100 Chefs Will Slice Through the Competition in Culinary Class Wars
What’s that smell? The fragrant scent of Netflix’s first-ever Korean culinary reality show.
And if there’s one thing you can count on a Korean unscripted series to do, it’s go all-out. Enter Culinary Class Wars, the sizzling competition that will see 100 talented chefs going apron-to-apron in a dramatic battle for culinary excellence. You read that right — think Physical: 100, but with more clothing and an area filled with ovens rather than mud. Among the 100 competitors are hidden masters (aka “Black Spoon” contestants) who will challenge the star chefs (aka “White Spoon” contestants) to become the best of the best in Korea. So, will the star chefs continue to reign supreme, or will the hidden masters rise to the top?
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this week’s No. 1 non-English language series, including more information about a few chefs turning up the heat on the competition.
Who are the judges of Culinary Class Wars?
The competition is helmed and judged by restauranteur Paik Jong-won, whose many accolades and television credits include 2021’s Paik’s Spirit, as well as chef Anh Sung-jae of the three-starred Mosu Seoul restaurant.
Who are the chefs competing in Culinary Class Wars?
Of the 100 chefs featured in the series, look out for a few standouts entering the kitchen, including chefs nicknamed “Hidden Genius,” “Korean Taco King,” and “Auntie Omakase #1.” Below, get to know a handful of the chefs who have proved themselves to be a cut above.
Auntie Omakase #1
Memorably, this chef competed in the first challenge wearing a traditional hanbok. It was fitting, as she’s known for concocting elaborate homestyle meals using seasonal ingredients. She runs the popular eatery Drinks and Merriment in Seoul’s famed Gyeongdong Market.
Choi Hyun-seok
Chef Choi is such a recognizable Korean celebrity chef that he’s even appeared as a contestant in The Masked Singer. When he’s not making cameos or serving as a judge in food competition shows, this famous chef heads the kitchen at Seoul’s fine-dining Korean-European restaurant Choi Dot and the Chinese-fusion restaurant Central Reducer.
Comic Book Chef
It all started with a pot of tteokbokki for this self-taught chef. After encountering various dishes in the comic books he’d read, the chef would re-create them at the comic book shop he used to co-run. Needless to say, his meals were a hit.
Cooking Maniac
This impassioned chef is a veteran of competition cooking shows — he’s a former contestant on MasterChef Korea Season 4. Off-camera, he’s worked at Bennelong, the iconic restaurant at the Sydney Opera House, and now heads up the kitchen at Deepin, a natural wine bar and restaurant in Seoul.
Edward Lee
Fans of competition cooking shows might recognize Chef Lee, who won Iron Chef America in 2010. The nine-time James Beard Award nominee, restaurateur, and author served as visiting chef at the White House in 2023 for the official state dinner for the Republic of Korea. He has also appeared in Top Chef and was a judge in Gordon Ramsay’s Culinary Genius.
Jung Ji-sun
Chef Jung carries the esteemed title of being the first female celebrity chef in Korea to specialize in Chinese cuisine. In fact, her nickname is “the Queen of Dim Sum.” In addition to being head chef at Tian Mimi, a Sichuan-style restaurant at the four-star hotel Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae, Chef Jung has appeared on the popular K-variety shows Please Take Care of My Refrigerator and Boss in the Mirror.
Master of School Meals
This chef knows something about feeding large groups as the head cook of an elementary school in Yangsan City, just north of Busan. She’s been making cafeteria food for 15 years, so it’s no surprise that her meals are bountiful, nostalgic, and made to satisfy the pickiest eaters.
Napoli Matfia
Napoli Matfia strives for perfetto when it comes to handmade pastas, using techniques any nonna would endorse. After earning his chops in Italy, the chef returned to Korea to run his own Italian restaurant, Via Toledo, and introduce Seoul to the authentic flavors of Napoli.
Self-Made Chef
As his nickname suggests, this chef had humble beginnings, starting out in food delivery. From there, he worked his way into kitchens, where he taught himself how to cook by experimenting with Chinese cuisine.
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Triple Star
This chef’s nickname is a cheeky reference to his award-winning training: He’s worked at three Michelin-starred restaurants. Today, he’s the chef and owner of Trid, a Seoul-based restaurant serving contemporary fare that has — full circle — appeared in the Michelin Guide multiple times.
When is the Culinary Class Wars release date?
The kitchen is open. Stream the first seven episodes now, and stay tuned for three more episodes premiering Oct. 1, with the final two debuting Oct. 8.
