Insa Dodam Review : Vegan-Friendly Drinking Spot in Insadong
I found a really nice Korean restaurant in Insadong that works well even if you have vegan friends in the group. It’s called Insadodam, and it’s basically a traditional-style bar/restaurant where you can drink makgeolli and eat Korean side dishes, with clear vegan options.
📍 Location
1F, 5-1 Insadong 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
⏰ Opening Hours
Daily 11:00–22:00
Break time 15:00–17:00
Last order 21:00
Exterior
Insadodam is tucked into a quiet alley in Insadong, but it wasn’t hard to find at all. The signboard at the entrance looks like an old tavern from the past, and there’s a funny phrase written by the owner that really stuck in my head: “Alcohol is our enemy. Let’s drink and destroy it.” That line alone already made me like the place.
Interior
Inside, it has that classic hanok-inspired vibe that totally fits Insadong. Warm wood, traditional details, and a cozy atmosphere that makes you want to sit for hours and just chat. It really caught my eye the moment I walked in.
Vegan Menu & Drinks
Right at the entrance there’s a banner highlighting the vegan menu, so people who search “vegan” probably end up here a lot. The menu is also posted outside, and vegan dishes are clearly marked, which is super helpful if you’re standing there debating whether to go in.
What impressed me most was actually the drinks. They have several kinds of makgeolli that you don’t usually see in regular places. I went with friends and we kind of made it a mission to try them one by one. We ordered different bottles in order, like a stamp tour, and everyone agreed the last one, a tiger-branded makgeolli called “Hwaseong,” was the winner. We liked it so much we ordered one more bottle.
What We Ordered (All Vegan)
We were with vegan/vegan-leaning friends, so we decided to go full vegan for the food:
- Minari pancake (water parsley jeon)
- Steamed tofu and vegetables
- Hot pot tofu mushroom soup (served in a stone pot)
All three dishes were really good – clean flavors, not greasy, and kind of comforting. Nothing felt heavy, which matched well with makgeolli.
The side dishes were also surprisingly good. They only served vegan-friendly banchan that day, so we kept asking for refills without any guilt. That’s usually the real sign something is tasty.
We got lucky with timing too. If we had arrived a bit later, we probably would’ve had to wait, but we managed to get a small space that felt almost like our own room. Perfect setting for endless talking with good food and makgeolli.
Final Thoughts
Insadodam is a great spot in Insadong if you’re looking for a traditional Korean drinking place that can also handle vegan needs. The vegan dishes were honestly tasty, the banchan were addictive, and the unique makgeolli selection was the highlight for me.
If I have another meetup in Insadong, I can totally see myself going back here, especially when I start missing those vegan side dishes and that tiger makgeolli.