Seoul to host Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

Seoul, a city renowned for its rich history and contemporary charm, will once again be the focal point of Asia’s premier culinary celebration. The event, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 which took place successfully Seoul in 2024, will again unfold under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, highlighting South Korea’s growing stature in the global gastronomic arena.

In what promises to be a grand affair, the ceremony is not merely a top-50 ranking; it includes a series of signature events designed to engage both industry experts and the general public.

These events will feature the insightful #50BestTalks series focusing on crucial topics in hospitality, as well as the popular 50 Best Signature Sessions that pair top chefs with local culinary talents for exclusive dining experiences.

The emblematic Chefs’ Feast will showcase Seoul’s unique flavors, offering attendees a taste of the city’s dynamic food scene.

Stefano Bolognese of S. Pellegrino articulates the sponsors’ enthusiasm: ‘Celebrating the remarkable dedication and innovation defining Asia’s culinary landscape is our honor.’ The awards will highlight not only established culinary stars but also newcomers with untapped potential, as evidenced by the American Express One To Watch Award, aiming to identify rising restaurants poised for future acclaim.

Moreover, the event will reveal the much-anticipated extended 51-100 list, reflecting an evolving gastronomic landscape that honours diversity and innovation. With accolades like the Asia’s Best Female Chef Award and the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, the recognition extends far beyond the top titles.

In essence, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 aims to reaffirm Seoul’s status as not just a dining capital, but as a vibrant destination for culinary exploration, destined to captivate and inspire all who partake in its flavourful journey.

About the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025: 

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants was launched in 2013 to celebrate gastronomy across the region and to provide diners around the globe with local insight and culinary recommendations. Since its inception, it has quickly grown to become the premier gastronomic ranking in the region, with its awards events marking the greatest annual gathering of chefs, restaurateurs, media and food industry VIPs.

The annual list is created by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across the continent, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene. The well-structured voting system and procedures, which are overseen by global adjudication company Deloitte, ensures the list and awards have a credibility and influence that is renowned across the globe.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants takes in six voting regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia – South; South-East Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; mainland China & Korea; Japan. These regions cover the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Read more about the voting process and the Academy, and consult our FAQs.

In March 2021, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants presented Essence of Asia, a collection of venues that reflect the region’s diversity and that have had a positive impact on their local culture, communities and cuisines, whether during the coronavirus crisis or over a sustained period. It celebrated the broad range of restaurants that embody the spirit of the continent, from hawker stalls to innovative contemporary projects, guardians of culinary heritage to sustainability pioneers.

The eleventh edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants was announced on Tuesday, 28th March 2023 and was celebrated with a series of live events held in Singapore. The ranking was revealed during a live awards ceremony held at Resorts World Sentosa at broadcasted globally on YouTube and Facebook. The programme returned on 26th March 2024, when it hosted in Seoul, South Korea, for the first time.

As gastro-tourism rose in popularity, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants earned its legitimacy as a compass for gourmets, unveiling up-and-coming chefs and culinary trends and showcasing the subtlety and complexity of various cuisines from around the region – with many more still to discover. Ultimately, the list provides a barometer of gastronomic trends as well as an unrivalled guide to the greatest dining destinations in Asia for food-loving travellers.

(Awarded the “Best food writer in the country” by the Indian culinary forum, WACS and the ministry of Tourism, Rupali Dean writes on food and travel.)