Every season of Iron Chef ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Iron Chef!

Ishinabe vs. Maruyama Takeshi (Salmon Battle)

Michiba VS Kobayakawa Yousei (Foie Gras Battle)

Chen vs Indoragori Paulo  (Globefish  Battle)

Chen vs Kudo Toshiyuki (Tofu Battle)

Michiba vs Syu Tomiteru (Lobster Battle)

Chen VS Tei Kazuhiko (Octopus Battle)

Ishinabe vs Muto Masato (Radish Battle)

Michiba vs Syu Tomitoku (Crab Battle)

Ishinabe VS Oyama Eizo (Banana Battle)

A special battle for Christmas.  The challenger is a winner of the prestigious MOF award in France.  The Iron Chef is the first Iron Chef French, Yutaka Ishinabe. This is the only Ishinabe episode, and the only episode from the first year broadcast on Food Network.

Judges: Yasuo Tanaka (Novelist), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Ishinabe vs Jacques Borie (Chicken Battle)

Michiba VS Shu Tomitoku (Pork Battle)

Chen vs Wan Weiping (Squid Battle)

Michiba VS Hoshino Jun (Egg Battle)

Michiba VS Tanabe Toshio (Sea Bream Battle)

Chin VS Taniguchi Kouichi (Shrimp Battle)

Michiba VS Masaki Kazuyoshi (Anago Eel Battle)

Chen vs Kandagawa Toshiro (Flounder Battle)

Sakai VS Guy Shokr (Oyster Battle)

Chen vs Kondo Shinji (Wheat Battle)

Sakai vs Kitami Hiroyuki (Tomato Battle)

Chen vs Kagata Kyoko (Scallop Battle)

Michiba VS Otakura Hideaki (Cheese Battle)

Michiba VS Goto Koichiro (Rice Battle)

The challenger is the first to come from Kyoto. Kyoto-style cuisine has a 1,200 year tradition. The challenger was picked by the chairman of the Kyoto Chefs Association. He decided to become a chef way back in elementary school after receiving a knife from his grandfather. Takahashi, "Kyoto style cuisine is basically mild. It is light in flavor. So I have confidence in controlling flavors at a very fine level."  Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Chen vs Munetaka Takahashi (Bamboo Shoots Battle)

Sakai must face a former apprentice.  Which will prevail - Sakai's traditional methods or Nakagawa's nouveau "third wave" style?

Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Sakai vs Mario Nakagawa (Lamb Battle)

Commentator Dr. Hattori issues a challenge to Michiba and is rewarded with an incredible secret ingredient.

Judges: Joel Robuchon (Chef), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Yukio Hattori (Truffle Battle)

Italian chef Hiromi was a legend. After beset by personal tragedy and financial ruin, he seeks redemption in Kitchen Stadium.

Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Chen vs Hiromi Yamada (Cabbage Battle)

Sakai faces the first sushi master in a fish battle for the ages.

Judges: Daijiro Hashimoto (Governor of Kochi), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Sakai vs Hiromi Funatsu (Bonito Battle)

Hot-flame Chinese cuisine is the challenger's specialty.

Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Music Producer), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Sakai vs Masatoshi Kimura (Duck Battle)

It's a rematch from the World Chinese Cooking contest. Kiyoshi won 3rd, but Chen won 2nd. This time it's war.

Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Songwriter/Producer), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Chen vs Kiyoshi Takahashi (Carrot Battle)

Fermented soy beans are the featured ingredient in this battle between two master chefs.

The challenger is a certified Maestro of the the Japanese Cuisine Seminar Group, a Japanese chefs organization that has over 20,000 members. Michiba is also a certified Maestro and the leader of the group.  Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Ristuko Tanaka (Actress), Masaaki Hirono (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Kuniyuki Ishikawa (Natto Battle)

Kandagawa brings his apprentice to kitchen stadium for a sweetfish battle.

Michiba vs Katsumi Hanato (Sweetfish Battle)

Sea Urchin provides a young chef the chance to revolutionalize Chinese cooking.

Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Sakai vs Yuji Wakiya (Sea Urchin Battle)

The challenger has been the top chef at one of Japan's 3 star French eateries.

Judges: Kazuyoshi Okuyama (Director), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Chen vs Masahiko Miyamoto (Milk Battle)

The challenger is a nomad. He's worked in 200 plus restaurants, so cooking in the new environment of Kitchen Stadium is no challenge.

Judges: Toshio Yamaguchi (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Chen vs Koichi Tabata (Eggplant Battle)

Knife skills will be put to the test in battle tuna. The challenger carries one of the longest knives in Japan.

Despite his father being against it, the challenger began to apprentice at age 17. He is well versed in Tea Ceremony dining. He is now head chef at a restaurant visited by many Japanese Prime Ministers. He has chosen to battle Michiba because he does not like the way the Iron Chef uses non-traditional ingredients in Japanese dishes.

The theme ingredient cost approximately $10,000.

Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Michiba vs Takashi Mera (Tuna Battle)

Shimizu is a sous chef at the world famous Tour D'Argent. Both chefs appreciate the quality of these expensive lobsters.

Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Shyoko Tamura, Masaaki Hirano

Sakai vs Tadaaki Shimizu (Homard Battle)

Paul Bocuse sends two trusted apprentices to take not one, but two, iron chefs.  This is the first time two Iron Chefs have been in Kitchen Stadium at the same time.

Judges:  Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Kazuko Katoh (Actress), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano

Michiba and Chen vs Joël Bruant and Masafumi Furutaka (Sea Bass Battle)

Sakai vs Mitsuru Saitoh (Beef Battle)

Kandagawa sends another apprentice to take down the Iron Chef in this slippery battle eel.  If this challenger does not defeat Michiba, Kandagawa himself will come to Kitchen Stadium to challenge the Iron Chef.

Judges:  Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Yasuhiko Yoshida (Eel Battle)

Still smarting from his challenger's defeat in Sea Urchin Battle, leading gourmet writer Masuhiro Yamamoto sends another contender - Koyama, who is so popular he is a recurring character in a cooking-themed manga.

Sakai vs Hirohisa Koyama (Pike Eel Battle)

Chen faces the second female chef in kitchen stadium. She is a television icon to many Japanese housewives. Both chefs enjoy fame. One's an Iron Chef, the other hosts a popular cooking show. Spuds will fly in battle potato.

Chen vs Katsuyo Kobayashi (Potato Battle)

Considered the bad boy of French cooking, Keiji takes on Michiba in a battle of culinary rebels.  The challenger earned the nickname Hound Dog after a 2 hour argument with Joel Robuchon about his food. He has over 10,000 recipes written down in French. He writes in French, thinks in French, and even says he dreams in French.

Judges:  Yasushi Akimoto (Song Writer), Julie Dreyfus (Actress),Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Keiji Nakazawa (Corn Battle)

Aguri Suzuki (Race car driver) and Ukyo Katayama (Race car Driver) recommend the hybrid French-Italian challenger.

Osako is a heavyweight contender out to challenge Iron Chef Chinese in this mushroom battle.

Chen vs Hideki Ohsako (Mushroom Battle)

The challenger is a German-born French cuisine specialist. The challenger has traveled through numerous countries collecting recipes and cooking for VIPs. Will his deficiency in the Japanese language hinder his cooking?

Judges:  Shigesato Itoi (Copy Writer), Kazuko Katoh (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Artur J. Rütter (Bell Pepper Battle)

Hiroi is a Nouvelle French Chef set to battle cutting edge Japanese master Michiba.

Michiba vs Tsutomu Hiroi (Pacific Saury Battle)

Kitchen stadium becomes a temple of food as for the first time a Buddhist Priest enters for Battle: Yam

Sakai vs Sotetsu Fuji (Yam Potato Battle)

Chen must face a man who was his father's trusted apprentice. When they both prepare his father's signature dish, who will win?

Chen vs Takashi Saito (Prawn Battle)

Sakai attempts to use a traditional "Japanese" ingredient in his French cuisine

Sakai vs Masamitsu Takahashi (Matsutake Mushrooms Battle)

The 50th battle in Kitchen Stadium.  The challenger is the best in Hong Kong and considered one of the top three chefs in all of China. He says he has never lost in a competition he has entered. Can he keep his winning streak going in Kitchen Stadium?

Judges:  Shigesato Itoi (Copy Writer), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Composer), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba vs Xu Peirong (Shark Fin Battle)

Sakai VS Sekihata Katsuyuki (Bread Battle)

The challenger, a great Italian talent, was thought to have disappeared. He makes his return in a surprise kitchen stadium appearance.

Chen vs Koji Kobayashi (Pumpkin Battle)

Michiba attacks a rising young apprentice from his hometown who critics have nicknamed "Little Michiba", in this angler assault.  He uses the borderless cooking approach that made Iron Chef Michiba successful.  Because of the time required to filet the theme fish, this battle is 15 minutes longer than usual.

Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Lower House Member), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba vs Yasuo Kawada (Anglerfish Battle)

Chen vs Tadashi Sugita (Shanghai Crab Battle)

An actor known for his cooking skills wants a chance to see what it is like to battle in Kitchen Stadium.

Judges:  Shinichiro Kurimoto (Lower House Member), Hisoko Monda (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

Michiba vs Tatsuo Umemiya (Horse Mackerel Battle)

Quail is the perfect secret ingredient...for the challenger. Can Sakai compete against this master of wild game cooking?

Sakai vs Seiya Kawasaki (Quail Battle)

This challenger is the right hand man of famous chef Zhou Tomitoku. He won the bronze medal at the All China Cooking Skills Contest, beating out 300 other chefs.  Noodle Battle Special Rule: Challenger will cook for 60 minutes, then tasting. Iron Chef will cook for 50 minutes, then cook for his final 10 minutes after challenger tasting is completed.

Judges:	Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Chen vs Toshikatsu Nakagawa (Noodle Battle)

The challenger is a favorite of the manager of the Yakult Swallows baseball team. He is the chef at the hotel where they stay when they come to Osaka to play the Hanshin Tigers. He was once the head chef at the Japanese embassy to Morocco. He is skilled at preparing Cajun food. Many members of the Yakult Swallows are present to watch the battle.

Judges:  Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Michiba vs Hiroshi Furusho (Turkey Battle)

Christmas day brings a strawberry battle and a female competitor. Sakai has a poor track record against women competitors. Will victory be his Christmas present?

Sakai vs Masayo Waki (Strawberry Battle)

The three battles that make up the "Mr. Iron Chef 1994" tournament. Four challengers battle each other and the winner faces an Iron Chef in the first episode of the next year.

Mr. Iron Chef 1994: Preliminaries

The winner of the Mr. Iron Chef 1994 tournament takes on an Iron Chef.

Mr. Iron Chef 1994: Final (Yellowtail)

The first challenger of 1995. The challenger heads a restaurant with seating for only 6, but it has hosted entertainers and even Prince and Princess Mikasa. He apprenticed at one of the oldest restaurants in Japan.

Chen vs Toshiyuki Nakagawa (Mochi Battle)

Yamada left Tokyo University to train as a chef under honourary Iron Chef Ishinabe. Sakai has his mentor in the audience. Diverse factors influence this beet battle.

Sakai vs Koji Yamada (Turnip Battle)

Chen vs Hisao Oidate (Chinese Cabbage Battle)

Kondo is the 4th woman challenger to take on Sakai. This time the dessert battle is best suited for Valentine's Day.

Sakai vs Fuyuko Kondo (Apple & Chocolate Battle)

Acclaimed chef Toshiro Kandagawa sends the only female chef he has ever taught into Kitchen Stadium.

Chen vs Yoshie Urabe (Soybean Battle)

The challenger is the head chef at a restaurant that Iron Chef Michiba himself dines at frequently.  Judges: Tamio Kagayama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba vs Masao Suzuki (Matsuba Crab Battle)

Chen vs Kunihiko Hashimoto (Taro Battle)

Sakai faces a challenger known as "Mr. Gourmet." Komine is a world-class vegetable chef, who feels right at home with the secret ingredient.

Sakai vs Toshihiro Komine (Asparagus Battle)

The challenger makes magical noodle dishes. He is one of only 100 chefs to have received recognition as a High Class Technician. He is the youngest to have qualified for that license. He once headed the kitchen at the Chinese State Guesthouse. He is now the head chef for a hotel in Japan.  Judges: Machi Tawara (Poet), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Shinichiro Kurimoto (Fmr Lower House Member)

Michiba vs Wang Zhijian (Egg Battle)

The challenger is the first pizza expert to enter kitchen stadium. What pizzas can he create from squid?

Chen vs Tetsutoshi Shimazu (Squid Battle)

Shigeo Yuasa uses shocking cooking techniques. His use of test tubes and litmus paper make him seem like a scientist, not a chef. Can Sakai prevail in this new age battle?

Sakai vs Shigeo Yuasa (Cod Battle)

Two hour special featuring Michiba vs. Shu Chu in Battle Spiny Lobster and Chen vs Ron Waikei in Battle Pork

Hong Kong Special: Pork, Spiny Lobster

The Kobe earthquake could not shake this talented female chef, and now she will fight an Iron Chef.

Chen vs Chiyo Cho (Tofu Battle)

Ishinabe vs Tomoyuki Sawaguchi (Flounder Battle)

Sakai vs Kunio Santo (Clam Battle)

Former challenger Kandagawa sends Keisuke to do his bidding. Egos, reputations, and the championship are all on the line.

This challenger is the 6th one sent to Kitchen Stadium by Kandagawa.  Kandagawa is angry at Michiba for some comments the Iron Chef made about him. The challenger is the head chef of one of the Kandagawa restaurants. He has watched 6 battles from the royal box in Kitchen Stadium, so he is very familiar with what it takes to win.  Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Chizuru Azuma (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba vs Keisuke Tamano (Tilefish Battle)

Kenichi  vs Lee Myong Suk (Liver Battle)

Old versus new French cuisine, Club Mistral versus Club des Trentes--a complicated battle deserves a high end ingredient.

Sakai vs Isao Yanagidate (Caviar Battle)

Chen vs Elio Orsara (Kajiki Tuna Battle)

How will the challenger (the king of sauces) deal with broccoli?  Doc Hattori says his sauces are amazing. He even says he wishes he could take on all three Iron Chefs at once. Can he defeat one?  Judges: Mayuko Takata (Actress), Toshiki Kaifu (Fmr PM-Japan), Sachiyo Kaifu (Wife), Yasushi Akimoto

Michiba vs Etsuo Joh (Broccoli Battle)

Sakai vs Katsuo Ohmiya (Onion Battle)

Sakai vs Kazutaka Okabe (Lamb Battle)

The challenger is the top apprentice of the Mother of Chinese cooking in Japan.  Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Fmr Lower House Member), Chizuru Azuma (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba vs Zeng Mingxing (Blue Crab Battle)

Chen vs Yukihiro Noda (Sardine Battle)

Ishinabe vs Yanagidate Isao (Avocado Battle)

Sakai vs Takayoshi Kawai (Sole Battle)

Sakai vs Haruyoshi Omino (Sweetfish Battle)

Chen vs Li Jinlun (Swallow's Nest Battle)

Sakai vs Shinichi Nagamatsu (Eggplant Battle)

Chen vs Hisama Hirano (Sea Urchin Battle)

The challenger is the head chef in Kyoto. He has mastered the style of Ikama-school of culinary arts. To separate his restaurant from the other more traditional restaurants in the area, he began creating new dishes with local ingredients. He is among the top young chefs in Kyoto.  Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Michiba vs Kenji Kaji (Umeboshi Battle)

Tag Team Battle! Two Iron Chefs vs 2 Italian Brothers in the battle of the tomato.  After growing up in Italy, these brothers started their own restaurant in Tokyo. It is so popular that you must make reservations up to 6 months in advance.  Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Songwriter), Hideki Saijo (Singer), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

Michiba and Sakai vs The Cuomo Brothers (Tomato Battle)

Chen vs Yoshiko Takemasa (Short-necked Clam Battle)

Bruant returns to Kitchen Stadium to give the Chairman an ultimatum - if he wins, he must replace Sakai as Iron Chef French.

Sakai vs Joël Bruant (Salmon Battle)

The challenger is the head chef at a members only Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. He watches the Iron Chef episodes that air on TV in California. (Pre-Food Network IC days.) He was born in Los Angeles, but he went to Japan to live with his grandparents when he was 6 months old. He was part of a comedy duo in his teens, but he had to give that up. And while he is an American, he wishes he could be a chef in Japan. The theme ingredients cost about $4,000.

Judges: Junichi Ishida (Actor), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

Michiba vs Minoru Noda (Matsutake Mushroom Battle)

Sakai vs Philippe Aubron (Crayfish Battle)

Chen vs Tsuguo Fujiwara (Sea Cucumber Battle)

Chin VS Hagiwara Masahiko (Freshwater Shrimp Battle)

Sakai vs Sadaharu Nakajima (Rice Battle)

Iron Chef is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1993, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended on September 24, 1999, although occasional specials were produced until 2002. The series aired 309 episodes. Repeats are regularly aired on the Cooking Channel in the United States and on Special Broadcasting Service in Australia. Fuji TV will air a new version of the show, titled Iron Chef, beginning in October 26, 2012.

The Best Seasons of Iron Chef

The Best Seasons of Iron Chef

Season 7

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6