Seeking Gluten-Free Advice for My Trip to South Korea!

[Ading69]

Hey travelers,

Newbie here, I am preparing for a trip to South Korea and need help with finding gluten-free options. Because I have celiac disease, it is important for me to find restaurants that are safe for me to eat at. Could you please give me some advice on restaurants that serve gluten-free food or Korean dishes which are naturally without gluten? Furthermore, do you have any tips for someone traveling in South Korea who needs to follow a gluten-free diet?

[Scott Adams]

I've never been there, but this may be helpful.

Here's a concise gluten-free restaurant card in Korean along with its English translation:

---Korean:

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글루텐 프리 레스토랑 카드

안녕하세요! 저는 밀, 루테인, 보리, 그리고 귀리에 포함된 글루텐을 섭취할 수 없는 글루텐 불내성을 가지고 있습니다. 글루텐 섭취는 건강에 문제를 일으킬 수 있으므로 다음의 음식들을 제공하지 않기를 부탁드립니다:

밀 기반 제품 (면류, 빵)

보리 기반 제품 (맥주, 올리고당)

귀리 기반 제품 (귀리플레이크)

유제품 (일부 유제품은 라보균을 함유할 수 있음)

소스 및 조미료 (간장, 양념장)

과자류, 떡류

튀김 음식

제 식사가 글루텐 프리로 준비되어 있다면 감사하겠습니다.

감사합니다!

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English Translation:

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Gluten-Free Restaurant Card

Hello! I have gluten intolerance, which means I can't eat gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Consuming gluten can cause health issues for me, so please avoid serving me the following foods:

• Wheat-based products (noodles, bread)
• Barley-based products (beer, malt syrup)
• Oats-based products (oatmeal flakes)
• Dairy products (some dairy products may contain lactobacilli)
• Sauces and condiments (soy sauce, seasonings)
• Snacks, rice cakes
• Fried foods

I would appreciate if my meal can be prepared gluten-free.

Thank you!

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This card should help convey your dietary needs clearly in Korean and English when dining at gluten-free restaurants or explaining your requirements to restaurant staff.

[Guest]

Welcome to the forum. You are lucky because in Korean food, many classic meals such as bibimbap without sauce, barbecue meats and some kinds of soups generally do not have gluten. But it is a good idea to confirm with the restaurant workers for safety reasons. Regarding certain locations, I enjoy going to places such as Plant in Seoul and Sprout in Busan. Moreover, using applications like HappyCow or TripAdvisor can assist you to discover additional choices in the regions you plan to visit. One big tip: it is good to know some important Korean sentences, for example 'I cannot eat gluten' (geulluteuneul meogeul su eopseoyo)  or 'Does this have gluten?' (igeoe neun geulluteuni deureo innayo?) because they can be very helpful. Good luck with your travels! 🍻

[Beverage]

Is soy sauce in Korea also made from wheat like it usually is in US? I'd be concerned that even if asking about gluten, they would not be aware of or think of some like that. 

[Scott Adams]

Yes, wheat is common in most soy sauces now because it speeds up the fermenting process.