Korea designates 7 new outstanding Korean restaurants worldwide

Gwanja Deopbap, or scallops over rice, dish from Nae:um / Screen captured from Nae:um's Instagram

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute announced Monday that they have designated seven new restaurants in Singapore, Los Angeles and Paris as outstanding Korean restaurants.

The outstanding Korean restaurant program evaluates overseas establishments based on the overall quality of their Korean cuisine, service standards, hygiene management and the use of Korean ingredients to promote Korean food culture worldwide.

These restaurants are selected through a rigorous screening process to boost local consumers’ trust in Korean food and to strengthen the global image of K-food by highlighting the authenticity of Korean culinary techniques and cultural atmosphere.

“The outstanding Korean restaurant program is playing a significant role as a global brand representing Korean cuisine,” the ministry said.

“We plan to expand the number of designated restaurants overseas to 100 by 2030 to further enhance the global competitiveness of Korean cuisine and support K-food exports.”

Assorted beef from Soowon Galbi / Screen Captured from Soowon Galbi's Instagram

This year, evaluations were conducted across 27 criteria, resulting in the selection of seven exemplary establishments: Singapore’s Nae:um, Seoul Restaurant and Um Yong Baek; Los Angeles’ Baroo, Daedo Sikdang and Soowon Galbi; and Paris’ Soon Grill Champs-Elysees.

Nae:um in Singapore draws inspiration from Korean ingredients and cooking techniques, offering creative dishes such as tomato dongchimi (water kimchi), buckwheat noodles, chogye (cold chicken soup), short ribs and sweet rice cakes. It has earned international acclaim, receiving one Michelin star since 2022 and ranking 73rd on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024.

Seoul Restaurant offers refined Korean-style grilled cuisine, featuring beef, stews, pancakes and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles). The establishment highlights traditional Korean aesthetics through the use of antique furnishings and decorative elements that create an elegant and cultural ambiance.

Um Yong Baek, the Singapore branch of the famous Busan eatery Um Yong Baek Dwaejigukbap, serves signature dishes such as pork soup, grilled pork, soy sauce noodles and perilla oil buckwheat noodles. Its traditional Korean-inspired interior, featuring floor seating and eaves, evokes a sense of homestyle comfort.

Baroo in Los Angeles reinterprets Korea’s fermentation culture in a modern way with dishes like lobster doenjang, soy-braised black cod, short ribs and rice with namul (a variety of greens). It was named the LA Times’ Restaurant of the Year in 2024 and featured on The All-Time Eater 38 list in 2025.

A photo of Soon Grill Champs-Elysees in Paris / Captured from Soon Grill Champs-Elysees' Instagram

Daedo Sikdang, the LA branch of the renowned Seoul barbecue establishment, specializes in authentic Korean-style grilled beef, offering marinated short ribs, bulgogi and kimchi fried rice, preserving the flavors of traditional Korean cuisine.

Soowon Galbi provides an immersive Korean barbecue experience with grilling stations and premium meat. The restaurant was listed in the 2024 Michelin Guide.

Soon Grill Champs-Elysees in Paris is a high-end Korean barbecue restaurant featuring dishes such as bulgogi, beef and pork ribs, japchae and stews, catering to a diverse international clientele seeking authentic Korean flavors.

The designated restaurants will receive official plaques and enjoy various benefits, including support with promotional content for domestic and international marketing and assistance in purchasing Korean ingredients and tableware.

Since 2022, a total of 23 establishments have been designated for the program across several cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London and Tokyo.