Korean Buddhist Temple Cuisine is mindful cuisine eaten by monks. The monks recognize the effort that goes into the creation of everything and they make an effort to not waste even an individual grain of rice. They believe in compassion for all beings. The idea is that the food one eats should not cause harm to any being nor is wasteful. Therefore, the buddhist monks eat a simple diet that is based on vegetables. They eat foods that they believe give energy and mindfulness and avoid foods that are thought to be profane. The foods that are thought to be profane are the the five pungent vegetables or known as "O-shin-chae." The O-shin-chae vegetables are onions, garlic, chives, green onions, and leeks. Monks do not eat any living animal beings such as meat or fish.

The monks eat food that is fresh, preserved and fermented foods. The process for cooking the food seeks to keep the food as natural as possibly while fortifying it to make it healthier. Many of the fresh vegetables and roots are picked gathered from mountains. Mountain vegetables are thought to be heartier because they have to grow on rocky soil in harsh conditions. Also, mountains are sacred in Korea so they are thought to be spiritual. Monks use natural seasonings such as mushroom powder, kelp powders, wild sesame seed powders, root and bean powders, and mushrooms.

Monks are quite proficient in the methods of fermentation. It is believed that a buddhist monk discovered the secrets of making soy sauce and bean paste. Buddhist kimchis and fermented pastes are fermented without any animal products or seafood and yet they are nutritious.

Eating is a ritual for practicing monks. Monk meals or gongyang, is an offering. Monks these days eat in a ritualistic fashion called balwoo gongyang or wooden offering. The wood refers to the four wooden bowls monks carry around for their meals. While monks eat they chant verses. The bowls represent five main percepts of worship. First the bowls represent the spirit of equality. Second, the spirit of cleanliness since monks serves themselves. Third, it represents the spirit of frugality since monks should only take as much food as they need to live and they should even drink the water used to clean the bowls. Fourth, it represents the spirit of community since the monks share food from the same pot. Fifth, it embodies the spirit of merit since the ritual of eating gives thanks to all the efforts that were involved prior, during and after the meal.