Renowned Michelin chefs with the best technical skills and eye for presentation and flavour have made Seoul a great city for fine dining.
Seoul is one of the best culinary cities in the world and fine dining is an art for locals and travellers, many of whom flock for the incredible Michelin-star or Michelin-recommended food.
According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, 180,000 luxury tourists visited Korea in 2023. Luxury tourists in Korea are spoiled for choice with 177 restaurants in Seoul included in The MICHELIN Guide Seoul & Busan 2024. It is safe to say that Korea, particularly Seoul, is alive with the best culinary experiences for the large influx of luxury tourists.
In the bustling metropolis, not only can you find amazing Korean food, but many different cuisines. Whether it’s Korean, French or Mexican, renowned chefs with the best technical skills and eye for flavour have made Seoul a great city for fine dining.
Korean fine dining is all about the fresh, nutritious ingredients and the careful way they are treated. It’s also all about how centuries-old tradition upholds itself while foreign influences contemporise the culinary world.
Here are 20 of the best fine dining restaurants in Seoul you must visit on our next trip, each promising something a little different but nevertheless spectacular.
Jihwaja: The original taste of royal Korean court cuisine
Address: 125 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
You cannot leave Korea without experiencing the exquisite taste of royal Korean court cuisine. To give a brief but grand explanation of Jihwaja’s significance, it should be noted that they have an esteemed reputation as the finest restaurant preserving ‘The Legitimacy of Korean Royal Cuisine’. Jihwaja is operated by successors of Joseon dynasty royal dishes. Han Hui-Sun was a royal court lady who prepared meals for the last two Joseon kings, Kim Go-Jong and King Sun-Jong. She was designated as the 1st Royal Culinary Art Master in 1971 and the royal cuisine of the Joseon Dynasty became the 38th Important Intangible Cultural Property of Korea. After Han’s passing, Hwang Hae-Sung became the 2nd Royal Culinary Art Master. In 1991, he established Jihwaja.
Feel like a royal with their unique, traditional full courses — Jineo-byul Manchan (Deluxe Royal Degustation Course, consisting of eight courses), Jineo Manchan (Royal Degustation Course, consisting of eight courses), and Janggeum Manchan (Daejanggeum Degustation Course, consisting of seven courses). These full courses are the most authentic way to experience a taste of Korean history and culture.
They also serve set menus including the Grilled Beef Ribs Course (above), consisting of four courses, as well as several à la carte options.
All the courses are guaranteed a sophisticated and healthy taste with no MSG, artificial flavours or additives. Vegan and gluten free options are also available with booking at least 3 days in advance.
Soul Dining: Best for experimental and stylish Korean cuisine
Address: B1F, 35 Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04337, South Korea
Holding one Michelin star, Soul Dining is the perfect restaurant combining traditional Korean cuisine with experimental and stylish creations.
Husband and wife duo Chefs Yun Dae-Hyun and Kim Hee-Eun craft each dish to boost the flavours of local ingredients in an innovative way. Staple Korean dishes are given a modern day flair in unique fusion creations that hit the soul of Korean diners and foreign travellers alike.
Some of their highlights are Kim Hee-Eun’s dish ‘Mrs Kim Jeonbok’ which features fresh Wando abalone and gopchang (small intestine of cows or large intestine of pigs) seaweed marscapone, and Soul’s gamja-jeon (potato pancake) which elevates a staple Korean dish with the finest potatoes and ingredients like parmigiano reggiano cheese, pork-infused oil and perilla oil aioli.
Toh Lim: Best for creative Cantonese dishes
Address: 37F Lotte Hotel, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04533, South Korea
Toh Lim is one of the best Cantonese restaurants in Seoul, having been Michelin-recommended.
Located on the 37th floor of the Lotte Hotel Seoul near Myeongdong and Deoksugung Palace, it is surrounded by captivating views of the Bukhansan Mountain and downtown Seoul. It is the perfect backdrop to indulge in the creative Cantonese dishes served at Toh Lim.
Behind Toh Lim are a team of highly respected veterans of the Korean culinary industry who have created their diners’ favourites including crab meat soup with tender crab meat and various dim sum.
Mugunghwa: Loved for its health-conscious Korean classics
Address: 35F Lotte Hotel, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04533, South Korea
Up on the 38th floor of Lotte Hotel is the Michelin-recommended restaurant Mugunghwa. With an interior is furnished with a mix of wood and metallic furnishing, the exterior boasts an incredible city view of Seoul, including the N Seoul Tower.
Mugunghwa’s philosophy is ‘food is medicine’; this philosophy influences each dish with their health-conscious approach to fine dining.
Through their course meals, classic Korean cuisine meets refined technique and complex flavours. Fermented elements are also a stand-out feature in their menu. The highlights include burdock gangjeong (deep-fried rice puff) with coastal hog fennel sauce and haesam-jeung (braised sea cucumber) with black garlic sauce.
Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul: Best for artistic French haute cuisine
Address: 35F Lotte Hotel, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04533, South Korea
French cuisine is rising in popularity in Korea. In Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul, you can experience artistic French haute dishes in the elegant, luxurious interior of the restaurant.
Opened in 2008 by Pierre Gagnaire — an internationally renowned three Michelin star chef and once first out of the 100 top chefs in the world — the restaurant boasts dishes made with 80% local Korean ingredients and has 250 wine labels in their cellar display.
La Yeon: Well-known for its refined Korean haute cuisine
Address: 23F Shilla Hotel, 249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04605, South Korea
If you search for the top fine-dining restaurants in Seoul, La Yeon is a name that makes its way onto every list. Crowned a two Michelin star restaurant, it is located on the 23rd floor of The Shilla Seoul so you can enjoy your meal with panoramic views. Chef Kim Sung-Il — a highly respected chef of 37 years in the Korean culinary industry and winner of the Michelin Mentor Chef Award in 2025 — heads the kitchen.
The restaurant is known for Korean haute cuisine, presenting familiar Korean flavours and textures in a refined manner. They turn high quality local and seasonal ingredients into exquisite, contemporary dishes. Their crisp red mullet and tender chargrilled Hanwoo bulgogi show how their clean, refined dishes are why they are such a big name in the Korean food scene.
L’Amant Secret: Loved for its Korean-style Western cuisine
Address: 26F L’Escape Hotel, 67 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04529, South Korea
Located on the 26th floor of the 5-star L’Escape Hotel, one Michelin star restaurant L’Amant Secret flaunts intimate and atmospheric Parisian aesthetics. In collaboration with internationally renowned partners, Executive Chef Son Jong-Won, who built his culinary career in Michelin star restaurants around the world, transforms Korean seasonal ingredients in a Korean-style Western cuisine to fuse the traditional and the modern culinary worlds.
Their lunch menu includes 12-days dry aged Somang farm duck and their dinner menu includes butternut squash ‘ravioli’ with caviar. Small bites are also made using crops grown on their rooftop garden.
Evett: Best for innovative Korean dishes
Address: 10-5 Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06021, South Korea
One of our own homegrown Australian culinary talents, Chef Joseph Lidgerwood, is behind the two Michelin star restaurant Evett. Lidgerwood hails from Tasmania and ran pop-up restaurants in 20 countries including the US, South Africa and Nepal before going to Seoul in 2018. At Evett, you can discover an innovative approach to Korean food by applying global techniques to make it an entirely new experience. A minimalist aesthetic runs through the interior design and the dishes.
Highlights include Chef Lidgerwood’s signature Meju Donut which is a deep-fried glutinous rice dough filled with cream, anchovy dalgona, and black garlic, and their in-house pine needle oil.
Rialto: Loved for its authentic North Italian delights
Address: 2F, 13 Samseong-ro 149-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06063, South Korea
Italian cuisine is also another favourite foreign cuisine amongst Korean diners. Its popularity has contributed to restaurants like Michelin-recommended Rialto rising to the top of the Korean food scene. Rialto has a simple menu of northern Italian delights by Chef Jung Hoe-Wan.
Among their best dishes are tajarin (thin, handmade egg yolk pasta), cacio e pepe, and pickled ponytail radish. A modern and elegant design runs through the interior, reflecting the metropolitan environment in which it serves its classy, authentic dishes.
Soigné: Impeccable cultural storytelling through food
Address: #201, 2F Sinsa square, 652 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06027, South Korea
Two Michelin star restaurant Soigné is an excellent establishment to indulge in contemporary Korean cuisine. With their slogan ‘Contemporary Cuisine of Seoul’, Chef Lee Jun, who trained at The Culinary Institute of America, and his team present creative and refined dishes inspired by global cuisines using essential Korean flavours, ingredients and techniques. They are emblematic of Seoul as a cosmopolitan city alive with foreign influences. The interior design sticks to a stripped-back, monochromatic palette of black, white, grey and wood elements to set the mood for the meal.
Soigné focuses on storytelling of Korean heritage through food and the menu is referred to as ‘Episodes’. Each episode revolves around a distinct theme and curated wine pairings. They feature nine distinct characteristics of Korean cuisine grouped into three themes — heritage, ingredients and inspirations.
7th Door: Best for fermentation-focused cooking
Address: 4F, 41 Hakdong-ro 97-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06072, South Korea
7th Door is another big name for contemporary Korean cuisine but is unique in their focus on fermentation. Chef Kim Dae-Chun, who has well over 20 years of culinary experience, is behind the one Michelin star restaurant shining the spotlight on fermentation and aging, a key method of preparing food in Korean cuisine.
The dining experience is intimate with only 14 seats around a bar table and an open kitchen. Some of their dishes include octopus and Korean Angelica Tree sprout served on kim bugak (crunchy deep-fried seaweed), and their signature dish ‘Daechun Kim’ (includes rice, white pickled radish and Mount Jiri caviar). There are also various fermented syrups and fish sauces made in-house.
Moulin: Loved for its charismatic French culinary creations
Address: 8 Jahamun-ro 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03043, South Korea
In a quiet street in Seochon lies a Michelin-recommended vintage fine dining space delighting diners with Chef Yoon Ye-Rang’s charismatic French dishes. As you indulge in Moulin’s light, delicate culinary creations, take some time to admire the vintage objects collected by Yoon during his time in France that adorn the restaurant.
Moulin is known for preparing seasonal Korean ingredients with traditional French techniques.
Mr Ahn’s Craft Makgeolli: Best for a refined Korean gastropub experience
Address: 3 Hoenamu-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04343, South Korea
Mr Ahn’s Craft Makgeolli is a highly regarded gastropub listed as ‘Bib Gourmand’ in the 2023 Michelin Guide. Here you can enjoy seasonal menus of savoury Korean anju (snacks paired with alcoholic drinks), main dishes, and a wide selection of traditional liquors. Each item on the menu is presented artistically, living up to the floral design of the gastropub’s interior and exterior.
As the name of the gastropub suggests, makgeolli is the main highlight. Makgeolli is a mild, sweet, milky, lightly sparkling rice wine. It is a classic Korean drink and you can’t leave without trying it. Try it with light meals like their small bites of mushrooms, garlic shoot pickles, kale, perilla oil powder, and their seared pork belly for a great experience.
Mitou: Best for a traditional Japanese kaiseki experience
Address: 24 Dosan-daero 70-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06064, South Korea
In Seoul’s infamous Gangnam district is Mitou, a renowned two Michelin star restaurant offering the best in traditional Japanese kaiseki. Kaiseki is a prescribed multi-course meal with dishes depending on the season. It is considered the finest level of dining in Japanese culture.
Chefs Kwon Young-Woon and Kim Bo-Mi are behind Mitou’s highly-regarded delivery of traditional Japanese cuisine using seasonal Korean ingredients. In fact, the chicken, eggs, rice and vegetables used in their food are from Chef Kwon’s family farm, ensuring diners the freshest of ingredients and the deepest dedication to crafting their dishes from beginning to end.
Matching the restaurant’s minimalist wooden interior, you can enjoy clean-tasting dishes like owan (a clear Japanese soup), which is made using Korean kelp, and gohan (a Japanese rice dish), which is made with rice from Chef Kwon’s family farm in Cheongju.
Joo052: Best for a fun, experimental Korean gastropub experience
Address: 26 Gosanja-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04750, South Korea
Another gastropub making it big in Seoul is Michelin-recommended Joo052. The fun, experimental vibe of the establishment starts from its name; Joo means ‘alcohol’ in Korean and 052 is the area code of Ulsan, Chef Shin Yong-Jun’s hometown.
The dishes served at Joo052 center around fermentation techniques emphasised in Korean cuisine. All the dishes match well for a seamless, coordinated eating experience in a dark, moody setting that draws all your attention to the food. Alongside the dishes are a curated range of traditional liquors selected by sommelier Shim Jae-Hyun.
Soseoul Hannam: Loved for local Korean flavours given a modern twist
Address: B1F, 21-18 Hannam-daero 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04419, South Korea
Soseoul Hannam is another Michelin star restaurant in Seoul with one star to its name. It is headed by Chef Eom Tae-Chul whose passion for Korean cuisine actually grew during his time in the U.S. and Spain, studying and working at a fine dining restaurant.
Amongst the classy, clean, white interior design of the restaurant, you can find familiar local flavours given a modern twist. Popular dishes include sliced raw fish served with gomchwi (fischer’s ragwort) and aged kimchi, and chargrilled webfoot octopus. There are also a variety of traditional liquors to pair with the dishes.
Born and Bred: Best for an unforgettable luxury KBBQ experience
Address: 2F, 1 Majang-ro 42-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04757, South Korea
When thinking of Korean food, KBBQ is one of the first things to come to mind. At Michelin-recommended Born and Bred, KBBQ is refined with the highest quality cuts of meat and the expertise of Chef Jeong Sang-Won. Chef Jeong’s expertise comes from growing up around his beef purveyor father who had, and still has, a shop in Seoul’s Majang Meat Market.
Born and Bred follows these dining concepts — a casual eatery inspired by the butcher restaurants in the Majang Meat Market on the second floor, a butcher lounge on the first floor, a multi-course beef experience on the third floor, and the chef’s specialty beef course in the basement.
Escondido: Loved for its authentic Mexican creations
Address: B1F, 61-7 Hannam-daero 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04419, South Korea
Escondido is a one Michelin star restaurant, and the first Mexican restaurant in Asia to be awarded a Michelin star. The restaurant focuses on creating unique flavours with the essence of Mexican culture. Chef Jin Woo-Bum’s deep passion for Mexican food started with tacos and led him to Mexico where he learned authentic Mexican culinary skills and traditions. The restaurant’s interior centres around an earthy palette of brown tones, wood and exposed brick walls to highlight the flavours and essence of the cuisine.
Mole (traditional Mexican sauces) and masa (dough made from ground nixtamalized corn) are the backbone of Escondido’s food. For a more authentic experience, dishes are paired with tequila, mezcal or cocktails.
Eatanic Garden at Josun Palace: Loved for its artistic approach to traditional Korean food
Address: 36F Josun Palace Hotel, 231 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06142, South Korea
One Michelin star restaurant Eatanic Garden at Josun Palace serves traditional Korean food like Hanwoo beef three ways in a modern fashion. The restaurant’s modern, creative takes on traditional Korean cuisine is the work of Chef Son Jong-Won who gets inspiration for his food through art, literature, and engaging in the five senses cooking in the kitchen.
Soak in the magnificent views of Seoul as you eat, as the restaurant is located on the 36th floor of the Josun Palace Hotel. There is no menu at Eatanic Garden, only a series of cards with illustrations of seasonal elements of each beautiful looking dish.
Jungsik: Best for experiencing renewed and innovative Korean cuisine
Address: 11 Seolleung-ro 158-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06014, South Korea
Chef Yim Jung-Sik shows how turning familiar Korean dishes into modern innovations have led to Jungsik becoming a two Michelin star restaurant. Chef Yim trained at The Culinary Institute of America and is known for renewing the concept of Korean cuisine, as seen in the restaurant’s innovative menu. Jungsik’s menu is divided into the following — appetiser, land, sea, rice and sweet. Diners are encouraged to order several from each to get the full experience.
Among their best dishes are sea urchin with kimchi and cabbage, gamtae guksu (cold noodles with umami seaweed), and their signature green tea mousse shaped like the dol-hareubang rock statues found on Jeju Island.
There is also a vegetarian menu available. However, it must be ordered in advance only.
