Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea
Critically recognised, no months-out planning required.
A critically recognized Modern Korean restaurant in Jongno District, 24seasons earns an OAD Asia 2023 recommendation and a 4.3 Google rating across 916 reviews. Chef Tony Yu organizes the menu around the 24 solar terms calendar, making it a practical choice for seasonal Korean cooking when you want serious food without the tasting-menu formality of Seoul's most decorated tables. Booking is easy.
If you're looking for a late-night Modern Korean option in Jongno District that has earned genuine critical recognition without requiring weeks of advance planning, 24seasons is worth serious consideration. The OAD Leading Restaurants in Asia 2023 recommendation puts it in a credible tier of Seoul dining — not at the very leading, but clearly above the generic. This is a good call for food-focused travelers who want context-aware Korean cuisine without the omakase formality of Mingles or the tasting-menu commitment of Jungsik.
24seasons takes its name from the traditional East Asian calendar system that divides the year into 24 solar terms , a framing that signals ingredient seasonality as the organizing principle of the kitchen. Chef Tony Yu translates that concept into Modern Korean cooking at the Saemunan-ro address in Jongno, one of Seoul's more historically textured districts. The room is the first thing that registers: expect considered interiors rather than the exposed-concrete minimalism common in Seoul's newer restaurant openings. The visual identity leans into the seasonal concept, with the look of the space shifting to reflect the time of year. For an explorer-minded diner, this is genuinely useful context rather than decorative branding.
The Google rating of 4.3 across 916 reviews is a meaningful data point here. That volume of ratings gives it statistical weight, and 4.3 is a solid score in a city where competition across the Modern Korean category is sharp. It's not a polarizing venue , the scores suggest consistent execution rather than occasional brilliance.
The editorial angle here matters: 24seasons is a viable option when you need a serious dinner that runs later than Seoul's more formal tasting-menu restaurants typically allow. Many of Seoul's leading Modern Korean tables run fixed-time seatings that effectively close by 10 PM. 24seasons, operating from its Jongno location, offers more flexibility for diners arriving later in the evening or extending a meal without the pressure of a strict seating format. If your Seoul evening starts late , after a show, a gallery, or earlier drinks at one of the options in our full Seoul bars guide , this is a practical landing spot for substantive food rather than a compromise. Booking difficulty is rated easy, which means same-week reservations are realistic, and the absence of a rigid tasting-menu format makes it more adaptable to flexible itineraries.
Seoul's Modern Korean dining scene is competitive at every price point. 24seasons sits comfortably in the critically acknowledged mid-to-upper tier , past the OAD threshold, but not at the Michelin starred level of venues like Kwonsooksoo or Soigné. That positioning is actually useful: it means you can access serious Korean cooking with a seasonal philosophy, in a considered space, without the full logistical commitment of Seoul's most decorated tables. For diners who have already done the tasting-menu circuit , or who want to save that experience for venues like alla prima , 24seasons offers a more relaxed alternative with genuine credentials behind it.
If you're building a multi-day Seoul itinerary, 24seasons fits well as a second or third evening option. It's also worth considering if Jongno District is where you're staying , check our full Seoul hotels guide for properties in that area. And for travelers extending their Korea trip beyond the capital, comparable quality can be found at Mori in Busan. For Modern Korean in a New York frame of reference, Atoboy and Naro give useful comparison points for what the cuisine can look like in a different context.
24seasons is at 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul. Booking is easy , no specialist reservation platform or months-out planning required. Price range is not confirmed in available data, so verify directly before budgeting. Hours are unconfirmed; check current schedules before building your evening around a late arrival. Dress code is not specified, but the venue's critical profile and seasonal concept suggest smart-casual at minimum. For broader Seoul planning, see our full Seoul restaurants guide, Seoul experiences guide, and Seoul wineries guide.
Bar seating availability at 24seasons is not confirmed in current data. Given the venue's profile , a seated Modern Korean restaurant with a seasonal concept rather than a bar-forward format , counter or bar dining may not be the primary format. Contact the venue directly to ask about bar seating before planning your visit around it. For Seoul venues where bar dining is more reliably available, our full Seoul bars guide has better options.
Specific menu items are not confirmed in available data, so recommendations can't be made with accuracy. What is confirmed: the kitchen is organized around the 24 solar terms calendar, so expect seasonal ingredients to drive what's on the menu at any given time. Chef Tony Yu's Modern Korean approach , OAD-recognized in 2023 , suggests technically considered cooking with Korean foundations. Ask the server what's driving the menu on your visit rather than arriving with a fixed list. For a similar approach to seasonal Korean cooking, Mingles and Kwonsooksoo offer useful reference points.
For Modern Korean at a comparable or higher tier, Mingles and Jungsik are the benchmark options , both Michelin-starred, both harder to book. If you want innovative Korean cooking with a more experimental edge, Soigné and alla prima are worth considering. For a traditional Korean format rather than modern, Kwon Sook Soo in Gangnam-gu takes a different direction. See our full Seoul restaurants guide for the complete picture.
No confirmed information is available on dietary accommodation policies at 24seasons. Phone and website data are not in the current record. Given that the menu is organized around seasonal ingredients and a specific culinary concept, significant dietary restrictions , particularly those that conflict with core Korean ingredients , may be difficult to accommodate. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if dietary requirements are a factor. Venues with more flexible formats may be a safer choice for complex restrictions.
Yes, with the right expectations. The OAD recognition, the seasonal concept, and the considered room make it a credible choice for a meaningful dinner. It works better for occasions where the food and setting matter but you don't need the full ceremony of a Michelin-starred tasting menu. For a significant anniversary or client dinner where prestige is the priority, Jungsik or Mingles carry more weight. For a food-focused celebration where flexibility and booking ease matter as much as the meal itself, 24seasons is a practical and well-credentialed option.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24seasons | Modern Korean | Easy | |
| Solbam | Contemporary | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown |
| Onjium | Korean | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown |
| 7th Door | Korean, Contemporary | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown |
| L'Amitié | French | ₩₩₩ | Unknown |
| Zero Complex | Korean-French, Innovative | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available records for 24seasons. Given its position in the mid-to-upper tier of Seoul's Modern Korean scene and OAD recognition, it operates closer to a sit-down dinner format than a drop-in bar. check the venue's official channels at 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno District to confirm counter or bar options before arriving without a reservation.
Specific menu items are not published in verified records, so any dish-level recommendation would be speculation. What is confirmed: Chef Tony Yu frames the kitchen around the 24 solar terms of the traditional East Asian calendar, so expect ingredient-driven Modern Korean food that shifts with the season. Ask staff what's current when you arrive — that framing is the point of the restaurant.
Onjium is the go-to if you want a more traditional Korean tasting format with strong critical pedigree. Solbam and 7th Door sit in a similar Modern Korean tier and are worth comparing on booking availability and price. L'Amitié leans French-Korean and suits a different occasion; Zero Complex is a stronger pick if you want a looser, more informal format. 24seasons is the call when you want OAD-acknowledged Modern Korean in Jongno without the hardest-to-book constraints.
No formal dietary policy is documented for 24seasons. For a seasonally driven Modern Korean kitchen, communicating restrictions well in advance of your booking is standard practice — do not assume accommodations are automatic. Reach out before you book, especially for anything beyond common requests.
Yes, with the right expectations. 24seasons carries an Opinionated About Dining (OAD) recommendation for Asia — enough credential to anchor a celebration dinner without the prestige-tax booking difficulty of Seoul's hardest tables. It works well for a two-person occasion or small group dinner in Jongno District. If the occasion calls for a private room or a very formal tasting structure, confirm those details directly with the venue before committing.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
