One of the hottest topics in Korea right now is
the Netflix cooking show “Black and White Spoon.”
Thanks to its overwhelming popularity,
more and more people are saying:
“I want to visit the restaurants run by the chefs on the show!”
With Season 2 having just launched,
we’ve put together an easy-to-understand guide covering:
Official Teaser Trailer | Netflix
■ What Is Black and White Spoon? 🥄
The Korean title of the show is
“흑백요리사 (Heukbaek Yorisa)”,
which literally means “Black and White Chefs.”
The show features a survival-style competition where:
“White Spoons” are famous, established star chefs
“Black Spoons” are talented but unknown chefs
They battle head-to-head, putting their pride on the line.
Black Spoon chefs are not allowed to reveal their real names.
Instead, they are known by nicknames such as:
“Triple Star”
“Iron Man”
“School Lunch Lady”
A Black Spoon chef may reveal their real name only if they survive to the end or are eliminated.
🔥 Massive Success of Season 1
Season 1 ranked #1 worldwide for three consecutive weeks
among Netflix’s non-English series (including dramas).
Its popularity sparked a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
Notable impacts of Season 1:
After much anticipation,
Season 2 finally premiered in December 2025,
with even bigger scale and higher expectations.
⚪ Judges
The intense competition is judged by two giants of Korean cuisine,
serving as judges for both Seasons 1 and 2.
👨🍳 Paik Jong-won
A household name in Korea,
Paik Jong-won is a nationally beloved food researcher and entrepreneur.
His approachable explanations are a big reason for his popularity.
👨🍳 Ahn Sung-jae
Owner-chef of MOSU,
Korea’s only Michelin three-star restaurant.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAK4fXDJ9RV/
⚪ White Spoon Chefs (Cast List)
The White Spoons are elite chefs who have already achieved fame—
Michelin-star holders, competition winners, and culinary legends.
Even in Season 2,
astonishingly big-name chefs join the competition
and showcase overwhelming skill.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DST-mxkkkoS/
🧾 White Spoon Chef List
| Lee Jun | Michelin 2★ “Soigné” Owner-Chef | Michelin-starred French cuisine rooted in Korean flavors and storytelling | https://naver.me/FCA8bpR6 |
| Song Jung-won | Michelin 1★ “L’Ami Secret”, “Eatanic Garden” Executive Chef | Sophisticated modern French cuisine with Seoul sensibility | https://naver.me/FSw7Htwp |
| Monk Songje | Korea’s pioneer of temple cuisine; former director of Korean Food Promotion Institute | — | — |
| Hu Deok-juk | Legendary Chinese chef, former Hotel Shilla “Palsun” | Authentic Cantonese cuisine blending tradition and modernity | https://naver.me/FVSYnfTp |
| Park Hyun-nam | First Korean executive chef at a five-star hotel | Currently active in education and food supervision | — |
| Jung Ho-young | Owner of “CADEN” | Handmade noodles and tempura crafted by a star chef | https://naver.me/G65tK2Oi |
| Sam Kim | Owner of “Trattoria Sam Kim”, “Osteria Sam Kim” | Italian regional cuisine focused on natural ingredients | https://naver.me/FlZnY3UW |
| Raymond Kim | Canadian-born celebrity chef | — | — |
| Lim Sung-geun | Winner of “Korean Food Battle 3” | Traditional Korean meals with gentle, deep flavors | — |
| Jenny Walden | Winner of “MasterChef Sweden” | — | — |
| Choi Yu-gang | Michelin 1★ “Kojacha” Owner-Chef | High-quality Japanese omakase in a refined setting | https://naver.me/5HrabKHB |
| Kim Hee-eun | Michelin 1★ “SOUL” Owner-Chef | Modern Korean dining engaging all five senses | https://naver.me/FdCxW0oV |
| Jung Sang-hyun | Former head chef of the Blue House (Presidential Office) | — | — |
| Shim Sung-chul | Michelin 1★ chef in New York (“KOCHI”, “Mari”) | — | — |
| Kim Geon | Michelin 1★ “Koryori Ken” Owner-Chef | Japanese-trained chef serving refined small plates | https://naver.me/5Fm1aF3u |
| Kim Sung-eun | Michelin 1★ “Table for Four” | Seasonal Italian cuisine using Taean seafood | https://naver.me/IxsqwTIE |
| Song Hoon | Judge of “MasterChef Korea 4” | — | — |
| Lee Geum-hee | First female executive chef at Mayfield Hotel | Premium Korean beef BBQ with garden views | https://naver.me/GNWk7fbv |
| Choi Kang-rok | Winner of “MasterChef Korea 2” | — | — |
| Kim Do-yoon | Owner-chef of “Yoonseoul” | Korean cuisine focused on fermentation and handmade noodles | https://naver.me/FIfsMdk6 |
※ Chefs without restaurants in Korea or without direct involvement are omitted.
Their restaurants are among the hardest to book in Korea.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRvYXgMEq5E/
⚫ Black Spoon Chefs (Cast List)
The Black Spoons are highly skilled yet lesser-known chefs—
true hidden masters.
They are called by nicknames rather than real names.
In Season 1, names like “Triple Star” and “Omakase No.1”
left strong impressions.
Their underdog spirit is incredibly inspiring.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRvR8QYktYD/
From 80 Black Spoon participants,
here is a list of those who advanced past the first stage.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert Below ⚠️
🧾 Black Spoon Chef List
Season 2 continues to be energized
by these unique and charismatic Black Spoon chefs.
Be sure to find your favorite! 👨🍳👩🍳
■ How to Enjoy the Show Even More
In Korean, the word “spoon” can also symbolize
the social class you’re born into.
This show is about overturning that fate
with pure skill and effort.
After watching,
we highly recommend going on a restaurant pilgrimage
to the chefs’ establishments.
🏷️ Travel Korea with the NAMANE Card
Navigating a new country and paying at restaurants
can be nerve-wracking.
That’s why we recommend the NAMANE Card.
NAMANE means “my own” in Korean.
You can customize it with photos and stamps,
making it a perfect travel keepsake.
◎ Why We Recommend NAMANE Card
- One card for transportation + prepaid payments
- Works on subways, buses, and taxis like T-money
- Lower fees than overseas credit cards
- Zero foreign transaction fees
- Instant cashback at major Korean franchises
- Balance protection and easy reissue if lost
- App-based balance checks and reissuance
- Safer than carrying cash
🛒 How to Get a NAMANE Card
① Buy in Advance (Before Traveling to Korea)
② Buy Locally in Korea
Check out the trending “Black and White Spoon 2”,
and make your next trip to Korea even more unforgettable!
One of the hottest topics in Korea right now is
the Netflix cooking show “Black and White Spoon.”
Thanks to its overwhelming popularity,
more and more people are saying:
“I want to visit the restaurants run by the chefs on the show!”
With Season 2 having just launched,
we’ve put together an easy-to-understand guide covering:
Culinary Class Wars: Black and White Chef
Official Teaser Trailer | Netflix
■ What Is Black and White Spoon? 🥄
The Korean title of the show is
“흑백요리사 (Heukbaek Yorisa)”,
which literally means “Black and White Chefs.”
The show features a survival-style competition where:
“White Spoons” are famous, established star chefs
“Black Spoons” are talented but unknown chefs
They battle head-to-head, putting their pride on the line.
Black Spoon chefs are not allowed to reveal their real names.
Instead, they are known by nicknames such as:
“Triple Star”
“Iron Man”
“School Lunch Lady”
A Black Spoon chef may reveal their real name only if they survive to the end or are eliminated.
🔥 Massive Success of Season 1
Season 1 ranked #1 worldwide for three consecutive weeks
among Netflix’s non-English series (including dramas).
Its popularity sparked a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
Notable impacts of Season 1:
Convenience-store recipes featured on the show were commercialized
Chefs became advertising icons almost overnight
After much anticipation,
Season 2 finally premiered in December 2025,
with even bigger scale and higher expectations.
⚪ Judges
The intense competition is judged by two giants of Korean cuisine,
serving as judges for both Seasons 1 and 2.
👨🍳 Paik Jong-won
A household name in Korea,
Paik Jong-won is a nationally beloved food researcher and entrepreneur.
His approachable explanations are a big reason for his popularity.
👨🍳 Ahn Sung-jae
Owner-chef of MOSU,
Korea’s only Michelin three-star restaurant.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAK4fXDJ9RV/
⚪ White Spoon Chefs (Cast List)
The White Spoons are elite chefs who have already achieved fame—
Michelin-star holders, competition winners, and culinary legends.
Even in Season 2,
astonishingly big-name chefs join the competition
and showcase overwhelming skill.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DST-mxkkkoS/
🧾 White Spoon Chef List
※ Chefs without restaurants in Korea or without direct involvement are omitted.
Their restaurants are among the hardest to book in Korea.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRvYXgMEq5E/
⚫ Black Spoon Chefs (Cast List)
The Black Spoons are highly skilled yet lesser-known chefs—
true hidden masters.
They are called by nicknames rather than real names.
In Season 1, names like “Triple Star” and “Omakase No.1”
left strong impressions.
Their underdog spirit is incredibly inspiring.
Instagram reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRvR8QYktYD/
From 80 Black Spoon participants,
here is a list of those who advanced past the first stage.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert Below ⚠️
🧾 Black Spoon Chef List
Season 2 continues to be energized
by these unique and charismatic Black Spoon chefs.
Be sure to find your favorite! 👨🍳👩🍳
■ How to Enjoy the Show Even More
In Korean, the word “spoon” can also symbolize
the social class you’re born into.
This show is about overturning that fate
with pure skill and effort.
After watching,
we highly recommend going on a restaurant pilgrimage
to the chefs’ establishments.
🏷️ Travel Korea with the NAMANE Card
Navigating a new country and paying at restaurants
can be nerve-wracking.
That’s why we recommend the NAMANE Card.
NAMANE means “my own” in Korean.
You can customize it with photos and stamps,
making it a perfect travel keepsake.
◎ Why We Recommend NAMANE Card
🛒 How to Get a NAMANE Card
① Buy in Advance (Before Traveling to Korea)
② Buy Locally in Korea
Check out the trending “Black and White Spoon 2”,
and make your next trip to Korea even more unforgettable!