Watched Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) on Netflix and now you want to taste the food for real? Me too. I live in Seoul, and since season 1 (2024) these restaurants have become the hardest tables in the country. Season 2 (December 2025 to January 2026) made things even crazier.
This guide is written for visitors. For every restaurant you get: who the chef is, where it is, what to order, roughly what it costs, and exactly how to book. I’ve also flagged which ones are realistic for a short trip and which ones you can forget about.
Read this first: this guide was updated in October 2026. Restaurants from the show move, raise prices or close often. Season 1 winner Napoli Matfia is relocating, and season 2 winner Choi Kang-rok has no restaurant at all right now. Prices below come from Korean media and review sites (year noted). Always check the restaurant’s CatchTable page or Instagram right before you go.
At a glance: which one should you try?
| Restaurant | Chef | Area | Approx. price / person | Booking difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andongjip Son Kalguksu | Kim Mi-ryeong (S1) | Gyeongdong Market | ₩10,000–15,000 | Easy (walk-in line) |
| Okdongsik | Ok Dong-sik (S2) | Hapjeong, Mapo | ₩12,000–16,000 | Medium (line) |
| Jogwang Nonhyeon | Cho Kwang-hyo (S1) | Nonhyeon Stn, Gangnam | ₩40,000–70,000 | Medium |
| Tien Mimi | Jung Ji-sun (S1) | Seocho / Hongdae | ₩30,000–60,000 | Medium |
| Kaden | Jung Ho-young (S2) | Yeonhui-dong | from ₩25,000 (lunch) | Medium |
| Libukbang | Choi Ji-hyung (S1) | Mapo | ₩50,000–75,000 | Medium |
| Superpan | Woo Jung-wook (S2) | Sinsa-dong | ₩55,000–180,000 | Hard |
| Choi.dot | Choi Hyun-seok (S1) | Cheongdam | ₩98,000–198,000+ | Hard |
| Yun Seoul | Kim Do-yoon (S1) | Apgujeong | ₩78,000–220,000 | Hard |
| Mosu Seoul | Anh Sung-jae (judge) | Itaewon | ₩320,000–420,000 | Extremely hard |
New to Korean booking apps? Read our step-by-step guide to booking restaurants in Korea as a foreigner first. Almost every place here uses CatchTable.
Casual and affordable: the realistic picks
You do not need a fine-dining budget to taste the show. These are the places I’d actually send a friend on a 4-day trip.
1. Andongjip Son Kalguksu (안동집 손칼국수)
The original “Imokase” (auntie omakase) from season 1. Hand-cut noodle soup in the basement of a giant traditional market, at market prices.
- Chef: Kim Mi-ryeong (김미령), “Imokase No. 1”, season 1
- Where: B1, new building of Gyeongdong Market (경동시장 신관), 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun-gu. A short walk from Jegi-dong Station (Line 1).
- Order: son-guksi (hand-cut noodles), baechu-jeon (cabbage pancake), suyuk (boiled pork) to share
- Price: about ₩10,000 per dish, suyuk ₩12,000 (recent review sites)
- Booking: no reservations. Join the line. Mid-afternoon (around 3pm) is quieter than lunch.
- Tank’s tip: combine it with a walk through Gyeongdong Market, one of Seoul’s best herb-and-produce markets. Bring cash for the market stalls.
2. Okdongsik (옥동식)
Season 2’s “Pork Gomtang That Went to New York”. A tiny counter serving crystal-clear pork-and-rice soup, now with branches in New York, Tokyo and Paris.
- Chef: Ok Dong-sik (옥동식), season 2
- Where: 44-10 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, near Hapjeong Station (Lines 2 and 6)
- Order: dwaeji gomtang (pork soup). Ask for “teuk” (특, large) for extra meat. Add kimchi mandu (dumplings).
- Price: roughly ₩12,000–16,000
- Hours (Michelin Guide): Mon–Fri 11:00–15:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–20:30
- Booking: CatchTable and an on-site line. Only about 10 counter seats, so even with a booking you may wait.
- Michelin: Bib Gourmand
3. Jogwang Nonhyeon (조광 논현) — Tank’s pick
The newest restaurant from season 1’s self-taught “Comic Book Chef”. I have been four times since it opened. Order the split mala/mild hot pot, the dongpo pork and a glass of gaoliang baijiu.
- Chef: Cho Kwang-hyo (조광효), “Comic Book Chef” (만찢남), season 1
- Where: B1, 10 Gangnam-daero 128-gil. One minute from Nonhyeon Station Exit 3 (Line 7 / Sinbundang).
- Hours: every day 11:30–22:00, break 15:00–17:00, last order 20:40
- Booking: CatchTable
- Yum82 perk: see the full review for a small reader bonus.
4. Tien Mimi (티엔미미)
Dim sum and Sichuan-style Chinese from the “Goddess of Chinese Cuisine”. A good choice for groups and for spice lovers.
- Chef: Jung Ji-sun (정지선), season 1 White Spoon
- Where: Seocho branch (143 Saimdang-ro) and a Hongdae branch (4F, Mercure Ambassador Hotel, 144 Yanghwa-ro)
- Order: shumai, xiaolongbao, cheung fun, fish-fragrant eggplant, guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork)
- Price: dim sum ₩9,000–11,000 each, mains ₩32,000–43,000, sets from about ₩40,000
- Hours (2024): 11:00–22:00, break 15:00–17:00
- Booking: CatchTable or walk-in
5. Kaden (카덴)
Japanese izakaya-style cooking from chef Jung Ho-young, one of the more affordable season 2 White Spoons.
- Where: Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu
- Price: lunch set around ₩25,000, sashimi platter around ₩65,000
- Closed: Sunday and Monday
- Booking: reservation recommended
6. Osteria Sam Kim (오스테리아 샘킴)
Casual pasta from celebrity chef Sam Kim in Hapjeong. Easy to pair with Okdongsik on the same day.
- Price: pasta ₩20,000–30,000
- Booking: walk-in, expect a wait at peak times
Mid-range: worth planning a night around
7. Libukbang (리북방)
North Korean-style sundae (blood sausage) made from a family recipe, served in a room built with 100-year-old hanok beams.
- Chef: Choi Ji-hyung (최지형), season 1 White Spoon
- Where: 2F, 16 Mapo-daero 1-gil, Mapo-gu (Gongdeok area)
- Price (2024): weekday lunch ₩49,800, dinner and weekends ₩75,000
- Hours: check before going. Michelin currently lists lunch Wed–Sun.
- Booking: CatchTable or phone (02-720-2345)
- Michelin: Selected (2026)
8. Superpan (수퍼판)
Season 2’s “Seoul Mother”. Korean home cooking dressed up: abalone risotto, cured-roe pasta, crispy Hanwoo bulgogi.
- Chef: Woo Jung-wook (우정욱), season 2
- Where: 2F, 15 Nonhyeon-ro 167-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu
- Price: lunch sets ₩55,000 / ₩78,000, dinner sets ₩110,000 / ₩180,000
- Booking: CatchTable or phone (02-515-3848). Slots go fast.
9. Jogwang 201 (조광201)
The chef’s original restaurant, in a quiet residential area of Songpa. Famous for mapo tofu and dongpo pork.
- Where: 13 Saemal-ro 8-gil, Jangji-dong, Songpa-gu (about 10 minutes’ walk from Garden Five)
- Hours (2026): Tue–Sat 18:00–23:00, closed Sun–Mon
- Booking: CatchTable. New slots open every Tuesday at midnight and disappear fast. If you can’t get in, Jogwang Nonhyeon is much easier.
10. Notre (노뜨르) — Yoon Nam-no’s new bistro
Season 1’s “Cooking Maniac” (요리하는 돌아이) left Dipin and opened his own French bistro in Apgujeong in 2026.
- Where: 2F, 13 Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, about 300 m from Apgujeong Rodeo Station
- Price: a 5-piece amuse-bouche set (about ₩45,000) is required per person, then à la carte
- Booking: Instagram DM and CatchTable. Details are changing, so check the latest.
11. Yunjudang (윤주당), Haebangchon
Season 2’s “Brewmaster Yun” pairs her own house-brewed traditional liquor with a seasonal Korean table.
- Where: 1F, 81-1 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu (Haebangchon)
- Price: about ₩120,000 for the set plus liquor pairing (estimates vary)
- Booking: CatchTable only, irregular openings. The restaurant paused after the show and announced a reopening in 2026, so check Instagram @yunjudang first.
12. Dokdo 16do (독도16도)
Season 2’s “Four-Pyeong Loner” serves a seafood omakase as a traditional drinking table, near Gyeongbokgung.
- Chef: Kim Sang-hoon (김상훈), season 2
- Where: 3F, 2 Pirundae-ro 5ga-gil, Jongno-gu (Seochon)
- Booking: CatchTable only, very limited openings
Fine dining: the White Spoon splurges
Tasting menus, dress codes and deposits. Book weeks ahead and read the cancellation policy carefully.
13. Mosu Seoul (모수)
Judge Anh Sung-jae’s restaurant, the most famous table in Korea. It closed in late 2024 and reopened in a new space in late 2025.
- Where: 4 Hoenamu-ro 41-gil, Yongsan-gu (Itaewon/Hannam area)
- Price (2026): lunch ₩320,000, dinner ₩420,000, pairing extra
- Michelin: 2 stars (2026 guide)
- Booking: CatchTable. Slots sell out almost instantly.
14. Choi.dot (쵸이닷)
Celebrity chef Choi Hyun-seok’s creative Italian. Look for the vongole sujebi from the show.
- Where: 3F, 457 Dosan-daero, Cheongdam
- Price (2024): lunch ₩98,000, dinner ₩198,000, likely higher now
- Note: smart-casual dress code (no flip-flops)
- Booking: CatchTable
15. Yun Seoul (윤서울)
Kim Do-yoon’s fermentation-driven Korean noodle courses. The perilla-seed noodles are the signature.
- Where: 1F, 805 Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu
- Price (2024): lunch ₩78,000, dinner ₩220,000
- Michelin: 1 star (2026)
- Booking: CatchTable or phone (02-336-3323)
16. Trid (트리드)
Season 1’s “Triple Star” Kang Seung-won’s contemporary tasting menu in Cheongdam.
- Where: 2F, 16 Seolleung-ro 162-gil, Gangnam-gu
- Hours: Michelin lists lunch Tue–Sat. Check for dinner.
- Booking: CatchTable or phone (02-512-8312)
17. Solbam (솔밤)
Modern Korean tasting menu where season 2’s “Baby Beast” Kim Si-hyun has been cooking.
- Where: 2F, 231 Hakdong-ro, near Hakdong Station (Line 7)
- Price (2026): about ₩280,000–300,000
- Booking: CatchTable, opening on the 1st and 16th of each month. Changes need 4 days’ notice.
18. Hobin (호빈) and Eatanic Garden (이타닉 가든)
Two hotel restaurants from season 2 White Spoons.
- Hobin: chef Hu Deok-juk, 2F of the Ambassador Seoul Pullman (Jangchung-dong). Classic Cantonese; courses ₩110,000–400,000. CatchTable or phone.
- Eatanic Garden: chef Son Jong-won, 36F of Josun Palace Gangnam. Korean fine dining with a city view; lunch about ₩250,000. 1 Michelin star. Book via Naver or the hotel.
Chefs you can’t eat from right now
- Choi Kang-rok (season 2 winner): closed his restaurant Sikdang Neo at the end of 2024 and has said he has no plan to reopen yet.
- Kwon Seong-joon, “Napoli Matfia” (season 1 winner): Via Toledo Pasta Bar in Yongsan is moving to a new building near Cheonggu Station in Sindang-dong. Check his Instagram for the new name and opening.
- Lee Ha-sung, “Culinary Monster” (season 2 runner-up): no permanent restaurant in Korea.
- Edward Lee (season 1 finalist): cooks in the US.
Plan your day by area
- Gangnam day: lunch at Superpan (Sinsa), coffee in Apgujeong, dinner at Jogwang Nonhyeon. Splurge option: Choi.dot or Yun Seoul.
- Mapo / Hongdae day: Okdongsik for lunch, a walk around Hapjeong and Mangwon, then dim sum at Tien Mimi Hongdae or sundae at Libukbang.
- Old Seoul day: Gyeongdong Market and Andongjip for lunch, then Seochon and Gyeongbokgung, then Dokdo 16do if you managed a booking.
How to actually get a table
- Download CatchTable Global and save your favorites before your trip. See our step-by-step booking guide.
- Know the release time. Many places open new dates at midnight or noon Korean time, on a fixed day. Set an alarm.
- Choose weekday lunch. It is cheaper and far easier than dinner.
- Turn on cancellation alerts in CatchTable. Seats open up the day before.
- Have a casual backup. Andongjip, Okdongsik and Jogwang Nonhyeon are the most realistic.
Tip: Naver Map has an official saved list of the show’s restaurants. Search “흑백요리사” in Naver Map to see them all on one map.
FAQ
Who won Culinary Class Wars?
Season 1 (2024): Kwon Seong-joon, “Napoli Matfia”. Season 2 (2025–2026): Choi Kang-rok. Netflix has confirmed season 3 with a team format.
What is the cheapest Culinary Class Wars restaurant in Seoul?
Andongjip Son Kalguksu in Gyeongdong Market (about ₩10,000 a dish), followed by Okdongsik in Mapo.
Can foreigners book these restaurants?
Yes. CatchTable Global works in English with email sign-up and foreign cards. Since June 2026, Naver Booking also accepts passport verification for some places.
More Seoul eating: Michelin restaurants in Seoul · Tank’s Local Favorites · Seoul food prices in 2026
Sources
- Wikipedia: Culinary Class Wars
- The Edit: Andongjip (2024)
- Michelin Guide: Okdongsik
- Esquire Korea: chefs without restaurants (2026)
- Brunch: Jogwang 201 (2026)
- Michelin Guide: Libukbang
- Wikitree: Yunjudang reopening (2026)
- Esquire Korea: Dokdo 16do (2025)
- Newsis: Michelin 2026 and show chefs
- Segye: Via Toledo moving (2026)
- Hankyung: Choi Kang-rok closure
- Michelin Guide: Yun Seoul
- Michelin Guide: Trid
- Daum: White Spoon restaurants (2024)
- Fanmaum: Season 2 White Spoon list
