16 Best High-End Korean Restaurants In Seoul Where You Can Experience Traditional Korean Fine Dining
Which of these Seoul Korean restaurants would you visit on your next trip to South Korea?
If New York is synonymous with a city where dreams are made of then Seoul is synonymous with the birth of all things new and trendy.
As an emerging superpower in the world of art, pop culture, and cuisine, South Korea continues to rise to the top of the bucketlists of many travelers.
Not only do the historically rich landmarks call travelers to their photogenic sights, but the country’s deeply flavorful delicacies and dishes have the same magnetic appeal.
Seoul is a foodie’s paradise and as such, it is only fair that we let you in on the utopia of flavor profiles. In particular, Seoul boasts an exceptional fine-dining scene, especially full of restaurants specializing in traditional Korean cuisine.
These Korean restaurants in Seoul aim to not only introduce you to the authentic taste of Korea but also to the underappreciated and luxurious side of it.
Here are some essential high-end Seoul Korean restaurants to visit on your next trip for a classy fine-dining experience.
1. Jungsik
Source: Jungsik Official
The first of the great restaurants in Seoul that we’d like to introduce you to is Jungsik.
This restaurant boasts a Michelin accolade and is known as the birthplace of Korean cuisine fine-dining as chef Yim Jung Sik put his traditional but luxurious Korean dishes on the world stage.
He drew inspiration from the dishes that he’s most familiar with and gets a thrill from recreating unpredictable delicacies from them.
Signature menu: Signature course including side dishes, caviar, abalone, truffle naengmyeon, and more.
La Yeon is one of the most famous restaurants in Seoul as an establishment inside and part of the prestigious Shilla Hotel.
The emphasis for La Yeon is not just on authentic cuisine, but also on elegance and style, which can be seen in the lavish way that they present their dishes.
Your meal is not the only sight you can enjoy from La Yeon, though. You can also see the stunning landscapes of Namsan Park from the Seoul restaurant with great views.
Signature menu: Galbi-jjim (braised beef short ribs)
Address: 23F Shilla Hotel, 249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Another of the best restaurants in Seoul is none other than Bloom In The Palace.
The restaurant Bloom in the Palace (known as Donghwa Gohok or 동화고옥 in Korean) specializes in contemporary Korean cuisine inspired by the royal recipes of ancient times.
These recipes have been reinvented using modern cooking techniques to create a new and unique appeal to customers.
Along with serving a unique menu fit for royalty, the Bloom In The Palace restaurant can be found in various locations including the Lotte World Mall, Seolleung (Gangnam), Seoul Station, and more.
Signature menu: Mokseokchohwa (목석초화 in Korean) which represents trees, rocks, grass, and flowers including ingredients such as codfish, skatefish, buckwheat pancake, truffle rib, etc.
If you’re looking for a delicious twist on a Seoul Korean restaurant menu, then Onjium is the Korean restaurant for you.
The restaurant boasts a consistently exciting approach to fine dining with a menu that constantly evolves almost every month. However, despite the changes, one thing that never changes is the new takes on traditional Korean cuisine which makes this spot worth the visit.
Signature menu: Monthly menu changes
Address: Hyoja-ro, 49 4층, Jongno District, Seoul
Opening hours: 12 - 10 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays / Closed on weekends and Mondays
If you’re looking for breathtaking views to match your breathtaking food, then Bicena is one Korean fine-dining restaurant you should check out.
Located in the Signiel Seoul Hotel inside the famous Lotte Tower, the hotel has maintained a Michelin Guide Seoul star for 7 years in a row.
Bicena aims to recreate complex emotions such as love and truth and replicate them in the form of the taste of their dishes. This is based on the belief that Korean cuisine can’t be defined on its own but instead built up on a collection of stories.
Signature menu: Mother Nature course, Long Liberty course
Next is a high-end Seoul Korean BBQ restaurant with a twist. The concept of omakases has gained great popularity in Seoul.
The idea of experiencing fine dining in an intimate setting with every menu course item as a tastier surprise than the last appeals to a lot of consumers.
Apto Omakase is one of these Korean omakase restaurants in Seoul that specializes in Hanwoo (Korean premium beef).
They serve a varied course meal consisting of appetizers such as jerky pancakes, caviar, Danish, etc. that lead into a savory beef meal.
Signature menu: Omakase
Address: 2nd Floor, 33 Dongmak-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 12 - 9 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays / 1 - 9 PM on Saturdays and Sundays / Off on Wednesdays
Kwonsoksoo is a Seoul fine-dining restaurant that prides itself on the use of local ingredients to create authentic Korean dishes.
Many of its key ingredients are made in-house including the kimchi, different pastes, and even the pickled ingredients.
They also introduce the Korean culture of ‘doksang’ (a single table placed on top of the standard table - 독상 in Korean) which creates a new dining experience along with Korean liquors.
Thanks to its stellar reputation, this restaurant can be found in the Seoul Michelin Guide as well.
Signature menu: Grilled beef ddeokgalbi, snow crab, etc.
Address: 37 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul
Opening hours: 12 - 10 PM every day, except Mondays and Sundays (resting days)
The SOLBAM restaurant hopes to evoke new sensations for their diners to experience by utilizing the nutrients that Mother Nature provides.
With a focus on the beauty of nature, they craft stellar recipes including uncommon ingredients such as omija, silver prompet, lemon verbena, and many many more.
Signature experience: You can select the color of hand-crafted chopsticks that you want to use and after eating your dinner, they will gift them to you.
Address: 2nd Floor, 231 Hakdong-ro, Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 5:30 to 10:30 PM from Monday to Saturday / Closed on Sunday
If you’re looking for one of the best Hanwoo beef restaurants in Seoul, then Sool052 is another go-to.
The restaurant’s philosophy is to focus on good ingredients rather than using fancy ingredients. Everything on your plate is carefully selected and handpicked to create the perfect Korean fine dining experience.
Signature menu: Hanwoo sirloin steak jeon, grilled eel noodles, etc.
Address: 26, Gosanja-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Another Michelin Guide Seoul addition to the list is Olh Eum. Olh Eum serves honest dishes filled with positive energy from the chefs who create the food.
They believe that this cooking philosophy can only result in tasty results.
Signature menu: Seafood dishes
Address: 3F, 37, Seolleung-ro 152-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
7th Door is another Korean fine dining restaurant with its own unique twist. Using the slogan ‘Inspired by DNA of Korean Cuisine’, they emphasize the fermentation and aging of ingredients.
In fact, in their concept, the first 5 doors represent the standard 5 tastes, the 6th represents fermentation and again, and the 7th door is where the magic of your dining experience will happen.
Signature menu: DaeCheon Kim (Laver with rice and caviar)
Address: 4th Floor, 41 Hakdong-ro 97-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 12 - 10 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays / Closed on Sundays and Mondays
If you’re particularly into healthy eating or have dietary restrictions/requirements then A Flower Blossom On The Rice is a great Seoul restaurant for you to have your fine dining experience.
With an abundance of vegetarian and vegan options, the store uses strictly organic ingredients to bring you colorful and nutritious but still lavish meals.
Signature menu: Bojagi bibimbap
Address: 3-6 Insadong 16-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
Last, but certainly not least on our list, is Mingles. Mingles is the last Seoul restaurant we will be introducing to you today.
What makes this restaurant so special is that in their cuisine preparation, they make an effort to take contrasting elements and make them have a harmonious flavor profile.
Breaking slightly away from traditional Korean cuisine, they are all about experimenting for better taste outcomes.
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