Participants of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants pose following the awards ceremony at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Asia's 50 Best Restaurant

An event honoring Asia's 50 Best Restaurants took place in Seoul, Tuesday, for the second straight year, with four Korea-based restaurants making the top 50 list.

The annual event was hosted jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Mingles, Korea's only three-star Michelin restaurant, secured the fifth spot, while Onjium ranked 10th, 7th Door ranked 23rd and Eatanic Garden placed 25th.

Gaggan in Bangkok, which ranked third last year, topped the list.

Launched in 2013, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants celebrates regional gastronomy and provides culinary insights for global diners.

The list is created by the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a group of over 300 restaurant industry leaders, and its credibility is ensured by Deloitte's global oversight. The ranking covers six voting regions: India & Subcontinent; Southeast Asia; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macao; Mainland China & Korea; and Japan.

This year's top 50 consisted mostly of restaurants from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai.

Prior to the award show, the British company revealed the restaurants ranked from 51st to 100th.

Six restaurants in Korea clinched spots in the ranking, including Born&Bred (51st), Solbam (55th), Soigne (57th), Alla Prima (61st), Kwonsooksoo (62nd) and Jungsik Seoul (90th).

Food Minister Song Mi-ryung said ahead of the show that hosting the awards in Korea for the second straight year has cemented Korean cuisine's honorable position in the global gastronomic industry and promoted Korea as a top destination for global culinary ventures.

"The most important accomplishment out of this event is that gastronomic opinion leaders from across the world got to know better about Korean food and the culture of Korea during their visit to Seoul," Song said.

A special booth showcasing collaborative Korean cuisine attracts a crowd at the pre-show reception for the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan.

"The award is also another stepping stone for businesspeople in the country's dining industry and chefs to gain more growth."

The minister said the award ceremony came at a moment when Korean food is arousing global interest, from street foods like tteokbokki (simmered rice cakes) and gimbap (steamed rice roll with vegetables) to fine dining. She said the ministry will keep developing the country's educational infrastructure to train Korean culinary experts and also promote Korean food at this year's APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the Osaka Expo which runs from April to October. She also mentioned the ministry's plan to introduce the "K-gastronomic belt," an initiative to bolster domestic tourism by fusing local culinary bases and tourism.

"The Hansik Conference will be held again this year in October in Seoul, inviting people from the global fine dining industry and chefs to discuss the future of Korean food and ways to develop it. The ministry will spare no efforts in promoting Korean food and boosting its market competitiveness in the global culinary market," Song said.

Joo Won-chul, director general of the Food Industry Policy Bureau under the ministry, joined the show to deliver opening remarks.

"I hope your experience of Korean foods and culture would add a touch of flavor to your future dishes," he said.

Seoul Vice Mayor Kim Tae-kyoon also stepped up on stage, dubbing the city the "No. 1 destination for solo travelers and the perfect city for food lovers from all over the world."

Held at Grand Hyatt Seoul shortly before the day's sunset, the award ceremony started off with a casual reception offering various gourmet samples including Korean delicacies from a special booth named Taste of Korea Taste of Seoul. Soigne, Table for Four and dessert restaurant Haap operated the booth, while instant noodle giant Nongshim draw attention with its treats.