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From NYC to Seoul: 5 World-Class Restaurants Redefining Fine Dining

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Top 5 Celebrity Chef Restaurants

  • Global French brunch you can enjoy all day — Buvette (Sinsa)
  • An Italian culinary journey in a cozy space — Borgo Hannam (Hannam)
  • Star chef’s experimental takes on Korean ingredients — Ebit (Yeoksam)
  • Creative, artful French cuisine — Pierre Gagnaire Seoul (Sogong-dong)
  • Unforgettable French fine dining — STAY (Jamsil)

Korean culture is enjoying unprecedented global attention, and the food scene is riding that same wave. World-renowned chefs are opening restaurants in Korea, discovering local ingredients—like mantis shrimp, seaweed, and dried persimmon—that are still novel abroad, and turning them into inspiring dishes. These kitchens become cultural bridges, connecting flavors and stories across borders. Here are five restaurants where star chefs who love Korea craft unforgettable menus using Korean ingredients.

Global French brunch you can enjoy all day — Buvette (Sinsa)

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Instagram @my_dear_day
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Instagram @my_dear_day

Chef Jody Williams’ beloved French spot Buvette—first known for its New York outpost—now has a Seoul location in Apgujeong. It serves that comforting, Parisian-style brunch all day, so whether you stop by for morning coffee or a late-night croque, it feels effortlessly chic. Regulars love the carrot râpée piled like a petite mountain and the classic croque madame—simple, elegant, and satisfying.

| Read more about ‘Buvette’ on Siksin

  • ✔Location

854 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

  • ✔Hours

Daily 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

  • ✔Prices

Escargot 25,000 KRW (≈ $18.75 USD), Raw oysters 32,000 KRW (≈ $24.00 USD), Tartiflette 24,000 KRW (≈ $18.00 USD)

An Italian culinary journey in a cozy space — Borgo Hannam (Hannam)

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Instagram @eileenhk_han
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Instagram @eileenhk_han

Chef Stefano Di Salvo brings heavyweight credentials—from Michelin-starred kitchens in the U.K. and Italy to a role as executive chef at the JW Marriott in Korea. True to its name, Borgo Hannam feels like a friendly neighborhood trattoria: warm, intimate, and deliciously authentic. The signature “Tonatto” layers thin slices of Korean beef with an Italian tuna-mayo, olive oil, and caperberries for a clean, silky bite finished by the caperberry’s bright tang. Stefano’s desserts are also a highlight—his dessert-focused cafe, Cafe Monji, has a loyal following.

| Read more about ‘Borgo Hannam’ on Siksin

  • ✔Location

31 Itaewon-ro 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

  • ✔Hours

Daily 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, closed Mondays

  • ✔Prices

Melanzane 25,000 KRW (≈ $18.75 USD), Milanese 125,000 KRW (≈ $93.75 USD), Caldaro 38,000 KRW (≈ $28.50 USD)

Star chef’s experimental takes on Korean ingredients — Ebit (Yeoksam)

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Instagram @olis.oven
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Instagram @olis.oven

Australian chef Joseph Lezhoud trained at Michelin three-star French Laundry in Napa Valley and at Michelin-starred kitchens in the U.K. At Ebit, he mines Korean ingredients and traditional dishes for unexpected, creative reinterpretations. The restaurant runs a single tasting menu each season that spotlights standout local produce, and you can pair it with traditional Korean spirits, wine, or curated nonalcoholic beverages. A recent renovation gave the space a sleeker, more refined feel.

| Read more about ‘Ebit’ on Siksin

  • ✔Location

33 Dogok-ro 23-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

  • ✔Hours

Wed–Fri 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sat–Sun 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM (break 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM), closed Mon–Tue

  • ✔Prices

Lunch 150,000 KRW (≈ $112.50 USD), Dinner 250,000 KRW (≈ $187.50 USD)

Creative, artful French cuisine — Pierre Gagnaire Seoul (Sogong-dong)

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Instagram @what_is_diet
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Instagram @what_is_diet

Pierre Gagnaire, the visionary Paris-born chef, opened this outpost in 2008. He uses Korean ingredients to shape modern French dishes that feel approachable to local diners while remaining inventive and refined. With stunning views and an elegant dining room, it’s an ideal pick for a date or any celebration that calls for memorable, artful plates.

| Read more about ‘Pierre Gagnaire Seoul — Lotte Hotel Seoul’ on Siksin

  • ✔Location

Lotte Hotel, New Wing 35F, Pierre Gagnaire, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

  • ✔Hours

Daily 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM, break time 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

  • ✔Menus

French Tradition 260,000 KRW (≈ $195.00 USD), Lunch 170,000 KRW (≈ $127.50 USD), Dinner 340,000 KRW (≈ $255.00 USD)

Unforgettable French fine dining — STAY (Jamsil)

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Instagram @sooyeni
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Instagram @sooyeni

Chef Yannick Alléno—often dubbed the crown prince of French gastronomy—has amassed multiple Michelin three-star honors for restaurants like Le 1947 and Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen. STAY, located in Signiel Seoul, brings his modern-casual French vision to the city as the group’s fourth location after Taipei, Dubai, and Paris. The menu rotates with the seasons, so every visit feels fresh, and the sweeping city views make dinner here feel cinematic.

| Read more about ‘STAY’ on Siksin

  • ✔Location

300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

  • ✔Hours

Weekdays 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Weekends 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM, break time 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM

  • ✔Prices

LN–STAY FUN 120,000 KRW (≈ $90.00 USD), DN–STAY Modern 210,000 KRW (≈ $157.50 USD)

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