The final challenge is over, the spoons have been placed, and you have finished the first season of Culinary Class Wars. The unique blend of intense culinary battles and deep cultural storytelling left a mark. The show’s mix of 100 expert and amateur chefs, judged by experts like Paik Jong-won and Chef Ahn Sung-jae, created a must-watch phenomenon. If your watchlist now feels empty, there are many other shows that capture a similar spirit of competition, creativity, and global food culture.
Why Culinary Class Wars Caught Global Attention
Culinary Class Wars became more than just another cooking competition. It was the first Korean reality series to top Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) list for three weeks in a row. Its success was rooted in a concept familiar in Korean culture: the spoon as a symbol of class. The show divided chefs into the elite White Spoons and the underdog Black Spoons, creating instant dramatic tension. A producer from Studio Slam explained the thinking behind it: “This is a Korean variety show. We needed a cultural symbol that speaks directly to Korean audiences”.
This cultural touch did not limit its appeal. Instead, the themes of ambition and proving oneself resonated worldwide. Fans praised the show for its high production value, unique judging methods, and the sheer diversity of dishes, from Korean to Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine. The show had a real-world impact, too, helping to revitalize interest in Seoul’s dining scene. Its popularity is set to continue, with Season 2 arriving on Netflix on December 16, 2025, featuring new chefs and rules.
MasterChef: The Global Standard for High-Stakes Cooking
For the thrill of everyday people being pushed to their absolute limit, MasterChef is a perfect follow-up. Like Culinary Class Wars, it places home cooks with big dreams into a high-pressure kitchen environment. The challenges are designed to test their skill, creativity, and mental strength, with mystery ingredient boxes and intense team battles.
The format is a global staple, with major versions produced in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and India. The judging is direct and the prizes are life-changing, making every victory feel earned and every failure deeply personal. If you enjoyed watching the chefs in Culinary Class Wars grow, stumble, and shine under extreme pressure, the journey of a MasterChef contestant will feel very familiar.
The Great British Bake Off: Wholesome Pressure and Stunning Bakes
If you loved the competitive spirit of Culinary Class Wars but would enjoy a warmer, kinder atmosphere, The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show in the U.S.) is a beloved choice. Now in its 16th season, the show maintains a charming and supportive vibe.
The bakers are everyday people, and their struggles—a collapsed cake, sliding icing—are highly relatable. Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith provide expert critiques, while hosts like Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond add warmth and humor. The show proves that competition can be intense without being cruel, offering a comforting yet gripping watch that focuses on skill, creativity, and personal courage.
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted: Culinary Adventure and Extreme Challenges
For the cinematic scale and sense of adventure, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted is an exciting pick. This show takes the intensity out of the studio and into the wild. Chef Gordon Ramsay travels the globe, engaging in physical challenges like climbing cliffs or diving into rivers to source local ingredients.
The show highlights how food is deeply connected to land and culture. In each episode, Ramsay learns from local experts and culinary masters, often failing before he succeeds, culminating in a large collaborative feast. It shares with Culinary Class Wars a respect for the soul and story behind food, presenting cooking as a thrilling, global adventure.
Jinny’s Kitchen: Teamwork and Real Restaurant Chaos
If your favorite part of Culinary Class Wars was the high-stakes management of a busy kitchen, you will enjoy Jinny’s Kitchen. This Korean reality show features celebrities, including Lee Seo-jin, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, and BTS’s V (Kim Tae-hyung), running a Korean street food restaurant in a foreign country.
The stress is real and immediate as orders pile up, mistakes happen, and the team must work together to serve actual customers. It captures the chaotic energy of a real service shift, focusing on unity, resilience, and the small wins of a busy restaurant day. It is about survival and teamwork rather than trophies, offering a different but equally compelling kind of kitchen drama.
For a Taste of World Cuisine and Chef Stories
Beyond direct competition shows, several series explore food culture and personal stories with the depth that Culinary Class Wars fans might appreciate.
- Somebody Feed Phil (Season 8): Phil Rosenthal’s travel and food series is celebrated for its genuine joy and positivity. The new season visits locations like Boston, Amsterdam, and Manila, exploring food as a source of human connection and happiness.
- Chef’s Table: Legends: This series profiles iconic chefs who changed the food world. For its 10th season, it focuses on legends like José Andrés, Thomas Keller, Jamie Oliver, and Alice Waters, offering a deep, cinematic look at their lives and impact.
- Tucci in Italy: Actor Stanley Tucci explores Italy’s regional cuisines, connecting food directly to local terrain, history, and culture. His earnest curiosity makes viewers feel like they are discovering each region’s secrets alongside him.
- No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski: This emotional series follows Antoni Porowski and a celebrity guest to their ancestral homeland to explore family history through food. Episodes feature stars like Awkwafina in Korea and Issa Rae in Senegal, highlighting how cuisine is tied to identity and memory.
Where to Watch and What’s Next for Fans
Most of these shows are available on major streaming platforms. MasterChef, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, and Somebody Feed Phil can be found on services like Hulu and Netflix. The Great British Bake Off streams on Netflix in the U.S. Jinny’s Kitchen and the other chef-story series are primarily available on Netflix.
For fans eager for more from the Culinary Class Wars universe, there is plenty happening. Season 2 premieres globally on Netflix on December 16, 2025. The new season will feature a fresh lineup of talented chefs, including two-Michelin-star chef Lee Jun and temple cuisine master Venerable Sunjae. The trailer promises new rules and the return of masked contestants seeking redemption.
Furthermore, the show’s influence extends beyond the screen. Chef Choi Hyun Seok, known for his memorable vongole dish in Season 1, has hosted pop-up dining events in Manila, serving his signature dishes from the show. His story came full circle as he served his famous pasta—this time with the garlic included—to eager fans.
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