Seoul Window
The short answer
- The Seoul Gourmet 100 is the city's official list of 100 restaurants and bars, picked by 60 Korean food experts. The 2026 edition came out on October 6 and 25 places are new.
- It is not a fine-dining-only list. On the official menus, the new entries run from a ₩14,000 bowl of perilla-oil noodles to a ₩400,000 Cantonese banquet course.
- This year adds a separate Cafe & Dessert 50, and Seoul Gourmet Week runs October 23–29 at DDP and around the city, with a hanwoo barbecue tasting offer just for foreign visitors.
Every October, Seoul publishes its own answer to the question every visitor asks on night one: where should I actually eat? The answer is the 서울미식 100선 (Seoul Gourmet 100), released under the English brand “Taste of Seoul.”
Most coverage stops at the headline numbers. We went through the city’s official list page by page, opened the detail page of each of the 25 new entries, and pulled the menu prices the city itself publishes. That turns a list of names into something you can plan a trip around.
What is the Seoul Gourmet 100, and who picks it?
It is a tourism project run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government since 2020, so 2026 is its seventh edition. According to the city’s October 6 press release, each of the 60 panelists recommended three places in each of seven categories, 21 picks per person. The city weighted the picks by rank, totalled them, and then made the final cut with global appeal, expertise and current buzz in mind.
The split is deliberately broad. Korean food takes the biggest share, but grills, vegetarian kitchens and cocktail bars each get their own slots.
📋 The 2026 Seoul Gourmet 100 by category (Seoul Metropolitan Government)
| Category | Places on the list | New in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | 27 | 10 |
| Western | 23 | 4 |
| Asian | 15 | 5 |
| Grill | 10 | 1 |
| Vegetarian | 8 | 1 |
| Cafe & Dessert | 9 | 0 |
| Bar & Pub | 8 | 4 |
| Total | 100 | 25 |
How it differs from the Michelin Guide
Michelin uses anonymous inspectors and awards stars. The Seoul Gourmet 100 has no ranks or stars: a place is either on the list or not. Many Michelin-starred names such as Mingles and Mosu Seoul appear on both, but the city list also includes places Michelin rarely covers, like a straw-fire barbecue house and a vegetarian noodle bar inside a traditional market. For what starred meals actually cost, see our Michelin Seoul price guide.
Which 25 restaurants are new on the 2026 list?
Here are the new entries, with each venue’s signature dish and starting price as published on the city’s official Taste of Seoul pages. Prices marked “from” are the city’s own ”₩…~” listings. Courses at a few Japanese counters are listed as “varies.”
A few that stand out for first-time visitors:
🆕 All 25 new entries in the 2026 Seoul Gourmet 100, with official starting prices (checked October 22, 2026)
| Category | Name | Area | What it’s known for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean | Ribukbang (리북방) | Mapo | Chef Choi Ji-hyung’s North Korean family recipes, sundae-centred omakase | ₩65,000 (weekday lunch) |
| Korean | Myeon Seoul (면서울) | Gangnam | House-made noodles, perilla-oil noodles | ₩14,000 |
| Korean | Sancho (산초) | Gangnam | West-coast regional food, soy-marinated crab | ₩55,000 |
| Korean | Seoryeong (서령) | Jung-gu | Pyongyang naengmyeon, 100% buckwheat noodles | ₩18,000 |
| Korean | Superpan (수퍼판) | Gangnam | Chef Woo Jung-wook’s casual modern Korean | ₩78,000 (lunch set) |
| Korean | Yurok (유록) | Jung-gu | Korean liquor bar with dishes from a 15th-century cookbook | ₩22,000 per dish |
| Korean | Poom Seoul (품서울) | Gangnam | Chef Roh Young-hee’s aristocratic-household cuisine | ₩165,000 (lunch) |
| Korean | Hamo (하모) | Gangnam | Jinju-style bibimbap and southwest Gyeongsang dishes | ₩16,000 |
| Korean | Hansik Gonggan Soban (한식공간 소반) | Jung-gu | Everyday Korean set meals | ₩17,000 |
| Korean | Haenam Cheonilgwan (해남천일관) | Seocho | Namdo cuisine from a family restaurant founded in 1924 | ₩65,000 (lunch course) |
| Asian | Gagen by Choi Jun-ho (가겐 바이 최준호) | Gangnam | Japanese seasonal course, all guests start together | Varies |
| Asian | Muni (무니) | Gangnam | Kaiseki-based omakase with sake pairings | Varies |
| Asian | Palsun (팔선) | Jung-gu (The Shilla) | Classic hotel Chinese | ₩200,000 (lunch course) |
| Asian | Hakushi (하쿠시) | Gangnam | Modern Japanese at an open counter | ₩300,000 |
| Asian | Hobin (호빈) | Jung-gu (Ambassador Pullman) | Chef Hu Deok-juk’s Cantonese, buddha-jumps-over-the-wall | ₩175,000 |
| Western | Darobe (다로베) | Seongdong (Seoul Forest) | Neapolitan pizza, 2018 Korean Neapolitan pizza champion | ₩25,000 |
| Western | L’Amant Secret (라망 시크레) | Jung-gu (L’Escape Hotel) | Chef Son Jong-won’s modern French with Korean produce | ₩190,000 (lunch) |
| Western | Muoki (무오키) | Gangnam | Chef Park Moo-hyun’s contemporary fine dining | ₩160,000 (lunch) |
| Western | Forno Buono (포노 부오노) | Gangnam | Wood-fired Italian, open 18:00 to midnight | ₩11,000 (forno bread) |
| Grill | Mongtan (몽탄) | Yongsan | Straw-fire grilled short rib | ₩18,000 (150g pork) |
| Vegetarian | Gosari Express (고사리 익스프레스) | Jung-gu (Sindang) | All-vegetable Korean noodles | ₩18,000 |
| Bar & Pub | Baekgom Makgeolli (백곰막걸리) | Jung-gu (Gwanghwamun) | Korean traditional liquor with simple Korean side dishes | ₩44,000 (flight) |
| Bar & Pub | Alice Cheongdam (앨리스 청담) | Gangnam | Alice-in-Wonderland speakeasy cocktails | ₩27,000 |
| Bar & Pub | Jangsaeng Geongangwon (장생건강원) | Gangnam | Cocktail bar in a former herbal-tonic shop, open until 4:00 | ₩17,000 |
| Bar & Pub | Cham Jecheol (참제철) | Jongno (Seochon) | Seasonal and fermented-ingredient cocktails | Varies |
📍 Open in Naver Map — Myeon Seoul 📍 Open in Naver Map — Mongtan 📍 Open in Naver Map — Hansik Gonggan Soban 📍 Open in Naver Map — Gosari Express 📍 Open in Naver Map — Baekgom Makgeolli
Check opening days before you go
- Poom Seoul closes on weekends, and Baekgom Makgeolli closes on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Hansik Gonggan Soban closes on Saturdays but opens on Sundays. Seoryeong closes on Tuesdays.
- Yurok, Hakushi, Forno Buono, Alice Cheongdam, Jangsaeng Geongangwon and Cham Jecheol are evening-only. Gagen starts every guest's dinner together at 19:00.
How much does a meal on the list actually cost?
Less than you might fear, if you choose carefully. Among the 25 new entries, six publish a signature meal under ₩20,000: Myeon Seoul (₩14,000), Hamo (₩16,000 heotjesabap, ₩19,000 Jinju bibimbap), Hansik Gonggan Soban (₩17,000–18,000), Seoryeong (₩18,000), Gosari Express (₩18,000) and Mongtan’s grilled pork jowl (₩18,000 for 150g). At the other end, Hobin’s banquet course starts at ₩400,000 per person.
A practical way to use it: pick one or two course restaurants for a special night, then fill the rest of your days with the noodle, rice-set and barbecue entries, many of which open for lunch and take walk-ins.
Which list should cafe lovers use?
The new Seoul Cafe & Dessert 50. The city published it separately for the first time this year because the main list only has nine cafe and dessert slots. Its criteria are explicit: the quality of the drinks and desserts, the experience of the space, popularity, and how easy it is for foreign tourists to visit.
The 50 cluster in a few walkable pockets, which makes them easy to string into a half-day route:
☕ Seoul Cafe & Dessert 50, grouped by neighbourhood (selected entries from the official list)
| Neighbourhood | Cafes and dessert shops on the list |
|---|---|
| Bukchon · Anguk · Seochon | Onion Anguk (어니언 안국), Osulloc Tea House Bukchon (오설록 티하우스 북촌점), Amor Napoli Anguk (아모르 나폴리 안국점), Bubing (부빙), Dongbyeongsangryeon (동병상련), Hap (합 원서점), O Petit Verre (오쁘띠베르) |
| Hannam · Itaewon · Haebangchon | Jae-in (재인), Le Soleil (르 솔레이), Chachaite (차차이테), Sansuhwa Tea House (산수화티하우스), JL Dessert Bar (제이엘 디저트바), Pâtisserie Mür (파티세리 뮤흐), Café Raison d’Être (카페 레종데트르 한남), Passion 5 (패션5), Le Mont Blanc (르몽블랑) |
| Gangnam · Sinsa · Cheongdam | Nudake House Nowhere Dosan (누데이크), Dangok (당옥), Sona (소나), Zenzero (젠제로), Guillaume Cheongdam (기욤 청담점), GML Dosan (GML 도산 with 오뵈르), Horangasi (호랑가시) |
| Seocho · Seorae Village · Yangjae | Kimssi Buin (김씨부인), Maison M.O (메종엠오), Milgateau (밀갸또), Cremiel (크레미엘) |
| Mapo · Yeonnam · Seongsan | Fritz Dohwa (프릳츠 도화점), 1994SEOUL, Richemont Seongsan (리치몬드 성산본점), Bean Brothers Coffee House Seoul (빈브라더스) |
| Jung-gu (old downtown) | Taegeukdang (태극당), Ruri Coffee (루리커피), Starbucks Jangchung Lounge R (스타벅스 장충라운지R점), Hell Cafe Music (헬카페 뮤직), House of Shinsegae Dessert Salon (하우스오브신세계 디저트살롱), Gohojae at Korea House (고호재) |
Nine of the fifty also sit on the main 100 list, so they count twice: Kimssi Buin, Maison M.O, Sona, Jae-in, JL Dessert Bar, Zenzero, Pâtisserie Mür, Fritz Dohwa and Hap. If you are deep into Korea’s current dessert wave, our guide to the 2026 tteok dessert boom pairs well with this list.
What's on during Seoul Gourmet Week 2026?
Seoul Gourmet Week runs October 23 to 29, 2026. Last year it was centred on Nodeul Island; this year the main stage moves to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), with programmes spread across the city.
🗓️ Seoul Gourmet Week 2026 programmes (official site and city announcements)
| Programme | When | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Restaurant Week | Oct 23–29 | Citywide | Participating venues offer a special menu or a benefit. The official search listed 124 venues on Oct 22 |
| Seoul Gourmet Market | Oct 24–25, 12:00–17:00 | DDP (Eoullim Plaza, Art Hall 1) | Theme is home cooking: chefs’ dishes, seasonal farm produce, talks |
| Gourmet tours | Oct 26 (Seochon) · Oct 27 (Namyeong-dong) | Seochon palaces & desserts · Namyeong-dong old shops | Led by a local editor and a chef; apply through the official site |
| Gourmet classes | Oct 23 · Oct 28 · Oct 29 | Various, incl. Korea House | Cooking classes with chefs and food researchers |
| Taste of Seoul Awards | Oct 25, 15:00–17:00 | DDP Art Hall 2 | Ceremony for the 100; citizen seats were first-come from Oct 15 |
| Dogok Market food festa | Oct 23, 12:00–17:00 | Dogok Market, Gangnam | Street performances, market tasting, hands-on programmes |
| Majang-dong hanwoo BBQ | Oct 23–Nov 6 | 3 restaurants in Majang Livestock Market | For foreign residents and tourists: ₩30,000 hanwoo tasting support per person |
The one offer aimed squarely at foreign visitors
The Majang-dong hanwoo barbecue programme gives foreign residents and foreign tourists ₩30,000 per person towards Korean beef at three selected restaurants in Majang Livestock Market (Majang-dong Hanwoochon, Mongsiri-ne Tojong Hanwoo, Sutbul Jigi). Sign-up is first-come through the form on the official Taste of Seoul site, and the programme runs until November 6. Before you go, our hanwoo grades and price guide explains what you are ordering.
How do I book a table at a Seoul Gourmet 100 restaurant?
Start from the official Taste of Seoul website. It links the full 100 as saved lists on Naver Map, Kakao Map and Google Maps, plus a CatchTable collection, which is the reservation app most Seoul restaurants on this list use.
- Course restaurants (Poom Seoul, Hakushi, L’Amant Secret, Muoki and similar) generally need a reservation. Book as early as you can, and expect a cancellation policy.
- Noodle, rice-set and barbecue places (Myeon Seoul, Seoryeong, Hamo, Mongtan) are better candidates for walk-ins, especially at off-peak hours.
- Bars open late. Jangsaeng Geongangwon pours until 4:00, and Alice Cheongdam until 2:00 or 3:00 depending on the day.
The 100 also includes the city’s vegetarian picks, among them the temple-food restaurant Balwoo Gongyang. If plant-based eating matters to you, our guide to Korean temple food goes deeper.
Sources
- Seoul Metropolitan Government press release, "Seoul travel through taste: 2026 Seoul Gourmet 100 announced" (2026-10-06) — selection method, category counts, 25 new entries, Cafe & Dessert 50 criteria, Gourmet Week dates — seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Media Hub, "Seoul Gourmet 100 and the Dessert 50" (2026-10-06) — mediahub.seoul.go.kr
- Seoul Media Hub, "Taste of Seoul Awards participants wanted" (2026-10-14) — market, tour and class dates, Majang-dong hanwoo programme — mediahub.seoul.go.kr
- Taste of Seoul official site — full 100 list, Cafe & Dessert 50 list, per-venue detail pages with menu prices and opening hours, programme pages (Restaurant Week, Market, Awards, Majang-dong hanwoo, Dogok Market) — tasteofseoul.visitseoul.net