The Black and White Chef restaurants in Seoul are spread across Seongsu, Hongdae, Gangnam, Apgujeong, Euljiro and several other neighborhoods, and most of the popular ones need an app reservation. "Black and White Chef" is the Korean title of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars, and the list below groups the named restaurants by area, with booking rules for each. No official VisitKorea page for this list could be found, so everything here comes from commercial travel and news sites, some dating from late 2024. Treat details as unconfirmed and check before you go.
Quick facts
- Hours: Vary by restaurant. Only a few are known: Choi Dot lists 12:00-22:00 with a 15:00-18:00 break, and Jeo Jeo is open 10:00-15:00. Check each restaurant's Naver Maps or Catch Table page for current hours.
- Price: Mostly unconfirmed. No 2026 prices were found. Some places charge booking deposits (listed below).
- Location: Across Seoul, including Seongsu (성수), Hongdae (홍대), Gangnam (강남), Apgujeong (압구정), Euljiro (을지로), Myeongdong (명동) and Yongsan (용산).
- Nearest station: Rarely given in the sources. The one lead is Apgujeong Rodeo Station (압구정로데오) on the Suin-Bundang Line for Choi Dot, exit 3 or 5 depending on the address, which is unconfirmed.
What is Black and White Chef?
The show pits 80 "Black Spoon" chefs, who are unknown, against 20 "White Spoon" chefs, who are stars. Fans now visit the participants' restaurants in Seoul. For background, see this Netflix Culinary Class Wars restaurant guide. Season 2 aired in early 2026, so restaurants of its chefs may have new waitlists.
Restaurants by area
Seongsu
- Central Reducer: Choi Hyun-seok's Italian-Chinese fusion place. Book through the Naver app for 1-4 people, or Catch Table for 5 or more people, which takes a KRW 10,000 deposit.
- Bangasil Yeontangui: Pork BBQ, open late. Phone 02-498-1994.
- Salt House Deli: Sandwiches and deli food, with branches in Seongsu, Anguk (안국) and Mangwon (망원). Booking is same-day only through the Tabling app.
Hongdae and Yeonnam
- Leebukbang: North Korean food by Choi Ji-hyung. Catch Table requires a KRW 20,000 deposit per person. Bookings open daily at midnight, up to 14 days ahead. Drinks are required at lunch and alcohol in the evening.
- Manuel Jip: Garlic chicken, walk-in only.
- Tian Mi Mi: Has branches in Hongdae and Gangnam.
- Yakitori Mook: In Yeonnam (연남).
Gangnam, Apgujeong and Cheongdam
The Sinsa/Apgujeong area is nicknamed the "Black and White Zone" because of how many participant restaurants it holds.
- Choi Dot: Dosan-daero 457, Apgujeong. Hours are listed as 12:00-22:00 with a 15:00-18:00 break, but this comes from one source only.
- PONO BUONO: Italian, near Dosan Park (도산공원). Catch Table requires a KRW 30,000 deposit per person. Bookings open daily at 12:00, up to 30 days ahead. A wine order is required for a table.
- Sav Seoul: French. Catch Table bookings for the next month open on the 10th, and weekdays are easier.
- Trid: In Cheongdam (청담).
- Tian Mi Mi: Also has a Gangnam branch.
Itaewon, Hannam and Yongsan
- Mimiok: Shabu-shabu in Sinyongsan/Itaewon (신용산/이태원). Catch Table bookings open at midnight on the 1st and 15th of each month.
- Table Four Four: Italian by Kim Sung-woon, in Hannam-dong (한남동).
- BUTO: Also in Hannam.
- Fabry Kitchen: In Yongsan.
- Yongridan-gil and Haebangchon (용리단길, 해방촌): These Yongsan streets also have participant restaurants, including Kim Hoon's.
Euljiro and Myeongdong
- Jeo Jeo: Pho, walk-in only, 10:00-15:00. It may close early if ingredients run out, so go early.
- Euljiro Boseok: Also in Euljiro.
- The Siot: Italian, known for truffle pasta, in Myeongdong (명동). Book by Catch Table or Naver.
Songpa and other names
- Cho Kwang 101 and Cho Kwang 201: Sichuan and Asian tapas by Cho Kwang-hyo, in Songpa (송파).
- Lee Mi-ryeong ("Auntie Omakase"): Runs Joyful Drinking Table, about 40 small plates over two hours for KRW 50,000 (a 2024 figure, so confirm the current price). She also runs Andongjip Son Kalguksi, a noodle shop that one source priced at about US$6, with no KRW price given.
- Yun Seoul (1 Michelin star) and Myeon Seoul by Kim Doyoon.
- Via Toledo Pasta Bar is also on the list, with no area given in the sources.
How to get there
- Pick a restaurant from the list above and note its area.
- Search the restaurant's name on Naver Maps and confirm that it is still open, along with its current hours and address.
- Check how it takes bookings: Catch Table, Naver, Tabling, phone, or walk-in only.
- Book at the exact time slots open, using the release rules above.
- Use Naver Maps to find the nearest subway station and exit. The sources rarely gave exits, so rely on the map rather than the list here.
- For walk-in places such as Jeo Jeo and Manuel Jip, arrive early. Jeo Jeo can close before 15:00 if ingredients run out.
Booking tips
Most places use the Catch Table, Naver or Tabling apps, and popular ones fill within minutes of release. Weekday visits are easier. The Chosun Palace hotel restaurants (Eatanic Garden and L'Amant Secret) reportedly sold out within five minutes of monthly bookings opening. Foreign visitors may need a Korean phone number for some apps, but this is unconfirmed, so test the sign-up before your trip. A second list is available at Middle Class Sg's Culinary Class Wars restaurant roundup for cross-checking names.
FAQ
Is there an official list of Black and White Chef restaurants?
No official VisitKorea page was found. The names here come from commercial travel and news sites, and several date from late 2024, so some details may be out of date.
Can I walk in without a reservation?
Only at some places. Jeo Jeo and Manuel Jip are walk-in only. Others use apps, and Salt House Deli takes same-day bookings only through Tabling.
How much does it cost?
Prices were rarely given and no 2026 prices were found. Known figures are booking deposits of KRW 10,000 (Central Reducer, groups of 5 or more), KRW 20,000 per person (Leebukbang) and KRW 30,000 per person (PONO BUONO), plus a 2024 figure of KRW 50,000 for Joyful Drinking Table. Confirm all of them on the booking page.
Which area is best for visiting several restaurants?
The Sinsa/Apgujeong "Black and White Zone" is the best-known cluster. Seongsu and Hongdae also hold several named places each.
Sources: NOL World · Middle Class SG · Women's Weekly Singapore · TenAsia
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