Bae In-hyuk Shines as Head Chef on ‘Street Food Fighter’: From Rookie to Culinary Leader

Korean actor Bae In-hyuk is proving he’s more than just a rising star in the drama world. On the latest episode of JTBC’s hit reality food show, Street Food Fighter, he stepped up as the main chef of the newly formed team known as Young Guys, showcasing surprising leadership and culinary skills.

Aired on the night of the 20th, episode 7 of Street Food Fighter showed a pivotal moment for Bae, who had to oversee the operations without seasoned pros Ryu Su-young and Fabri (Fabrizio Ferrari) by his side. Despite early anxiety, Bae’s confidence grew as he proposed a new dish featuring marinated pork ribs, handled the kitchen like a seasoned chef, and executed recipes with precision.

Displaying notable leadership, he meticulously inspected preparation status and took initiative to monitor business hours—all traits seldom seen in fresh chefs. Drawing upon techniques taught by Ryu Su-young, such as pan-twirling for perfect seasoning distribution, Bae went the extra mile in refining his dishes while also staying attentive to customer reactions.

The dynamic among the newly assembled ‘Young Guys’ team was seamless, resulting in a lively and heartwarming service. Adding to the suspense, the teaser for episode 8 hinted at a future face-off between Team Ryu and Team Fabri, promising unexpected new team lineups and a culinary showdown featuring Ryu’s chicken and corn cheese versus Fabri’s adventurous shark sweet-and-sour dish.

Bae In-hyuk debuted in 2019 with the web movie Love Buzz and garnered attention through the web drama XX. He continued building his reputation with standout roles in popular K-dramas like My Roommate Is a Gumiho, Cheer Up, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, Check-in Hanyang, and the film Ditto. His fans can catch him again in episode 8 of Street Food Fighter, airing Tuesday, the 27th at 10 PM KST on JTBC.