Netflix's Korean cooking competition Culinary Class Wars has been hailed by viewers as a "breath of fresh air," with fans praising its unique format, huge scale and surprisingly fair judging. The series first arrived on the streaming platform in 2024, bringing together 100 chefs from across South Korea for a fierce culinary battle in hopes of winning a huge cash prize.
A Battle of Two Classes
The contestants are split into two distinct groups: a group of 20 elite "White Spoon" chefs, made up of famous and prestigious names in the industry, and 80 "Black Spoon" chefs, who are unknown cooks with hidden talents. The ultimate winner takes home a grand prize of 300 million Korean won, which is £160,000.
The competition is overseen by South Korean restaurateur Paik Jong-won and Michelin three-star chef Anh Sung-jae of Mosu Seoul. Netflix describes the series as pitting "100 renowned chefs and undiscovered talents against each other in a culinary battle," with the judges tasked with deciding which contestants have the skills and creativity to come out on top.
Format and Reception
The class divide is made clear from the opening episode, with the 20 White Spoons positioned on a platform above the 80 Black Spoons. The White Spoons can be addressed by their real names, reflecting the respect they have earned throughout their careers, while the Black Spoons compete under self-chosen nicknames. In the first season these include Napoli Matfia, a specialist in Italian cuisine, Goddess of Chinese Cuisine and Comic Book Chef, who specialises in dishes inspired by graphic novels.
The Black Spoon contestants are effectively fighting for recognition, with only those who make it to the final round able to "shed their nickname and reveal their real name." The format proved to be extremely popular with viewers, with Culinary Class Wars making history as the first Korean unscripted series to top Netflix's Global Top 10 TV list for three consecutive weeks.
Viewer Praise and Availability
Following the conclusion of its first season in October 2024, the show returned for a second season in December 2025. Netflix has also renewed Culinary Class Wars for a third season, although an official release date has not yet been announced.
Viewers have praised the series, with many claiming it is better than MasterChef. Taking to IMDb one viewer wrote: "This is one of the best cooking competitions ever produced, it's a breath of fresh air. The concept is unique in its scale. The production value is amazing." As another said: "Far superior to any MasterChef series - anywhere." Another fan described it as "A culinary showdown that will leave you hungry for more."
A fourth viewer praised the format and production, saying: "Watching this series really was refreshing. It was a unique take on cooking competition and had me hooked. Each round of the competition differed dramatically and were surprisingly fair... The judges are quite the deal." Another fan was equally enthusiastic, writing: "I just had to rave about this show because I LOVED IT SOOOOOOOOO MUCH! Everyone needs to watch it!"
The first two seasons of Culinary Class Wars are available to stream on Netflix.
