Four Seoul restaurants land on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list

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Four Seoul restaurants land on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list

Published: 29 Mar. 2023, 11:59 Updated: 30 Mar. 2023, 12:03

Group photo of the chefs whose restaurants have been voted on to this year’s list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants on Tuesday night at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. The 2023 list features restaurants from 19 cities and includes seven new entries. [ASIA'S 50 BEST]

Four restaurants in Seoul made it onto this year's Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

During the awards ceremony held Tuesday night at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, Mosu in Yongsan District, central Seoul, was named the Best Restaurant in Korea 2023. It ranked 15th place this year, a massive jump from its 67th rank in 2021.

Operated by chef Sung Anh, Mosu offers contemporary Korean cuisine such as syrup-coated and dehydrated burdock root and barbecued quail with vegetables from Anh’s own garden.

Onjium offering recipes from the past in a more modern setting in Jongno District, central Seoul, ranked 23rd; Mingles serving modern Korean cuisine in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, was 28th; and Born & Bred offering hanwoo or Korean beef omakase in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul was 47th.

Barbecued quail with vegetables at Mosu in Yongsan District, central Seoul. [MOSU]

Bangkok's Le Du run by chef Thitid Tassanakajohn was crowned The Best Restaurant in Asia 2023. Serving modern Thai cuisine with a four- or six-course tasting menu focused on seasonal Thai ingredients, Le Du has been a regular on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2017. It ranked 4th place last year.

“I’m so honored that I’m standing among the (best) chefs in Asia in this room and this is more than a dream come true,” said Thitid as he accepted the trophy. “50 Best is something very special to my heart and not just because of the ranking but because of everyone in this room. That is the most important thing. I’m so lucky to be included in this family with you all, with all my chef friends, my brothers and sisters.”

Sézanne in Tokyo's Four Seasons Hotel serving modern French cuisine took second place.

2022's winner, Den from Tokyo, fell to 4th this year.

Bangkok's Le Du celebrates the restaurant's No.1 win at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards ceremony on Tuesday night at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. [ASIA'S 50 BEST]

Prior to the release of the top 50 list, three Korean restaurants made it to the extended top 100 list which was announced on March 19: 7th Door in Gangnam District placed 55th, Joo Ok in Jung District, central Seoul, placed 51st, and Eatanic Garden at Josun Palace in Gangnam District placed 68th.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is a spin-off of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Launched in 2013, it aims to celebrate gastronomy and act as a gourmet guide to diners around the globe. The annual list is voted on by a group of some 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia who have ample knowledge and expertise on the continent's restaurant scene.

Restaurants in 26 countries in six regions including East Asia and Southeast Asia are considered for the award: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]