If you watched Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) on Netflix, you probably remember him without remembering his name — the black-spoon chef with the loud energy and the nickname “the Cooking Weirdo” (요리하는 돌아이), who ended up in an internet-famous three-way meme with judge Anh Sung-jae and fellow contestant Kwon Sung-jun (a beluga whale, a raccoon dog, and a badger, according to Korean Twitter). That’s Yoon Nam-no (윤남노), and as of late April 2026 he has his first solo restaurant: Bistro Notre (비스트로 노뜨르), tucked into a second-floor space in Apgujeong Rodeo.
It’s been one of Korean entertainment media’s favourite food stories all spring — not because the restaurant is flashy, but because of how openly Yoon Nam-no has let cameras follow the financial terror of opening it.
Who Is Yoon Nam-no?
Before Culinary Class Wars made him a household name in 2024, Yoon Nam-no had already spent years in Seoul’s restaurant industry, including a long run as head chef at the modern dining restaurant Dpin (디핀) from 2021 to 2025. The Netflix show — a competition pitting underdog “black spoon” chefs against established “white spoon” stars — pushed him to the final 20 and turned him into one of its most memorable characters.
Since then, he’s become a fixture of Korean food TV: a regular cast member on the rebooted 냉장고를 부탁해 (Please Take Care of My Refrigerator) alongside fellow chefs Choi Hyun-seok, Kim Poong, Jung Ho-young, Park Eun-young, Kwon Sung-jun, Sam Kim, and Son Jong-won, and the homeroom chef for the Western-cuisine team on 백종원의 레미제라블, the ENA cooking competition hosted by restaurateur Baek Jong-won. In early 2026, he won the chef category at Korea’s First Brand Awards. Bistro Notre is the first restaurant that’s entirely his.
The ₩600 Million Bet
What’s made this opening such a sustained talking point isn’t the food — it’s the money. Yoon Nam-no has spoken openly, including on the variety show 전지적 참견 시점 (Omniscient Interfering View) in a June 6th episode, about taking out a ₩600 million loan (roughly USD $430,000) to fund the restaurant. Cameras caught him agonising over expenses as basic as a can of cola, while simultaneously committing to ₩30 million worth of Bernardaud dinnerware and an equally serious wine list — a contradiction he’s leaned into rather than hidden.
The opening itself drew his Culinary Class Wars and Refrigerator castmates: fellow chefs Park Eun-young and Cho Seo-hyung showed up to celebrate, with Park reportedly gifting him a laptop for the new business. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes-of-a-launch storyline Korean entertainment coverage loves, and it’s kept Bistro Notre in headlines for weeks after the doors actually opened.
What’s on the Menu
Bistro Notre runs as a modern French bistro — confident technique, produce-forward plating, nothing trying too hard to be clever. Every seated guest is required to order the 5-piece amuse-bouche (₩39,000 per person) before building out the rest of the meal à la carte. Standouts from the current menu include an onion bavarois, pommes dauphine (French potato puffs finished with truffle and cheese), and a rotating fish of the day. À la carte pricing shifts with the menu, so check current options on CatchTable before booking.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Bistro Notre (비스트로 노뜨르) |
| Chef | Yoon Nam-no (윤남노), Culinary Class Wars black-spoon finalist |
| Address | 2F, 13 Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
| Required order | 5-piece amuse-bouche, ₩39,000 per person |
| Hours | Closed Mondays and Tuesdays |
| Seating | 2.5-hour table limit; private room seats up to 6, ₩700,000 minimum spend |
| Reservations | CatchTable — books out fast; private room or special requests via Instagram DM @chef.bigboy |
| Nearest subway | Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 5, ~280m |
Why It’s Worth Knowing About If You’re Visiting Seoul
Culinary Class Wars was one of Netflix’s biggest non-English-language hits in 2024 and 2025, and its cast has real pull with international viewers who never set foot in Korea before watching it. Yoon Nam-no’s storyline — underdog black spoon, viral meme, now risking real money on his own dining room — gives travellers who watched the show a reason to book a table that has nothing to do with hype-chasing and everything to do with following a story they already care about.
Practically speaking, it also slots neatly into an Apgujeong Rodeo evening: the neighbourhood is a five-minute walk from Cheongdam’s bar and boutique strip, making it easy to combine with cocktails afterward.
Practical Tips
- Book the moment a reservation window opens. CatchTable slots for Bistro Notre have been selling out almost immediately since opening — don’t expect to walk in.
- Arrive on time. The 2.5-hour table limit means the kitchen moves through the course pacing on a schedule; latecomers get a compressed version of the meal.
- The amuse-bouche isn’t optional. Budget for ₩39,000 per person before you’ve ordered anything else.
- Going as a group of 6 or fewer and want privacy? The private room is bookable directly through Instagram DM, which can be faster than fighting for a CatchTable slot.
- It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays — plan around that before building it into an itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yoon Nam-no? A Seoul-based chef who became widely known through Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) as a black-spoon finalist nicknamed “the Cooking Weirdo.” He previously headed the kitchen at Dpin (2021–2025) and is a regular cast member on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator and Baek Jong-won’s Les Misérables.
What is Bistro Notre? Yoon Nam-no’s first solo restaurant, a modern French bistro in Apgujeong Rodeo that opened in late April 2026, reportedly funded by a ₩600 million loan.
How do I get a reservation? Through the CatchTable app, though slots sell out quickly. For private room bookings or special requests, Yoon Nam-no has said to reach out via Instagram DM to @chef.bigboy.
How much does a meal cost? Every guest must order the 5-piece amuse-bouche at ₩39,000 per person, with additional à la carte dishes priced separately. The private room requires a ₩700,000 minimum spend for up to 6 guests.
Where exactly is it located? 2F, 13 Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul — about a 280-metre walk from Exit 5 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station.
Curious about more of Korea’s celebrity-connected dining scene? See our guide to celebrity-owned restaurants and cafés in Korea, or explore the rest of Gangnam’s restaurants, bars, and nightlife while you’re in the neighbourhood.
