The global stature of Korean cuisine is rising. Buoyed by popularity that has grown alongside K-pop and K-dramas, it is establishing itself as “gastronomy to experience” rather than merely “food to try.” Beyond popular menu items such as fried chicken and street food, premium Korean restaurants featuring seasonal ingredients, fermentation culture, and tasting courses are making inroads into the high-end dining markets of major cities worldwide.
According to the Michelin Guide, which annually selects outstanding restaurants in major cities around the world, the number of Korean restaurants listed in the guide in New York rose from 19 in 2020 to 28 in 2025, an increase of about 47% over five years. The number of Korean restaurants in New York awarded one star, meaning “a restaurant with excellent cooking,” grew from two to nine over the same period. The number of “Selected” restaurants with notable food and atmosphere also rose by one, from eight to nine.
A three-star rating, the highest grade meaning “a restaurant worth a special journey,” has also newly appeared. Jungsik New York became the first Korean restaurant in the United States to earn three stars in 2024 and has maintained the rating for two consecutive years. Jungsik offers its signature menu at a premium price of up to $335 per person (about 510,000 won), promoting Korean cuisine at the pinnacle of New York’s fine dining market. Joo Ok, which relocated from Seoul to New York in 2024, earned two Michelin stars, proving the competitiveness of Korean cuisine.
New York’s Hwaro was recently listed among Michelin’s “New Restaurants,” signaling future formal inclusion. New Restaurants is a system that irregularly previews establishments likely to be listed before the official guide is announced.
Atoboy, a Michelin Guide New York Selected restaurant. Photo courtesy of Atoboy
“The Korean cuisine category is establishing itself as an independent genre in the global gastronomy market, beyond the achievements of individual restaurants,” a Michelin Guide official said. “Korean restaurants around the world are leading new trends on the international stage based on chefs’ high-level skills and distinct philosophies.”
Premium Korean restaurants are also opening one after another in other countries, including in Europe and Australia. Chef Kang Min-goo of Mingles, a three-star Michelin restaurant in Seoul, opened the Korean restaurant Setopa in Paris, France, last year. Its signature dishes include rice dishes using gochujang and seasonal vegetables, dak-galbi, and oyster dumplings. The same year, the Korean omakase Suum opened in Brisbane, Australia, presenting various Korean course dishes such as gamtae jeon and hijiki bibimbap.
The government is also lending support to the premiumization of Korean cuisine. Since 2023, the Korean Food Promotion Institute has operated the “Overseas Excellent Korean Restaurant Designation Project,” helping overseas Korean restaurants manage quality and strengthen competitiveness. It selects three to five cities worldwide each year, providing designation certificates and plaques, along with support for promotion and invitational training in Korea.
Jungsik, selected as an outstanding overseas Korean restaurant by the Korean Food Promotion Institute in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Korean Food Promotion Institute
The evaluation targets restaurants that have operated for at least three years and where Korean menu items account for 60% or more, comprehensively assessing food quality, service, hygiene levels, and contribution to the spread of Korean cuisine. Through last year, a total of 23 establishments were selected across six cities, including Singapore, Paris, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, and New York, with plans to gradually expand the designated cities in the future.