Korean Street Food Show ‘Backstreet Salesmen’ Serves Up Generational Showdown with Culinary Twists

In a delightful culinary clash that combined mouth-watering flavors with vibrant personalities, JTBC (Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company)’s popular variety show ‘Backstreet Salesmen’ showcased a unique team competition between the “Old Guys” and “Young Guys,” aired on June 20.

In the third round of the food battle, Team Fabri — led by Michelin-starred chef Fabri — dazzled customers with their Spanish-inspired menu item: Tteokbokki topped with Albóndigas, juicy Spanish meatballs. The team’s innovative dish became an instant hit, drawing crowds and eager queues.

In contrast, Team Ryu Soo-young, despite their earnest efforts, struggled in a low-traffic park area. As the weather worsened, both teams faced challenges. Never one to back down, Fabri resorted to passionate street pitching, with Hwang Kwanghee joining forces by crafting eye-catching posters labeling their booth as “A Michelin Chef’s Kitchen.”

One unexpected crowd-pleaser was the “Pul-Tteok-Pul-Tteok,” a clever combination of octopus (pulpo) and chewy rice cakes — a dish that sparked a surge in orders and put smiles on the team’s faces. Meanwhile, Ryu, embracing the slowness, shared meaningful conversations and prepared staff meals using leftover ingredients.

At the end of the intense day, Team Fabri outsold their rivals significantly — 105 servings to Team Ryu’s 20 — clinching an overwhelming victory in the episode’s food sales matchup.

The next day flipped the script: the younger stars Hwang Kwanghee, Shin Hyunji, Bae Inhyuk, and Jeon So-mi formed Team Young Guys, going up against the battle-hardened chefs Ryu Soo-young and Fabri, now Team Old Guys.

In a show first, the Young Guys introduced a cocktail zone featuring Jeon So-mi’s signature mix — a rich tomato cocktail with bourbon and a spicy black pepper finish. Accompanying the drinks were flame-grilled pork ribs by rookie chef Bae Inhyuk, and buttery mini potato bites by Shin Hyunji, showcasing their impressive culinary growth.

Backed by dynamic service from Hwang Kwanghee — who apologetically wore a cute note on his back to ensure no guest was inconvenienced — and Jeon So-mi’s flair-filled dance-cocktail performances, Team Young Guys brought the energy.

Team Old Guys went traditional but bold, offering soy-sesame oil cold noodles and spicy beef noodles in a pay-what-you-want self-service model. However, their strategy hit a bump when a four-order mix-up left out a key dish, causing a tense moment in the kitchen.

As audiences waited to see whether Team Old Guys could recover, the episode teased an unpredictable finish. Catch more inventive street food battles on JTBC’s ‘Backstreet Salesmen’ each week — with a special earlier broadcast time of 10 PM on June 27.