Netflix is doubling down on one of its most reliable Korean unscripted hits.
The streamer has renewed Culinary Class Wars for a third season, while rolling out a major overhaul to the format that shifts the competition from individual chefs to full restaurant teams. Season 3 will pit four-person kitchen brigades against one another, turning the series into a collective test of leadership, coordination and pressure-cooker performance.
The change is designed to raise the stakes by tying victory — and failure — to entire restaurants rather than lone competitors. In Netflix’s words, the new format reframes the show as “a collective battle for pride, reputation, and survival,” with teamwork and consistency under fire becoming as important as solo culinary chops.
Applications for season 3 will open Jan. 16 via Netflix Korea’s social channels. Eligible entrants must be four chefs currently working together at the same restaurant, with cross-restaurant teams ineligible, though brands operating multiple locations can apply as a single unit.
The renewal comes after Culinary Class Wars spent the past two years ranking on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV list. Season 2 concluded with chef Choi Kang-rok taking the crown in the finale that dropped Jan. 13. The sole returning contestant from season 1, Choi defeated his rival, the “culinary monster” Lee Ha-seong, in a head-to-head cook-off built around the theme “the one and only dish just for me,” earning the title and the 300 million won grand prize (about $200,000) in a unanimous judges’ decision. The season, which continued to pit rising “Black Spoon” challengers against elite “White Spoon” chefs in a series of high-stakes tests of skill and creativity, maintained the show’s presence on Netflix’s global charts throughout its run.
Season 3 will again be produced by Studio Slam, reuniting the original creative team behind the series, including producer Kim Eun-ji and writer Mo Eun-seol. Kim said, “Thanks to the incredible support from viewers around the world through Season 2, we’re grateful to move forward with season 3. We’ll do our best to deliver an even more exciting format and entertainment that lives up to expectations.”