Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Seoul's 6 eateries, including K-royal cuisine, recognized in 2025 Blue Ribbon Survey
Korean cuisine dishes inspired by royal cuisine of Joseon Kingdom are offered at Korea House in Jung District, Seoul. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Agency
By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea House, a Korean royal cuisine restaurant run by the Korea Heritage Agency (KHA), along with five other establishments, has been selected as one of the top eateries in the Blue Ribbon Survey's Seoul's Restaurants 2025 gourmet list.
The Blue Ribbon Survey, first published in 2005, is Korea's first local restaurant guide book. Similar to the Michelin Guide, which awards three Michelin stars to excellent restaurants at the highest level, this survey awards one ribbon to three ribbons to restaurants deemed the most outstanding, based on evaluations from both the general public and expert panels.
With 20 years of accumulated evaluations, the Blue Ribbon Survey has established objective restaurant evaluation criteria here.
Its recently announced "Seoul's Restaurants 2025" list features a total of 41 Seoul-area restaurants, with six establishments earning three ribbons. A one-ribbon rating means "worth making time to visit again," two ribbons indicate "worth recommending to others" and three ribbons signify "showing the most outstanding skill in their field."
Among the six restaurants, Korea House is the only fine dining restaurant specializing in royal cuisine inspired by the culinary traditions of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
Located in Jung District, central Seoul, the government-run Korea House offers dishes based on traditional cooking methods recorded in historical recipe books, discovers precious ingredients native to Korean soil, and develops new dishes using these ingredients with an aim of promoting traditional royal Korean meals.
"Korea House offers dishes crafted by chef Cho Hee-sook, who has been dubbed the godmother of Korean food, and Kim Do-seop, a Korean food research team leader," the KHA said.
A chef at Byeokje Galbi the Cheongdam, a grilled beef restaurant in Seoul, grills hanwoo, or Korean beef. Captured from the restaurant's Instagram
The five other Seoul-based restaurants, each awarded three ribbons by the Blue Ribbon Survey, also highlight the diverse charms of Korea's vibrant dining scene.
Famous for its barbecued beef short ribs, Byeokje Galbi the Cheongdam, operated by Korean restaurant franchise Byeokje Galbi, opened in Seoul's posh neighborhood of Cheongdam-dong in 2022, serving hanwoo (Korean beef).
Chef Kang Min-chul prepares food at his restaurant KANG MINCHUL Restaurant in Seoul. Captured from Kang’s Instagram
The Blue Ribbon Survey awarded three ribbons to this restaurant, stating, "Not only is the interior luxurious, but the tableware is also elegantly prepared. Guests can enjoy a Korean beef course meal personally prepared and grilled by the chef in private rooms."
KANG MINCHUL Restaurant in Cheongdam-dong of southern Seoul is an establishment where diners can experience French course meals in Korea. Chef Kang Min-chul opened this restaurant in 2021 and received one Michelin star the following year.
"This is Chef Kang Min-chul's fine dining restaurant, who built his career at restaurants of masters such as Joël Robuchon, Alain Ducasse and Pierre Gagnaire. The course menu recreates classic French cuisine, featuring main dishes accompanied by side dishes. The restaurant is highly popular for its elaborate plating and performance," the Blue Ribbon Survey said.
A hotel-operated Korean restaurant was also selected as a three-ribbon establishment. Myongwolgwan, located in Vista Walkerhill Seoul hotel in Gwangjin District, is a Korean-style beef restaurant serving galbi (beef short ribs) and various Korean dishes.
"The quality of meat grilled over premium charcoal is excellent. Their Janghyang Galbi, seasoned with soybean paste, is popular. A la carte menu Hanwoo Galbitang (short rib soup) is also famous for its taste," the Blue Ribbon Survey said.
A chef trims meat at Myongwolgwan, a charcoal-grilled Korean beef restaurant at the Vista Walkerhill Seoul hotel. Courtesy of Vista Walkerhill Seoul
Chef Eom Tae-jun's contemporary Korean-based fine dining Solbam also received three ribbons. Solbam is named after a place in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where chef Eom spent his childhood.
"A contemporary fine dining restaurant based on Korean cuisine. Chef Eom Tae-jun, who worked at New York's Eleven Madison Park and Seoul's L'impression, presents original and delicate courses. The 12-course meal progresses harmoniously with head sommelier Ko Dong-yeon's creative wine pairing and pastry chef Hwang Se-hee's desserts," the survey said.
In addition to Korean and French restaurants, Japanese cuisine has also secured a spot on the top list. Run by chef duo Kwon Young-woon and Kim Bo-mi, Mitou is highly regarded by food critics for its Japanese food with Korean influences. The restaurant is also well-known for directly sourcing ingredients like rice, vegetables and chicken.
"While maintaining the subtle yet bright characteristics of Japanese cuisine, they present sophisticated dishes with slight Korean touches. To overcome the ingredient sourcing compared to Japan, they make extensive efforts such as growing their own vegetables and rice, raising chickens and making miso (fermented soybean paste)," the survey said.