So you just finished Culinary Class Wars Season 2 and now everything in your fridge looks disappointing. I get it. The finale dropped in January 2026, the internet went feral, and the first thing everyone Googled was: “Can I actually eat this food?”
Short answer: yes — but there’s a plot twist involving the winner. Here’s your realistic, no-fluff guide to tasting the show in Seoul, whether your budget is Michelin-star or convenience-store.
The Show in 30 Seconds (No Spoilers… Okay, One Spoiler)
Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) is Netflix’s Korean cooking survival hit where 80 unknown “Black Spoon” chefs battle 20 celebrity “White Spoon” chefs for a 300 million won prize (about $200,000). Season 1 (2024) topped Netflix’s global non-English chart for three straight weeks. Season 2 dropped in December 2025, wrapped on January 13, 2026, and Season 3 — with a new team-based format — is already confirmed and expected later in 2026.
The spoiler you can’t avoid if you plan to eat: Season 2 was won by Choi Kang-rok, the endearingly awkward chef who got eliminated in Season 1 and came back for redemption. His final dish? A quiet, deeply personal sesame tofu soup, served with soju.
The Plot Twist: The Winner Has No Restaurant
Here’s the part that stunned everyone. Choi Kang-rok closed his Seoul restaurant, Neo, back in 2024 — even though it was fully booked after his Season 1 appearance. After winning Season 2, he declined to reopen, choosing YouTube projects and TV work instead.
So no, you cannot book a table at the champion’s restaurant. It doesn’t exist. Korean fans summed it up perfectly online: “There’s demand but no supply.”
But don’t close this tab. There are still excellent ways to eat the show — including one that costs less than $5.
Option 1: The Fine-Dining Route — Son Jong-won’s Restaurants
While the winner stepped back, White Spoon chef Son Jong-won became the show’s biggest real-world beneficiary. His two Seoul restaurants are the hottest reservations in the city right now:
- L’Amant Secret — Contemporary French dining inside the L’Escape Hotel in Jung-gu, right by Myeongdong. Romantic, polished, special-occasion territory.
- Eatanic Garden — His other acclaimed spot, equally buzzy, with K-pop idols and influencers posting visits.
How to book: Download CatchTable (the app has a global version in English). Reservations open in waves and disappear fast, so set an alert and be flexible with lunch seatings — they’re easier to snag than dinner.
Where to stay: Staying near Myeongdong puts you walking distance from L’Amant Secret and in the middle of Seoul’s best food-shopping neighborhood.
Option 2: The Queue-and-Win Route — Sam Sam Sam
Kim Hoon (you know him as “Trend King”) runs Sam Sam Sam in Yongsan, famous for shockingly affordable pasta. Reservations are brutal, but the spot takes walk-ins if you show up early and queue — locals suggest arriving around 11:00 AM. It’s the closest thing to a “just show up” option among the show’s famous names.
Yongsan is also a genuinely convenient base: it’s a major train hub with direct airport access.
Option 3: The $5 Route — GS25 Convenience Stores
This is not a joke, and honestly, it might be the most fun option. Following the show’s success, GS25 convenience stores across Korea launched collaboration products developed with the chefs — including a Choi Kang-rok sesame tofu soup inspired by his winning dish, and Seoul Mom’s bulgogi kimbap.
Which means: you can land at Incheon Airport, walk into literally any GS25, and taste the champion’s ideas within an hour of clearing customs. Korean convenience store food is genuinely good — this is a feature of traveling here, not a consolation prize.
Can’t Fly to Seoul? Recreate the Vibe at Home
The finale dish — sesame tofu soup with soju — is beautifully simple at its core, and you can build a homemade version with a few pantry staples:
- Toasted sesame paste or tahini plus good sesame oil for that deep nutty base —https://amzn.to/4aUbwHD
- Soft silken tofu (most supermarkets carry it, or grab a Korean soft tofu stew kit)
- And for the full finale experience, serve it the way Choi did — with a glass of soju in a proper little glass — Korean soju glasses set
I’m working on a full recipe post breaking down a home-friendly sesame tofu soup — [internal link: sesame tofu soup recipe] — so keep an eye out.
Quick FAQ
Where can I watch Culinary Class Wars?
Both seasons are streaming globally on Netflix. Season 3 is confirmed and expected around late 2026, switching to a team format where four-chef crews from a single restaurant compete together.
Does the Season 2 winner have a restaurant I can visit?
No. Choi Kang-rok closed his restaurant Neo in 2024 and has said he won’t reopen for now. Your best bets are the other chefs’ restaurants above — or his GS25 collab products.
What app do I need to book these restaurants?
CatchTable. It’s the reservation battleground for basically every famous restaurant in Seoul. Download it before your trip, not after you land.
Is Season 2’s runner-up opening anything?
Yes — Lee Ha-sung (“Cooking Monster”) is reportedly opening a restaurant called Oyatte in New York City, targeted for spring 2026. If you’re US-based, the show might be coming to you.
Planning a Seoul food trip? Check out my guides to [internal link: Gwangjang Market food guide] and [internal link: how to order food in Korea without speaking Korean].
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