The Food That Built America backdrop
The Food That Built America poster
Documentary

The Best Episodes of The Food That Built America

Every episode of The Food That Built America ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Food That Built America!

The Best Episodes of The Food That Built America

The fascinating stories of the families behind the food that built America, those who used brains, muscle, blood, sweat and tears to get to America's...

Seasons6

  1. Background image for Legends of the Mall
    8.5/10(20 votes)

    #1 - Legends of the Mall

    S6:E5

    Early American malls have no food court, until a cinnamon bun, a pretzel, and a panda all move in to create three of the world's most iconic food brands and transform the American Mall.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Pasta Party
    8.4/10(58 votes)

    #2 - Pasta Party

    S3:E12

    Hector and Mario Boiardi open an Italian restaurant in Cleveland in 1924 and soon introduce Italian food to Americans; the brothers eventually find themselves in competition with James Kraft and his newest offering, macaroni and cheese.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Tortilla Takeover
    8.4/10(21 votes)

    #3 - Tortilla Takeover

    S6:E1

    Bold visionaries take big risks to bring Mexican food to all Americans, by creating the best-selling condiment on the planet, two of the most famous snack chip brands of all time and innovating the iconic pairing of chips and salsa.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Empire of Convenience
    8.4/10(19 votes)

    #4 - Empire of Convenience

    S6:E4

    The first convenience store is born, and with new innovations like late hours, to-go coffee, and America's most beloved slushy drink, it rises into an iconic chain with more locations than any other store or restaurant in the world.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Do or Donut
    8.3/10(64 votes)

    #5 - Do or Donut

    S3:E3

    When a commercial caterer realizes his two best selling items are donuts and coffee, he joins forces with his brother-in-law to create a revolutionary donut chain; soon a rivalry starts with a beloved Southern-based donut shop.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for The Beef is On
    8.3/10(61 votes)

    #6 - The Beef is On

    S3:E7

    When Col. Sanders sells his company to investors in 1964, the new owners identify a rising star within the organization: Dave Thomas.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Food That Built America

    READ
  8. Background image for Beyond the Burger
    8.3/10(62 votes)

    #7 - Beyond the Burger

    S3:E9

    Restaurateur Glen Bell works to create a burger alternative for the fast-food market and after several setbacks goes on to help introduce the taco to America; two brothers look to beat the burger by betting that a roast beef sandwich can compete.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Ice Cream Revolution
    8.3/10(35 votes)

    #8 - Ice Cream Revolution

    S5:E2

    A cab driver turned ice cream entrepreneur comes up with the idea to mix name brand candy into high quality ice cream to create new novel flavors. After opening an ice cream shop to share his mix-in creations, his concept skyrockets.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Sunshine in a Glass
    8.3/10(33 votes)

    #9 - Sunshine in a Glass

    S5:E4

    A scientist and businessman team up to develop a Vitamin C rich war ration for the troops fighting in World War 2, which unexpectedly leads to the development of a frozen concentrated orange juice that tastes great and allows for the widespread distribution of OJ for the first time in history. Soon after, a fruit salesman develops a process of flash pasteurizing fresh orange juice that turns the fledgling industry on its head. The two companies will go on to battle it out for domination.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Champions of Breakfast
    8.3/10(32 votes)

    #10 - Champions of Breakfast

    S5:E7

    Will Kellogg is on top of the cereal industry after beating out post, but now, the king of cereal has met his match with a young flour mill executive; a decades long war for dominance ensues as Kellogg's and General Mills battle it out.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for A Box of Chocolates
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    #11 - A Box of Chocolates

    S6:E7

    Stephen Whitman introduces Americans to chocolate candy in a sampler box, Russell Stover builds a competing company, and both iconic brands help turn chocolate from an unknown import to a boxed American staple given as a gift of love to this day.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Asian Food Invasion
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #12 - Asian Food Invasion

    S6:E9

    A down-on-his-luck Japanese businessman and a Chinese immigrant and her son change the American palette when they introduce instant noodles in a cup, Peking Duck, and the biggest Chinese restaurant chain in the nation.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for The Spoils of War
    8.2/10(92 votes)

    #13 - The Spoils of War

    S1:E3

    As the Great Depression hits, the titans of food push the envelope of innovation to feed a hungry nation. Then WWII sees competing industrial empires joining the war effort in a united front to fuel the forces fighting for freedom abroad. And in Post-War America, visionaries like Harland Sanders, the McDonald brothers and Ray Kroc battle to revolutionize the restaurant industry, and pave the way for the golden age of the American dream.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Submarine Warfare
    8.2/10(74 votes)

    #14 - Submarine Warfare

    S3:E1

    High School friends see an alternative to fast food with the "submarine" sandwich. But they are quickly met with the fierce competition of a new submarine joint, started by a physicist, that is trying to perfect the art of the franchise, and will go on to be the biggest restaurant chain in the world.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for A Dish Best Served... Soft
    8.2/10(60 votes)

    #15 - A Dish Best Served... Soft

    S3:E4

    When his ice cream truck breaks down, Tom Carvel discovers that half-melted ice cream is a surefire hit with customers.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for The Best Thing Since...
    8.2/10(57 votes)

    #16 - The Best Thing Since...

    S3:E5

    In a quest to dominate the growing commercial bread industry, Lee Marshall bets on a new kind of white loaf, unwittingly inspiring a homemaker named Margaret Rudkin to come up with a healthier alternative.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Cookie Fortunes
    8.2/10(56 votes)

    #17 - Cookie Fortunes

    S3:E6

    Hollywood agent Wally Amos transforms his professional life when he decides to make and sell his own gourmet chocolate chip cookies, and opens America's first cookie store; housewife Debbi Fields opens her homestyle cookie shop in a mall.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Chain Reaction
    8.2/10(58 votes)

    #18 - Chain Reaction

    S3:E10

    Former wrestler Rocky Aoki and a perfume salesman become the unlikely fathers of a casual dining revolution when they open different establishments in the heart of New York City: one of America's first Japanese restaurants and a swinging singles bar.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Let Them Eat Snack Cakes
    8.2/10(58 votes)

    #19 - Let Them Eat Snack Cakes

    S3:E11

    Martha Entenmann takes the reins of her late husband's baking company and grows it into a national powerhouse; a married couple bankrupt one bakery, but succeed their second time around with a revolutionary way to sell snack cakes.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Thirst Quenchers
    8.2/10(43 votes)

    #20 - Thirst Quenchers

    S4:E12

    Before juice was everywhere, these innovators used brilliant ingenuity to create the most nostalgic drink products and thirst quenchers of the last century, leading the charge on a new billion dollar beverage industry.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for Lunchbox Legends
    8.2/10(28 votes)

    #21 - Lunchbox Legends

    S5:E9

    Lunchtime is one of the most enjoyable meals of every kid's day, but before the 1960s it was just another meal; then, three very different food visionaries take matters into their own hands.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Movie Theatre Munchies
    8.2/10(20 votes)

    #22 - Movie Theatre Munchies

    S6:E2

    A struggling chocolate maker and a young theater assistant create the movie theater concession stand as we know it and launch the world's most iconic movie candies.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Best Served Cold
    8.1/10(115 votes)

    #23 - Best Served Cold

    S1:E2

    At the dawn of the 20th Century, a new breed of innovator rises up to expand American industry and push the limits of new technology. A trailblazer named Milton Hershey bets big on a revolutionary idea, and then a father and son duo named Mars start on a path to challenge the chocolate throne. Plus, the titans of food weather the storm of the First World War and push the boundaries of invention in the Roaring Twenties.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Supermarket Sweep
    8.1/10(43 votes)

    #24 - Supermarket Sweep

    S4:E13

    At the turn of the 20th century, Bernard Kroger and another upstart grocer come up with genius innovations that help invent the modern supermarket.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for All American Marinara
    8.1/10(38 votes)

    #25 - All American Marinara

    S5:E1

    Imagine a world where marinara sauce isn't part of the American palate. That was true nearly sixty years ago, when food conglomerate Campbells kickstarts what will become an Italian American food staple.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"Legends of the Mall" is the best rated episode of "The Food That Built America". It scored 8.5/10 based on 20 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/23/2025. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Pasta Party".