Netflix Renews Hit Korean Cooking Show

‘Culinary Class Wars’ for a Sizzling Second Season

Vanessa Obioha

After captivating audiences worldwide with its intense kitchen battles and appealing cast of chefs, Netflix’s Korean cooking sensation Culinary Class Wars is set to return for a highly anticipated second season. Following rave reviews for its gripping format, Netflix has given the green light to continue the culinary drama.

Described as entertaining, cutthroat, and ambitious, Culinary Class Wars debuted on the streaming platform in September, bringing a unique twist to the cooking competition genre. One hundred chefs were divided into two classes: Black and White Spoons. The White Spoons represent experienced and celebrity chefs, while the Black Spoons are skilled up-and-comers — chefs and restaurateurs who were only identified by their monikers throughout the show. This setup allowed for a diverse cast of characters to take centre stage in the first episode.

Viewers were introduced to intriguing personalities like Triple Star, who dreams of winning a Michelin three-star rating, Napoli Matfia, who is skilled in Italian cooking, and Cooking Maniac, who simply can’t stop cooking. Other standout contestants included Comic Book Chef, whose dishes are inspired by comic books, and Genius Restaurateur, whose restaurants are always packed. Eccentric chefs like Chirpy, who wore a bird mask, Hidden Gem, with his elaborate hat, and King Bibim, known for his expertise in the popular Korean dish Bibimbap, added flair to the show.

For the 80 Black Spoons, the competition was a fierce battle for survival as they vied for a seat at the table. The first round saw them competing for a spot in the top 20, where they would face off against the more established White Spoons.

The judges, famous Korean restaurateur Paik Jong-won and chef Ahn Sung-Jae, who runs the country’s only Michelin three-star restaurant, Mosu Seoul, didn’t hesitate to make swift eliminations. Each dish was tasted, judged, and the fate of the chefs was determined on the spot, heightening the tension.

Subsequent episodes featured both individual and team challenges, showcasing not only the flames and flavours of the kitchen but also the business acumen required in the culinary world.

Written by Mo Eun-sol from Studio Slam and produced by  Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, Culinary Class Wars brought all the drama expected from a cooking competition but with even more heat. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger, and the carefully crafted characters keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Not all judging duties, however, were left to Paik and Ahn. Outsiders were invited to partake in the culinary battles. Some of these guest judges were familiar faces, while others were hidden. This added another layer of unpredictability.

While most cooking show productions tend to be modest, Culinary Class Wars goes beyond with challenges staged on large, theatrical sets. This gives the show a cinematic feel that often brings to mind the gripping tension of ‘Squid Game,’ another internationally acclaimed Korean series. Like ‘Squid Game,’ Culinary Class Wars keeps viewers on edge with high-stakes competitions, where both skill and strategy are put to the test.

The cooking show also made history, becoming the first Korean unscripted series to top Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list for three consecutive weeks.

“We’re delighted to announce the production of Culinary Class Wars Season 2, driven by the incredible fan response both in Korea and around the world,” said Yoo Ki-hwan, the director of content at Netflix Korea. “Bringing a show of this scale to life requires immense effort, and we’re deeply grateful for the love and enthusiasm we’ve received so far. As we continue to expand our unscripted offerings, we look forward to bringing even more distinctive and exciting shows to our audience in the near future.”

With Napoli Matfia crowned as the winner of the first season, taking home the prize money of 300 million won (approximately $225,000), viewers are anticipating a second season that would probably feature more culinary battles and larger-than-life personalities in the kitchen.