Shortly after the launch of the MICHELIN Guide Seoul 2022 in November, our inspectors have been back on the road again in search for new addresses worthy of inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide selection.
While the MICHELIN Guide distinctions — Stars, Bib Gourmands, and Green Stars — will be revealed during the annual launch ceremony, our MICHELIN Guide inspectors have decided to share some fresh new restaurants that have caught their eyes (and palates) in the meantime, making them new additions to the next MICHELIN Guide Seoul selection.
Every second Monday of the month, the new restaurants that will be part of the upcoming MICHELIN Guide Seoul will be featured in both the MICHELIN Guide Seoul website and the global MICHELIN Guide mobile application.
How to identify the new restaurants? They will be highlighted with a "New" symbol. Some of these newly recommended establishments will go on to earn distinctions at the MICHELIN Star Revelation ceremony, so check them out and add them to your list of places to dine at!
Here are four of the MICHELIN inspectors' favourite new additions for August 2022 in Seoul!
RELATED: Live Updates for the MICHELIN Guide Seoul
Gigas
This authentic Mediterranean restaurant is a rarity in the Korean culinary landscape. Recreating bona fide Mediterranean cuisine in Korea is not an easy feat to achieve because of the scarcity of particular ingredients. Nevertheless, using purely organic ingredients grown on his family’s farm, Chef Jung Ha-wan has managed to present fascinating Mediterranean fare with authenticity and direction that reflect the region's culinary tradition. What drives Gigas forward and ensures gastronomic pleasure is the chef’s dedication to sustainability. How this restaurant will take on this challenge and grow amidst Seoul’s culinary landscape is something that sparks our curiosity as much as the pleasant dining experience it offers.
Ile de Cheongdam
Meaning “an island within the heart of the city,” Ile de Cheongdam brings together the best of Japanese omakase with Korean beef omakase. Formerly a membership-only venue, it has opened its doors to the public to share its gastronomic delights with a wider audience. From the chef’s pre-dining explanation of ingredients that change daily to the final tea ceremony, where the tea is steeped three times, every course of the omakase showcases the nuanced service of this establishment. Dining at Ile de Cheongdam is by reservation only.
Jeongmyeon
A seven-seat stainless steel table and an open kitchen are all there is to Jeongmyeon, which means “noodles infused with meaning.” This one-chef operation serves noodle soups with meat. White noodle soup and red noodle soup are the only two dishes on the menu, but both offer deep flavor profiles. The broth, made with seafood, pork, and chicken, reveals a rich set of tastes. Garnishes topping the rice noodles, including thin slices of pleasantly chewy pork, onion, and red pepper, are truly a sight to behold. The red noodle soup, which can be made with varying levels of spiciness, is served with a bowl of rice for a filling meal.
Solbam
Visit Solbam to enjoy modern cuisine that offers an outstanding balance of tastes, aromas and flavors. Here, Chef Eom Tae-jun’s wide range of culinary experience and expertise meet Korean elements. His study of local ingredients (guided by his respect for nature and Korea’s four seasons) and his knowledge of Korean cooking techniques culminate in an uncanny synergy that gives rise to the restaurant’s unique modern dishes. With each course, the chef’s passion and exemplary effort delivera singularly rewarding gastronomic experience to guests.
