Eatanic Garden, Josun Palace

Eatanic Garden is a lush 1 Michelin star restaurant located at the Josun Palace Hotel. The place screams greenery and culinary aesthetics and I absolutely loved that the menu came in the form of an illustrated deck of cards propped up on small wooden blocks before each dish was served. Following the advice that Ralph Fiennes's character in 'The Menu' gave, I didn't just eat but I considered every morsel that was placed in my mouth mindfully. The freshness and flavours of the dishes were extraordinary to say the least. We were served the following: - Jookhyang strawberry emulsion of some sort - Fatsia shoots served with a Korean bean paste - Jujeonbori (small snacks) which consisted of small bites of comte cheese, dried white fish, and parae seaweed (shaped into a small crane) - A soy dish which pays homage to freshly-made 'dubu' from a temple restaurant called 'Dusugobang'. Changes are made in the amount of soy water, texture of the veil, and saltiness of the caviar - Seaweed crisps with imperial Siberian caviar Malassol - A fish dish served with Mugwort sauce and a seaweed puree - Different cuts of beef served with bamboo shoots and glazed with a beautiful light brown sauce - Wild greens and herbs from the mountains served with cold noodles - Wasabi ice cream - Hwajeon (Korean rice pancakes made of glutinous dough and azalea flowers on top for garnish) - Small and sweet desserts served in a mother-of-pearl lacquer box engraved with a butterfly pattern symbolizing fulfillment and a peony pattern symbolizing wealth and glory.

This was an unforgettable culinary journey, with every dish showcasing the chefs' incredible dedication. While securing a reservation is difficult, the experience was phenomenal. 1. Birch Sap: A light, refreshing start with a subtle, gentle sweetness. 2. Korean Melon "Tofu": This creative jelly-like dish broke my stereotype for Korean melon. 3. Croaker Sashimi: The nutty flavor and texture paired wonderfully with the myoga leaves. 4. Japchae: The glass noodles inside were wonderfully chewy and lively. 5. Perilla Leaf Bugak: The creamy sauce, crispy leaf, and tender shrimp harmonized perfectly. 6. Tomato Jelly: The finely chopped crab meat beneath offered a wonderful flavor and great texture. 7. Pork Pumpkin Dumplings: Adding a few drops of fruit-infused soy sauce enhanced the broth's umami. 8. Hairtail Fish: The base of chopped cuttlefish gave a texture similar to its roe. 9. Brothless Samgyetang: This was the best samgyetang and the most memorable dish I've ever tried. 10. Korean Beef Sirloin: The soybean paste-aged sirloin was incredibly tender. 11. Bingsu: The milk bingsu was so soft it felt like ice cream. 12. Dessert Box: You could feel the dedication in every single petite dessert.

An absolutely unforgettable dining experience! The restaurant's ambiance is stunning, with beautifully designed interiors and a breathtaking view. We were lucky to get a seat with a perfect vantage point to watch the sunset, and as night fell, the city lights created a magical atmosphere. Chef Son and the entire staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel truly welcomed. Each dish was a masterpiece, not only in taste but also in presentation. The combination of great food, excellent service, and an amazing view makes this place a must-visit. Highly recommended!

Now it is Better than when it opened for the first time…. I’ve been here 3times since its opening year. For several years Eatanic garden’s chef has changed. Now who took in charge is Jongwon Son who is on TV series about cuisine battle… (냉부해) He earned 1 Michelin star from this one and other one star from L’amant Secret. (Both are Josun SSG’s properties. ) However I couldn’t see head chef Jongwon Son at all this time when I visited Eatanic garden. Unlike Daechun Kim of 7th door, jongwon son is not easy to meet. (Son=TV celebrity type of chef maybe. ) Some dishes were good and some were soso. The most delicious dish was mushroom covered finger food.

A beautiful restaurant set in a beautiful hotel. I really really enjoyed my lunch here. All the staff that served me were absolutely lovely and I felt so welcome. And I really enjoyed meeting the lovely head chef! Some of my favourite dishes were: the opening dish, pine nut porridge; the jujeonburi - I love anything involving cheese; the cod; and my goodness the truffle bingsu 🤤 I am already looking forward to returning when I am back in Seoul in a few months. This is definitely not a restaurant for just a one time visit!

Since it's difficult to make an incredible impact while ordering Korean food for a course menu, I'm not a huge fan of fine dining there. For fine dining in Korea, nevertheless, this restaurant can be a terrific option. Each course menu features incredibly distinctive flavor and plating. It transformed a fairly familiar flavor into something entirely fresh and novel. This restaurant can be a terrific choice if you have any foreign visitors or guests. The personnel as a whole is also highly attentive and helpful. When staff members describe the food and its ingredients, there are moments when I don't understand what they are doing. However, every member of staff is presenting the cuisine, its ingredients, and its significance with precision. It was really amazing.

One of the best dinning experiences in 2023! The restaurant itself is stunning and so is every element of the meal. Each dish is presented with its own story card and the friendly staff made the 3 hours fly by. We had an amazing time at dinner and would definitely go on our next trip. Maybe for lunch so we can take advantage of the view from the “couples seat” next to the windows. Thank you for such a memorable dinning experience!

One of my top tier meals that I will remember for a long time. View is amazing, service is outstanding, food is so delicious, and wine pairing excellent. Love how the theme of the menu was introducing korean flavours in a finer, unique way. There was not only wine but also korean liquor. Ate my fill but yet didn’t feel extremely stuffed which is a good thing! There was not a dish that disappointed, every one was a pleasant surprise that I just wanted to savour forever. This is a place that I would return to time and time again to try their different seasonal menus.