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Best Restaurants in South Korea (2026)

Places to eat at every budget, from street food and casual local spots to established restaurants and fine dining.

10 places · Updated October 23, 2026

Our top 3 restaurants in South Korea

  1. Mingles Modern Korean tasting menu, CheongdamChef Mingoo Kang's tasting-menu restaurant in Gangnam, holder of three Michelin stars, which reworks Korean fermented sauces and seasonal produce with modern technique.
  2. Jungsik New Korean fine dining, CheongdamChef Yim Jung-sik's Cheongdam restaurant, a pioneer of what it calls New Korean fine dining, holding two Michelin stars in the 2026 guide.
  3. Onjium Korean royal court cuisine, SeochonA research-led restaurant facing the wall of Gyeongbokgung, where chefs Cho Eun-hee and Park Sung-bae update Joseon court and aristocratic cooking with seasonal produce.

Restaurant

1. Mingles

Modern Korean tasting menu$$$$Cheongdam

Chef Mingoo Kang's tasting-menu restaurant in Gangnam, holder of three Michelin stars, which reworks Korean fermented sauces and seasonal produce with modern technique.

View details — Mingles

Restaurant

2. Jungsik

New Korean fine dining$$$$Cheongdam

Chef Yim Jung-sik's Cheongdam restaurant, a pioneer of what it calls New Korean fine dining, holding two Michelin stars in the 2026 guide.

View details — Jungsik

Restaurant

3. Onjium

Korean royal court cuisine$$$$Seochon

A research-led restaurant facing the wall of Gyeongbokgung, where chefs Cho Eun-hee and Park Sung-bae update Joseon court and aristocratic cooking with seasonal produce.

View details — Onjium

Restaurant

4. Woo Lae Oak

Pyongyang naengmyeon and bulgogi$$Euljiro

A Euljiro institution serving Pyongyang-style cold buckwheat noodles since 1946, known for its clear beef broth and for bulgogi on the side.

View details — Woo Lae Oak

Restaurant

6. Myeongdong Kyoja

Kalguksu noodles and dumplings$Myeongdong

A family-run Myeongdong restaurant open since 1966, serving a four-item menu built around kalguksu noodle soup, dumplings and its famously garlicky kimchi.

View details — Myeongdong Kyoja

Restaurant

7. Hadongkwan

Gomtang beef soup$Myeongdong

A Myeongdong restaurant serving gomtang, a clear beef soup with brisket and tripe, since 1939, open from early morning until the soup runs out.

View details — Hadongkwan

Restaurant

8. Mongtan

Korean barbecue, straw-smoked beef short ribs$$$Yongsan (Samgakji)

A Yongsan barbecue restaurant famous for beef short ribs smoked over straw before grilling, and for queues that are part of the experience.

View details — Mongtan