A Delicious Vegetarian Meal, Plantude

Pulmuone's Vegan Restaurant

Following the trend of ethical and value-driven consumption, more people are choosing a vegan diet. According to the Korea Vegetarian Union, the number of vegetarians in Korea increased from 150,000 in 2008 to 2.5 million in 2021. In response to this trend, companies are entering the vegetarian market by launching new vegan food brands or opening vegan restaurants.

Pulmuone, which has introduced various vegan products such as tofu noodles, plant-based ramen, and plant-based yogurt, opened a vegan restaurant called ‘Plantude’ last month on the B1 floor of COEX. The name ‘Plantude,’ a blend of Plant and Attitude, signifies a commitment to an environmentally conscious attitude. This is the first vegan restaurant in Korea operated by a food company that has received vegan certification not only for its ingredients and menu but also for all kitchen utensils and the entire restaurant.

The interior of the store is decorated with plants that give a warm yet fresh feeling. The kitchen is an open kitchen style where customers can watch the cooking process.

The restaurant offers a total of 13 dishes. To lower the entry barrier to veganism, the menu consists of familiar dishes such as rice bowls, lasagna, tteokbokki, and gangjeong (sweet crispy chicken). Signature dishes include Plant Soy Bulgogi Rice Bowl, Tofu Katsu Vegetable Rice Bowl, Tofu Paper Lasagna, and Truffle Gamtae Cream Tteokbokki. Prices are around 10,000 KRW, comparable to other restaurants in the COEX food court.

Orders are placed via tablet PC. When selecting a menu item, detailed information such as calories, ingredients, and nutritional content is displayed. Among various dishes, I tried Crumbled Tofu Bibimbap & Tomato Soft Tofu Stew, Tofu Karaage Buckwheat Noodles, Plant Soy Bulgogi Rice Bowl, Tofu Paper Lasagna, Corn Caesar Salad, and Tofu Tiramisu.

Crumble Tofu Bibimbap & Tomato Soft Tofu Stew

Tofu Karaage Buckwheat Noodles

The Crumbled Tofu Bibimbap, eaten with soy sauce, is not salty but mild, filled with seasonal vegetables, giving a healthy meal impression. The crumbled tofu, cut into small pieces and fried, adds a crispy and savory flavor. The accompanying tomato stew contains soft tofu. The spicy tomato stew combined with the soft tofu is an unexpected but smooth and pleasant combination.

The Tofu Karaage Buckwheat Noodles feature larger pieces of fried tofu than the tofu crumble in the bibimbap. The tofu has a firm texture without being mushy, full of the tofu’s natural mild and savory taste. Fresh vegetables including cucumber, chewy buckwheat noodles, and spicy chili oil come together to create a refreshing and clean flavor that can brighten even gloomy rainy days.

Plant Soy Bulgogi Rice Bowl

Tofu Paper Lasagna

The Plant Soy Bulgogi Rice Bowl topped with large pieces of soy meat is drizzled with a sweet soy sauce-based sauce. The soy meat has a rich smoky flavor that stimulates the appetite, reminiscent of grilled bulgogi. It is impressive that even those trying soy meat for the first time can enjoy it without any sense of unfamiliarity.

The popular Tofu Paper Lasagna uses tofu sheets instead of lasagna noodles and is layered with grilled mushrooms and eggplant. The tomato sauce is enhanced with cashew nut cream sauce, giving it a more sophisticated flavor compared to typical tomato pasta sauces. There is no sourness in the tomato sauce, which harmonizes beautifully with the tofu. The thin tofu absorbed the sauce well, and the umami of the grilled vegetables was also alive. If you visit Plantude for the first time, these two dishes?the Plant Soy Bulgogi Rice Bowl and Tofu Paper Lasagna?are highly recommended.

Corn Caesar Salad with Grilled Vegetables

Tofu Tiramisu

The salad and dessert are also excellent. The Corn Caesar Salad, made with grilled vegetables, fresh romaine, and corn dressing, offers a unique sweet dressing flavor. The Tofu Tiramisu is Plantude’s signature dessert, featuring soft tofu cream generously spread over moist whole wheat cookies. It’s surprising once to learn that dessert can be made with tofu, and again to be amazed by its sweet and moist taste that clings delightfully to the palate.

From ingredients to cooking utensils, Plantude is a perfect vegan restaurant. It is a place full of dishes that both vegans and non-vegans can enjoy deliciously. After tasting various dishes, it was clear that much effort has been put into popularizing vegan food in terms of price and taste. If you are curious about vegan eating habits or think that ‘vegan food doesn’t taste good,’ I highly recommend visiting this place. Although the waiting time during lunch hours is very long like any other restaurant in COEX, it is a space worth waiting for.

Photo by Bomi Kim

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.