Atomix Crowned North America’s Best Restaurant: A Triumph for Korean Cuisine

In a stunning achievement for Korean cuisine in America, Atomix has captured the coveted top spot on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The fine-dining establishment, nestled in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, offers an exquisite $395 twelve-course tasting menu that has captivated the palates of the most discerning food critics and enthusiasts. Chef-owner Junghyun ‘JP’ Park expressed profound gratitude for the recognition, seeing it as motivation to continue showcasing the depth and creativity of Korean cuisine to the world. This prestigious honor was bestowed during a glamorous ceremony in Las Vegas, further cementing New York City’s reputation as a global culinary powerhouse, with twelve additional NYC restaurants also making the distinguished list. Names like Le Bernardin, Le Veau d’Or, and Brooklyn’s The Four Horsemen share this prestigious recognition, though none reached the heights achieved by Atomix.

This latest accolade adds to an already impressive collection for Atomix, which currently holds the 12th position on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, boasts two coveted Michelin stars, and earlier this year received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality. Since opening their doors in 2018, Junghyun and Ellia Park have transformed the New York dining landscape with their refined approach to Korean cuisine. Their artistic presentation includes dishes served on custom ceramics, creating an immersive cultural and culinary experience. Signature offerings like tteok-galbi (grilled short rib patty) with chocolate and chopi (Korean pepper), alongside halibut accompanied by sea urchin and rice porridge, exemplify their innovative yet tradition-rooted approach. This remarkable achievement coincides with a significant milestone for the Parks – the upcoming ten-year anniversary of their sister restaurant Atoboy, widely credited with pioneering the contemporary Korean dining movement in New York City.

The Parks’ culinary empire has expanded beyond these two flagship establishments to include NARO and Seoul Salon, creating a small but influential restaurant group that has redefined perceptions of Korean cuisine in America. Ellia Park articulated their philosophy perfectly, noting that for them, “hospitality has always been about creating spaces that feel warm, thoughtful, and forward-thinking.” As they reflect on nearly a decade since launching their first restaurant, they express immense pride in their team and gratitude toward their guests who have supported their culinary vision. The Parks seem poised at an exciting juncture, looking ahead to what the next decade might bring for their innovative approach to Korean gastronomy in America’s most competitive dining market.

Interestingly, while New York claimed the top spot, Canadian restaurants dominated the remainder of the top five positions on this prestigious list. Montreal’s Mon Lapin, Restaurant Pearl Morissette from Ontario’s Niagara wine region, and Quebec City’s Tanière3 all secured places at the very pinnacle of North American dining. The United States managed only one other entry in the top five with Chicago’s Michelin three-starred Smyth, highlighting the impressive diversity of exceptional dining experiences across the continent. This strong showing from Canada may surprise some culinary observers, but it reflects the growing recognition of Canada’s sophisticated and innovative food scene that has been developing over recent years.

Atomix’s triumph represents more than just recognition for a single restaurant; it symbolizes the ascendance of Korean cuisine in the highest echelons of fine dining. The Parks have skillfully balanced respect for culinary traditions with boundary-pushing innovation, creating dishes that feel both authentic and entirely new. Their meticulous attention to detail extends beyond the food itself to encompass the entire dining experience, from custom tableware to thoughtful service touches. Each course at Atomix comes with a beautifully designed card explaining the dish’s inspiration and ingredients, educating diners while engaging them more deeply with Korean culinary heritage. This holistic approach to dining has clearly resonated with critics and diners alike, culminating in this unprecedented recognition.

As the culinary world continues to evolve post-pandemic, this inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list highlights how fine dining has adapted and thrived despite extraordinary challenges. Atomix and the other recognized establishments demonstrate resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment to exceptional hospitality. For New York’s dining scene specifically, having thirteen restaurants make the list reinforces the city’s status as a culinary mecca. From established institutions like Le Bernardin to newer sensations like Atomix, the city offers an unparalleled diversity of outstanding dining experiences. For the Parks, this recognition arrives at a perfect moment as they celebrate their first decade in the restaurant industry, validating their vision while inspiring them toward even greater heights in the years to come. Their journey from opening Atoboy a decade ago to claiming North America’s top restaurant honor with Atomix represents a remarkable achievement not just for them personally, but for Korean cuisine’s place in the global culinary conversation.