Seoul’s dynamic fine-dining scene has another reason to celebrate. Restaurant San has been named the winner of the One To Watch Award 2026 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The accolade recognises a rising restaurant that has made a significant early impact and is tipped to secure a place on the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best list in the years ahead.
Opened in 2024 in Seoul’s fashionable Gangnam district, San has quickly emerged as one of the capital’s most talked-about tables. The restaurant presents a refined, French-influenced modern Korean tasting menu by chef Jo Seung-Hyun, whose résumé reads like a roll call of culinary greats. Jo trained under Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and at La Maison Troisgros, before leading the kitchen as chef de cuisine for eight years at Benu, the acclaimed restaurant by Korean-American chef Corey Lee. After years abroad, Jo returned home to Seoul to realise his vision with San.
At the heart of San is a sophisticated tasting menu that reimagines familiar Korean flavours through classical French technique. Signature dishes include a prawn course paired with a deeply concentrated shrimp-gochujang crafted from broth extracted from shrimp heads, delivering layered umami. A reinterpretation of ojingeo sukhoe features delicately prepared spear squid with squid-ink chojang, while Jo’s childhood memories of Busan inspire a refined take on dwaeji-gukbap, traditionally enjoyed with salted shrimp but here elevated with caviar for a subtle, modern flourish.
The menu also pays homage to Korean culinary heritage. Chamoe dongchimi offers a nuanced twist on water kimchi, while wine pairings curated by Ju Jaemi, available in five- or eight-glass options, are thoughtfully selected to complement the multi-layered dishes.
A spokesperson for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants noted that San has “quickly become one of the most talked-about fine-dining restaurants in Seoul,” praising the team for raising the bar in culinary excellence and respect for national tradition. Chef Jo shared his gratitude, calling the award “a great honour” for a young restaurant recognised so soon after opening. San is the first Seoul restaurant to receive the One To Watch title since 2017. Recent recipients include Farmlore (2025), Lamdre (2024), and August (2023).
The One To Watch Award is the final of three pre-announced honours ahead of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 ceremony, set to take place for the first time in Hong Kong at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong on 25 March 2026. The event will be streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel at 20:00 Hong Kong time. As with all 50 Best rankings, voting integrity is overseen by official independent adjudication partner Deloitte.
Featured image: 50 Best
