From traditional Korean cuisine to Western, grill, and dessert establishments, a panel of 30 domestic and international food experts has revealed their selections in various categories for the "Seoul Gastronomy Guidebook." Starting from September 16th, the "2023 Seoul Gastronomy Week" will take place for a week, offering culinary journeys across Seoul, including Nodul Island, showcasing the diverse and unique flavors of Seoul.
The "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection" has been introduced by the city of Seoul to highlight the city's diverse gastronomic culture. Since 2020, it has featured restaurants and bars that experts, food travelers, scholars, and food journalists have recommended, considering factors such as globalization, local flavor, popularity, and expertise.
This annual guidebook, "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection," which is updated regularly through continuous exploration and research, holds great significance in accurately identifying the current pulse of Seoul's evolving culinary scene. It helps promote these culinary gems to both domestic and international tourists.
The 2023 "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection" features seven culinary categories: Korean cuisine (21 places), Western cuisine (25 places), Asian cuisine (12 places), grill restaurants (10 places), vegetarian restaurants (10 places), cafes & desserts (11 places), and bars & pubs (11 places). As new establishments are selected each year, the guidebook continually evolves, showcasing the rich and diverse gastronomic landscape of Seoul.
The selected restaurants represent various aspects of Seoul's culinary scene, including time-honored traditional Korean dishes like gomtang (beef bone soup) and Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold noodles), modern interpretations of Korean cuisine, locally-sourced ingredients in Korean-French, Italian, and Nordic fusion, diverse vegetarian options, creative cafes and desserts, and vibrant bars and pubs.
Among the highlights, there are 35 establishments that have been consistently selected for four consecutive years since the inception of the "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection." These restaurants have been recognized for their unique flavors and contributions to the city's gastronomic landscape.
Additionally, along with the "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection," the "Seoul Vegetarian 50 Selection" has also been announced. As the global trend of vegetarianism has been well-incorporated into traditional and temple foods in Seoul, the selected vegetarian restaurants are expected to receive love for their healthy and innovative offerings.
The "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection" will be published in both Korean and English versions as the "Seoul Gastronomy Guidebook (100 Taste of Seoul 2023)." It will be distributed within the country to selected dining establishments, embassies, and tourist information centers, as well as at international luxury tourism expos and cultural centers. The information will also be available on the restaurant reservation platform "CatchTable," which has over 3 million monthly users, offering English reservation services for foreigners.
Detailed information will be available on the "Taste of Seoul" website (tasteofseoul.visitseoul.net) starting from August 31st for Korean language content and September 8th for English language content.
The "Taste of Seoul" event, now in its fourth year, will take place from September 16th to September 22nd, offering diverse events and activities across Nodul Island and various locations throughout Seoul. The week-long event aims to satisfy the culinary desires of both domestic and international tourists with a range of exciting programs.
On September 16th and 17th, "Seoul Gastronomy Market," featuring coffee stalls, traditional alcohol, and fermentation workshops, will be held on the grassy field of Nodul Island. This period will also include daily tour programs and workshops that domestic and international tourists can participate in.
On the second day of the event, September 17th, at the Nodul Island Live House, the "Seoul Gastronomy Awards" ceremony will take place. This ceremony will honor the winners of the "Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection," including chefs from the selected restaurants and bars, by awarding them the "Taste of Seoul 2023" trophy.
Kim Young-hwan, the head of the Seoul Tourism and Sports Bureau, expressed high expectations, stating, "The 'Seoul Gastronomy 100 Selection' will become a comprehensive guidebook to Seoul's culinary offerings, ranging from traditional Korean dishes like naengmyeon and galbi to various global cuisines." He also mentioned, "The 'Seoul Gastronomy Week' will be a representative gastronomic festival for both foreign tourists and Seoul citizens, showcasing the distinctive value of Seoul's culinary scene."
For further information, kindly refer to the official website.