When friends of chefs come to visit Seoul, I take them to Hyodo Chicken. Though I and chef Shin Changho from Joo-ok were involved in the menu development, this place is where you can enjoy authentic Korean chicken culture.
Hansikgonggan is the most innovative Korean cuisine restaurant in Seoul. Chef Cho Hee-suk, the chef of the chefs, is managing the kitchen, and you can taste and experience the past and present of Korean cuisine through her life, and through her cooking. If you want to have exceptionally authentic Korean food experience, this is where you should go.
Sometimes I feel like I want to have a moment with a chef from a different part of Korean cuisine. Sushi Sunsoo is representing the Korean sushi scene, and eating at his sushi restaurant, seated at his counter, is an opportunity to be inspired.
If you have something to celebrate, it should be done at Born & Bred, the best barbecue restaurant in Korea! This is where you can really experience the best of Korean beef and barbecue culture.
Toc Toc is the best casual restaurant in Korea. It is a place where everyone can enjoy amazing food, happily and comfortably.
Supermarche is a ‘Gourmet Playground’ where fine dining chef-owners show off their individuality, and a space where the chef’s sensitivity is expected to appeal to the public. The branding is charming and takes the concept beyond menu development and cooking.
Joo-ok is a modern Korean restaurant and is really a gem of the Korean fine-dining scene. With the food chef Shin Changho is creating, it’s really a surprise that his restaurant is not well known overseas. For people who want to experience the local Korean scene and culture, this is definitely where they should eat.
The best way to start or end your trip to Seoul is with traditional Korean soup at Pyunghwaok. The restaurant is located at the airport and is owned by fine-dining chef Jungsik Lim and offers an introduction to Korean soup culture. It’s usually the last meal I eat before I travel.
To me the best Cantonese food in Singapore is served at Summer Pavilion by Hong Kong native chef Cheung Siu Kong.
Mosu is the only restaurant in Korea that can really be described as a ‘fine dining’.
