In the 2025 Michelin Guide, there are 40 restaurants in South Korea with a Michelin star rating.[1] The Michelin Guides have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. They were designed as a guide to tell drivers about eateries they recommended to visit and to subtly sponsor their tires, by encouraging drivers to use their cars more and therefore need to replace the tires as they wore out. Over time, the stars that were given out became more valuable.[2]
Multiple anonymous Michelin inspectors visit the restaurants several times. They rate the restaurants on five criteria: "quality of products", "mastery of flavor and cooking techniques", "the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience", "value for money", and "consistency between inspectors' visits".[2][3] Inspectors have at least ten years of expertise and create a list of popular restaurants supported by media reports, reviews, and diner popularity. If they reach a consensus, Michelin awards restaurants from one to three stars based on its evaluation methodology: one star means "high-quality cooking, worth a stop", two stars signify "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars denote "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".[4] The stars are not permanent and restaurants are constantly re-evaluated. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant will lose its stars.[2]
The inaugural Seoul Michelin Guide was made for 2017 and released in November 2016.[5] It was the fifth Guide in Asia, and was launched at the Shilla Hotel.[6] After the creation of the Seoul Guide, local politician Song Ki-seok alleged that the Korean Tourism Organization paid Michelin roughly 2 billion won to bring the Guide to South Korea. Song alleged that the money included an initial payment of 100 million won in 2015, and 400 million won a year for four years, starting in 2016.[7] He also criticized the Guide for what he alleged to be 34 errors, including typos, the inclusion of closed restaurants, mistranslations, and issues with whether or not the restaurants had terraces.[8] Journalist Joe McPherson for Vogue Korea wrote in an opinion piece that the Guide was only for people who "are obsessed with Seoul's international status" and "aren't confident that Seoul can stand on its own as a restaurant capital".[9] The Busan Guide was released for the first time in 2024 for that same year.[10]
Lists
 |
One Michelin star |
|---|---|
 |
Two Michelin stars |
 |
Three Michelin stars |
— |
The restaurant did not receive a star that year |
| Closed | The restaurant is no longer open |
Seoul
| Name | Cuisine | District | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Door | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | |
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| Alla Prima | Innovative | Gangnam | |
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| Allen | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Auprès | French | Seocho | — | — | — | |
|
|
Closed[11] | |||
| Balwoo Gongyang | Korean temple | Jongno | |
|
|
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bicena | Korean | Songpa | |
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| Boreumsae | Barbecue | Gangnam | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Collage | French | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Dining in Space | French | Jongno | |
|
|
Closed[12] | ||||||
| Dosa | Korean | Gangnam | — | |
|
|
— | Closed[13] | ||||
| Eatanic Garden | Korean Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Escondido | Mexican | Yongsan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
| Evett | Innovative | Gangnam | — | — | — | |
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| Exquisine | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | |
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| Gaon | Korean | Gangnam | |
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Closed[14] | ||
| Gaggen by Choi Junho | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Gigas | Mediterranean | Jung | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
| GiwaKang | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Gotan | Korean | Yeongdeungpo | |
|
|
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Goryori Ken | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Hami | Jinju | Gangnam | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Haobin | Chinese | Jung | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
— |
| Hansikgonggan | Korean | Jongno | — | — | |
|
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| Hakusi | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| HANE | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
|
|
— |
| Ilpan | Teppanyaki | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
— | — | — |
| Jin Jin | Chinese | Mapo | |
|
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Joo Ok | Korean | Jung | — | |
|
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Closed[15][16] | ||
| Jueun | Korean | Jongno | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Jungsik | Contemporary | Gangnam | |
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| Kang Minchul Restaurant | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Keunkiwajip | Korean | Jongno | |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kojacha | Asian | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
|
— | — |
| Kojima | Sushi | Gangnam | |
|
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— |
| Kwonsooksoo | Korean | Gangnam | |
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| La Yeon | Korean | Jung | |
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| L'Amitié | French | Gangnam | |
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| L'Amant Secret | Contemporary | Jung | — | — | — | — | |
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| L'Impression | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | |
|
— | — | — | Closed[17] | |
| Légume | Vegetarian | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
| Lee Jong Kuk 104 | Korean | Seongbuk | — | — | |
— | — | — | — | — | Closed[18] | |
| Mingles | Korean | Gangnam | |
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| Mitou | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | |
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| Mosu | Innovative | Yongsan | — | — | |
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Closed[19] | |
| Muoki | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | |
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| Muni | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | |
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| Myomi | Innovative | Jongno | — | — | — | |
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|
— | — | — |
| Onjium | Korean | Jongno | — | — | — | |
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| Pierre Gagnaire | French | Jung | |
— | — | |
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|
— | — | — |
| Poom | Korean | Yongsan | |
|
|
|
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| Ristorante EO | Italian | Gangnam | |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SAN | Innovative | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Solbam | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Soigné | Innovative | Gangnam | |
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| Soul | Contemporary | Yongsan | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Sosuheon | Sushi | Jung | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Soseoul Hannam | Korean | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| STAY | French | Songpa | — | — | |
|
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| Sushi Kanesaka | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Sushi Matsumoto | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Sushi Sanghyeon | Japanese | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
— | — | — | — |
| Table for Four | Contemporary | Seocho | — | |
|
|
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| Terreno | Spanish | Jongno | — | — | — | |
|
|
— | — | — | — |
| Twenty Four Seasons | Korean | Gangnam | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| tutoiement | French | Seongdong | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
| Vinho | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
|
| Votre Maison | French | Gangnam | |
|
— | |
|
— | — | — | Closed[20] | |
| y'east | Contemporary | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
|
| Yu Yuan | Chinese | Jongno | |
|
|
|
|
— | — | — | |
|
| YUN | Korean | Gangnam | — | — | — | — | — | |
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| Zero Complex | Innovative | Jung | |
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| References | [5][21] | [22] | [23] | [24] | [25] | [26] | [27] | [10] | [1] | [28] | ||
Busan
| Name | Cuisine | District | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiotto | Italian | Haeundae | |
|
|
| Le DORER | Korean | Haeundae | — | — | |
| Mori | Japanese | Haeundae | |
|
|
| Palate | Contemporary | Nam | |
|
|
| References | [10] | [1] | [28] | ||
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Lee, Jung-soo (27 February 2025). "Michelin Guide 2025: Mingles becomes S. Korea's only three-star restaurant". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- 1 2 3 Buchwald, Elisabeth (10 February 2024). "Michelin Guide history: How did a tire company become an elite restaurant rating guide?". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ↑ Bachmann, Kirk (9 February 2024). "How Restaurants Get Michelin Stars: A Brief History of the Michelin Guide". Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ↑ Dixon, Rachel (24 June 2008). "Q&A: Michelin stars". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- 1 2 Saini, Azimin. "24 Restaurants Bag Michelin Stars in Seoul's First Michelin Guide". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Park, Yerica. "Traditional & Modern Korean Cuisine Celebrated in the Michelin Guide Seoul 2017". Michelin Guide. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ Houck, Brenna (18 July 2018). "Want a Michelin Guide In Your City? Pay Up". Eater. Archived from the original on 9 May 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ Kim, Hyang-mi (19 October 2017). "꽃게가 'flower crab' 맞나?…미슐랭가이드 서울판 오류 34건" ["Should 'kkotge' be translated as 'flower crab'?...Michelin Guide Seoul version has 34 errors"]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ McPherson, Joe (31 December 2016). "My Controversial Michelin Guide Piece in Vogue Korea". ZenKimchi. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 미쉐린 가이드 2024, 타이어 회사가 선정한 맛집 리스트 [Michelin Guide 2024, the list of quality restaurants compiled by a tire company]. Nestlé (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ↑ Kim, So-hyeon (22 October 2021). [김기자의 금요외식회] 떠나는 별들…그 자리를 채울 별들 [[Reporter Kim's Friday Night Outing] Stars that leave... And stars that take their place]. MTN News (in Korean). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Lee, Rollin. "Why Are Michelin Star Restaurant in Seoul Closing Down". Rollin Joint. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Dosa - Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ Kim, Da-sol (1 January 2023). "[Korean Flavors] Chef Kim Byoung-jin of Gaon believes Korean 'haute cuisine' is all about authenticity". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ↑ Fortney, Luke (6 February 2024). "A Seoul Restaurant With Two Michelin Stars Is Opening in Manhattan". Eater. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ↑ Lee, Summer (7 December 2023). "A Seoul Restaurant With Two Michelin Stars Is Opening in Manhattan". Michelin Guide. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Kymmer, Ida. "L'Impression". Star Wine List. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Lee, Summer. "Lee Jong Kuk 104". Restaurant Guru. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Choi, Hyo-jung (16 February 2024). "S. Korean Michelin restaurants close amid economic downturn and rising prices". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ↑ "Votre Maison". Restaurant Guru. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Seoul's first 3 Michelin stars have been announced". Time Out. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ↑ Park, Yerica (8 November 2017). "2018 Michelin Guide for Seoul". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Friend, Nina. "Michelin Guide Announces 2019 Stars for Seoul". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ McCafferty, Hugo. "Michelin Guide Seoul 2020 - the full list". Finedininglovers.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Burton, Monica (19 November 2020). "Michelin Announces 2021 Stars for Seoul". Eater. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ↑ "Michelin - Michelin Guide 2022 – Seoul". Michelin Guide. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ↑ "Michelin - Michelin Guide 2023 – Seoul". Michelin Guide. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- 1 2 "All the Stars in The MICHELIN Guide Seoul & Busan 2026". Michelin Guide. 5 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
