know you’re at the right one.
Seems like $8 all you can eat is like the only option. The worker just gestured to the table and said rice is in the cooker and that was all the info I got. But I really liked it and had some time to fill before class.
The sweet potato buns and the soy meat was my fave
Guest
KomorebiNo
Points +143
Temple food ! - Edit
Petite cantine située dans un temple bouddhiste, au sous-sol du bâtiment. Accueil adorable, buffet conséquent et tout ça pour seulement 8000 wons ! Attention, paiement uniquement en espèce !
Read moreGuest
Mangogirl
Points +2148
Friendly place - Edit
A really nice place beneath a Buddhist temple. We were not sure if we were on the right track when we entered the building but a nun showed us the way. The staff was so friendly and the food is great for the price (8000 won). Apart from rice and soup, there were many different veggies, fake meat, fruits and rice cake as deserts. Absolutely worth visiting!
Read morePros: Cheap, Great food
Cons: A bit hidden
Guest
worldschoolingvegan
Points +21
Great option for vegans in Seoul - Edit
This small restaurant serves a lovely lunch. It was a buffet on the day I went. It is located in the basement of the building. The staff is friendly. Everything on the buffet when I went was vegan.
Read moreGuest
johnfood
Points +24
OPEN!! TUE-SAT 11:30-2:30 - Edit
Optional reservation usually helpful for people more than two(might be unable to feast if no reservations done before for lets say a few people.)
Read moreGuest
meejisu
Points +2290
Nice simple food - Edit
After many eating out(salty and greasy …) it was very nice for the tastebuds and stomach
Read moreIt’s basically temple cafeteria
The food was all vegan just the dessert was not
Pros: Mostly vegan, Tasty
Guest
PatrikBird
Points +1559
tasty simple food - Edit
buffet is changing daily. feels like eating in a monks canteen (it actually is?). was very good and cheap! recommended if you like simple food!
Read morePros: low price, quiet atmosphere , nice staff
Guest
SteveH
Points +18319
Tasty, clean, healthy, fresh and affordable - Edit
Temple food is not for everyone. Many people want garlic, onions and alot more intense flavor. While temple food is not always 100% vegan, this is. Here you taste what you are eating and everything I had taste good. The place is super chill!! It is in the basement of a temple and feels really relaxing. There was a very healthy variety on the buffet that would keep most visitors happy.
Read morePros: Old school temple food, affordable, good food
Guest
GochuJjang
Points +28
Delicious and cheap! - Edit
All-you-can-eat buffet for 8000 Won. Delicious food. Plenty of options of gluten-free food.
Read moreGuest
veg_christian
Points +20
Lovely hosts in this monastery - Edit
I was late for the lunch buffet and the only customer in the restaurant, but got warmly welcomed. Although I had no choice in what to order, I actually got rice with 9 different dishes on side plates, so I was more than happy about the menu. Especially the raw cucumber in chilli oil was incredible! The two women were very sweet and explained what I was actually eating - which is always helpful in Korea. The dishes were simple but really good with some creative combinations (again the cucumbers were incredible). I definitely recommend everyone to go there and try their food but keep in mind that the restaurant is hidden in a side street and no obvious sign from the outside that there is a restaurant in the red brick building (beside a korean sign that could be identified as a buddhist monk probably). Once you entered you have to go one floor down below the prayer room to get to the restaurant. Definitely a really good choice to eat vegan in Seoul.
Read morePros: Variety of excellent food, Really nice staff
Cons: A little bit hidden - dont give up
Guest
Matchabunny
Points +314
So delicious!!! - Edit
8000won. This location is very easy to find. Dongguk university station Exit 2. Then you will see a giant bakery store. Walk behind it. Hidden behind the alley. You will arrive to a Buddhist temple. So peaceful and beautiful here. The food looks simple but each dish is bursting with flavors! Even the miso tofu veg soup taste creamy. They served warm rice cakes. I will come here again. Open till 2pm.
Read morePros: So so good.
Guest
vmaarn
Points +80
Closed on Sundays, but... - Edit
I visited on a Sunday afternoon when the buffet restaurant was closed. Seeing my sad face though, the monk took me to her home and I was offered a complete meal (with all the items seen in the buffet photos) there! I was also offered tons of free tea and sweets after the meal and I had opportunity of chilling with the monk and her family for 2 hours after that, talking about languages and Buddhism! Oh, and the food was very delicious as well!
Read moreGuest
kattyratty18
Points +372
Very kind hostess and lovely, hearty food - Edit
We came there quite late, just when lunch was finishing, but the hostess was concerned because most places would be closed around that time for lunch and it's quite hard to find vegan or vege food round the area! She kindly offered to make us an extra vege dish because she saw we were worried that what was left wasn't enough. Turns out it was anyway though! It felt more like being welcomed into her home for a meal than just eating at a restaurant. All the food was vegan except for the desserts but she gave us candies. My only regret is that I didn't realise there was a delicious looking vege and tofu noodle soup that I didn't try because I was too full by the time I realised it was there! Thank you very much😄very healthy and delicious food😄
Read moreGuest
Lia Argolo
Points +207
Very kind hostess and good food - Edit
I was already received with a big smile by the nun who was in the door and noticed my confused face, because the front door doesn’t have the name of the restaurant (Jeoksubang) in alphabetical writing.
Read moreDuly routed to the interior, where there is a Buddhist temple on the first floor and the restaurant below, I was also very greeted by the hostesses present (who spoke neither English nor Korean, but we found a way😅).
Lunch is buffet and the establishment also works as a shop with typical taiwanese articles. Besides the food the buffet, the owner still brought more options for me from the kitchen, and tea as well. It all cost 7.000 wons (really cheap).
Pros: Everyone was really gentle, Good food, Cheap
Cons: Doesn’t have the name in alphabetical writing
Guest
bongbong733
Points +14279
Disappointing taste but cheap - Edit
I guess after reading the previous reviews, my hopes must have been high... My impression of the lunch buffet today was not so good overall.
Read moreThey served a mix of Korean side dishes and Taiwanese vegetarian foods, which were prepared in Buddhist temple food style without garlic, onions etc. (무오신채). But temple food does not necessarily taste as bland as it did here - unfortunately, I felt like some dishes were not seasoned well. Also, even though I was one of the very first to eat at the lunch buffet, some dishes seemed overcooked.
The price, however, is very low - especially for a buffet!
Pros: price
Cons: taste
Guest
SophsEats
Points +430
Perfect healthy lunch buffet - Edit
Downstairs! Super friendly owners. Only 7000! Lots of delicious veggies. Brown rice, tofu.
Read moreBest pumpkin I’ve ever tasted!
Great lunch😄
Guest
veglover89
Points +743
Great!! - Edit
Sooo tasty and affordable! I will go back for sure!!!
Read moreGuest
lisaadines
Points +153
Great temple food - Edit
There is a large variety of food, and it is relatively cheap (7000 won). They have a lunchtime buffet and in the evening have a set menu. Another plus side is the owner's are very friendly!
Read moreThe only downside is that it is quite hard to find.
Guest
Benjkd
Points +37
healthy temple food and charming service - Edit
Good Chinese temple food with some Korean side dish too. Very healthy and copious . Strictly Vegan .
Read moreDon't expect fancy curry or spicy food. No oignons no garlic too. But this makes this type of food super interesting, back to the real flavour, and it is absolutely not blend.
Great welcome and service by the way.
Place is a bit tricky to find, just walk 100 m after the exit 2 of of the station dongguk uni. On your left side street climbing up , look for the " tea house " banner. This is the Korean confucean temple. Go in: the restaurant is in the basement ! Someone will be there for you.
Pros: healthy food, welcomed after all the street food , charming welcome and service , super cheap!!
Cons: bit tricky to find . , the buffet served during the lunch has more option
Guest
NonstopDan
Points +1422
Best vegan Korean food I’ve tried so far - Edit
Authentic restaurant which seemed to be fully vegan when I was there. Owner said there was no milk or egg. Food was fantastic!
Read morePros: Fun experience, Cheap
Guest
StorlandIon
Points +136
The best of Korean place to eat - Edit
All vegans get united because this place is a heaven :)
Read moreThis was a unforgettable dinner. So many different dishes so many impressions and the price is very low. Highly recommended😄
Guest
JackTanner
Points +271
Lovely veg buffet - Edit
I got there at around 2.30pm and they were still serving lunch, not a huge range of options but still enough to fill your plate. The staff was very helpful and spoke excellent English. A nice peaceful place to eat, it's rather small and quiet.
Read morePros: Only 7,000 won for buffet
Guest
Knauji82
Points +2386
Best taiwanese temple food - Edit
My first visit during lunchtime for the buffet. It’s rather small but everything is really good! I love taiwanese chinese cuisine. For some people it might be too bland, no onion or garlic used here, also very little spices. Everything on the buffet was vegan. No meat, egg or dairy used.
Read morePros: Excellent food!, The ladies speak Chinese and English , All vegan buffet
Cons: Cash only!
Guest
crdeeds
Points +18
great family style dinner with caring service - Edit
This restaurant is a hidden gem. Literally. You need to go into the basement of a building to find it. The options we were able to eat were entirely vegan though there may be some vegetarian options so it's still important to classify if you don't fancy dairy etc.
Read morePros: very affordable, fresh, and friendly service
Cons: a little difficult to find
Guest
BlueDoraemon
Points +285
Inexpensive buffet style, kudos! (首爾，佛光山) - Edit
Owner was kind to explain the various alternative places to find vegetarian food. She also cut up and offered us persimmon, which was not part of the spread. Good and safe place for oriental vegetarians who don't take the five spices, i.e., onion, leek, garlic, etc.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2016-11-21
Pros: Inexpensive , Friendly and helpful owner
Cons: A bit limited choice around 5pm., Not prominently located. At B2.
Guest
wsh79
Points +149
best vegetarian meal - Edit
Very convenient place. less than 5 mins walking from dongguk uni exit 2. Walk straight, first alley left, turn in.
Read moreRestuarant is at Basement. No onion/garlic/leek etc. Pure buddhist vegetarian. Very well recommended. 7000won be it dinner or lunch. We went there twice to eat.
Opens to 7pm. So if you are in between after 3pm and needs food, this is a good place to go cos' alot of vegetarian eatery close at 3pm before opening in the evening again for dinner.
Just want to emphasize that they don't use egg in their food, only sell some ready made snacks which contains egg at the counter.
Pros: can eat with ease if you are strict buddhist vegan, very convenient as located very near to subway, Cheap
Guest
LaiNamKhim
Points +370
Tasty Taiwanese home-cooked food - Edit
This is a restaurant operated by a Taiwanese Buddhist temple. Hence it serves strict Buddhist vegetarian food (no eggs, no onion/garlic/chives, may have some dairy products though rare).
Read moreThe food here is mostly Taiwanese style with some Korean dishes. The dishes are home cook food and they are all wholesome and tasty. The food is so good it is tempting to overeat! Moderation and mindfulness is required.
Lunch (11:00-2:30) is a buffet spread of rice, vegetable dishes and a soup. After 2:30, it serves a set meal of rice and various small dishes.
The meals are 7000won per person.
The objective of the restaurant is to serve vegetarians rather than make money.
It is very convenient to reach via the subway. Get off at Dongguk University stop. It in the alley on the left just a few steps from exit no. 2.
Pros: Tasty and wholesome food, Cheap, Very convenient location from the subway
Cons: Close early for dinner, not open on Sundays
Guest
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