All The Standout Contestants From ‘Culinary Class Wars’ So Far, And Where They Are Now
These chefs cooked, served and ate.
By Nicole Ng and Larissa Wong - published
Not over Culinary Class Wars 2 yet? Neither are we. Dropping mid-December last year following the immense success of season one, the second edition saw the stakes being ramped up with the return of crowd-favourite challenges like the team battle and Infinite Cooking Hell, as well as the introduction of new ones such as the gripping one-on-one face-offs with their former teammates.
While we wait patiently for more details on Culinary Class Wars 3 to be revealed, here’s your one-stop-shop for all the most notable chefs on Culinary Class Wars 1 and 2.
Related article: ‘Culinary Class Wars’ Season 2: We Break Down Everything That Happened From Episodes 1 - 13
Season Two
1. Choi Kang Rok
Choi Kang Rok is known by many names: Lord of Braising, Serial Braiser, Sloth and Roi Choi, his Instagram handle. While the winner of Culinary Class Wars 2 and Masterchef Korea 2 is a certified cooking pro, his introverted nature and awkward charm play an equal part in gaining him a loyal pool of stans. This includes Culinary Class Wars’ judge Anh Sung Jae, by the way.
Unlike many chefs that have been on both shows, Choi Kang-rok does not have his own restaurant at the moment, but you can keep up with him on programmes like Please Take Care Of My Refrigerator and Blank Menu on Netflix and the YouTube series ‘Food Otaku’.
2. Hou Deok Juk
How could we leave Hou Deok Juk out of this list? The veteran chef now heads Haobin, a Chinese restaurant at Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, and received a mentor chef award from Michelin in 2024, but he had humble beginnings. He started out at a grilling joint at a hotel in the 1960s when he was 21, and worked his way up to The Shilla Seoul’s Chinese restaurant Palsun, where he introduced the classic Chinese dish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (a type of shark fin soup), which was recognised by then Chinese President Jiang Zemin as being better than the food back home.
3. Jung Ho Young
Did you know that Jung Ho Young was Choi Kang-rok’s senior at Tsuji Culinary Institute, a respected culinary school in Japan? This coincidental detail was revealed in an episode of Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, where both chefs are recurring guests. He revealed on South Korean variety show Problem Child in House that he regretted turning down the opportunity to appear on season one of Culinary Class Wars after seeing it become a smash hit, and expressed the desire to face off Chef Choi again soon. Chef Jung is currently the owner-chef of Udon Caden, a udon and izakaya joint.
4. Venerable Sunjae
Who knew vegetables like burdock root could be cooked and served in so many ways, all without the help of aromatics like garlic? Venerable Sunjae proved that the simplest of foods can produce winning dishes time and time again till she was eliminated in the Infinite Cooking Hell challenge. Her calm and kind nature belies the fact that she has been through hardships such as suffering a serious liver disease when she was younger that left her unable to get up or walk for longer than 10 minutes. She shared on a Korean TV programme a few years ago that changing her diet and having carrot juice (to help her eyes, heart and liver) mixed with the liquid that comes with kimchi as suggested by another monk helped her pull through this period, and that was when she realised the power of traditional fermented foods. What a G.
5. Son Jong Won
You already knew this one was coming. The two Michelin-starred head of Seoul-based fine-dining restaurants L’Amant Secret and Eatanic Garden quickly became a fan favourite on Culinary Class Wars as well as on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator for reasons like his quiet confidence and cooking chops, but his path wasn’t always in the culinary arts—he was formerly an engineering student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology before quitting to enrol in the Culinary Institute of America. When Son Jong Won is not cooking up a storm at one of his two restaurants, the chef indulges in his hobbies, such as Crossfit, enjoying his morning coffee and reading classics like Love in the Time of Cholera and The Catcher in the Rye.
Related article: “I Never Want to Forget Why I Cook”: Culinary Class Wars’ Son Jong-Won On Creating From The Heart
6. Kim Hee Eun
Soul, the restaurant Kim Hee Eun runs with her husband Yoon Dae Hyun, may have a Michelin star, but her beginnings as a chef were difficult. Born to a family of artists, Chef Kim’s dream of becoming a chef was opposed four times by her father before she left home at 20 years old with nothing but about $250, living on two kimbap (seaweed rice rolls) over three days. To this day, kimbap remains a comfort food for the chef and has a special place in her heart, which is part of the reason why she was game to collaborate on the kimbap dishes with Venerable Sunjae in the team challenge.
7. Sam Kim
Sam Kim is well-loved for his helpful and easy-going personality with a dash of sass, frequently dropping his tasks to help his teammates even in the middle of a competition. A veteran on Korean culinary entertainment programmes just like season one’s Choi Hyun Suk, Kim revealed on judge Anh Sung-jae’s channel that pairing up with fellow Please Take Care of My Refrigerator cast mate Jung Ho Young for the second team challenge helped them get on much closer terms, despite him losing during the face-off. The chef currently runs Trattoria Sam Kim and Osteria Sam Kim, restaurants serving authentic Italian dishes.
8. Culinary Monster (Lee Ha Sung)
We knew Culinary Monster (Lee Ha Sung) was one to watch as soon as he presented his porridge dish for the Black Spoon Elimination round and won with Chef Anh as his judge. While his confidence in his skills drew some flack from fans of the show, it wasn’t exactly misplaced. The finalist is acknowledged even by the White Spoon chefs to be exceptionally talented, and played a major role in getting New York City-based Atomix get its Michelin stars. In a recent interview with Netflix Korea, he revealed behind-the-scene details like how his close friend and season one’s Black Spoon chef Hidden Genius recommended that he joined the show to improve himself, and how he is finalising the construction of his very own restaurant, Oyatte, which should open in March.
9. Brewmaster Yun (Yun Na Ra)
Brewmaster Yun (Yun Na Ra) is another fan favourite many were rooting for before she was eliminated in the Infinite Cooking Hell challenge. A big believer in working steadily and keeping to what she was good at (brewing alcohol and Korean cuisine), this carried her far into the game, consistently impressing judges with her simple yet flavourful dishes. She runs Yunjudang, a cosy traditional-style tavern in Seoul that has drawn celebrity guests like GOT7’s Park Jin Young and actress Park Bo Young.
10. Rebellious Genius (Lee Chan Yang)
Imagine challenging your head chef and winning. In the Blind Tasting challenge, Rebellious Genius (Lee Chan Yang) won over his former head chef at Soigne, Lee Jun, and caught the judges’ (and the audience’s) attention for his quirky approach to cooking. Today, he heads Original Numbers, a French fine-dining restaurant operating under Soigne.
11. Witch with a Wok (Lee Moon Jang)
One of Black Spoon team’s MVPs when it came to the first team challenge? Witch with a Wok (Lee Moon Jang). The chef at Grand Walkerhill Seoul impressed both her teammates and judges with her chicken deboning technique, and upset many fans when she was ousted during the elimination round. With her witchy persona and fast hands, the underrated chef was basically aura farming the entire time she was on screen.
12. Barbeque Lab Director (Yoo Yong Wook)
Would you quit your comfy white collar job to start your own restaurant? We know one man who took the plunge and slayed. Barbeque Lab Director (Yoo Yong Wook) now runs IMOK Smoke Dining, a popular Seoul-based restaurant specialising in tender brisket dishes. From feeling like he didn’t deserve to call himself a chef yet to becoming one of the three aces from the Black Spoon team and pulling off perfectly cooked veal after a crisis, we’d say he more than deserves the title of chef.
Season One
13. Edward Lee
Edward Lee, the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of Culinary Class Wars, as many fans would remember him by on social media. He’s no stranger to success, having won a James Beard Award, one of the most celebrated accolades a chef can achieve. He came in as one of the most high-profile White Spoon competitors and is best known for blending Korean flavours with Southern American foods. He ended up placing second behind Napoli Mafia and post-show, he continues his work at his restaurants like SHIA, 610 Magnolia and Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse—he also appears on variety shows every now and then.
14. Choi Hyun Seok
Choi Hyun Seok was probably one of the most well-known among the contestants on season one. He’s especially skilled in Italian cuisine and appeared on variety shows like Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, Law of the Jungle and his own series, Chef Choi Hyun-seok’s Crazy Time—all before Culinary Class Wars. He currently still works as head chef at Choi Dot and runs restaurants Central Reducer and Dahlia Dining.
15. Jung Jisun
Jung Jisun, also known as the “Queen of Dim Sum”, came in confident to season one. She specialises in Korean-Chinese cuisine and her creative techniques and unconventional blends of flavours. Post-show, she continues to run both branches of her restaurant, Tian Mi Mi.
16. Lu Ching Lai
Lu Ching Lai was arguably the most celebrated White Spoon Chef of season one. He’s best known for his mastery in Korean-Chinese cuisine, president of the Korea Chinese Cuisine Association and vice president of the World Chinese Cuisine Association. He’s had over 50 years of experience, and while he did not make it to the finals, he still remains one of the most respected chefs in Korea.
17. Napoli Matfia (Kwon Sung Jun)
Napoli Matfia, also known as Kwon Sung Jun, entered as a Black Spoon competitor and stood out from the get-go with his creative takes on Italian cuisine inspired by Naples, his technical precision and his bold flavours. In particular, he impressed judges with his chestnut tiramisu made from convenience store ingredients and ultimately won the competition with his lamb dish in the finale. Following his win, he continues to work at his own Italian restaurant, Via Toledo Pasta Bar.
18. Triple Star (Kang Seung Won)
Triple Star, whose real name is Kang Seung Won or Scott Kang, was best known on season one for his discipline, confidence, and fine-dining technical skills and presentation. His nickname was inspired by his Michelin-star pedigree, and throughout the show, he was seen as a formidable frontrunner. He ended up placing third, behind Edward Lee and Napoli Matfia. He now works at his own restaurant, Trid Seoul.
19. Self-made Chef (Lim Tae Hoon)
Self-made Chef, aka Lim Tae Hoon, stood out as an exceptionally determined underdog who built his career from the ground up without formal fine-dining training, unlike most of the contestants on Culinary Class Wars. He impressed the judges and viewers with his unique dishes rooted in his creativity rather than classical technique. Post-show, his restaurant, Doryang 도량 serving his famous dongpo pork and other hits, is now a must-visit destination in Seoul.
20. Comic Book Chef (Cho Kwang Hyo)
Comic Book Chef, Cho Kwang Hyo, is arguably one of the most imaginative chefs to have been on Culinary Class Wars ever—not to mention he’s self-taught as well! Just like his stage name, Chef Cho’s dishes on the show were inspired by a torn-out page from his Japanese anime comics. His quirky personality and playful approach made him one of the show’s most memorable contestants. He now operates two namesake restaurants in Seoul, Cho Kwang 101 and Cho Kwang 20, which specialise in experimental tapas and Sichuan cuisine, respectively.
21. Auntie Omakase (Lee Mi Ryeong)
Auntie Omakase, whose real name is Chef Lee Mi Ryeong, is Culinary Class Wars’ most humble contestant. On season one, the hanbok-wearing chef charmed viewers and judges with her warm presence and her devotion to traditional Korean cuisine. Her homestyle dishes made her a fan favourite amongst viewers even after the show, garnering hundreds of fans lining up at her restaurant, Andongjip Son Kalguksu.
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22. Goddess of Chinese Cuisine (Park Eun Young)
Goddess of Chinese Cuisine, also known as Chef Park Eun Young, was a standout Black spoon chef from the very beginning, having trained under renowned Chef Lu Chinglai for over a decade. She specialised in Korean-Chinese cuisine and is especially famous for her Dongpo pork dumplings. She currently works as an executive chef at her own restaurant, Nuwa Restaurant.