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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...

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  1. 8.6/10(13 votes)

    #1 - Legends of the Mall

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    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.

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  2. 8.4/10(104 votes)

    #2 - Cola Wars

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    S2:E5

    In the 1970s, one major cola brand launches a blind taste test marketing plan that takes direct aim at their biggest competitor. As a new era of competition heats up between the behemoth brands, each side selects a new leader who takes the companies to battle in a rivalry that will birth countless iconic soda products and memorable marketing stunts.

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  3. 8.4/10(57 votes)

    #3 - Pasta Party

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    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.

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  4. 8.4/10(19 votes)

    #4 - Tortilla Takeover

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    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.

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  5. 8.4/10(11 votes)

    #5 - Empire of Convenience

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    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.

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  6. 8.3/10(62 votes)

    #6 - Do or Donut

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    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.

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Food That Built America

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  8. 8.3/10(60 votes)

    #7 - The Beef is On

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    S3:E7

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

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  9. 8.3/10(60 votes)

    #8 - Beyond the Burger

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    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.

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  10. 8.3/10(34 votes)

    #9 - Ice Cream Revolution

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    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.

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  11. 8.3/10(32 votes)

    #10 - Sunshine in a Glass

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    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.

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  12. 8.3/10(30 votes)

    #11 - Champions of Breakfast

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    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.

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  13. 8.3/10(17 votes)

    #12 - Movie Theatre Munchies

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    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.

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  14. 8.3/10(14 votes)

    #13 - Baking Chocolate Chip History

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    S6:E3

    A teacher turned restaurateur invents America's most popular cookie which leads to a battle of food giants, and one of the most iconic packaged cookies in history.

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  15. 8.2/10(91 votes)

    #14 - The Spoils of War

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    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.

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  16. 8.2/10(96 votes)

    #15 - The Chocolate Rush

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    S2:E2

    In 1919, Milton Hershey is king of the chocolate, but everything changes when sugar prices drop in the new post-WWI era. Competitors spring up, including Hershey's former employee HB Reese, who goes on to create one of the bestselling candies ever.

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  17. 8.2/10(92 votes)

    #16 - American Cheese

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    S2:E4

    At the turn of the 20th century, James Kraft challenges centuries of cheese-making tradition and forever alters the dairy industry with his new cheese innovation. Meanwhile, the Pabst brothers are desperate to keep their successful beer empire solvent through Prohibition.

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  18. 8.2/10(90 votes)

    #17 - Chip Dynasties

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    S2:E6

    Herman Lay takes regional and small-time chips business to a national scale with his cutting-edge sales techniques and world-changing packaging technology, while a rival innovator invents a new kind of snack chip that will challenge Lay's crown.

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  19. 8.2/10(72 votes)

    #18 - Submarine Warfare

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    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.

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  20. 8.2/10(59 votes)

    #19 - A Dish Best Served... Soft

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    S3:E4

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

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  21. 8.2/10(55 votes)

    #20 - The Best Thing Since...

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    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.

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  22. 8.2/10(55 votes)

    #21 - Cookie Fortunes

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    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.

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  23. 8.2/10(56 votes)

    #22 - Chain Reaction

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    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.

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  24. 8.2/10(57 votes)

    #23 - Let Them Eat Snack Cakes

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    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.

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  25. 8.2/10(26 votes)

    #24 - Lunchbox Legends

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    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.

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  26. 8.1/10(114 votes)

    #25 - Best Served Cold

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    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.

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Best Episodes Summary

"Legends of the Mall" is the best rated episode of "The Food That Built America". It scored 8.6/10 based on 13 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 3/23/2025. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Cola Wars".