So you binged Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) on Netflix, and now you’re planning a Seoul trip with one goal: eat the food you saw on screen. Here’s the honest answer nobody puts in the headline — the two winners’ restaurants no longer exist, and a few famous spots from the show have closed or moved abroad. But plenty of Culinary Class Wars restaurants in Seoul are still open, still run by the chefs you watched, and still bookable if you know how the Korean reservation system works. This guide covers what’s actually open as of mid-2026, what’s gone, and exactly how to get a table.
The 30-Second Reality Check
Let’s clear up the biggest disappointments first, because they’re the questions everyone asks.
Season 2 winner Choi Kang-rok (최강록) has no restaurant. He closed his Japanese restaurant Neo back in 2024, before Season 2 even aired, and has said he has no plans to open a new one anytime soon. His cooking currently exists only on TV, YouTube, and — I’m not kidding — a convenience store shelf (more on that below).
Season 1 winner Kwon Sung-jun, a.k.a. Napoli Matfia (나폴리 맛피아), closed Via Toledo Pasta Bar in June 2026. If you’ve seen older guides telling you to fight for one of its six seats, that ship has sailed. The good news: he’s building a new five-story culinary space in Seoul. Nothing bookable yet as of this writing, but keep an eye on his Instagram — I’ll update this post when it opens.
Season 2 runner-up Lee Ha-sung (“Cooking Monster”) is taking his talents to New York, where his restaurant Oyatte has been targeting a 2026 opening. Not helpful for your Seoul itinerary, unfortunately.
Now for the good news: the White Spoon veterans and several fan-favorite contestants are very much open for business.
First, Understand the Reservation War
Before I list the restaurants, you need to know how booking works, because walking in and hoping is not a strategy here.
Almost every restaurant connected to the show takes reservations through CatchTable (캐치테이블) or Naver. CatchTable has a Global version of its app in English, and it’s the single most useful download for this mission. Demand is not normal: after Season 1, a Seoul city pop-up event offered 150 seats and roughly 450,000 people tried to book them. After Season 2 premiered, bookings and waitlists at participating restaurants jumped around 300% compared to the weeks before.
The playbook that works: check exactly when each restaurant opens its booking window (often a set morning hour, days or weeks ahead), set an alarm, and be on the app the minute it opens. Join waitlists even when everything looks full — cancellations happen constantly, especially from local diners with flexible schedules. You, with your fixed travel dates, want every alert turned on.
Culinary Class Wars Restaurants in Seoul You Can Visit in 2026
Sam Sam Sam (삼삼삼) — Chef Kim Hoon, “Trend King”
Kim Hoon charmed Season 2 viewers as Trend King, and his casual Yongsan restaurant Sam Sam Sam is one of the most realistic targets on this list. It’s known for its laid-back, San Francisco-inspired vibe and a lasagna that fans line up for. It sits near the HYBE building, so you may spot K-pop fans making a day of the neighborhood.
How to get in: Reservations are tough, but this is one of the few show-famous spots where queueing early for a walk-in seat can actually work. Go on a weekday, arrive well before opening, and treat the wait as part of the experience.
Soigné and Doughroom — Chef Jun Lee
Jun Lee competed in Season 2 as one of the heavyweight White Spoons, and his two-Michelin-star restaurant Soigné (스와니예) in Gangnam is the splurge option on this list. Expect a contemporary tasting course built on Korean flavors with French and Italian technique. If the Soigné price tag or waitlist scares you, his more casual concept Doughroom serves fresh handmade pasta at a fraction of the cost — same chef DNA, much easier table.
How to get in: Book Soigné weeks ahead on CatchTable. Doughroom is the smart weeknight backup.
L’Amant Secret and Eatanic Garden — Chef Son Jong-won
Son Jong-won runs two one-Michelin-star restaurants in Seoul: the French-leaning L’Amant Secret and Eatanic Garden, which reimagines Korean cuisine in a modern fine-dining format. Eatanic Garden is the one I’d point most Culinary Class Wars fans toward — if you fell in love with the show’s Korean dishes, this is that world at its most polished.
How to get in: Both take online reservations. Hotel-restaurant-level service means English is generally workable here — helpful if this is your first Korean fine dining experience.
[IMAGE: Modern Korean course dish at Eatanic Garden]
Table for Four — Chef Kim Sung-woon
Kim Sung-woon became one of Season 2’s feel-good stories, and his restaurant Table for Four has been slammed since the show aired — reservations reportedly tripled, with the staff fielding around a hundred calls a day. That’s exactly why you should use the app instead of phoning.
How to get in: CatchTable, alarms on, waitlist joined. Patience required, but fans who get in tend to rave about meeting the chef himself.
Yunjudang — Chef Yun Na-ra
If you want something no other city can give you, Yun Na-ra’s Yunjudang (윤주당) centers on traditional Korean brewing — think refined takes on sool (Korean rice alcohol) paired with food built around it. It’s a very different energy from the fine-dining rooms above and a great pick if you’ve already done a tasting menu or two.
How to get in: Book ahead online; seats are limited.
The Budget Hack: Eat the Show at a Convenience Store
Here’s the option that costs less than a subway pass. Korean convenience store chain GS25 has released collaboration products developed with Culinary Class Wars chefs — including a sesame tofu soup inspired by Choi Kang-rok’s winning final dish and a bulgogi kimbap from fan favorite Seoul Mom. Is it the same as the real thing? Of course not. Is it a fun, dirt-cheap way to taste the show on day one, jet-lagged at 11 p.m.? Absolutely. Korean convenience store food is genuinely good, and these tie-ins sell out, so grab them when you see them.
Where to Stay for a Food-First Trip
Two neighborhoods make the most sense for this itinerary.
Gangnam puts you closest to the fine-dining cluster (Soigné and friends) with easy subway access
Yongsan / Itaewon is the better pick if Sam Sam Sam and a more casual food crawl are your priority, and it’s central for reaching everything else
Good to Know Before You Go
Book before you fly. The reservation windows for the hottest spots open while you’re still at home. Do not plan to sort this out after landing.
Cards work almost everywhere. Fine dining and chain stores are fully card-friendly; only some casual spots still prefer cash.
No-show culture is taken seriously. Some restaurants charge deposits through the booking app. Cancel properly if your plans change.
Tasting menus need advance notice for dietary restrictions. Message the restaurant through CatchTable when you book, not when you arrive.
Things change fast. This scene moves quickly — two winners’ restaurants disappeared within two years. I’ve verified everything here as of July 2026, but double-check opening status on Naver Maps or Instagram before you build a day around any single restaurant.
FAQ
Can I eat at a Culinary Class Wars winner’s restaurant in Seoul?
Not right now. Season 2 winner Choi Kang-rok closed his restaurant in 2024 and hasn’t opened a new one. Season 1 winner Kwon Sung-jun (Napoli Matfia) closed Via Toledo in June 2026, though a new Seoul project from him is in the works.
Do I need to speak Korean to book on CatchTable?
No — the CatchTable Global app works in English and accepts foreign cards for deposits. Some restaurants only appear on the Korean app or Naver, though, so a hotel concierge can be a useful backup for tricky bookings.
When does Culinary Class Wars Season 3 come out?
Netflix confirmed Season 3 in January 2026 with a new team-based format — four-chef teams representing a single restaurant. It’s expected later in 2026. Expect another reservation surge when it drops, so if the show’s restaurants are on your bucket list, going before the new season airs is honestly the smartest move.