Recently I heard a Michelin star restaurant in Seoul that just got one star for another year closed down. And I was wondering what happened.
Michelin Guide Korea published in 2017, I was excited to try one of the restaurant.
I was looking for something modern Korean, and ended up choosing Dining in Space.
It was an amazing experience looking over the palace and having one of the best meal in Korea.
If you get a Michelin star, you are pretty much guaranteed to have customers from locals to tourists.
So it is very unusual for a Michelin started restaruant to close.
So what happened?
Dining In Space
To get to Dining in Space, you have to go through a Korean traditional garden. And then pass a gallery to the top floor (which felt like it was kind of hidden).
The top floor has a full view of the Changdeok palace.
Either be a rundown hut or a fancy view, I think the vibe of the restaurant is very important with your experience of dining in.
Related Post : If you want to try THE Best Samgyetang, Try Tosockchon not Far from Changdeok Palace
And dining in Space definitely passes the vibe check.
I felt very privileged to eat over looking the palace like some sort of a king.
You were able to tell the food was not only tasty but the presentation was an art-like where you didn’t want to ruin it.
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To be honest some of the plating seemed to prententious for me, but I guess this is how Michelin star restaurant goers eat lol.
It was an excellent experience with the service, the view and food. But why did they close down ?
Why Does Michelin Star Restaurant in Seoul Close Down?
It is not easy to get even one star Michelin, and it isn’t easy to close down a restaurant right after they receive one.
But with corona, Dining in Space couldn’t survive. Apparently they were already struggling even before coronavirus, and the pandemic just took them out.
Instead now there is a One Start Michelin restaurant called Myomi.
Michelin Starred Restaurants Heavily Rely on Not Only Locals but Also Tourists
Michelin star is called global currency for restaurants. If you get at least one start you are guaranteed with customers.
Apparently in New York Michelin restaurants 60% of the customers are from out of town.
I am sad that one Michelin experience I had in Korea is now just a memory and can’t revisit. But I hope this pandemic will end soon and we can enjoy life again soon.
Anyways I am just writing about Dining in Space cause of the closure. Have a lovely Day!