Netflix’s latest Korean reality cooking show, Culinary Class Wars, has taken the culinary world by storm. Featuring 100 established chefs divided into two teams — White Spoons (star chefs), and Black Spoons (hidden masters) — the show pits these culinary masters against each other in a series of intense challenges to choose the best in South Korea. Breaking away from your typical cooking show with twists and turns at every stage, these chefs aggressively compete with each other through challenges that test their grit and mettle. Want to experience the culinary magic of these talented chefs? Discover the restaurants where you can taste the dishes created by the White Spoons of Culinary Class Wars. From Michelin-starred restaurants to winners of other cooking shows, this list features 20 of the most notable White Spoons and their establishments.
The first episode of the show was released on Netflix on September 17, and the 12th episode marked the end of the show on October 8, 2024. If you are yet to binge-watch the show, expect spoilers as you discover more about the White Spoons and their restaurants, as well as the winner of the show! While the White Spoons presented their incredible skills throughout the competition, it was ultimately a Black Spoon chef who emerged victorious. The participants were judged by legendary chefs Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae.
Stay tuned to this space for Black Spoon chefs restaurants.
Culinary Class Wars: All the White Spoons and their iconic restaurants
Ahn Yu-seong: Gamae, Gwangjuok 1947 & Jangsu Naju Gomtang
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Famous as the 16th culinary master of Korea, Ahn Yu-seong is a Japanese chef with at least three restaurants under his belt. In Gwangju, he has the Japanese restaurant Gamae in Nongseong-dong, the Pyongyang cold noodle restaurant Gwangjuok 1947, and the Korean pork specialty restaurant Jangsu Naju Gomtang.
Check out the official website of Gamae.
Choi Hyun-seok: Choi Dot, Central Reducer & Dahlia Dining
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With three restaurants under his belt, Choi Hyun-Seok is one of the most recognised chefs in South Korea. His most iconic is the Choi Dot, a Korean-European fusion fine-dining restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam. He also operates the Central Reducer, a Chinese fusion restaurant in the Seongdong district and Dahlia Dining, a vegan speciality restaurant in Gangnam.
Check out the official website of Choi Dot.
Follow the Central Reducer on Instagram.
Check out the official website of Dahlia Dining.
Bang Ki-soo: Gitdeun
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Chef Bang Ki-soo’s claim to fame was his role as Bicena’s Executive Chef, the contemporary Korean fine-dining restaurant that won a Michelin star the first time the guide was officially launched in Seoul. Now he owns a Korean BBQ joint called Gitdeun in Seoul.
Cho Eun-ju: Touch The Sky
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A pathbreaker in the field, Cho Eun-ju is the first female chef to win gold medals at the FHA Culinary Challenge and Luxembourg Culinary World Cup, two of the world’s top culinary competitions. She owns the French restaurant Touch The Sky. Visit this Culinary Class Wars restaurant inside the famous 63 Building in Seoul.
Check out the official website of Touch The Sky.
Choi Ji-hyung: Lee Buk Bang
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Choi Ji-hyung, who specialises in North Korean cuisine, owns the Lee Buk Bang in Seoul. The restaurant is famous for its blood sausages made from the chef’s family recipes.
Choi Kang-rok: Neo
The winner of MasterChef Korea Season 2, Choi Kang-rok is famous for his online presence on YouTube, sharing vlogs and recipes. The chef also owns Neo, a Japanese restaurant serving a menu similar to Omakase dining.
Edward Lee: 610 Magnolia
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The winner of Iron Chef, Edward Lee is a popular TV personality who has served as a judge with Gordon Ramsay. He owns 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, popular for its modern approach to the Kitchen Table.
Check out the official website of 610 Magnolia.
Fabrizio Ferrari: Fabrizio’s Kitchen
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Fabrizio Ferrari made a splash in the culinary world with the Al Porticciolo 84 in Italy, which maintained its Michelin star status for 15 consecutive years. After the Italian chef moved to South Korea, he became popular as Chef Fabri on TV and ran the Italian restaurant Fabrizio’s Kitchen in Yongsan, Seoul.
Kim Do-yoon: Yun & Myeon
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Kim Do-yoon has two renowned restaurants in Seoul. The first is the Michelin-starred Yun Seoul, famous for its fermentation, ageing, and drying techniques. The second is the Myeon in Seocho, specialising in the chef’s signature noodles.
Follow Yun Seoul on Instagram.
Follow Myeon Seoul on Instagram.
Joseph Lidgerwood: EVETT
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An Australian chef in South Korea, Joseph Lidgerwood runs EVETT in Gangnam, Seoul. This Michelin-starred restaurant reinterprets Korean cuisine from a foreign perspective. The Chef has also won the Michelin Young Chef Awards for his culinary skills.
Check out the official website of EVETT.
Kim Seung-min: Morino Aruyo
Kim Seung-min won the first season of MasterChef Korea and runs a Japanese restaurant and bakery called Morino Aruyo on Jeju Island.
Follow Morino Aruyo on Instagram.
Lee Young-sook: Nakyeong Mushroom Farm
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Another chef from a reality cooking show, Lee Young-Sook won the second season of Korean Food War. She is known for her mastery of mushrooms and runs the Nakyeong Mushroom Farm.
Check out the official website of Nakyeong Mushroom Farm.
Lu Ching Lai
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A veteran chef with over 50 years in the industry, Chef Lu Ching Lai (Korean name Yeo Gyeong-rae) is considered an expert in Chinese cuisine. He has been running the fine-dining restaurant Hong Bo Gak, located in the Grand Ambassador Seoul, since 1994.
Nam Jeong-seok
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Famous for his mastery of plant-based Italian cuisine, Nam Jeong-seok has two vegetarian restaurants known for sourcing local produce: Local Eat in Seoul and Green Bowl in Gangwon. Local Eat is a farm-to-table restaurant serving vegetarian European delicacies in Seoul and Green Bowl.
Follow Local Eat on Instagram.
Follow Green Bowl on Instagram.
Oh Se-deuk: Chinmeal & Oh Pan Fire
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With two restaurants on Jeju Island, Oh Se-deuk’s unique culinary skills can be experienced at the French-Korean restaurant Chinmeal and the American restaurant Oh Pan Fire. This celebrity chef has previously appeared on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.
Discover the Instagram of Oh Pan Fire.
Park Joon-woo: Aux Petits Verres
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From Please Take Care of My Refrigerator to MasterChef Korea, Park Joon-woo is a beloved chef on and off the screen. He considers himself a “cuisinier-pâtissier-traiteur” (French for cook, pastry chef, and caterer) and owns the European cafe Aux Petits Verres in Seoul.
Seonkyoung Longest
A celebrity chef and a YouTube star, Seonkyoung Longest competed in MasterChef US Season 4 and won the Restaurant Express. While this chef from Culinary Class Wars doesn’t have a restaurant, you can try out her recipes from her “Asian at Home” series.
Hwang Jin-seon: Jin Jin
Hwang Jin-seon operates Jin Jin in Seoul, the celebrated Korean-Chinese restaurant that once held a Michelin star and now has a Michelin Bib Gourmand. He is also big on YouTube, sharing recipes with his fans.
Jang Ho-joon: Negi Live & More
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As the CEO of the food and beverage company Negi, Jang Ho-joon manages several restaurants, including the seafood speciality restaurant Cavestry, the fine-dining Japanese restaurant Negi Live, and the fish cake bar Modern Odeng.
Follow Negi Live on Instagram.
Jung Ji-sun: Tian Mimi
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Famous as South Korea’s first female Chinese star chef, and the “Queen of Dim Sum”, Jung Ji-sun runs the iconic Tian Mimi chain restaurant across different parts of Seoul. The restaurant is beloved for its dim sum and Sichuan-style cuisine.
(Feature image credit: Netflix/IMDb)
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Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. As a former Food Writer at NDTV, she can help you find the best places to eat in Delhi!
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