“Temple food†is food eaten by monks in Buddhism, and is also commonly referred to as “temple food.†In addition to preservatives and artificial seasonings, it is characterized by its light flavor and freshness because it does not contain meat and otsinchae (garlic, green onions, appetites, chives, etc.). Temple food is also popular among vegetarians because it uses fresh seasonal herbs and vegetables and can supplement nutrients with mushrooms or beans instead of meat. It's similar to the FMD (FMD) diet, which replaces meals with low calorie, sugar, and protein content and high unsaturated fatty acid content, so it's also good as a diet diet. The prejudice that temple food is low in quantity or tasteless is prohibited. From course meals made with healthy ingredients to hearty meals! Here are 5 of the best temple food restaurants that will keep your body and mind healthy.
1. Enjoy temple food as a course meal, 'Balwoo Offering' at Anguk Station
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Image source: soyeon.templefood.story's Instagram
Image source: soyeon.templefood.story's Instagram
“Balwoo Gongyang†is the only temple food specialty store directly operated by the 'Korean Buddhist Culture Project Group'. The monk Daehan of 'Geumdang Traditional Food Researcher' is the general manager. The signature menu “Wonsik†consists of 7 courses: sakushim, congee, sangmi, dammi, seungso, yumi, and mouthfeel. Course dishes made using traditional temple recipes are not irritating and have a healthy flavor.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 56, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 11:30 – 15:00 for lunch every day, 18:00 – 21:30 for dinner, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: 45,000 won for raw food, 65,000 won for mindful food
â–²Testimonial (dysphoria after eating): This is a temple food restaurant that has received 1 Michelin star for 3 years in a row! Each course meal came out full, and I was full of satiety after eating them all! Of course, the taste is great too!
2. “Doban†in Yangjae-dong, the charm of different ingredients from day to day
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Image source: Chopchopveggie's Instagram
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“Doban†is a place where the monk Hong Seung, one of the top three temple food masters, presents dishes. The signature menu is “Lunch Special,†which offers 8 side dishes that vary depending on the ingredients of the day and 2 dishes of the day. Side dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients are characterized by their refreshing taste. They also sell vegetarian bento boxes that are easy to take care of their health, so I recommend them to office workers.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 7-27, Mabang-ro 6-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 14:30 on weekdays, 00:00 — 24:00 when booking
â–²Price: Special lunch: 11,000 won, cooking course A: 30,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Let's meet on Friday): Today's dishes include potato mayo sauce and burdock root chae, but it was nice that the seasoning wasn't strong. The next time I come, I'll eat a course meal that includes an appetizer, 6 dishes, a meal, and dessert.
3. Just like the atmosphere of a temple, Insa-dong's “mountain villageâ€
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Image source: w_day0427's Instagram
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A “mountain village†where props such as Buddha statues, lanterns, and bells are placed all over the store, which makes use of the structure of a hanok, create the atmosphere of a temple. The signature menu, “Sanchon Teishoku,†mainly consists of 7 kinds of wild vegetable assorted herbs, and is served as a side dish with wild vegetable chapchae, modeok sauce, dried herbs, and tempura. Fresh herbs grown in the mountains and assorted herbs made from wild herbs grown in the mountains become fragrant the more you chew them.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 30-13 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 12:00 – 20:30 every day
â–²Price: Mountain village set lunch 33,000 won, mountain village set dinner 33,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami no Ko, Fan): They reopened on March 11th due to expansion work! Put aside the prejudice that the amount is small when it comes to temple food~ The mountain village set meal came with about 20 kinds of dishes and desserts, and I had a hearty meal.
4. From temple food to vegan bakeries! Yeongdeungpo 'Aseungji'
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Image source: hyeryeon_oh's Instagram
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 176 Singil-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 12:00 – 21:00, B/T 15:00 – 17:00, closed on weekends
â–²Price: Aseungji set meal 30,000 won, Aseungji dinner course 50,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Golden Sugar): Aseungji's set meal is always a different menu, but it's full of fresh ingredients, so I feel healthy after eating it. I also bought vegan bread when it came out~
5. Filled with the fragrant scent of lotus leaves, 'Marji' at Gyeongbokgung Station
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Image source: munch_kimchi's Instagram
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Starting with the 'Baekryun Temple Food Research Institute' which opened in 2011, 'Marji' is showcasing traditional Korean natural vegetarian food. The signature menu, “Hansang Chaim Lunch/Dinner Set,†comes with congee, salad, burdock root, today's noodles, shiitake soup, and lotus leaf tea for dessert. The soft scent of lotus leaves adds flavor to lotus rice, which contains red rice in lotus leaves.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 19, Jihamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 21:00, B/T (Monday to Saturday) 15:30 to 17:00, Sunday 12:00 to 17:00, closed every second and fourth Tuesday
â–²Price: Korean style lunch/dinner set 20,000 won, lotus rice topped 17,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Young-shim): The shiitake soup in the Hansang Chaim Lunch Set had the best smooth texture of shiitake mushrooms instead of meat.
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