Eatanic Garden: A Sky-High Reimagination of Korean Cuisine

“We don’t just serve food. We serve stories—stories of land, time, and flavor.” 

– Chef Jongwon Son

From 36 floors above the bustle of Gangnam, a quiet revolution is taking place. Step into Eatanic Garden, and you're not simply entering a restaurant—you’re stepping into a dreamlike garden where Korean heritage meets avant-garde imagination. Tucked within the prestigious Josun Palace Hotel, this culinary sanctuary has quickly become one of Seoul’s most talked-about destinations, and it’s not hard to see why.

Led by the brilliant Chef Jongwon Son, Eatanic Garden is more than just a fine dining experience. It's a poetic reinterpretation of Korea’s rich food culture, delivered with breathtaking views and even more breathtaking plates.

 A Garden Grown From Korean Roots

The name “Eatanic Garden” is a fusion of ideas: part “botanic garden,” part “eat,” and entirely rooted in the chef’s fascination with the life and stories of ingredients. From wild herbs of the Korean mountains to coastal seaweed and temple-style fermented sauces, this is a garden where everything has a voice—and nothing is ornamental.

“We respect the natural life cycle of ingredients,” says Chef Son. “Our menus don’t follow trends. They follow the seasons, the harvests, and the stories of Korean soil.”

Instead of traditional menus, diners receive a delicate series of illustrated cards, each representing the ingredients or concept of a dish. These watercolor-like postcards—equal parts art and explanation—invite guests into the narrative of the meal, much like reading a beautifully bound book.

 “Korea Has Always Had Depth. I Just Want the World to Taste It.”

Chef Jongwon Son’s culinary journey is as layered as his plates. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Son refined his philosophy at world-renowned restaurants such as Noma in Copenhagen and Quince in San Francisco. But it wasn’t until he returned to Seoul that he began crafting his own language—one that spoke Korean, but thought globally.

In 2018, he opened L’Amant Secret in L’Escape Hotel and earned a Michelin star within two years. In 2022, he took over the kitchen of Eatanic Garden and achieved a rare feat: leading two Michelin-starred restaurants simultaneously in the same city.

“Fine dining in Korea has been dominated by French or Japanese influences for a long time,” he notes. “What I’m doing is showing that Korean food can be refined, emotional, and deeply personal—without losing its roots.”

This commitment to time-honored methods is not just philosophical; it’s sensory. Every bite carries layers of umami, restraint, and quiet complexity that you don’t simply eat—you decode.

International Acclaim in Record Time

Since its relaunch, Eatanic Garden has risen meteorically through the culinary ranks:

- Michelin Starred for four consecutive years 

- Ranked 25 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (2025) 

- Recipient of the Highest New Entry Award, awarded to the restaurant with the most impressive debut 

- Recognized by La Liste three years in a row as one of the Top 1000 Restaurants in the World

What makes this even more impressive is that Eatanic Garden achieved this acclaim while staying unapologetically Korean—never diluting its identity for global appeal.

A Dining Room in the Clouds

The moment the elevator doors open on the 36th floor, the mood shifts. The city noise fades, replaced by curated calm. A wall of windows reveals panoramic views of Seoul, while soft ambient lighting dances across hand-finished ceramics and linen-topped tables.

With just 58 seats, the dining room is intentionally intimate. The atmosphere strikes a balance between serene and elevated—a garden suspended in the sky.

Even the service is synchronized with the culinary rhythm: intuitive, warm, and deeply knowledgeable. It’s no surprise that the restaurant draws guests from across Asia and Europe, each seeking not just a meal, but an experience.

Chef Son’s Vision: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

When asked about his long-term goal, Chef Son doesn’t speak in accolades or expansions. Instead, he reflects:

 “I want to build a new grammar for Korean cuisine—one that honors our language but also translates it for the world.”

His belief is that Korean food doesn’t need to shout to be heard. It just needs the right platform, the right season, and the right storyteller. At Eatanic Garden, every plate becomes that storyteller.

Why You Need to Dine Here

If you're in Seoul and searching for a dining experience that is at once elegant, soulful, and deeply Korean, Eatanic Garden should sit firmly at the top of your list.

Whether you’re a lover of fermentation or someone discovering the power of Korean ingredients for the first time, this is where you’ll taste something profound. Something alive. Something Korean, reimagined.

You’ll find it nestled inside Josun Palace Hotel, Gangnam, a fitting location for a restaurant so rooted in heritage yet reaching for the future.

 “Every dish is a page in the story of Korea,” says Chef Son. 

 “And every guest helps us write the next chapter.”