The much-awaited second course of Netflix’s fiery Korean cooking competition, Culinary Class Wars, has arrived. The first three episodes debuted, introducing new rules and more pressure. The season opened with a surprising twist that changed the game for everyone involved.
The show’s core structure remains. Twenty elite White Spoon chefs face eighty ambitious Black Spoon contenders. The goal for the Black Spoons is to survive a massive elimination round to earn the right to challenge the established professionals in one-on-one duels. Guidingโand sometimes crushingโthese dreams are the show’s respected judges: renowned restaurateur Paik Jong-won and three-star Michelin chef Anh Sung-jae.
The Major Twist: Hidden White Spoons Return
The season’s biggest surprise came early. When the White Spoon chefs made their grand entrance, only eighteen appeared, leaving two spots conspicuously empty. This mystery was solved during the Black Spoon elimination round with the introduction of the “Hidden White Spoon” twist.
Two standout chefs from Season 1 were secretly placed among the Black Spoon contestants. To reclaim their status, they had to fight through the same grueling opening round but under much stricter rules. While a regular Black Spoon chef needs approval from only one judge to advance, a Hidden White Spoon needed a unanimous “yes” from both Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae. A single rejection meant instant and final elimination.
The two chefs tasked with this brutal redemption were Choi Kang-rok, winner of MasterChef Korea Season 2, and Kim Do-yun, a chef who owns a Michelin one-star restaurant. Their survival also directly impacted the competition, as each Hidden White Spoon that advanced would open an additional spot for a Black Spoon contestant.
Kim Do-yun was eliminated first. He presented perilla oil noodles made with wheat he personally milled using a machine he brought into the kitchen. Judge Paik loved the dish, stating, “It was different than any perilla oil I’ve tasted. I loved each bite.” However, Judge Anh rejected it, citing a chalky aftertaste. With the judges split, Kim Do-yun was sent home.
Choi Kang-rok, reflecting on the intense judgment, said, “If I survive today, it proves that the intersection exists.”
Choi Kang-rok survived the cut. He served a dish of braised whole freshwater eel with seasoned tofu and vegetables. After careful tasting, both judges approved, with Paik calling the braising “perfect” and Anh acknowledging it was “extremely well-refined”. His success opened one extra spot in the next round.
The Black Spoon Elimination and Final 19
The initial challenge was immense. Eighty Black Spoon chefs, identified only by nicknames like “Boss in the Kitchen” or “Barbecue Lab Director,” had 100 minutes to prepare the one dish they trusted most. They were split into two groups, and judges Paik and Anh sampled dishes until all advancement slots were filled.
The process was swift and tense. In the end, 61 Black Spoon chefs were eliminated. Combined with the one surviving Hidden White Spoon, a total of 19 chefs earned the right to challenge the White Spoons.
The Shift to Regional Ingredient Duels
With the teams set, the competition moved to its main phase: direct duels. The theme for these battles is regional Korean ingredients. The kitchen floor features a map of South Korea with twenty different local specialties, such as Gapyeong pine nuts or Wonju beef tongue.
When a Black Spoon chef chooses to challenge a White Spoon, they pick a spot on the map, and the featured ingredient for their head-to-head battle is revealed. The first duel saw the Black Spoon chef known as “Three Star Killer” step up to face White Spoon chef Son Jung-won. Their assigned ingredient was Wonju beef tongue. Three Star Killer was eliminated in this first duel.
The second duel, which unfolded by the end of episode three, is still undecided. Black Spoon chef “Venerable Sunjae” challenged “Dweji Gomtang in New York” using Gapyeong pine nuts. Sunjae prepared “Monk’s Smile” pine-nut vegetable noodles, while Dweji Gomtang served a vegetable japchae. The judges could not reach an immediate decision, leaving the outcome to be revealed in a future episode.
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Release Schedule and How to Watch
Culinary Class Wars Season 2 is streaming exclusively on Netflix. The show follows a weekly batch release schedule, with new episodes arriving on Tuesdays.
The first three episodes were released on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. According to the announced schedule, the season will continue as follows:
- Episodes 4-7: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
- Episodes 8-10: Tuesday, December 30, 2025
- Episodes 11-12: Monday, January 5, 2026
- Episode 13 (Finale): Tuesday, January 13, 2026
New episodes typically go live on Netflix at 5:00 PM Korea Standard Time (KST). This translates to:
- 3:00 AM Eastern Time (ET)
- 8:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- 1:30 PM India Standard Time (IST)
Each episode has a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. Subtitles are available for global audiences.
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