Korean fine-dining restaurant Atomix in Manhattan has made history by ranking No. 1 in the newly launched “World’s 50 Best Restaurants: North America” list, the first time a Korean restaurant has ever claimed the top spot in the region.
Located in the NoMad district of New York City, Atomix is a Michelin two-star restaurant opened in 2018 by Korean chef Junghyun Park and his wife Ellia Park. The restaurant offers a 12-seat chef’s counter tasting menu featuring 10 seasonal courses that reinterpret traditional Korean fermentation and ingredients through a modern lens. Its innovative approach has consistently earned praise from both New York diners and international food critics.
In the top 10, Canada’s Mon Lapin (Montreal) ranked second, followed by Pearl Morissette (Jordan Station, Ontario) in third place. Northern California’s SingleThread in Healdsburg—holder of three Michelin stars—placed eighth, highlighting the diversity of North America’s fine dining landscape.
This inaugural North America edition recognized 37 restaurants from the United States, 11 from Canada, and two from the Caribbean, reshaping the continent’s culinary map.
The “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” began publishing global rankings in 2002 and has since expanded to Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The launch of the North America list in 2025 marks another milestone in the brand’s regional expansion.
Judging was conducted by a panel of 300 chefs, journalists, and culinary experts, with voting designed to reflect a balance of gender and geography.
With Atomix’s historic win, Korean cuisine takes center stage on the North American dining scene, cementing its place in the global fine-dining conversation.
By EUNYOUNG LEE [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
