Seoul city publishes list of 100 best restaurants, bars to visit ahead of Taste of Seoul week

Seoul Metropolitan Government released a list of 100 restaurants and bars to visit in the city ahead of the 2024 Taste of Seoul week, which runs from Nov. 8 to 14.

A dish from Mingles, a contemporary Korean fine dining establishment in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. This two Michelin starred restaurant is included in the 100 list. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Seoul Metropolitan Government released a list of 100 restaurants and bars to visit in the city ahead of the 2024 Taste of Seoul week, which runs from Nov. 8 to 14.

The city government has been creating the list every year since 2000. This year’s list has 21 hansik (Korean food) restaurants, 23 Western restaurants, 10 vegetarian restaurants, 14 Asian restaurants, 11 grill or barbecue restaurants, 10 cafes and dessert venues and 11 bars and pubs.

Several restaurants owned by chefs who were featured on the hit Netflix show “Culinary Class Wars” are included on the list, such as star chef Choi Hyun-seok’s Italian-based fine dining restaurant, Choi Dot. It also includes Hongbogak, the upscale Chinese fine dining establishment owned by chef Ye Kyong-rae, chef Hwang Jin-seon’s Chinese restaurant Jin Jin and the Michelin-starred restaurant Yun Seoul by chef Kim Do-yun. Other restaurants include Mingles, KwonSooksoo, Onjium and Solbam.

The poster for the Taste of Seoul 2024, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Detailed information on the list can be found on the Taste of Seoul’s official website, available in both Korean English.

2024 Seoul Gourmet Week will take place for a week starting on Nov. 8 across various locations, including Nodeul Island. The week will feature a variety of programs under the theme “Inviting You to a Week-Long Culinary Journey in Seoul.”

“With the rising interest in K-food, spurred by the popularity of the Netflix program, we aim to further promote Seoul's unique culinary culture, through the list of 100 restaurants, to both domestic and international tourists,” said Kim Young-hwan, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. “During this year’s Seoul Gourmet Week, diverse culinary events will take place, showcasing Seoul as a world-class culinary destination.”

Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars″ [NETFLIX]

The list is a guide to “Seoul's representative culinary scene, curated by local food experts, including food content specialists and food journalists, to introduce the city's unique gastronomic culture to the world. Restaurants are chosen based on the venues' topicality, professionalism and ability to combine domestic and global aspects into their dishes.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]