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Vegan
Korean
Temple food restaurant at 서울 종로구 자하문로5길 19. 아기자기한 마당이 있는 한옥 형태의 사찰음식 전문점입니다. 자연효소로 숙성하여 음식에 맛을 내며, 코스로 즐기는 한정식과 단품메뉴, 예약이 가능한 고급 한정식 메뉴 외에 커피와 효소차, 와인 등의 마실거리를 함께 제공하고 있습니다. 영업시간은 월~토 11:00~21:00(마지막 주문 20:00), 일 12:00~20:00(마지막 주문 19:00)입니다. 15:30~17:00는 휴식시간입니다(음료 주문 가능). Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-4:00pm. Last orders 1 hour prior to closing.
72 Reviews
First Review by TristramWilliams
MilicaStojanovic
Points +36
You need to eat here! - Edit
The staff speaks English and you have an English menu as well. The food was soooooo delicious and I ate everything despite being full. You have very nice options and whatever you pick, I promise you’ll like it. They were extra friendly as well. When it comes to prices, it is not the cheapest restaurant in Seoul but the prices are pretty reasonable and affordable.
Read morePros: All vegan restaurant, Super friendly staff, Affordable
Cons: A bit farter away from the city attractions
Guest
SebastianTan
Points +706
Traditional temple food. I think - Edit
Fully vegan and Yummy!!! Many small portions for a set meal but at the end, it is filling. Apparently, their magoli is nice w pancake
Read morePros: Full vegan, Nice quiet place
Cons: Slight pricey
Guest
뚜안.杨
Points +695
mmMMMmm.. Maji Pancake - Edit
100% vegan, traditional food. must have pancake with makgeoli. the set menu is great but some optionals needs to make reservation before coming.
Read morePros: clean food that's good for the soul, yummy, traditional
Guest
jadaruss
Points +1833
Very friendly and good - Edit
The owner was very friendly, and the food was amazing. Light and healthy, perfect after visiting the palace.
Read moreGuest
lecyvee
Points +340
Traditional Korean Temple Food - Edit
It was my first time trying traditional Korean temple food. I was excited about the experience. I think the food was decent. It was a very light meal. Personally, I need a little more food to feel satiated. I’d like to come back & try something else!
Read moreGuest
vegan_nyam
Points +1527
Great place - Edit
The place is cozy and the food is good. The owner is very friendly.
Read moreGuest
NathaliaZimmermann
Points +304
Delicious dishes - Edit
The food was extremely delicious! We had the set which has many different small dishes and added the tofu and pumpkin side dishes. Every dish had unique taste! The lady was really nice! The restaurant is located in a traditional house which makes a great atmosphere. It was more expensive than the other that we visited in Korea but totally worth it! Unfortunately, we only could visit one time.
Read morePros: Delicious dishes, Great service, Nice location
Guest
SteveH
Points +18200
Old school temple food - restaurant feel - Edit
I had a great meal. It is relaxing to just order one of the sets and trust them to bring out a balanced healthy meal, which they did. Flavors were just as expected with this sort of food. Will be back. Owner speaks English and they have Eng menu.
Read moreOwner was very happy to see I had my own takeway box and packed all leftovers instead of throwing them away.
Guest
HelenHaeryounGi
Points +3241
Simple Humble but Rich flavor - Edit
Simple Humble but Rich flavor. You can choose course menu, set menu, or single menu. Quite and calm atmosphere, staffs are able to communicate in English. Definitely will come back again!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-01-31
Guest
Nikki5737
Points +474
Very tasty food - Edit
Cute little restaurant, staff spoke English well. Most of the set menu is only available with reservations, and the set menus are all what is described first in the listings, so it took a little bit to Wade through the menu. If you didn't make reservations, I recommend starting at the back of the menu (which is a good 10 pages long). I had the bibimbap and my friend had the dumpling soup. Both were very tasty. I also had the magnolia tea, which was absolutely amazing. I would definitely go back 😊
Read moreGuest
Emmalusch
Points +1789
Nice lady and tasty food - Edit
I really liked the set and the fact that was traditionally Korean but also vegan. The lady was really calm and kind, she took a bit of time to explain me how I should eat it in Korean style ☺️
Read moreThe food was delicious and I fulfilling but if I have to compare it’s not the best one in Seoul
theNumberOfTheBeast
Ooh! I ate the spiciest vegan food of my life here! Super tops!
Read moreGuest
Koreangourmet
Points +13
Ripped off - Edit
One of those typical ripping-off Korean restaurant around Kyungbok Palace and Insadong for foreign tourists and local people not knowing what Korean temple food or good Korean food is.
Read moreMisled by the advertisement about temple food... the cooking itself was terrible!!
If you just want a place where to have a short rest, maybe that would be OK, but if you are looking for decent food, avoid the place at all cost.
Also, we disliked that the owner was not wearing a mask taking order and serving food as they usually do at other restaurants...
Pros: The interior of the place looks nice
Cons: 1. The food was not good at all, not fresh at all, 2. Not worth the price we had to pay, 3. The owner was not very friendly
Guest
bganapathi
Points +144
Exceptional food and experience - Edit
Found this restaurant by pure luck and ended up going there everyday of my stay in Seoul! Food was so tasty and authentic and good priced too!
Read moreAdditionally, I ended up coming to this restaurant really late one night and the owner was kind enough to serve me past their closing time.
Pros: Lots of vegan food, Tasty and super healthy!, Authentic culinary experience
Cons: Have to walk a little to find the restaurant
Guest
LynnM
Points +315
Interesting food - Edit
We came for lunch and had the worker set, one with normal rice, one with rice in leaf. It was interesting and different from what we have had. We especially enjoyed the small pancakes.
Read more(Visited at the end of November 2019)
Guest
AnnyNy
Points +749
Great food - Edit
We had two types of lunch set. It came with many plates and a tea. All was good. Especially the mushrooms.
Read morePros: A lot of meal sets, Reasonably priced, Very nice place
Guest
itslizmiu
Points +346
Delicious Temple Food - Try the Savoury Korean Pancakes!!! (전) - Edit
One of the most delicious meals I've had in Seoul. I'd heard about the savoury pancakes here (Jeon -전) and they didn't disappoint! We ordered two set-lunch meals with Lotus Leaf rice (don't eat the leaf haha) and the food was absolutely delicious considering no onion and garlic was used. I loved it because it was simple and delicious and I definitely thought the pancakes, soup and lotus leaf rice were the stand-outs. Didn't love the ggaennip (Perilla Leaves), but I think that was a side dish that you might not always get.
Read moreAlso the lady who works there who speaks english has the best energy omg.
Pros: Savoury pancakes (usually hard to find vegan!), Service, Beautiful atmosphere
Cons: Fish tank at the front?
Guest
cheehay
Points +122
Nice lunch set - Edit
I had the lunch set menu which was good. No complaints for the price but didnt exactly wow. Sat at the front with a view of the garden. The lady spoke good english.
Read moreThey do have some very interesting looking items on the menu that requires ordering in advance
Guest
bongbong733
Points +14279
Anything for Anyone - Edit
This restaurant offers a diversity of foods within a large price range. Considering its location in the historic district of Seoul, this seems rather noteworthy.
Read moreThere are weekday lunch sets available at regular prices (starting at 8000 KRW) as well as more elegant dishes and full course menus for more special occasions.
The menu lists regular traditional Korean food that is prepared according to the Buddhist / Daoist / sattvic avoidance of consuming garlic, onion, scallion etc. (무오신채) - thus considered temple food.
I am very excited about their veganized dishes from Korean royal cuisine, which is hard to find even for 'regular eaters'! In case you are interested in trying them, make sure you order them in advance (phone)!
On a side note, a Korean foodie friend was not impressed by their kimchi dishes, saying that they didn't taste like the kimchi had ripened properly (aging kimchi is a time consuming process!)
Overall, however, I am happy to see a vegan restaurant with such a large menu and am looking forward to trying more of their dishes!
Pros: diversity (price range, gluten-free, temple food), friendly staff, veganized traditional Korean food
Cons: kimchi not well fermented
Guest
loveslugs
Points +76
Maji magic - Edit
Great little restaurant. The dumpling soup and pancakes were delicious and the service was fast and friendly. Would have been 5 stars if it wasn't for the fish tank too small for the fish in it.
Read moreGuest
my.vegan.bento
Points +87
Delicious! - Edit
I was so shocked by how many dishes were brought out! It was a reasonably priced lunch set, and there were at least 10 different dishes! The picture doesn't even show all of them! They were all so delicious, and I left very, very full!
Read moreThe set provided a braised peanut sort of dish, kimchi, a kimchi pancake, salad, meaty shiitake, a pumpkin soup, and more!
The owner is also very sweet and friendly. She was very nice to chat with.
I would happily return!
Guest
ghansman
Points +1099
Fantastic ambiance. Quality food. - Edit
Delightful atmosphere and friendly staff at this temple food restaurant. A welcome place to rest and dine for sore-footed travellers. Food was fresh, kimchi and miso made on site, and the taste was great.
Read moreGuest
Jishinseiren
Points +49
Rip off. - Edit
I came here with a friend and we both ordered sets- the total was about 25,000 won for two people, and this is what we got...
Read moreAll of it was either oily or covered in sugar too. I won’t come again.
Pros: The lady was accommodating
Cons: Too expensive , Food is oily
Guest
cdaigle
Points +31
Off season shorter hours - Edit
The restaurant closes one hour earlier on Sunday’s when it is off season. I showed up and they were about to close. But they were super nice and prepared me a dish with rice, glass noodles and veggies with a side of kimchi. It was perfect since I did not want to go on a trek finding another place. I hope to return.
Read moreI agree with another person who mentioned the fish tank as being awkward.
Guest
yehadut
Points +2089
Pretty good - Edit
I liked it, particularly as a chance to try new interesting flavors, but I wasn't amazed and I wouldn't want to eat this daily. They have an English menu and speak English well. The decor was better than casual but less than fancy. It was alright. I note that they have a fish tank, which disturbed me a bit, those fish need more space and some enrichment.
Read moreGuest
~Florence~
Points +2330
Loved it - Edit
I visited this place in Juli. I ordered the seaweed soup with rice dough balls, the Korean pancakes, shitake, and some other vegetables. Everything was delicious. The tastes were very satisfying. I would definitely recommend. Only some dishes, like the pancakes, contained a little bit too much oil for my preferences. (But you can just dab it away). The beautiful interior and the nice staff contributed to the good vibes. I sat there during a thunderstorm, it was quite cozy. Loved it!
Read morePros: Delicious tastes, Friendly , Nice if you don't like very spicy food
Guest
lola131
Points +64
Very nice restaurant with a very tasty food - Edit
The pancakes are great! No flour just mash beens
Read morePros: Vegan good dishes
Guest
Aventurera
Points +205
Relaxing atmosphere, good food - Edit
Maji serves Buddhist temple-style vegan food in a setting that is calm and relaxing. The basic set meal dinner was perfectly sized for a moderate appetite. The plum tea was a worthwhile accompaniment - the plums were aged in a way that reduced their sugar content, and the flavor was complex in the way of a fine wine. Maji does offer several wines by the bottle, as well as beer.
Read morePros: Good food, Calm atmosphere
Cons: No wines by the glass
Guest
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