Culinary Class Wars Restaurants in Seoul: A Booking Guide for Foreign Travelers
If visiting Culinary Class Wars restaurants in Seoul is on your travel wish list, start with two questions: How much do you want to spend, and when do reservations open?
On my last trip to Korea, I wanted to visit restaurants run by chefs from Seasons 1 and 2, but I didn’t make it to a single one. Some prices made me hesitate, while others seemed reasonable enough to try. My takeaway: if a particular restaurant matters to you, figure out the booking process before you fly.
You do not need a fine-dining budget to explore these chefs’ restaurants. The options below range from casual noodles to elaborate tasting menus, with familiar faces from Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, also known as Chef & My Fridge.
Culinary Class Wars Restaurants in Seoul by Price Range
Use these broad food budgets per person to narrow your choices. They are planning ranges, not fixed quotes. Lunch and dinner may fall into different categories, and the cost of shared dishes depends on your group’s order.
| Restaurant | Chef | General food budget per person |
|---|---|---|
| Udon Caden, Hapjeong | Jung Ho-young | Well under ₩100,000 for a casual noodle meal |
| Tian Mimi, Hongdae | Jung Ji-sun | Under ₩100,000 with selected dishes or lower-priced sets; premium courses cost more |
| Trattoria Sam Kim | Sam Kim | Selected lunch options under ₩100,000; fuller tasting menus generally ₩100,000–₩199,999 |
| CHOI. / Choidot | Choi Hyun-seok | Lunch generally ₩100,000–₩199,999; dinner ₩200,000+ |
| Eatanic Garden | Son Jong-won | ₩200,000+ for lunch or dinner |
Tipping is generally not expected in Korea. Drinks, wine pairings, and optional menu supplements may cost extra.
Five Chef Restaurants to Consider
Udon Caden, Hapjeong — Jung Ho-young
Known from: Culinary Class Wars Season 2 and Chef & My Fridge
Area: Hapjeong, Mapo-gu
Dining style: Japanese udon
Udon Caden is a practical choice if you want to visit a television chef’s restaurant without committing to an expensive course meal. Its noodle-focused menu fits naturally into a day around Hapjeong or Hongdae.
Check the Hapjeong branch’s current entry instructions, including whether you need to join an on-site queue. Udon Caden and the chef’s izakaya, Caden, are different establishments with different menus and booking arrangements.
Tian Mimi, Hongdae — Jung Ji-sun
Known from: Culinary Class Wars Season 1 and appearances on Chef & My Fridge
Area: Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae
Dining style: Chinese cuisine and dim sum
Tian Mimi offers flexibility if you prefer choosing dishes to share. Compare a set menu with an à la carte order of dim sum and main dishes to see which suits your group.
Budget for the whole meal rather than judging the cost by a single dim sum plate. Selected dishes and lower-priced sets can keep spending below ₩100,000 per person, but that does not apply to every course. Use the Hongdae branch’s menu when planning this visit.
Trattoria Sam Kim — Sam Kim
Known from: Culinary Class Wars Season 2 and Chef & My Fridge
Area: Apgujeong, Gangnam-gu
Dining style: Italian course dining
Trattoria Sam Kim is worth considering if you want a course meal without moving straight into the highest price category. A shorter lunch option may suit a smaller budget, while fuller tasting menus offer a different experience.
Read the course name attached to the reservation rather than assuming every lunch or dinner booking includes the same menu. Also, make sure you select Trattoria Sam Kim in Gangnam, rather than Osteria Sam Kim in Mapo.
CHOI. / Choidot — Choi Hyun-seok
Known from: Culinary Class Wars Season 1 and Chef & My Fridge
Area: Cheongdam, Gangnam-gu
Dining style: Creative fine dining
CHOI. is a useful example of why lunch and dinner deserve separate consideration. If dinner exceeds your budget, the lunch menu may make a visit more manageable.
The dishes and number of courses can differ between services, so compare the menus as well as the prices. Search for “CHOI.” or “Choidot” when looking for the restaurant’s listing.
Eatanic Garden — Son Jong-won
Known from: Culinary Class Wars Season 2 and Chef & My Fridge
Area: Josun Palace, Gangnam-gu
Dining style: Contemporary Korean fine dining
Eatanic Garden is an option for travelers who want to devote a substantial part of their food budget to one meal. Its seasonal Korean courses and setting high above the city make it a different outing from a casual chef-associated lunch.
Allow enough time for the course menu, and ask about the expected meal length before booking a timed activity afterward.
Check Reservation Windows Before You Fly
Once your Seoul dates are reasonably firm, look up your preferred restaurants. You may not be able to book immediately, but you can find out when tables become available.
There is no universal release schedule. Some restaurants open dates gradually; others release a block of reservations at an announced time.
An unavailable date does not necessarily mean it is sold out. Reservations may not have opened yet, the restaurant may be closed, or no tables may match your party size.
Read the booking notice for:
- The reservation-opening date and time.
- The dining dates covered by that release.
- Available lunch and dinner services.
- Party-size or seating restrictions.
If the announcement uses Korean Standard Time, convert both the time and date to your location. For travelers booking from the United States, the release may fall on the previous calendar day.
Book Through CATCHTABLE Global
CATCHTABLE Global is a useful starting point for participating restaurants. International visitors can create an account without a Korean phone number and use an overseas-issued card for supported reservation-deposit payments.
Use the international service from the beginning. A listing on the domestic Korean platform does not automatically mean that booking route will work with your overseas account and card.
Before reservations open, sign in, have your payment card ready, and choose a few dates or meal times you could accept. Search using your actual party size, especially if you are dining alone.
After completing the process, check for a confirmed reservation in your account or email. Selecting a time or reaching the payment screen does not mean the booking is finished.
For account setup and the general process, see our guide to restaurant reservations in Korea. If a restaurant is not available on Global, follow its official booking instructions or published contact details.
What If You Cannot Get a Table?
Try another date or meal service first. You can also check for cancellations or enable an availability alert if the restaurant offers one. An alert gives you a chance to book; it does not secure the table.
A same-day waitlist works differently. Some restaurants allow remote queue registration, while others require you to join after arriving. A fully booked course restaurant does not automatically accept walk-ins, so confirm the entry process before making the journey.
When using a queue, monitor the notifications and stay close enough to return when called. Your queue number is not a guaranteed seating time.
Keep one alternative you would enjoy, and check its booking arrangements too. A lower price does not necessarily mean an easier table.
Arrive on Time for Your Reservation
Treat your reservation as a fixed appointment. Aim to reach the area a little early so you have time to find the correct building, floor, and entrance.
If you are running late, contact the restaurant immediately. Depending on its policy and service schedule, a late arrival may shorten your dining time, affect the course service, or lead to cancellation. Do not assume the table will be held indefinitely.
Save the exact location and plan your route with our Naver Map guide for tourists.
Local Pro Tip
For the meal you would be most disappointed to miss, choose a day after your arrival day. Once it is confirmed, plan nearby sightseeing around it so a flight delay or rushed cross-city journey does not put your reservation at risk.
Confirm the Details, Then Enjoy the Meal
Before paying, check the restaurant’s CATCHTABLE Global page for exact menu prices, required payments, cancellation deadlines, and no-show rules. If it uses another system, check its official booking page instead. Confirm any essential dietary or accessibility arrangements directly with the restaurant.
A television connection can help you discover a kitchen, but it does not guarantee a meeting with the chef or the exact dish shown on screen. Choose a current menu that appeals to you at a price you feel comfortable paying.
For more options, explore the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s culinary guide.
Whether you choose udon or a tasting menu, the goal is the same: find a meal you are excited about, prepare before your trip, and leave yourself time to enjoy it.