Hong Seok-cheon, using Buldak sauce, beats Shin Ga-young in sales victory

"I make my own broth..." Shin Ga-young feels devastated by Hong Seok-cheon's use of commercial sauces

Broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon seized the upper hand with a decisive move using commercial sauces. In the 4th episode of tvN's 'Street Restaurant Fighter' (hereafter 'SREFA') aired on July 12, a 'Street Beer Festival' same-price battle was held, where only half of the 18 teams would survive. A 1-on-1 deathmatch took place at a venue with an expected 2,000 customers.

Hong Seok-cheon faced off against Shin Ga-young's 'Don't Tell Grandma' team in an Italian cuisine battle. Hong Seok-cheon chose lasagna, while Shin Ga-young chose arancini. Fearing that Hong Seok-cheon's popularity would give him an advantage, Shin Ga-young's team chose to confront the challenge head-on by sticking to the blind method until the end, even when other teams lifted their blinds.

Hong Seok-cheon countered the opponent's strategy, saying, "We are not an opponent that can be picked on so easily." He warned, "It seems you didn't know that for 20 years, I didn't just run restaurants, but also bars and clubs. You should be nervous." Even while wearing a mask, Hong Seok-cheon took the lead in business by handling customer service and game proceedings.

The victory was decided by the method of implementing flavor. Aiming for mass appeal, Hong Seok-cheon used five different commercial sauces. In particular, the strategy of using Buldak sauce drew enthusiastic responses from the customers on-site. Customers visiting the booth evaluated Hong Seok-cheon's menu, saying, "The sauce is delicious."

Shin Ga-young expressed distress that a significant portion of the ingredients were pre-made commercial sauces. "A large part of the ingredients were commercial sauces. Being able to use these well is a skill if you want to run a business, but did I make an absurd choice by choosing to boil my own broth from scratch?" she said in frustration. Opposing team member Lim Hong-geun remarked, "Still, they made delicious menus and showed a certain level of pride; you could definitely feel the veteran vibe." Ultimately, Hong Seok-cheon's team, which targeted mass appeal, overtook Shin Ga-young's team to win in sales.

Edward Kwon's unconventional lineup vs. Lim Ki-hak's classic approach

The battle between Edward Kwon and Chef Lim Ki-hak followed. Edward Kwon composed a menu of Peking duck, Mara Chongjubing, and Menbosha, highlighting a price of 25,000 won. Edward Kwon's team, which showcased a spectacular performance, took the lead in the first half. On the other hand, Chef Lim Ki-hak's shop struggled, managing only 7 orders in the first half due to unfamiliar menus and a lack of customer solicitation.

In the Yongsan area battle, Kim Hee-eun (Byeolnan Bubu) and Kim Hoon faced off. Kim Hoon promoted a butter rice cake giveaway and generous portions, but his prepared 70 servings sold out early, forcing him to close orders. Conversely, Kim Hee-eun's team, which prepared 100 servings, continued to handle orders and secured victory in the first half. Hong Seok-cheon, Kim Hee-eun, and Edward Kwon each achieved victory, securing an advantageous position for survival.

Participant and Statement Records

18 domestic food service operators participated in this battle. Hong Seok-cheon, as the boss of the 'Goal!' team, faced off against Shin Ga-young's 'Don't Tell Grandma' team. Lim Hong-geun mentioned that Hong Seok-cheon gave off a veteran vibe. Kim Hee-eun faced Kim Hoon, and Edward Kwon faced Chef Lim Ki-hak. Lee Yeon-bok watched Edward Kwon's menu composition.

Before the battle, Hong Seok-cheon said to the opposing team, "We are not an opponent that can be picked on so easily," adding, "It seems you didn't know that for 20 years, I didn't just run restaurants, but also bars and clubs. You should be nervous." He also added regarding the opposing team that insisted on the blind process, "Do whatever you want with those rookies, whether you wear masks or not."