The Ultimate Culinary Class Wars Restaurant Guide: Every Chef’s Restaurant You Can Actually Visit

Key Takeaways

• 36 restaurants from Culinary Class Wars chefs — all mapped with locations and details
• Many restaurants now have extreme wait times due to the show’s popularity — some require app-only reservations
• White Spoon chefs run upscale fine dining spots; Black Spoon chefs run neighborhood gems with bold flavors
• The best strategy: visit Black Spoon restaurants on weekday lunches for shorter waits
• Use Catch Table or Naver Reservation apps — walk-ins are nearly impossible at popular spots

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Since 흑백요리사 (Culinary Class Wars) premiered on Netflix Korea, it has become a cultural phenomenon. The cooking competition pits elite “White Spoon” chefs — Michelin-starred, award-winning fine dining masters — against scrappy “Black Spoon” chefs — self-taught, street-smart cooks who built their reputations from the ground up.

The result? Every restaurant from the show is now packed. Wait times that used to be 30 minutes are now 3 hours. Reservations that were available same-day now book out weeks in advance.

But here’s the good news: every single restaurant is real, and you can visit them. This guide covers all 36 restaurants from both White Spoon and Black Spoon chefs, complete with locations, cuisine types, and — most importantly — how to actually get a table.

Before You Go: The Reservation Reality

Let’s be honest about what you’re walking into. The show’s popularity has created a restaurant boom unlike anything Seoul has seen:

• Napoli Matfia’s Via Toledo went from a quiet pasta bar to a 4-hour wait overnight
• Doryang (Iron Bag Chef) now has lines wrapping around the block in Seochon
• Several restaurants have switched to app-only reservations — no walk-ins accepted

How to Get a Table

App-based reservations are now the standard for many of these restaurants. The two apps you need:

App	How It Works	Best For
Catch Table (캐치테이블)	Real-time reservation system, English UI available	Fine dining, White Spoon restaurants
Naver Reservation (네이버 예약)	Book through Naver Map restaurant pages	Casual dining, Black Spoon restaurants

Pro tips:

• Reservations typically open 2–4 weeks in advance at a specific time (often 11 AM KST). Set an alarm.
• Weekday lunch is your best bet — weekday dinner and all weekend slots fill up within minutes
• Some restaurants release same-day cancellation slots in the morning — check the app around 9–10 AM
• If an app shows “fully booked,” keep refreshing — cancellations happen frequently
• A few restaurants still accept walk-ins with a waitlist — arrive before opening for the shortest wait

White Spoon Chefs: The Fine Dining Masters

White Spoon chefs are the established elite — Michelin stars, James Beard nominations, decades of classical training. Their restaurants are where you go for a special occasion.

Judge: Ahn Sung-jae (안성재)

Mosu Seoul — The head judge’s flagship restaurant. Two Michelin stars. Modern Korean fine dining that reinterprets traditional ingredients through contemporary techniques. Tasting menu only, starting around ₩200,000+. Reservations are extremely difficult — book at least a month ahead via Catch Table.

📍 서울 용산구 회나무로41길 4

Choi Hyun-seok (최현석)

Arguably Korea’s most famous TV chef, Choi runs two restaurants:

• Dalia Dining — Italian fine dining in Gangnam. Known for handmade pasta and bold flavors.
• Choi. — Modern European cuisine. More experimental, tasting-menu focused.

📍 Dalia: 서울 강남구 도산대로45길 14
📍 Choi.: 서울 강남구 도산대로 457

Yeo Kyung-rae (여경래)

Hong Bo Gak — High-end Chinese cuisine that elevates traditional techniques. One of the best Chinese restaurants in Korea. Expect refined dim sum, Peking duck, and seasonal specialties.

📍 서울 강남구 봉은사로 130

Choi Kang-rok (최강록)

Neo — Modern Korean cuisine in Songpa-gu. Creative reinterpretations of Korean classics with meticulous plating. Tasting menu format.

📍 서울 송파구 삼전로12길 4

Joseph Lidgerwood (조셉 리저우드)

Evett — Modern Korean-Australian fusion. One Michelin star. Lidgerwood uses Korean ingredients in unexpected ways, drawing from his Australian background. One of the most unique dining experiences in Seoul.

📍 서울 강남구 도산대로45길 10-5

Park Jun-woo (박준우)

Café Au Petit Beurre — A charming French café in the Seochon neighborhood near Gyeongbokgung. More accessible than most White Spoon spots — think perfect croissants, French pastries, and café culture. Great for a daytime visit.

📍 서울 종로구 자하문로 47-1

Jung Ji-sun (정지선)

Tien Mi Mi — Upscale Chinese cuisine in Seocho. Known for refined Cantonese and Sichuan dishes. Less crowded than some of the show’s bigger names — a good choice if other spots are booked.

📍 서울 서초구 서초동 13222-4

Oh Se-deuk (오세득)

Chinmil Jeju — Located in Jeju Island, not Seoul. Modern Korean cuisine using Jeju’s local ingredients. Worth the trip if you’re visiting Jeju — the island’s produce and seafood are on another level.

📍 제주 제주시 조천읍 남조로 1781

Kim Do-yoon (김도윤)

Yun Seoul — Modern Korean fine dining in Gangnam. Elegant, refined, and seasonal. Tasting menu with Korean ingredients prepared with French techniques.

📍 서울 강남구 선릉로 805

Jang Ho-jun (장호준)

The Negi (green onion) specialist runs two restaurants:

• Negi Live — Casual Japanese-Korean in Seongsu. The more accessible option.
• Negi Dining Lounge — Fine dining version in Gangnam. Omakase-style courses.

📍 Negi Live: 서울 성동구 성수이로 97
📍 Negi Dining Lounge: 서울 강남구 도산대로15길 18

Hwang Jin-sun (황진선)

Jinjin — Chinese cuisine in Mapo. A veteran chef known for bold, authentic Chinese flavors. Less pretentious than Gangnam fine dining — hearty portions and genuine skill.

📍 서울 마포구 월드컵북로1길 60

Choi Ji-hyung (최지형)

Lee Bukbang — Korean Northern-style cuisine near Mapo Station. Specializes in North Korean-style dishes rarely found elsewhere in Seoul. A fascinating culinary experience.

📍 서울 마포구 마포대로1길 16

Other White Spoon Chefs

• Localit by Nam Jung-seok — Farm-to-table in Seongsu (서울 성동구 한림말길 33)
• Fabry Kitchen by Fabry — Italian in Yongsan (서울 용산구 한강대로15길 23-6)
• Touch the Sky by Cho Eun-ju — French fine dining at 63 Building, Yeouido (서울 영등포구 여의도동 63로 50)
• Gitdeun by Bang Gi-su — Korean in Gangbuk (서울 강북구 월계로7나길 46-5)
• Morino Aruyo by Kim Seung-min — Japanese in Jeju (제주 제주시 애월읍 하소로 769-58)
• Gamae by Ahn Yu-sung — Korean in Gwangju (광주광역시 서구 상무대로 1104-26)

Black Spoon Chefs: The Underdogs Who Stole the Show

Black Spoon chefs don’t have Michelin stars or culinary school diplomas. What they have is hustle, creativity, and food that punches way above its price point. These are the restaurants where you eat like a local — and where the show’s biggest surprise moments came from.

Napoli Matfia — 권성준

Via Toledo Pasta Bar — The show’s breakout star. Fresh pasta made with Italian techniques in a tiny Yongsan space. Before the show, you could walk in. Now? App reservation only via Catch Table. Slots open 2 weeks ahead and sell out in seconds.

📍 서울 용산구 원효로83길 7-2

Triple Star (트리플스타)

Trid — Modern French cuisine in Gangnam. One of the more upscale Black Spoon restaurants. Elegant plating, creative courses. Reservations recommended via Catch Table.

📍 서울 강남구 선릉로162길 16

Hidden Genius (히든천재)

Fono Buono — Italian pasta in Apgujeong. Handmade pasta with premium ingredients. Small space, intimate atmosphere. Book ahead.

📍 서울 강남구 도산대로45길 8-7

Iron Bag Chef (철가방 요리사)

Doryang — Chinese cuisine in Seochon (next to Gyeongbokgung). One of the most viral restaurants from the show. The chef’s humble backstory and incredible wok skills made him a fan favorite. Expect long waits — arrive early or try weekday lunch. Walk-in waitlist available.

📍 서울 종로구 자하문로6길 6

Meat Gangster (고기깡패)

Gunmong — Steak and BBQ in Hannam-dong. Premium cuts cooked with precision. The Hannam-dong location means a trendy, upscale-casual atmosphere. Reservations via Naver.

📍 서울 용산구 한남대로27가길 15

Business Genius (장사천재 조사장)

Euljiro Boseok — Japanese sashimi in Euljiro. The “Business Genius” nickname comes from the chef’s sharp business mind. Fresh fish, no-frills presentation. Located in Seoul’s gritty-chic Euljiro district.

📍 서울 중구 마른내로 11-10

Other Black Spoon Chefs

• Kibo Edamame by Gangwi (간귀) — Japanese in Yongsan (서울 용산구 한강대로76길 11-40)
• Buto by Celeb’s Chef (셀럽의 셰프) — Korean bar in Hannam (서울 용산구 한남대로27가길 32)
• Yakitori Muk by Yakitori King (야키토리왕) — Yakitori omakase in Mapo (서울 마포구 성미산로 165-1)
• Jogwang 201 by Manchitnam (만찢남) — Chinese in Songpa (서울 송파구 새말로8길 13)
• Mamari Market by Banchan Chef (반찬 셰프) — Korean banchan in Seongsu (서울 성동구 연무장18길 16)
• Namyoungtalk by Youngtalk (영탉) — Fried chicken in Yongsan (서울 용산구 한강대로80길 12)
• Bonyeon by One Two Three (원투쓰리) — French course in Gangnam (서울 강남구 논현로 742)
• Now Namyeong by Kitchen Gangster (키친갱스터) — Italian in Yongsan (서울 용산구 원효로89길 23)
• Escondido by Korean Taco King (코리안 타코킹) — Mexican-Korean fusion in Hannam (서울 용산구 한남대로20길 61-7)
• Deepin Oksu by Cooking Madman (요리하는 돌아이) — French pastry in Oksu (서울 성동구 독서당로 194)

Practical Tips for Restaurant Hopping

Budget Guide

Category	Price Range (per person)	Notes
White Spoon fine dining	₩100,000–₩300,000+	Tasting menus, wine pairing extra
White Spoon casual	₩20,000–₩50,000	Cafés, lunch sets
Black Spoon restaurants	₩15,000–₩40,000	Best value for quality
Black Spoon casual	₩8,000–₩20,000	Fried chicken, banchan, street-style

Best Areas to Cluster Your Visits

Several restaurants are concentrated in the same neighborhoods:

• Hannam-dong / Yongsan: Gunmong, Buto, Escondido, Via Toledo, Fabry Kitchen — walkable circuit
• Gangnam / Apgujeong: Dalia Dining, Choi., Evett, Fono Buono, Negi Dining Lounge, Trid — fine dining row
• Seongsu-dong: Negi Live, Localit, Mamari Market — trendy neighborhood, great for a full day out
• Seochon / Jongno: Café Au Petit Beurre, Doryang — near Gyeongbokgung, combine with sightseeing

What to Know Before You Go

1. Most restaurants are closed on Mondays. Check ahead — this applies to both fine dining and casual spots

2. Lunch is significantly cheaper at fine dining restaurants. Many White Spoon spots offer lunch courses at 40–60% of dinner prices.

3. Solo diners are welcome at most places, especially counter/bar seating. Don’t hesitate to go alone.

4. Credit cards are accepted everywhere. No need to carry cash for these restaurants.

5. Google Maps works, but Naver Map is more accurate for Korean restaurant locations and includes real-time wait information.

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Visited any of these restaurants? Share your experience in the comments below!