Netflix’s hit cooking competition Culinary Class Wars is gearing up for its next chapter.
According to reports on Tuesday, production on Season 3 is set to begin in May — about four months after Season 2 wrapped on January 13th.
The series pits Michelin-recognized “white spoon” chefs against lesser-known but highly skilled “black spoon” chefs in a high-stakes culinary showdown. Since its debut in September 2024, the show has been a major success, with Season 1 topping Netflix’s non-English TV rankings for three consecutive weeks. Season 2 followed suit, holding the No. 1 spot for two weeks.
Chefs like Kwon Sung Joon, Park Eun Young, Yoon Nam No, Choi Kang Rok and Edward Lee have stayed in the spotlight, landing appearances across a range of variety shows.
Season 3 will introduce a major twist. Unlike the individual competitions of previous seasons, the new installment will focus on restaurant team battles, with chefs competing in groups of four from the same establishment. Solo applicants or mixed teams from different restaurants won’t be eligible, though branches under the same brand may compete together.
Attention is also on the judging panel, with viewers watching closely to see whether Paik Jong Won and Anh Sung Jae will return. Both chefs served as judges in Seasons 1 and 2, earning praise for their expertise and sharp critiques, but have recently faced separate controversies that could impact their involvement.
Paik previously stepped back from broadcasting amid allegations related to food sanitation law violations, later saying he has no immediate plans to return but may reconsider depending on the outcome. Anh also issued an apology following controversy surrounding his restaurant Mosu Seoul, which affected his public image.
Season 3 will once again be led by producer Kim Eun Ji and writer Mo Eun Seol, the team behind the first two seasons. Kim shared, “We’ll do our best to deliver a more developed format and meet the expectations audiences have for the show.”
UPDATE:
Regarding reports that filming for Season 3 of Netflix’s original variety show Culinary Class Wars will begin in May and that Paik Jong Won and Anh Sung Jae will return, a representative from Culinary Class Wars 3 cautiously told OSEN, “We ask for your understanding that it is difficult to confirm any details about the production at this time, as this is a survival variety program.”
Many interpreted the official stance of “unable to confirm” as an indirect confirmation. Global streaming platforms such as Netflix have long emphasized strict security regarding content-related news to prevent spoilers. Because of this, unless there is a firm denial such as “completely false,” responses like this are often viewed as effectively confirming the reports.
The Culinary Class Wars 3 side also stated, “There is nothing we can say at this time,” regarding whether the judging panel will return or undergo changes, while maintaining a cautious silence. Culinary Class Wars 3 is expected to premiere on Netflix later this year.
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