Exquisine
Contemporary · 압구정동, Seoul
Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea
Book with PearlThe Read
Ingredient-Led Single Course
Price
₩₩₩
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Chef Kyung-won Jang's Michelin-starred tasting room in Cheongdam offers ingredient-driven contemporary Korean cooking at ₩₩₩. The compact, minimalist dining room seats a dozen guests; the menu changes weekly, built around in-house herbs and regional produce. Service is warm and unfussy, focused on the food rather than formal ceremony. Book two weeks ahead for weekend dinner.
About Exquisine
Should you book Exquisine in Seoul, or look to one of the city's other contemporary dining rooms? The essentials are straightforward: Exquisine serves contemporary cuisine at a ₩₩₩ price level, with smart casual dress and daily lunch and dinner hours. It is described as Chef Kyung-won Jang's creative space for exploring the character and potential of Korean ingredients, using herbs grown in-house and fresh, regionally sourced produce.
A Contemporary Seoul Restaurant Focused on Korean Ingredients
Exquisine is located in Seoul in a quiet residential neighbourhood. The restaurant centers on Chef Kyung-won Jang's ingredient-led approach: Korean ingredients, in-house-grown herbs, fresh regional produce are the defining points. For diners comparing Seoul's contemporary restaurants, that places Exquisine in conversation with names such as Jungsik, Ile de Cheongdam, Muoki, while its own focus remains on Korean ingredients and regional produce.
For planning, rely on the fundamentals: contemporary cuisine, daily lunch and dinner, smart casual dress, a Korean-ingredient focus. For menu format, seating, beverage options, reservations, or awards, contact the restaurant directly. Treat Exquisine as a contemporary Seoul restaurant with a chef-led focus on Korean ingredients rather than as a restaurant defined by menu, award, or service claims.
What the Format Delivers, What It Doesn't
The appeal is the ingredient focus: Korean ingredients, herbs grown in-house, fresh produce sourced regionally. The cuisine category is contemporary, the price level is ₩₩₩. For details such as signature dishes, weekly menu changes, pairings, counter seating, group capacity, or service choreography, contact the restaurant directly.
Exquisine is open daily for lunch and dinner: 12 PM-3 PM and 6 PM-10 PM Monday through Sunday. That makes it an option for diners considering either midday or evening plans in Seoul, though any booking requirements, menu differences, or pricing differences between services should be confirmed directly with the restaurant.
Dress code is smart casual. If you are choosing between Exquisine and other Seoul contemporary restaurants, the clearest reason to choose Exquisine is its focus on Korean ingredients and regional produce under Chef Kyung-won Jang, rather than a specific award, room format, or beverage program.
For more Seoul dining, see our full Seoul restaurants guide.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM · Tuesday: 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Location
- 6 Samseong-ro 140-gil, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
- Website
- instagram.com/exquisine_seoul
- Phone
- +82 2-542-6921
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Exquisine positions itself on the market-driven side of Seoul’s contemporary fine-dining split, favoring ingredient availability over predetermined tasting sequences. The restaurant reads as refined and quietly polished: intimate dining rooms in Cheongdam-dong frame a focused culinary project rather than a spectacle. Its Michelin one-star recognition in 2024 confirms a high standard of execution without signaling flamboyant theatrics. The result is a sophisticated, restrained atmosphere where the produce-forward approach and single-course architecture keep attention squarely on what arrives at the table—an experience calibrated for diners who appreciate craft, seasonality and subtlety.
Best For
This is a destination for special evenings and date-night dining when you want a deliberate, produce-led meal rather than a parade of small plates. The single-course format and the restaurant’s positioning in upscale Cheongdam-dong make it well suited to occasions that reward attention to detail and a quieter, more focused service rhythm. Michelin recognition underscores its suitability for milestones and celebrations where quality and refinement matter. Repeat visitors also benefit: because the menu changes with ingredient availability, returning for another important night often yields a materially different dining experience.
Ordering Tips
Expect a single-course menu at both lunch and dinner that is driven by what’s available in the market rather than a fixed tasting sequence. The restaurant’s architecture of service means there is no buffering of weaker dishes between stronger ones, so each visit presents an undiluted encounter with the featured produce. Because the menu changes by availability, come with an open mind and treat the meal as a reflection of the day’s best ingredients. The format rewards repeat visits—plan to return if you want to sample different seasonal expressions rather than rely on repeat signature dishes.
Venue details
Ambiance
Understated, relaxed, and informal space with an open kitchen fostering close chef-customer interaction.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Tuesday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Wednesday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Thursday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Friday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Saturday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Sunday
- 12 PM-3 PM 6 PM-10 PM
Location
6 Samseong-ro 140-gil, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea · Directions
Recognition and awards
Restaurant context
At ₩₩₩, Exquisine sits between Toc Toc (₩₩, more casual, easier walk-in) and the ₩₩₩₩ tier occupied by Jungsik, Ile de Cheongdam, Olh Eum. For value-conscious diners who want a Michelin-starred tasting menu without the ₩₩₩₩ price tag, Exquisine and Muoki (also ₩₩₩) are the two best options in Seoul's contemporary Korean category. Muoki offers a slightly more structured service rhythm; Exquisine feels warmer and less formal. If you prefer polished service choreography and a deeper wine program, spend the extra ₩ at Jungsik or Ile de Cheongdam. If you're after ingredient-focused cooking with minimal ceremony, Exquisine delivers better value than either of those addresses.
Booking difficulty: Exquisine is harder to secure than Toc Toc or Muoki (both accept walk-ins occasionally), but easier than Jungsik or Ile de Cheongdam, which require reservations weeks in advance. The small room size means weekend slots fill fast; weekday lunch is your best chance for a shorter booking window. For solo diners or couples prioritizing food over ambiance, Exquisine is the better choice. For groups of four or more, or diners who want a full-service tasting room with beverage pairings and polished service, the ₩₩₩₩ tier will feel more aligned with expectations.
Explore Seoul
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Exquisine guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Exquisine
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exquisine | Seoul | Contemporary | Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 20262025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | ₩₩₩ |
| Olh Eum | Seoul | Contemporary | 2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ₩₩₩₩ |
| Toc Toc | Seoul | Contemporary | No published awards | ₩₩ |
| Muoki | Seoul | Contemporary | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia RecommendedMichelin Guide Seoul & Busan 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 1 Star2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2024 Michelin 1 StarWorld's Best Wine Lists 2022 | ₩₩₩ |
| Ile de Cheongdam | Seoul | Contemporary | No published awards | ₩₩₩₩ |
| Jungsik | Seoul | Contemporary | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #512026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #872026 Black Pearl 2 DiamondMichelin Guide Seoul & Busan 20262026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked · #492025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #90Tatler Best Restaurants Asia-Pacific 20252025 La Liste Top Restaurants | ₩₩₩₩ |
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How Exquisine Seoul compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exquisine worth it?
Exquisine is a ₩₩₩ contemporary restaurant in Seoul. It is best suited to diners interested in Chef Kyung-won Jang's focus on Korean ingredients, in-house-grown herbs, fresh, regionally sourced produce. For specific tasting-menu details or awards, check with the restaurant directly.
Can Exquisine accommodate groups?
What should a first-timer know about Exquisine?
Exquisine is in Seoul and serves contemporary cuisine at a ₩₩₩ price level. The restaurant highlights Korean ingredients, herbs grown in-house, regional produce. Dress code is smart casual.
Is Exquisine good for solo dining?
Solo diners should contact the restaurant about seating and availability. Exquisine's key details are its Seoul location, contemporary cuisine, ₩₩₩ price level, smart casual dress code, ingredient-led focus.
Is lunch or dinner better at Exquisine?
Exquisine is open for both lunch and dinner daily: 12 PM-3 PM and 6 PM-10 PM. For differences in menu, pricing, or experience between lunch and dinner, confirm directly with the restaurant.
