Is Kimchi Vegetarian? (Fish Sauce & Shrimp Paste)

Kimchi is cabbage and chili, so it looks vegan at a glance. The non-vegetarian part is in the seasoning, not the vegetable. Here is what makes traditional kimchi non-vegetarian, and how to find the vegan version.

Key Takeaways

• Traditional kimchi is not vegetarian: it is seasoned with fish sauce and salted shrimp.
• The cabbage and vegetables are plant-based; the seasoning is the animal part.
• “Vegetarian kimchi” can still contain fish sauce, so look for the explicit “vegan” label.
• Vegan kimchi is common and keeps fine, since the tang comes from fermentation.

TL;DR: Kimchi is usually not vegetarian. Traditional kimchi is seasoned with fish sauce (anchovy) and/or salted fermented shrimp (saeu-jeot). Vegan kimchi exists and is common: look for “vegan kimchi” or check the label.

What kimchi is

Kimchi is fermented vegetables: most famously napa cabbage: seasoned with a paste of gochugaru (chili flakes), garlic, ginger and scallions. The vegetables are all plant-based.

The animal part

The non-vegetarian ingredients are in the seasoning, not the cabbage:

• Fish sauce (fermented anchovy)
• Saeu-jeot (salted fermented shrimp)
• Sometimes shrimp paste or oyster is added

These add the deep, savory umami flavor that classic kimchi is known for.

How to tell if kimchi is vegan

• “Vegan kimchi” or “plant-based kimchi”: safe.
• “Vegetarian kimchi”: check the label anyway; some brands still add fish sauce.
• Unlabeled: scan the ingredients for: fish sauce, shrimp, anchovy, jeotgal, oyster.

Many supermarkets and health-food brands now make kimchi without any fish products, and it keeps just fine (the tang comes from fermentation, not fish).

The bottom line

• Vegetarian? Only if made without fish sauce and shrimp.
• Vegan? Look for the explicit “vegan” label.

See our Kimchi dish guide for the full ingredient breakdown.

Check before you eat. The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more). Download on the App Store - Android is coming soon.

Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.

Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.