Seoul's Mingles first in Korea to make World's 50 Best Restaurants list

Mingles became the first restaurant in Korea to land on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list on Thursday, placing 44th. [THE WORLD'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS]

Mingles became the first restaurant in Korea to land on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list on Thursday, placing 44th.

The ceremony's host, Olivia Freijo, introduced Mingles as a restaurant “renowned for taking unsung local ingredients and blending them with global culinary influences to create an umami-rich menu.” Owner-chef Kang Min-goo accepted the honor in person at Wynn Las Vegas.

Kang's establishment was the only venue in Korea named during Thursday's live unveiling.

Mingles is a contemporary Korean fine dining establishment in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The venue has two Michelin stars.

The restaurant ranked 13th on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, an Asian spinoff of the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, which was announced in March.

Kang also runs the contemporary European restaurant Festa by Mingoo inside Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, and Michelin-star Korean fine dining venue Hansik Goo in central Hong Kong.

Korean fine dining restaurant Atomix, in New York, was named The Best Restaurant in North America 2024 during the same ceremony, climbing two spots from last year to place sixth. The gastro rankings described owner chefs Ellia and Junghyun Park as “redefining the global perception of Korean food,” making their restaurant “one of the most influential worldwide.”

Gaggan in Bangkok, Thailand, took the title of The Best Restaurant in Asia, ranking No. 9.

Nabbing the No.1 spot on this year's World's 50 Best Restaurants list was Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain, headed by chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas.

Maido in Lima was named The Best Restaurant in South America at No. 5; Tresind Studio in Dubai was named The Best Restaurant in the Middle East at No. 13; and La Colombe in Cape Town was named The Best Restaurant in Africa at No. 49.

Mosu, a temporarily closed fine dining establishment, and traditional Korean fine dining venue Onjium in Jongno District, central Seoul, both newly entered the extended 51-100 list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants announced last week, placing 86th and 96th.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants launched in London in 2003. Held annually since, it reportedly compiles 1,080 votes from independent experts including food journalists, chefs and traveling gastronomes.

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