Korean Vegetarian: More Than You Think

As meat consumption by the majority of the Korean population is a fairly recent phenomenon, it should not come as a surprise that a whole vegetarian culture exists waiting to be discovered. The influence of Buddhist cuisine adds an extra dimension to an already prevalent way of life.

The emergence of dedicated vegetarian restaurants in Korea is relatively new - surely a sign that Koreans are becoming more appreciative of healthy eating in their own backyard. You will encounter dried, pickled, and fresh seasonal plants, prepared to bring out the full flavour of each leaf, root and stem - a contrast with Chinese vegetarian cuisine, which tends to emphasise imitation meat textures.

Whilst such diversity may not be fully replicated in Hong Kong, good Korean restaurants always offer a selection made from fresh and dried vegetables, sourced locally and from Korea, using uniquely Korean combinations of seasonings.