A New Panorama Towards the Future of High-End Cuisine

A top-shelf restaurant at the top of the Shilla Hotel. Located on the 23rd floor, La Yeon is the place where chef Sung Il Kim prepares his renowned Hansik dishes, a style that resembles Japanese Kaiseki cuisine, in which rice is the base of most dishes.

La Yeon features a spacious dining room and two tasting menus: a limited one, focused on quick and informal meals, and a more extensive one for those who are looking to taste a large number of dishes. These menus are also flexible—you may choose and select dishes from either menu depending on your preferences.

This culinary experience begins with seaweed “crackers” and dried dates, followed by a warm chestnut broth sprinkled with chestnut powder. These are unusual dishes that will take guests out of their comfort zones. Chef Kim then presents a tairagi salad (a type of mollusk which resembles a cross between a clam and a scallop) with yuzu sauce. The red mullet, quite possibly the highlight of this menu, is served on a bed of radish and cabbage with red bell pepper sauce and one garnish of oyster leaf.

These unforgettable dishes are further enjoyed because the restaurant overlooks Namsam Park.

 

 

 

 

 

Text: Andrés Ordorica ± Photo: Jungsik / GUIDE MI CHELIN / TRAVEL GUIDE / THE SILLA SEOUL / THE DESIGN STUDIO