The Genius Paik 3: Can K‑Food Conquer France’s Gourmet Capital?

The Genius Paik 3 (장사천재 백사장 시즌3) has officially landed on Viu on 11 February 2026, bringing chef and restaurant mastermind Paik Jong Won back for another high‑pressure overseas challenge. After tackling “K‑food wastelands” in Morocco, Italy, and Spain, this new season plants Paik and his crew right in the heart of Lyon, France—a city legendary for fine dining and picky diners.

If you love travel cooking reality shows, tense restaurant launches, and hilarious teamwork between celebrities, this Korean food business challenge in France deserves a top spot on your watchlist.

Synopsis: A Korean Restaurant on Lyon’s Rue Mercière

In The Genius Paik 3, Paik Jong Won’s mission is simple in words but brutal in reality:

Open a Korean restaurant on Rue Mercière, Lyon’s biggest gastronomic street, and hit one million dollars in annual sales.

To pull this off, he is joined by a star‑studded crew:

• Paik Jong Won – Korea’s top restaurant management expert and head chef

• Lee Jang Woo – Actor and all‑round kitchen workhorse
• Kwon Yuri – Girls’ Generation member with strong front‑of‑house skills

• John Park – Singer and dependable all‑rounder
• Yoon Si Yoon – New member, “Baking King” actor joining the team for Season 3

The twist? Instead of classic French fine dining, they go all‑in on Korean‑style steak and single‑pan barbecue—served in a single course, not as part of multi‑course menus the French are used to.

They even shake things up with alcohol‑fermented bread in the home of baguettes.

Language barriers, different dining culture, and sky‑high expectations from French foodies all raise the stakes. The big questions running through every episode:

• Can K‑style grilled meat and banchan win over French locals?
• Will the team’s service, pricing and menu strategy work on a street packed with competition?
• And can they really reach that million‑dollar target?

Episode Highlight: “Single Pan House in Lyon”

The opening episode, “Single Pan House in Lyon,” sets the tone for the season.

Paik receives the mission: open a restaurant on Rue Mercière and target one million dollars in yearly sales. He and his celebrity staff decide to brand the place around a simple but bold idea: traditional Korean barbecue cooked on a single pan, loaded with various cuts of meat and vegetables.

Viewers get to see:

• The team scouting locations on the crowded restaurant street
• Menu brainstorming and testing to balance authenticity and local taste

• Paik’s tough but insightful coaching on service flow, pricing, and table turnover
• The chaotic energy of their first day of business as real customers start walking in

It’s a mix of business tutorial, foodie content, and variety show chaos—exactly what makes The Genius Paik format so addictive.

Cast: The Dream Team Behind the Grill

Paik Jong Won

Restaurant CEO, franchise king, and calm “boss” of the show. He handles recipe development, kitchen layout, and business decisions with sharp instincts honed over decades.

Lee Jang Woo

Returns as Paik’s right‑hand man. Whether he’s marinating meat, plating dishes, or rushing orders, he’s the go‑to problem solver in both kitchen and dining room.

Kwon Yuri

Brings bright energy to the floor as a server and “vibes manager.” Her ability to connect with guests, even across a language barrier, is a huge asset.

John Park

Balances kitchen and front-of-house work, jumping wherever manpower is needed. His humour and calm personality help soften tense moments.

Yoon Si Yoon

The newest member and “Baking King” actor. Watching him adapt to the harsh reality of restaurant life—long hours, heavy pans, endless dishwashing—is a big part of the fun this season.

Together, they transform from celebrities into a real team of line cooks, servers, and dishwashers fighting to keep the restaurant alive in one of Europe’s most respected culinary cities.

Why The Genius Paik 3 Is a Must‑Watch

1. The Ultimate Korean Variety Food Business Challenge

If you’re searching for Korean variety shows about cooking and restaurant management, this is one of the best examples on Viu. You don’t just see dishes being cooked—you watch:

• Pricing strategies
• Seating plans and table turns
• Menu design for a foreign audience
• Marketing tactics to stand out on a crowded street

It’s like a business masterclass wrapped in a travel reality show.

2. K‑Food vs French Fine Dining

Lyon is known as a gourmet capital, packed with classic bistros and fine‑dining institutions. Watching Paik try to sell Korean barbecue on a hot pan to locals who expect multi‑course menus is fascinating. Every episode explores cultural gaps:

• Portion size expectations
• How long people want to stay at a table
• What “good service” means in France vs Korea

The result is both educational and genuinely funny.

3. Real Stakes, Real Customers

There are no laugh tracks or studio sets. The customers are real locals and tourists deciding in the moment whether to walk into the restaurant or keep walking down Rue Mercière. Their reactions, complaints, and compliments directly affect sales and team morale.

4. Warm Teamwork and Character Growth

Like previous seasons, one of the joys of The Genius Paik is watching the cast grow:

• Yoon Si Yoon learning to handle rushes without panicking
• Lee Jang Woo and John Park finding ways to optimise the kitchen
• Kwon Yuri building relationships with regular customers

The camaraderie and subtle conflicts feel authentic, which is why the show hooks both food fans and Korean variety lovers.

Where to Watch The Genius Paik 3?

You can stream The Genius Paik 3 full episodes with English and Bahasa Indonesia subtitles exclusively on Viu. Start with the premiere here: Watch The Genius Paik 3 full episodes now. If you’re craving more shows in the same spirit, explore our curated selection of Korean variety cooking and travel shows here: discover more Korean variety food and travel shows on Viu. Viu also offers a wide library of hit K‑dramas and Asian dramas if you want scripted stories after your variety binge.

Start Your Viu Food Journey

Whether you’re here for business‑focused Korean variety shows, comfort K‑dramas to stream after work, or a full weekend of Asian dramas and travel content, everything is just a few taps away on Viu.

Head to the Viu streaming homepage for Korean shows and Asian content to log in, continue watching, or discover your next series: visit the Viu for Korean and Asian shows. Then grab a snack (or some Korean BBQ if you’re inspired) and see if Paik Jong Won and his team can make K‑food the next big thing on Lyon’s most famous food street.