Gordon Ramsay commends popularity, potential of Korean food

Gordon Ramsay poses for a photo during a press conference at Gordon Ramsay Burger in Lotte World Mall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

British star chef Gordon Ramsay noted the growing popularity of Korean food in London and evaluated the growth potential of the Korean restaurant industry during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday.

During his first visit to Korea in five years, Ramsay held a press conference at Gordon Ramsay Burger in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Thursday and praised Korean cuisine.

“Korean food is immensely popular in the U.K.,” said Ramsay. “If you go to restaurants on the weekends, famous chefs are enjoying Korean food from street vendors.”

Ramsay is well known in Korea through his many television shows and from making an appearance in a local cooking show “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” in which he competed with other chefs to cook a dish using whatever ingredients could be found in celebrities’ refrigerators.

In his last visit to Korea in 2017, Ramsay filmed a commercial endorsing a Korean beer brand.

“I came back to Korea because I wanted to feel the energy and trends in the food industry here since I left,” said Ramsay. “I work with talented Korean chefs in London and admire their passion.”

Ramsay opened a burger restaurant at Lotte World Mall in the Jamsil area of southern Seoul on Dec. 30 last year.

The Korean branch of Gordon Ramsay Burger is the first in Asia and the fourth such restaurant worldwide after branches in Las Vegas, London and Chicago. The restaurant sells premium burgers that have been upgraded to fit the Korean market based on recipes from the London branch.

“I wanted to present the burger menu at the premium level,” said Ramsay, of the 140,000-won ($104) burgers sold at his restaurant. “And I wanted to make an impact by opening a burger restaurant in Korea.”

Ramsay also noted the competitive nature of the food industry in Korea.

A Gordon Ramsay street pizza shop recently opened in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul. This shop sells five types of pizza and one special item that changes each day.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]