Food allergy travel guide to South Korea

Practical restaurant allergy expectations in South Korea, including what to ask about sesame, soy, wheat/gluten, shellfish, fish, and egg.

At a glance

Practical restaurant allergy expectations in South Korea, including what to ask about sesame, soy, wheat/gluten, shellfish, fish, and egg.
Verify sesame, soy, wheat/gluten, shellfish, fish, egg before ordering.
Ask about the dish, sauce, garnish, and shared equipment before you order.
Log what staff said and what happened later so the next visit starts with better evidence.

How to use this guide

South Korean restaurant questions often involve sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce, wheat in sauces, seafood stock, anchovy stock, egg, and side dishes.

This page is practical travel guidance. Chain restaurants may have clearer documentation than small independent restaurants.

What to expect socially

Food allergy is a known concept, but small restaurants may not ask about it before ordering.
Banchan can contain allergens even when the main dish looks suitable. Ask about the whole table setup.
A Korean allergy card helps when asking about sesame, seafood stock, wheat, or soy in sauces.

Common allergens to verify

sesame
soy
wheat/gluten
shellfish
fish
egg

Questions to ask

Ask about sesame oil and sesame seeds in both the main dish and side dishes.

Ask about anchovy stock, seafood stock, soy sauce, gochujang, doenjang, and wheat in marinades.

Gulpp is free

Track your restaurant allergy history

Gulpp lets you log what you ate, what you asked, and whether symptoms showed up later. Your report can become the first evidence for the next diner.

Start a free log

Medical disclaimer

This guide is general information for restaurant planning. It is not medical advice. For emergency symptoms, call local emergency services. For personal diagnosis, medication, or action-plan questions, talk with your allergist.

Read the medical disclaimer