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Culinary Class Wars 2 – Top Chefs & Restaurants in Korea

Jane Moon

When Culinary Class Wars 2 hit our screens on Netflix, foodies across the nation knew dinner plans were about to change. The sequel to last year’s sleeper hit didn’t just turn up the heat… it came back full inferno, with higher stakes, sharper knives, and chefs who wield as much charisma as they do skill. On days the new episodes came out, I was that person power-walking home from work, clocking out at 5 p.m. sharp just to catch the latest showdown live. Because let’s be honest, with those cliffhanger endings and mystery ingredient reveals, who could possibly wait until the rerun?

And now, those fiery chefs have stepped out of the studio kitchen and back into their real ones, with restaurants that are as talked-about as their on-screen feuds. But fair warning… getting a seat at these spots is almost as tough as snagging a BTS concert ticket, so sharpen your reservation skills and let’s dive in.

▷Book Michelin-level dining in Korea, no Korean needed!◁

White Spoons

1. Son Jong-won

Son Jong-won, the gentle-looking heartthrob of the season, won over viewers faster than his soufflé could rise. With an easygoing smile that could melt butter (and hearts), he became the season’s unexpected fan favorite. Ever calm under pressure, his mix of quiet confidence, warm teamwork, and effortless plating made even rival chefs root for him.

a) Eatanic Garden

  • Address: 36th floor, Joseon Palace, 231 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Wed-Sun 12:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) (Mon, Tues Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Yeoksam Station (Line 2) Exit 8
  • Recommended Menu: Lunch (250,000 KRW), Dinner (370,000 KRW)

Eatanic Garden is Son Jong-won’s modern Korean playground in the sky, perched high above Gangnam with floor-to-ceiling views that make Seoul look like part of the plating. It’s a polished fine-dining garden of tasting courses where seasonal Korean ingredients are reimagined into story-driven dishes, each course unfolding like another chapter in his quietly romantic food philosophy. Expect nature-inspired presentations, a calm, almost cocoon-like atmosphere, and a meal that feels less like dinner and more like being personally guided through his culinary universe.

Activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

b) L’Amant Secret

  • Address: 26th floor, L’Escape Hotel, 67 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 12:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) (Sun, Mon Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Hoehyeon Station (Line 4) Exit 6
  • Recommended Menu: Chef’s Tasting Lunch (170,000 KRW), Chef’s Tasting Dinner (270,000 KRW)

L’Amant Secret is Chef Son’s moodier, more intimate side, a dimly lit hideout that feels like a whispered secret shared only with those in the know. If Eatanic Garden is his love letter to nature, this is his late-night postcard from Paris and Seoul combined, with dishes that flirt between classic romance and sleek modernity. It’s the kind of place where you linger over beautifully composed plates, low conversation, and that signature heart-melting smile whenever the chef steps out of the kitchen. Plus, it’s got a Michelin star, so you know you’re getting only the best of the best.

Activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

2. Sam Kim

 

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Sam Kim brings pure “my favorite TV chef” energy to the show, the kind of comforting presence that makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. With his easy laugh, toothy smile, dad-joke humor, and warm, encouraging way of talking to other chefs, he turned every high-pressure cook-off into something that felt strangely homey.

a) Trattoria Sam Kim

  • Address: 2nd floor, 10-3, Dosandaero 49-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) (Last Order 20:00) (Sun Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Suin-bundang Line) Exit 5
  • Recommended Menu: Lunch Pasta Course (85,000 KRW), Lunch Chef’s Tasting Course (105,000 KRW), Light Dinner Tasting Course (149,000 KRW), Dinner Chef’s Tasting Course (189,000 KRW)

 

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Trattoria Sam Kim is exactly what you’d expect from him… warm, relaxed, and just a little bit addictive. It’s his cozy ode to Italian home cooking, with generous bowls of pasta, rustic mains, and just enough chef-y flair to remind you a TV star is behind the stove. Think big flavors, unpretentious plates, and an atmosphere that feels less like a restaurant and more like being invited to your favorite Italian uncle’s living room for dinner.

Activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

b) Osteria Sam Kim

  • Address: 2nd floor, A-dong, 55 Yanghwa-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) (Last Order 21:30) (Sun Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Hapjeong Station (Lines 2 and 6) Exit 8
  • Recommended Menu: White Fish & Anchovy Oil Pasta (23,000 KRW), Oxtail Ragu Tagliatelle (23,000 KRW), Octopus & Garlic Scape Spaghettini (25,000 KRW)

 

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Osteria Sam Kim is Trattoria’s warmth dialed into something a touch more refined, with marbled tabletops, an impressive wine selection, and plates that whisper “date night” without shouting it. It’s where Chef Sam’s TV charm shines through in every handmade pasta twirl, and perfectly seared steak, all served in a sleek space that balances neighborhood coziness with just enough polish to make you feel special. Get ready to come hungry and leave happy!

Activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

3. Kim Hee-eun

Kim Hee-eun stormed the show like a force of nature, the unapologetic queen who faced each challenge head-on with razor-sharp precision and zero tolerance for nonsense. Her cooking style is pure poetry in motion: always poised and elegant, moving through the kitchen like a dancer with a knife, every chop and swirl deliberate yet effortless. Her no-holds-barred intensity, paired with those flawless knife skills and bold flavor risks, had viewers cheering her on as the season’s fierce underdog-turned-triumph. She wasn’t just cooking; she was commanding the kitchen, turning doubters into devotees one perfectly executed dish at a time.

a) Soul Dining

  • Address: B1, Banahill, 35 Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Thurs-Mon 12:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) (Tues, Thurs Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) Exit 2
  • Recommended Menu: Lunch Course (170,000 KRW), Soul Dinner (270,000 KRW)

Soul Dining is Chef Kim Hee-un’s elegant canvas for soul-stirring Korean cuisine, a serene haven with a prestigious Michelin one-star rating, where tradition meets her signature poise in every meticulously plated dish. Here, seasonal ingredients transform into refined tasting menus that balance bold umami depths with delicate, artistic presentations, all served in an intimate space that feels like a private gallery opening. It’s the perfect stage for her balletic precision, where each course tells a story of heritage reimagined with contemporary grace.

b) Egg and Flour

  • Address: 2nd floor, 35 Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-17:30) (Last Order 21:00)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) Exit 2
  • Recommended Menu: Red Shrimp & Squid Ink Capellini (30,000 KRW), Homemade Ricotta Platter (20,000 KRW)

Egg & Flour is Chef Hee-un’s fresh pasta paradise, a cozy sanctuary where her poised elegance crafts egg-rich noodles that are springy, luxurious, and bursting with Italian-Korean fusion flair. Teamed up with her husband, Chef Yoon Dae-hyun, it’s all about approachable luxury. Handmade pastas paired with vibrant sauces like shrimp-head reductions or seasonal twists have earned a spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand for three years running. Slip in for lunch or dinner in this inviting spot and let her balletic precision turn simple ingredients into your new obsession.

Food-related activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

4. Kim Sung-won

Chef Kim Sung-won brought coastal swagger to the show, proudly repping his Taean hometown like it was the secret ingredient to every win. Hailing from that sun-soaked peninsula, he’d weave tales of its pristine shores and fresh hauls into his dishes, sourcing sea bounty straight from there to stun judges with hyper-local flavors. His bold, prideful energy (along with his lusciously silky-smooth hair) turned humble seafood into showstoppers, making him a chef everyone couldn’t stop cheering for.

Table for Four

  • Address: 5th floor, 25-12 Daesagwan-ro 31-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-22:00 (Breaktime 15:00-18:00) 
  • Nearby Subway Station: Hannam Station (Gyeongui-jungang Line) Exit 1
  • Recommended Menu: Lunch Course (150,000 KRW), Dinner Course (250,000 KRW)
Table for Four is Chef Sung-won’s intimate seafood haven, where the Taean peninsula’s freshest catches take center stage in a cozy 20-seat setup that feels like dining at a fisherman’s secret table. Expect hyper-local gems like plump abalone, briny oysters, and jewel-toned sea bream, all transformed with his bold, prideful touch into tasting menus that highlight pristine simplicity and coastal soul. It’s the kind of spot where every bite transports you straight to Taean’s shores. Just don’t expect walk-ins, as this table’s always in high demand.

Fun activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

5. Venerable Sunjae

 

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Venerable Sunjae captivated the judges and her fellow competitors with her decades-honed mastery of temple cuisine. As  Korea’s first officially recognized master in the field, she impressed with effortless hand movements and profound dishes, rooted in Buddhist principles of balance and seasonal veggies, earning rave reviews from the judges and landing her in the top 7. Post-show buzz revealed her star nephew, BTOB’s Lee Chang-sub, adding K-pop sparkle to her timeless wisdom and nurturing-yet-fierce vibe that won hearts worldwide.

Seonjae Temple Food Culture Research Institute

  • Address: 21-1, Hosu-ro 68beongil, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do (Kakao Maps)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Dongcheon Station (Sinbundang Line) Exit 1

 

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Seongjae Temple Food Culture Research Institute is Venerable Sunjae’s serene base in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, where she directs a haven dedicated to elevating Korean temple cuisine as both art and mindful practice. This peaceful retreat channels her mastery into hands-on experiences, workshops, and refined tasting menus built on seasonal vegetables, natural ferments, and Buddhist principles of harmony, all without a drop of meat or excess. It’s less a restaurant and more a cultural immersion, where her effortless techniques from the show come alive in dishes that nourish the body and soul.

▷Disconnect, reflect, and recharge at a temple stay◁

6. Jeong Ho-young

Chef Jeong Ho-young lit up the show with his infectious showmanship, but if you’re a fan of the show “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator”, you may already knew him as the king of fun dish intros, including dancing the samba, nailing aespa’s “Supernova” choreography, or popping off to BLACKPINK’s “Jump” just to unveil a dish’s name with flair. Beneath that playful exterior lay a seriously skilled hand and a calm, focused demeanor on the show, where his precise technique shone through in every composed plate. He’s proof that showbiz spark paired with quiet mastery makes for unforgettable TV.

Caden

  • Address: 2nd floor, Geohwa Building, 173 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Kakao Maps)
  • Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 11:30-22:00 (Sun, Mon Off)
  • Nearby Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2) Exit 3
  • Recommended Menu: Assorted Sashimi (65,000 KRW), Goat & Abalone (28,000 KRW), Chicken & Scallop Dumplings (25,000 KRW), Jeju Black Pork Ribs (32,000)

 

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Izakaya Caden is Chef Jeong Hoyoung’s lively after-dark outpost in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, where his calm precision meets boozy Japanese small-plate magic in a wood-paneled den perfect for lingering. Dive into generous 14-kind sashimi platters, crispy Jeju silver hairtail or golden threadfin bream stews, razor clam stir-fries, and addictive mentaiko onigiri, all at prices that punch way above their weight for the quality. It’s the spot to channel his show focus with soju shots and shareable bites, earning raves as a hidden gem for value-driven izakaya vibes that keep groups coming back.

Activities to enjoy in the vicinity:

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