Format

South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM has secured a nomination at the Realscreen Awards 2026 for its original unscripted series Street Restaurant Fighter, competing in the Competition – Lifestyle category.

Directed by Woo-hyung Lee and Man-hee Kim, the series concluded its run in September and introduces a fresh approach to the cooking competition genre. Rather than focusing exclusively on culinary skills, the format brings together 20 chefs and restaurateurs competing to build successful food businesses, with customers determining who stays and who is eliminated.
Contestants must tackle the practical challenges of running a restaurant, from selecting commercial locations and managing food costs to interior design, marketing and sales strategies. The combination of entrepreneurship, culinary creativity and competitive pressure sets the format apart from conventional cooking shows.

The nomination marks the first time a CJ ENM-produced original series has been shortlisted for the Realscreen Awards, following the success of Kiss the Future, a documentary from the company's global studio FIFTH SEASON, which won in the Non-Fiction Arts & Culture category in 2025.

Commenting on the recognition, Woo-hyung Lee, executive producer at CJ ENM, said:“We wanted to take a different approach by moving beyond traditional cooking competitions that focus solely on culinary skills and capturing the realities of running a business in Korea. I’m delighted that audiences around the world have connected with this fresh approach and become immersed in the series. CJ ENM has a diverse slate of reality programming, and I hope to see more of our content reach and resonate with audiences worldwide.”