🍜 From Samgyetang to Vegan Noodles: Michelin’s 2026 Bib Gourmand Guide Is Here

🍜 From Samgyetang to Vegan Noodles: Michelin’s 2026 Bib Gourmand Guide Is Here If you love discovering amazing food without paying fine-dining prices, this is news worth saving. 📌✨ Ahead of the official release of the Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2026, Michelin has revealed its latest Bib Gourmand selection — the category that highlights restaurants offering excellent food at reasonable prices (under 45,000 KRW per person). This year, a total of 71 restaurants made the list: 🍽 51 in Seoul 🌊 20 in Busan ✨ 8 newly added (5 in Seoul, 3 in Busan) And the variety? Truly impressive. From rich samgyetang to 100% buckwheat noodles and even vegan-friendly dishes, this year’s list beautifully reflects the depth and diversity of Korean cuisine. Let’s take a closer look at the newly selected spots 👇 📍 SEOUL – 5 New Bib Gourmand Picks 🐔 1. 3 Da Samgyejangin (3대 삼계장인) – Seocho If you think samgyetang is just chicken soup, think again. This long-established restaurant (operating since 1973!) serves three signature samgyetang variations made with over 40 ingredients. The broth is thick and nutty, blended with finely ground mung beans, pine nuts, and even mugwort paste. ✨ Highlights: Only young chicken (tender texture) Rich, grainy broth Deep herbal aroma Add sticky rice and mineral salt for extra depth This is traditional Korean comfort food at its finest. 🌱 2. Gosari Express (고사리 익스프레스) – Sindang Market Located under a red awning inside Sindang Market, this spot redefines everyday vegetarian dining. Their concept? “Making vegetables more exciting.” All dishes are built around a signature gosari (bracken fern) oil sauce. From spicy bibim noodles to Taiwanese-style pancakes topped with sweet-and-spicy gosari chili sauce, the flavors are bold yet plant-based. Perfect for: 🌿 Vegetarians 🌶 People who love creative Korean flavors Market food explorers 🍜 3. Sobakiri Suzu (소바키리 스즈) A chef trained in Japan brings traditional soba craftsmanship to Seoul — but with a Korean twist. Instead of typical soba ratios, they use the “Sotoichi” method and Korean buckwheat, creating noodles with: Subtle grain aroma Pleasant chew Clean finish Pair the classic zaru soba with crispy tempura and sake for a refined yet casual dining experience. 🍲 4. Andeok (안덕) – Seochon Hidden deep in Seochon’s alleyways, this restaurant is known for beef cold noodles and dumpling soup. Their mulguksu resembles Pyongyang naengmyeon but contains a higher buckwheat ratio, giving it a softer yet chewy texture. The clear broth is light but deeply savory. Don’t miss: 🌶 Fried chili peppers stuffed with meat and vegetables Handmade dumplings Elegant simplicity 🥣 5. Oilje (오일제) – Perilla Seaweed Soup Specialist One menu. That’s it. Oilje focuses entirely on perilla seed miyeok-guk (seaweed soup). The broth is clean but intensely nutty, paired with freshly cooked rice from a traditional iron pot. Side dishes include: Soy sauce for dipping seaweed Fermented octopus Fresh kimchi It’s minimal, balanced, and deeply comforting. 🌊 BUSAN – 3 New Bib Gourmand Picks 🌾 6. Moemiljip (뫼밀집) 100% Korean buckwheat, freshly made noodles daily. Choose between: Spicy bibim buckwheat Perilla oil buckwheat Cold broth buckwheat noodles The texture is chewy yet delicate, and their sliced pork pairs perfectly with the noodles. A must-visit for buckwheat lovers. 🔥 7. Songheon House (송헌집) A tteokgalbi (grilled minced beef patty) specialist in a renovated 1990s-style home. Thick patties are charcoal-grilled, giving them: Subtle smokiness Rich juices Perfect balance with rice and doenjang stew It feels like eating at someone’s warm family home. 🥟 8. Pyeongyang House (평양집) Specializing in North Korean-style dumplings and mung bean pancakes. The dumplings are: Thin-skinned Soft yet structured Filled with kimchi, tofu, vegetables, and glass noodles The broth, made from brisket and shank, is clear but full-bodied. Their mung bean pancakes are crispy outside, soft inside — with crunchy bean sprouts for texture. A small, family-run place with big flavor. 💡 What Is Bib Gourmand? The Bib Gourmand designation, introduced officially in 1997, highlights restaurants offering outstanding food at moderate prices. In Korea’s guide: 💰 A full meal must cost under 45,000 KRW per person. 👨‍🍳 Michelin inspectors evaluate quality, consistency, and value. According to Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec, this year’s selection showcases “the depth and diversity of Korean gastronomy — from tradition-rooted dishes to creative noodles and vegan cuisine.” ✨ Why This Year Feels Special 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Michelin Guide in Korea. The diversity of this year’s Bib Gourmand list reflects how Korean dining culture continues evolving: Traditional samgyetang North Korean dumplings 100% buckwheat noodles Vegan-friendly creative cuisine Perilla seaweed soup specialists Seoul and Busan are no longer just cities of trends — they’re cities of refined, creative, and accessible gastronomy. 📲 How to Check the Full List You can find all 71 Bib Gourmand restaurants on: Michelin Guide official website Michelin Guide mobile app The official Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2026 ceremony will be held on March 5 at Signiel Busan. If you’re planning a food trip to Korea this year, this list is the perfect starting point. 🍽✨ Affordable. Diverse. Deeply Korean. 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