A ‘Culinary Class Wars’ Alum Has Opened of NYC’s Hottest New Restaurants
This excerpt was originally published in Pre Shift, our newsletter for the hospitality industry. Now Open is a yearlong series celebrating some of 2026’s most exciting new restaurants. Throughout the year, we’ll check in with teams in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to hear what it’s really like […]
Chef Hasung Lee, once a contestant on Netflix's Culinary Class Wars, is behind Oyatte, a highly anticipated new restaurant in New York City. His foray into the culinary world began in 2020, a period during which he meticulously gathered information about opening a restaurant. Lee's culinary prowess is evident in his eight-course tasting menu at Oyatte, which showcases the freshest vegetables and is influenced by his experiences at Gramercy Tavern, Atomix, The French Laundry, and Geranium.
Despite his calm demeanor, Lee admits that he got frustrated during the show's Black Spoons versus White Spoons episode, where he had to adapt to working with a different team. Opening day for Oyatte was a whirlwind of challenges, including permit issues, furniture and construction delays, and the restaurant needing to open four times. Initially, Lee planned for no more than 30 covers a day, but due to technical issues with Seven Rooms, he had to start with 55 covers, almost double the initial plan.
Despite the initial hurdles, Lee remains determined to learn and adapt. He has already faced and resolved issues like heavy rain causing water leaks in the building's basement. Lee's restaurant is currently fully booked daily, and he attributes his success to his unwavering determination and the support of patrons who have been captivated by his Netflix journey.
Written by urgent.news from Eater's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
