Quick Answer
Traditional Korean soybean paste, called doenjang (된장), is usually vegetarian because it is made from fermented soybeans, salt, and water.
However, dishes made with doenjang—especially doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)—are often not vegetarian in Korean restaurants. Many restaurants cook the stew using anchovy broth, crab, or sometimes meat.
Because of this, vegetarians in Korea usually need to check how the stew is prepared.
What Is Doenjang?
Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste.
It is made from soybeans that are fermented and aged, often for months or even years. The paste has a strong savory flavor and is one of the most important ingredients in Korean home cooking.
Traditional Korean fermented soybean paste (doenjang).
Doenjang appears in many Korean dishes, including:
- doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)
- vegetable dipping sauces
- ssamjang used for lettuce wraps
Another common fermented condiment in Korean cooking is gochujang (Korean chili paste).
In its basic form, doenjang itself is usually vegetarian.
Is Doenjang-Jjigae Vegetarian?
Although the paste itself is vegetarian, doenjang-jjigae is usually not vegetarian in Korean restaurants.
Many restaurants prepare the stew using:
- anchovy broth
- crab
- pork or beef slices
Because of this, the dish often contains animal ingredients even if the main seasoning is soybean paste.
In recent years, it has also become common for restaurants to add meat such as chadolbagi (thinly sliced beef brisket), especially in Korean BBQ restaurants.
Many Korean dishes that appear vegetarian may still contain seafood-based broth or seasoning. You can read more about these ingredients in this guide:
Hidden Animal Ingredients in Korean Food
Doenjang-jjigae served in a typical Korean restaurant.
What I Usually Ask in Korean Restaurants
When I eat at restaurants in Korea, this is one of the questions I ask most often.
In the past, doenjang-jjigae was usually served as a simple soybean paste stew without meat. But today many restaurants add meat, especially in Korean BBQ restaurants where I often go for company dinners.
When I order doenjang-jjigae, I usually ask if it can be made without meat.
Most restaurants accept this request. However, sometimes they cannot change it because the stew is already prepared using a pre-mixed doenjang base that contains meat broth.
In that case, I simply eat rice with banchan and ssam (vegetable wraps) instead.
A Small Detail You May Notice in Restaurants
In many Korean restaurants that specialize in doenjang-jjigae, you may notice that a large empty bowl is served with the meal.
This bowl is meant for mixing rice with vegetables and side dishes, similar to a simple bibimbap-style bowl.
Many people mix rice with vegetables and banchan in this bowl, sometimes adding a spoon of doenjang stew as well, creating a simple bibimbap-style meal.
Many doenjang-jjigae restaurants serve a large bowl so you can mix rice and vegetables together like a simple bibimbap.
Final Answer
Doenjang itself is usually vegetarian because it is made from fermented soybeans.
However, dishes like doenjang-jjigae are often not vegetarian in Korean restaurants because they may include anchovy broth, crab, or meat.
If you are vegetarian, it is best to ask how the stew is prepared before ordering.
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