Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea
Gangnam's focused sushi counter. Book now.
HANE is a Michelin-starred sushi counter in Gangnam built around seasonal sourcing and Chef Choi Ju-yong's ingredient-led approach. At ₩₩₩₩, it delivers a quiet, focused alternative to Seoul's louder fine-dining rooms. Book well ahead — this is a hard reservation that will only get harder as recognition grows.
If you are looking for a seat at one of Gangnam's most focused sushi counters, the time to act is now. HANE holds a Michelin 1 Star (2024) and sits at ₩₩₩₩ pricing, which puts it squarely in Seoul's upper tier — but it has not yet attracted the same wait times as Tokyo benchmarks like Harutaka or Hong Kong's Sushi Shikon. That gap will close. Book as far ahead as your calendar allows, and if you are returning for a second visit, request the most intimate seating arrangement available — the atmosphere shifts considerably depending on where you sit.
HANE is a fine-dining sushi restaurant in Gangnam District, operating under the direction of Chef Choi Ju-yong. The kitchen philosophy centres on ingredient sourcing and seasonal produce: each piece of sushi is built around the natural character of the fish or produce rather than layered technique for its own sake. The dining room is described as an elegant space using modern interpretations of traditional materials, which in practice means the atmosphere reads quieter and more considered than the flashier Gangnam dining rooms nearby. The energy here is low and deliberate. If you are coming from a louder contemporary Korean restaurant like Jungsik or a high-energy tasting menu at Mingles, HANE will feel like a different register entirely , more like a conversation than a performance.
That atmosphere is part of the value here. The room does not compete with the food. Noise levels stay low, which makes HANE a practical choice for business dining or any occasion where the table conversation matters as much as what is on the plate. For Seoul's sushi category specifically, this kind of dedicated quiet is not guaranteed at ₩₩₩₩ price points.
The private or group experience at HANE deserves specific attention, because the venue's format and philosophy make it better suited to small, focused parties than to large celebratory groups. The emphasis on seasonal ingredients and the chef's attention to how each dish is served means the experience rewards diners who are paying close attention. A private dining arrangement here, if available, would be significantly more valuable than the equivalent at a restaurant where the kitchen is cooking for volume. For two people, this is a strong option. For a small group where everyone at the table is genuinely interested in sushi at this level, it works well. For larger parties looking for a celebratory atmosphere with wine pairings, ambient energy, and variety, a venue like alla prima or Kwonsooksoo may serve the group dynamic better.
If you are planning a special occasion at HANE specifically , an anniversary, a client dinner, a milestone meal , the low-noise, high-focus environment is a genuine advantage. You are not fighting the room. The formality of the space is present but not intimidating, which keeps the evening relaxed without becoming casual. Contact the restaurant directly when booking to confirm any private seating arrangements and to communicate the nature of your occasion.
If you have already eaten at HANE once, the question on a second visit is whether to push further into the seasonal menu or to compare across Seoul's sushi category before returning. Seoul's sushi offering at this level is still developing relative to Tokyo, so HANE's Michelin recognition carries real weight locally. For context, Seoul's Sosuheon approaches traditional Korean fine dining from a similarly ingredient-led position, and the comparison is worth making if you want to understand what HANE is doing within a broader Seoul fine-dining context rather than purely within the sushi category.
On a second visit, ask about what is in season and let that drive your choices rather than defaulting to the same order. Chef Choi's stated approach is to let natural ingredients lead, which means the menu will shift across the year. A winter visit and a summer visit should feel meaningfully different. This is not a kitchen building a fixed greatest-hits menu , the seasonal logic is the point.
HANE is located at 13 Eonju-ro 172-gil in Gangnam District, Seoul. Gangnam is well-served by Seoul Metro Line 9 (Sinnonhyeon station) and Line 2/Sinbundang Line (Gangnam station). Taxis and ride-share apps work reliably in this area at any hour. The restaurant is priced at ₩₩₩₩, which in Seoul's fine-dining context signals a serious meal , expect to budget accordingly for a full omakase or tasting experience. Booking is hard: this is a Michelin-starred counter with limited seats, and demand will only increase as HANE's recognition grows. There is no phone or website listed publicly at time of writing , your leading approach is to search for current booking channels via the restaurant's name, check Korean dining platforms such as Catch Table or Naver Reservations, or ask your hotel concierge to assist. If you are staying in Seoul and want help across the full dining landscape, our full Seoul restaurants guide covers the category in detail. For broader Seoul planning, see also our Seoul hotels guide, bars guide, experiences guide, and wineries guide.
If you are travelling to South Korea beyond Seoul, the fine-dining scene extends further than most visitors expect: Mori in Busan and Double T Dining in Gangneung are worth noting if your itinerary extends to other regions. For more local options around the greater Seoul area, Doosoogobang in Suwon and Pool House in Incheon round out a regional picture that most visitors miss entirely.
Quick reference: Michelin 1 Star (2024) · ₩₩₩₩ · Gangnam District, Seoul · Booking: hard, use Korean reservation platforms or hotel concierge.
HANE is a sushi-focused fine dining counter in Gangnam with a Michelin 1 Star. The kitchen is built around seasonal, natural ingredients, and the format is close to omakase in sensibility , the chef's selections drive the meal. Come with an appetite, go light on lunch, and do not expect a large-format social dinner. This is a precise, quiet experience at ₩₩₩₩ pricing. If you want a louder, more varied first fine-dining night in Seoul, Mingles is a more accessible starting point.
Within the ₩₩₩₩ Gangnam fine-dining tier, your main alternatives depend on format. For contemporary Korean tasting menus, 7th Door and Solbam are the closest comparisons in ambition and price. For traditional Korean, Onjium is the reference point. If budget flexibility matters, L'Amitié sits at ₩₩₩ and punches above its price. For sushi specifically at a regional level, Harutaka in Tokyo is the natural benchmark if you are comparing across cities.
HANE's seating configuration is not confirmed in publicly available data at time of writing. Given the sushi counter format typical of restaurants at this level, counter seating is likely , but whether solo walk-in counter seats are available or all seats require advance booking is not confirmed. Contact the restaurant directly or check Catch Table for current availability options before assuming walk-in access.
Treat this as a hard booking, not a casual reservation. With a Michelin 1 Star and limited seating, the practical minimum is three to four weeks out for a standard booking window. For weekend evenings or special dates, extend that to six to eight weeks. Korean fine dining counters at this level fill through platform reservations quickly after slots open, so check Catch Table or Naver Reservations early in the morning when new dates are released.
Yes, with one qualification: the occasion has to suit a quiet, focused format. HANE's low-noise dining room and precise, ingredient-led sushi make it a strong choice for an anniversary dinner, a serious business meal, or a milestone birthday for someone who eats at this level regularly. It is not the right room for a large celebration that needs atmosphere and volume. For that, Zero Complex or Jungsik would serve the energy of a group occasion better.
At ₩₩₩₩ with a Michelin 1 Star, the value case for HANE's tasting format rests on the kitchen's commitment to seasonal sourcing. If you are paying top-tier Seoul prices for sushi, you want a kitchen that is letting the ingredients justify the price rather than relying on presentation alone. Based on the Michelin assessment, HANE clears that bar. Whether it beats Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong for technical depth at a comparable price tier is a harder call , but within Seoul specifically, the value holds.
For sushi at ₩₩₩₩ in Seoul with a current Michelin star, HANE justifies the spend if sushi is your format and you want the kitchen's seasonal logic to drive the meal. If you want more variety across a tasting menu or a more social atmosphere for the same money, Solbam or Kwonsooksoo offer different textures of the ₩₩₩₩ experience. HANE is the right spend for diners who have already explored Seoul's Korean fine dining and want to benchmark the city's sushi category against regional peers.
Come expecting a counter-format omakase built around seasonal ingredients and Chef Choi Ju-yong's philosophy of letting each product speak for itself. This is not a theatrical experience with elaborate tableside production — the focus is precision and ingredient integrity. HANE holds a Michelin 1 Star (2024), so standards are high and the room is likely small. Book well in advance and arrive with a clear appetite for fish-forward, ingredient-led sushi.
For a Korean fine-dining angle with seasonal focus, Onjium is worth considering — it applies similar ingredient discipline to Korean cuisine rather than Japanese sushi. Solbam is a stronger comparison if you want high-end tasting menus in Gangnam at a similar price tier. Zero Complex suits diners who want a more contemporary, multi-course format. L'Amitié is the pick if French technique is preferable to sushi. 7th Door is relevant for wine-forward fine dining pairings rather than sushi-first meals.
The venue's format — a fine-dining sushi counter in Gangnam — strongly implies a counter or bar-style seating arrangement is central to the experience, which is standard for restaurants of this type. However, specific seating configurations are not confirmed in available data, so check the venue's official channels to confirm counter availability before booking.
Michelin 1 Star sushi counters in Gangnam at the ₩₩₩₩ price tier typically fill two to four weeks out, and HANE's profile is rising. Book at least three weeks ahead as a baseline; if you have a specific date in mind for a special occasion, push to four to six weeks. Specific booking policy details are not publicly documented, so check directly with the restaurant for current availability.
Yes, with the right expectations. HANE is a Michelin-starred fine-dining sushi counter with an elegant space using modern interpretations of traditional materials — that combination of credential and atmosphere suits a meaningful dinner well. It works best as an intimate occasion for two or a small group comfortable with an omakase format. If you need a large private room or a more festive setting, other Gangnam options may serve better.
At the ₩₩₩₩ price tier, the value case rests on Chef Choi Ju-yong's ingredient sourcing and the Michelin recognition that validates the kitchen's consistency. If you value seasonal, produce-driven sushi where the chef controls the sequence and pacing, this format delivers that. If you prefer à la carte flexibility or are not invested in omakase as a format, the price is harder to justify — Solbam or L'Amitié may offer a format that fits better.
For sushi-focused diners, yes. A Michelin 1 Star (2024) at the ₩₩₩₩ tier in Gangnam is a credible exchange: you are paying for sourcing discipline, chef-led sequencing, and a refined room. It is not the cheapest Michelin option in Seoul, but it is more focused than broader tasting-menu restaurants at the same price. If sushi is not your priority format, Onjium or Solbam return more variety per won.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
