South Korea’s top fine dining establishments have been recognized in the latest Michelin Guide, with Mingles earning the country’s only three-star rating this year.
At The Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2025 Announcement held at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul on Feb. 27, Michelin unveiled the selections for its 2025 Seoul & Busan guide. A total of 234 restaurants made the list, including 29 new additions. Seoul accounted for 186 of the selections, while 48 were in Busan.
Mingles, a modern Korean restaurant, was promoted from two to three stars, marking the first time in two years that a S. Korean restaurant has received Michelin’s highest distinction. This marks the first time in about two years that a S. Korean restaurant has earned Michelin’s top rating.
The last establishment to hold three stars was Mosu, led by chef Ahn Sung-jae, who gained international recognition through the Netflix series Culinary Class Wars. However, Mosu later closed, leaving the country without a top-tier Michelin restaurant until now.
According to Michelin, a three-star rating is awarded to restaurants serving “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”
The guide explained that Mingles was chosen for its emphasis on Korean aesthetics and meticulous execution, showcasing a seamless blend of tradition and modernity. Michelin highlighted dishes such as abalone with cabbage Seon and fish mandu (dumplings) as standout offerings. The restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide for nine consecutive years since 2017.
Chef Kang Min-goo, the owner chef of Mingles, reflected on the achievement, saying, “I was born in the 1980s and have witnessed S. Korea’s economic growth and transformation. I have also seen the emergence of fine dining as a culture in the nation, and I am grateful to be part of this journey with the mentors, colleagues, and younger chefs who have helped shape this industry.”
Meanwhile, nine restaurants in Seoul earned two-star ratings this year. Among them, Évett, led by chef Joseph Lidgerwood, was promoted from one to two stars. Michelin praised the restaurant for its innovative use of seasonal ingredients, citing dishes such as a fermented rice sorbet infused with hand-foraged ants.
A total of 30 restaurants received one-star ratings, with seven new entries, including tutoiement, Sosuheon, Escondido, Yu Yuan, Y’east, Légume, and Gigas.
“This year’s selections highlight the ongoing evolution and growth of S. Korea’s fine dining scene,” a Michelin representative said. “We look forward to seeing Korea continue to establish itself as a global culinary destination.”
Below is the full list of restaurants recognized in the 2025 Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan.
◇ Three Stars
▲Mingles (new)
◇ Two Stars
▲Evett (new) ▲Allen ▲Jungsik ▲Kojima ▲Alla Prima ▲Mitou ▲KwonSookSoo ▲La Yeon ▲Soigné
◇ One Star
▲Kang Minchul Restaurant ▲tutoiement (new) ▲Bicena ▲Mori ▲Haobin ▲Y’east (new) ▲Fiotto ▲Yun Seoul ▲Sosuheon (new) ▲L’Amitié ▲Goryori Ken ▲Palate ▲Escondido (new) ▲Vinho ▲L’Amant Secret ▲Muoki ▲Exquisine ▲Soseoul Hannam ▲ Légume (new) ▲Zero Complex ▲Soul Dining ▲Eatanic Garden ▲Muni ▲Onjium ▲7th door ▲Yu Yuan (new) ▲Solbam ▲Sushi Matsumoto ▲Hane ▲Gigas (new)
