| Restaurant | Central Reducer (중앙감속기) |
| Cuisine | Chinese-Italian Fusion |
| Must order | Seafood Basil Jjamppong, Bologna Tofu Cream Risotto |
| Price | Mains ₩19,500–23,500 (~₩40,000–50,000/person) |
| Where | Seongsu-dong, Seoul (near Seoul Forest) |
| Nearest station | Seoul Forest Station Exit 3, Suin-Bundang Line |
| Reservation | Required — CatchTable, ₩30,000/person deposit |
| Visited | April 2026 |
| Map | Google Maps |
The Netflix Chef’s Hideout in Seongsu
If you watched Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사) on Netflix, you already know Chef Choi Hyun-seok (최현석). What you might not know is that his restaurant Central Reducer (중앙감속기) in Seongsu-dong is one of the hardest reservations to get in Seoul right now. Without booking through CatchTable weeks in advance, you’re not getting in.
The dark wood facade on a quiet Seongsu side street. Easy to miss, impossible to forget.
The Vibe: Industrial Meets Fine Dining
The interior feels like a converted warehouse — exposed concrete walls, steel beams, warm pendant lights casting a moody glow over dark wood tables. It’s the kind of space that looks effortlessly cool without trying too hard, which is basically the Seongsu brand.
Exposed concrete, steel, and warm light. Fine dining energy at casual dining pace.
The service is surprisingly fast for a chef-driven restaurant. Dishes come out at a pace that feels more like a well-oiled bistro than a drawn-out tasting menu — which is exactly what you want when everything smells this good and you’re starving.
The Food: Chinese Soul, Italian Technique
Central Reducer’s concept is Chinese-Italian fusion, but in practice it leans more Western than Chinese. Think Italian plating with Chinese flavor profiles — or Chinese classics reimagined with European technique.
The spread — fried eggplant appetizer on the left, Caesar salad with crispy pork skin on the right, and house-made pickled radish banchan.
Seafood Basil Jjamppong (해산물 바질 짬뽕) — The signature move. Noodles in a fragrant green basil broth with clams and mussels, topped with arugula and served with thick-cut crusty bread. The bread soaked in that broth is its own dish.
Basil jjamppong — the bread dunked in this broth might be the best bite on the table.
Bologna Tofu with Cream Risotto (볼로냐 두부 크림 리조또) — Soft tofu cubes in a rich bolognese-style sauce, paired with a small bowl of cream risotto. Looks like mapo tofu but gentler — not greasy, not overpoweringly spicy, just deeply savory.
The Bologna tofu (front) with the basil jjamppong behind it. The small blue bowl of cream risotto ties it all together.
Dessert: The Gear That Stares Back
The nitrogen tiramisu (질소 티라미수) is Central Reducer’s signature closer. It arrives in a blue ceramic bowl with the restaurant’s gear mascot stenciled in powdered sugar on top — cute and photogenic, but also legitimately delicious. Creamy, light, and cold from the nitrogen treatment.
The nitrogen tiramisu with Central Reducer’s gear character. Too cute to eat, too good not to.
Practical Info
| Restaurant | Central Reducer 중앙감속기 |
| Chef | Choi Hyun-seok 최현석 (Netflix 흑백요리사) |
| Location | Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu (near Seoul Forest) |
| Address | 서울특별시 성동구 성수일로6길 7-1, 1F |
| Menu | Bologna Tofu ₩23,500 · Basil Jjamppong ₩19,500 · Balsamic Tangsuyuk ₩23,000 |
| Hours | 12:00–21:00 (Break 15:00–17:30, LO 14:30 / 20:30) |
| Reservation | Required — CatchTable (₩30,000/person deposit) |
| Google Maps | View on Google Maps |
Central Reducer is a 10-minute walk from Seoul Forest Station (서울숲역) Exit 3 on the Bundang Line, or a quick walk from the heart of Seongsu’s cafe district. Pair your visit with a stroll through Seoul Forest — one of the best urban parks in the city.
FAQ
Q: What is Central Reducer (중앙감속기)? A: Central Reducer is a Chinese-Italian fusion restaurant in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, run by celebrity chef Choi Hyun-seok — known for his appearance on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사). The concept blends Chinese flavors with Italian cooking techniques.
Q: Do I need a reservation for Central Reducer? A: Yes. It’s one of the hardest tables to get in Seoul. Book through CatchTable (캐치테이블) well in advance. A ₩30,000 per person deposit is required at booking, which is applied to your bill.
Q: What should I order at Central Reducer? A: The seafood basil jjamppong (해산물 바질 짬뽕) and Bologna tofu with cream risotto (볼로냐 두부 크림 리조또) are must-orders. Don’t skip the nitrogen tiramisu for dessert.
Q: How much does a meal at Central Reducer cost? A: Mains range from ₩19,500 to ₩23,500 (about $14–17 USD). With appetizers and dessert, expect around ₩40,000–50,000 per person. Wine is available by the glass. For the quality and the chef’s pedigree, the pricing is very reasonable.
Q: How do I get to Central Reducer in Seongsu? A: Take the Bundang Line to Seoul Forest Station (서울숲역), Exit 3, and walk about 10 minutes. It’s on a quiet side street in the Seongsu cafe district, near Seoul Forest park.
Q: Is Central Reducer good for tourists? A: Absolutely — it’s a great introduction to Seoul’s modern fusion dining scene. The Seongsu neighborhood is one of Seoul’s trendiest areas, packed with cafes, galleries, and boutique shops. Make a day of it: Seoul Forest in the morning, Central Reducer for lunch, Seongsu cafes in the afternoon.