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The Best Episodes of Top Chef

Every episode of Top Chef ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Top Chef!

Binge this in 9d 21h•Peaking at 9.0/10

An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Top Chef Season 11 Episode 1 - Soiree In The Swamp
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Soiree In The Swamp

    S11:E1

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Top Chef Season 17 Episode 8 - Restaurant Wars
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Restaurant Wars

    S17:E8

    It’s Restaurant Wars and this season Padma takes all the limitations off the table as the chefs can make as much food as they want and shop wherever they choose. The two winning chefs from last week’s concept challenge are given 48 hours to pick their teams and make the restaurants they pitched come to life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 2 - Rebuilding New Orleans
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Rebuilding New Orleans

    S11:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 13 - Oui Si a Challenge
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Oui Si a Challenge

    S11:E13

    Chef Jacques Pepin tests the contestants; the contestants create French and Spanish dishes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 15 - Leaving New Orleans
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Leaving New Orleans

    S11:E15

    The chefs battle for a new car in the Quickfire; the chefs must show how New Orleans has impacted their food.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 16 - Maui Wowie
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Maui Wowie

    S11:E16

    Top Chef returns to Hawaii for the final rounds. Tonight, the remaining chefs must deal with Spam in the Quickfire.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Top Chef

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  7. Top Chef Season 20 Episode 14 - Fin.
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #7 - Fin.

    S20:E14

    The finalists are on top of the world as they’ve made it to the finale in Paris. The final three will have the opportunity to cook the meal of their lives for Padma, Tom and Gail, along with a table of culinary luminaries. The guests include Marcus Samuelsson, May Chow, Daniela Soto-Innes, Clare Smyth, Simon Rogan, Ángel León, Food & Wine magazine’s Hunter Lewis, Michelin Guide’s International Director Gwendal Poullennec and “Top Chef France” Judge Hélène Darroze. The chefs lay it all on the table in their final challenge, but only one will take home the ultimate title of “Top Chef” World All-Star.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Top Chef Season 23 Episode 2 - Puckerbutt
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #8 - Puckerbutt

    S23:E2

    For this week’s Quickfire Challenge, the chefs are tasked with creating a savory dish inspired by a sweet treat. Then the chefs head to PuckerButt Farms for a pepper tasting with Ed Currie, the inventor of the world’s hottest pepper. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are split into two teams and must create a progressively hotter menu. “Top Chef” season 12 winner Mei Lin joins Kristen, Tom and Gail at the judges’ table.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Top Chef Season 20 Episode 8 - Street Food Fight
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #9 - Street Food Fight

    S20:E8

    Guest judge Judy Joo surprises the chefs by challenging them to create delicious street food-inspired dishes; the chefs must get inspiration from the new "Fast X" movie for the largest and fastest mise en place race.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Top Chef Season 4 Episode 4 - Film Food
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Film Food

    S4:E4

    The remaining chefs demonstrate their aptitude with knives, and then help Richard Roeper throw a film-themed dinner. Daniel Boulud guest judges.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 3 - Commander's Palace
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Commander's Palace

    S11:E3

    An elimination quickfire challenge; replicating legacy dishes in the elimination challenge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 5 - Lea Michele's Halloween Bash
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Lea Michele's Halloween Bash

    S11:E5

    Tools and ingredients are wrapped in aluminum foil; the chefs cater a Halloween party for singer/actress Lea Michele, and the food must be spooky and vegetarian.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 6 - Campfires, Cream Cheese and Countryside
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Campfires, Cream Cheese and Countryside

    S11:E6

    The creole tomato; the contestants try to impress up-scale chefs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 7 - Jazz Hands
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Jazz Hands

    S11:E7

    A food version of musical chairs; the chefs cater a jazzy event.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 8 - Piggin' Out
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Piggin' Out

    S11:E8

    The contestants make their own hot sauce; the chefs butcher and cook a 300-pound pig.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 9 - Restaurant Wars
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Restaurant Wars

    S11:E9

    The contestants create pop-up restaurants to impress the judges.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 10 - Like Mama Made
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Like Mama Made

    S11:E10

    The chefs must make dishes that remind them of home; Actor Anthony Mackie joins the judges.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 11 - Giving It the College Try
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Giving It the College Try

    S11:E11

    Questlove judges various types of poultry drumsticks; the chefs head to LSU's campus to serve incoming students.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 12 - Mississippi Mud Bugs
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Mississippi Mud Bugs

    S11:E12

    The contestants create their own versions of etouffe; seafood dishes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 14 - Po' Boy Smackdown
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Po' Boy Smackdown

    S11:E14

    Po' boys in the Quickfire; the contestants put their own culinary visions on a plate.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 17 - Finale
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Finale

    S11:E17

    The two remaining chefs open pop-up restaurants for the final challenge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 1 - Primal Instincts
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Primal Instincts

    S19:E1

    Fifteen of the country’s best chefs arrive in Houston, Texas, ready to fight for the title of “Top Chef.” The opening Quickfire proves to be the toughest first challenge to date when the chefs must team up to create a cohesive dish that showcases each of their styles, but cannot speak to each other during the cook. The stakes only get higher for the Elimination Challenge as the chefs must perfectly cook primal cuts of beef for a table of distinguished Houston chefs including, Robert Del Grande of The Annie Café as well as Top Chef alums Dawn Burrell and Kristen Kish.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 2 - Friday Night Bites
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Friday Night Bites

    S19:E2

    The chefs are challenged in the Quickfire to put their own spin on the Tex-Mex classic queso, judged by local legend Chef Irma Galvan. For the Elimination Challenge, the competition heads to the field of a high school football stadium. Working in two teams of seven coached by all-star alumni Sam Talbot and Dawn Burrell, they’ll create seven carb-loaded dishes that will be served in a head-to-head battle. The team that scores a touchdown first wins. Tom, Padma and Gail will be joined by award winning Chef Chris Shepherd and Top Chef Charleston winner Brooke Williamson at the judges' table.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 3 - Noodles and Rice and Everything Nice
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #24 - Noodles and Rice and Everything Nice

    S19:E3

    For their first individual challenge of the season, the chefs are surprised in the kitchen by “Top Chef” Miami winner Hung Huynh and challenged to make an Asian-inspired dish. Nothing, however, on “Top Chef” is that simple. Along with Hung, the judges and renowned chef Kiran Verma, they’ll be serving 100 guests at “Top Chef’s” first Asian Night Market.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 4 - Doppelgangers
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #25 - Doppelgangers

    S19:E4

    The chefs are joined by local chef Chris Williams in the Quickfire Challenge; He tasks the chefs to put their own twist on a biscuit dish in honor of his great grandmother, Lucille B. Smith.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Soiree In The Swamp" is the best rated episode of "Top Chef". It scored 9/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/2/2013. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Restaurant Wars".