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

In the first episode of the series we meet the 12 contestants. For the quickfire challenge they are tested in Fleur de Lys (a San Fransisco restaurant). For the elimination challenge each chef must make their specialty.

Who Deserves To Be Here

For this episode the contestants have to impress Elizabeth Falkner the owner of Citizen Cake. For the elimination challenge the turn up the heat with a "Sexy Dessert" contest for a fetish party for Mistress S.

Food Of Love

For the quickfire challenge the contestants have to cook with octopus. For the elimination round the contestants are put into two teams: Red and Blue. They have to cook monk fish specialties for the kids at the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Nasty Delights

For the quickfire challenge the contestants are brought to a convenience store to buy ingredients for their dish. For the elimination round the contestants must create a delicious entree that can be reheated in a microwave for women at a local Junior League.

Food on the Fly

For the quickfire challenge, the contestants are brought into an isolated room with many random exotic foods. They have to guess what they are with a blindfold on. For the elimination challenge the contestants are put into pairs and have to make fusion dishes with Latin and one other type of cuisine.

Blind Confusion

For the quickfire challenge the contestants are put under some serious money restraints. They have to choose from ingredients that are put in front of them that are priced by the pound and can only spend up to three dollars, but all the food on the Top Chef pantry was free.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

For the quickfire challenge the contestants must make a gourmet sandwich. The winner doesn't get immunity but a sandwich on chef Tom Colicchio's menu at his new sandwich restaurant. For the Elimination Challenge the contestants are put into teams and have to basically create a restaurant and menu. The restaurants would be set up in two different rooms in the same building, both visible from the entrance. The menus will be displayed in the waiting area so the customers can choose which restaurant they want to eat at, then rate their dining experience.

Restaurant Wars

Teams compete for the chance to cater a commitment ceremony.

Wedding Bell Blues

The four remaining contestants cook for some of Napa Valley's most respected chefs.

Napa's Finest

Contestants reminisce about the competition.

Reunion

Finale (1)

The final two contestants compete in the last elimination round to see who will become Top Chef.

Finale (2)

Fifteen new contestants are introduced for Top Chef's second season in Los Angeles by new host Padma Lakshmi.

Guest Judge: Harold Dieterle.

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using the Flambé Technique. Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish Using all Five Mystery Box Ingredients.

Into the Fire

An Asian culinary theme runs through this episode's challenges. First the contestants put their own twists on sushi, then they work as teams to participate in a charity event.

Guest Judge: Hiroshi Shima – QuickFire Challenge.

Guest Judge: Ming Tsai – Elimination Challenge 

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Sushi Dish in 30 Minutes.

Elimination Challenge: Work as Two Teams to Create One Hot and One Cold Dish Using Flavors from Korea and Vietnam.

Eastern Promise

The 13 remaining contestants are asked to make food for everyday people: beach goers and firemen.

Guest Judge: Stephen Bulgarelli.

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Original Ice Cream Flavor.

T.G.I. Friday's Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish Updating a Childhood Classic.

Food for the People

Attention to detail will be rated during this round. The chefs are asked to create a tidbit from not so tidbit-y choices, and then must serve a meal to kids at a fitness camp.

Guest Judge: Suzanne Goin

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Amuse-Bouche. Elimination Challenge: Create a Meal That Does not Exceed 500 Calories.

Less is More

This round is all about leftovers and the chefs’ ability to be creative with difficult ingredients. They must make fine cuisine from truly disgusting fare, and then create a multi-course affair from only a restaurant’s refrigerated remains of the night before.

Guest Judge: Michelle Bernstein

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish using "Offal" the Leftover Parts of Animals.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Luncheon for Sixty Using the Leftovers from the Social Menu.

Social Service

Taking the traditional and turning it on its ear is tonight's theme. The chefs are asked to make canned food pretty, and then a smaller group must make a "cutting edge" Thanksgiving dinner.

Guest Judge: Anthony Bourdain

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Tasty Dish Using at Least Three Canned Ingredients. Elimination Challenge: Create a Thanksgiving Meal with a Twist.

Thanksgiving

This round's theme is all about working with limitations. The contestants must create a dish that is not cooked, and then adapt when they're asked to plan a dish without knowing the kitchen equipment available to them.

Guest Judge: Raphael Lunetta

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Entree Using Only Raw Food Without any Cooking.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Gourmet Breakfast for Mystery Athletes.

The Raw and the Cooked

It's all a party when the contestants are asked to put their skills to work on both hors d'oeuvres and spirits. This round focuses on entertaining as the chefs are first asked to create an original drink accompanied by a small snack, then they must change gears and cater a holiday event.

Guest Judge: Kristin Woodward – QuickFire Challenge Guest Judge: Lee Hefter – Elimination Challenge

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Original Bailey's Holiday Cocktail.

Elimination Challenge: Cater a Hollywood Holiday Party.

Holiday Spirit

Tonight's theme focuses on the chefs' creativity in using food as an expression of art. They first must create a dish using one color – a hard task for the color-blind chef, then the contestants are "given" their inspiration for a theme to a star-studded dinner. 

Guest Judge: Ted Allen QuickFire & Elimination 

Guest Judge: Roberto Ivan Elimination 

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using One Color. 

Elimination Challenge: Create a Seven Course Dinner Inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins.

Seven

This round's theme deals with vision and execution, challenging the chefs' to create original ideas that can also be achieved. First up is snack food limited by three condiments, then on to this season's version of "Restaurant Wars".

Guest Judge: Mike Yakura

Kraft QuickFire Challenge: Create a Gourmet Snack Dish.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Restaurant Concept & Menu, then Execute It with Your Team.

Unhappy Customers

The sensuality of food runs through this round's challenges as the five remaining chefs are asked to determine what they want the diner to experience and then create a dish that carries this through. First up is everything chocolate, then they must prepare a meal for couples who are all celebrating anniversaries.

Guest Judge: Eric Ripert

Nestlé Chocolatier QuickFire Challenge: Create a Sweet or Savory Dish using Nestlé Chocolatier.

Elimination Challenge: Create a Romantic Dinner with Paired Wines.

Sense and Sensuality

Location, location, location! The remaining chefs travel to Hawaii for this round, and must use food native to the island for a luau that ends with naming the final contestants.

Guest Judge: Alan Wong

QuickFire Challenge: There is none in this round.

Elimination Challenge: Prepare a Birthday Luau, Reformulating Traditional Luau Fare into each Chef's Own Style.

Round Twelve.

The final two contestants battle for the title of "Top Chef."

Guest Judge: Hubert Keller

Final Challenge: Cook the Best Five Course Meal Each Chef has Ever Prepared in his Life.

Getting to know each other is the theme for this first round. The new crop of fifteen chefs arrives in Miami, and then they are given two challenges – one with leftovers – to introduce themselves and their cooking to their fellow contestants and the judges.

Guest Judge: Anthony Bourdain.

QuickFire Challenge: Create an Amuse-Bouche in 10 Minutes

Elimination Challenge: Create a Surf & Turf Dish Using Exotic Ingredients

First Impressions

Tonight's theme is sunshine, and first the contestants must use a product of that sunshine, citrus. Then they are asked to demonstrate their catering skills at an event which requires sunshine, a gourmet BBQ party.

Guest Chef: Norman Van Aken

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using Florida Citrus

Kingsford Elimination Challenge: Create an Upscale BBQ Dish

Sunny Delights

This week the remaining chefs must first catch fresh seafood, and then put a fresh twist on American dinner staples for members of the Miami Elks Club.

Guest Judge: Alfred Portale

QuickFire Challenge: Catch & Cook Shellfish

Elimination Challenge: Update Classic Dishes into Modern Lower Cholesterol Meals

Family Favorites

The contestants mix it up with Bombay Sapphire mixologist Jamie Walker, and then ply their trade at a gastronomic society. Barton G. Weiss of Miami's Barton G. the Restaurant serves as guest judge.

Cooking by Numbers

Timing is the theme for this round as the 11 remaining chefs are asked to be creative with a time-saving pastry and then serve lunch to clients on a tight schedule.

Guest Judge: Maria Frumkin

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using a Frozen Pie Crust.

Elimination Challenge: Cater a Latin Lunch for the Cast & Crew of Telemundo's Dame Chocolate.

Latin Lunch

In a special episode, Bravo's Andy Cohen sits down with past and current contestants to explore their experiences in the competition

Watch What Happens

The chef's taste buds are put to the test, and then they must "cook" for a frozen challenge. Rocco DiSpirito acts as guest judge.

Freezer Burn

This round's theme is guilty pleasures. First the chefs must work with Summer's guilty institution, ice cream, and then they move on to Miami's night life, but there's a surprise in store for them. 

Guest Judge: Govind Armstrong 

QuickFire Challenge: Coldstone Creamery Mix-in Challenge (Create Original Mix-ins for Their Sweet Cream Flavor). 

Elimination Challenge: Create Late Night Bar food in a Mobile Kitchen.

Guilty Pleasures

The chefs are told that they must create the perfect burger. Then, they must create a new restaurant concept, including a great menu. Chef Daniel Boulud is the guest judge.

Chef Geoffrey Zakarian guest judges a relay race challenge. The chefs get another try at "Restaurant Wars," continued from last episode.

Second Helping

Chef Michael Schwartz helps to judge challenges that involve a cruise ship buffet and creativity in a grocery store.

Chef Overboard

Jimmy Canora guests on an episode that takes to the skies when the chefs take on the dreaded plane cuisine.

Snacks on a Plane

Sirio Maccione guest judges a QuickFire where the chefs must recreate one of his dishes, then they must impress four more chefs, including Andre Soltner, in elimination.

Manhattan Project

The remaining chefs make the move to Aspen, Colorado for the semifinal and the decision of who the final two will be.

The cast and contestants get together to reminisce about the season and answer questions.

The 16 new contestants face their first QuickFire and Elimination rounds using themes from Chicago's regional cuisine.

Anything You Can Cook I Can Cook Better

A farmers' market takes prominence in this week's QuickFire, and an exotic location is the setting for the Elimination round as the remaining chefs cook for guest judge Wylie Dufresne.

Zoo Food

The contestants mix it up with Rick Bayless while creating a fiesta for a community.

Block Party

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

Film Food

The dreaded taste test is back, and even before the chefs recover from it they must cater a charity event. Ming Tsai Guest Judges this week.

The Elements

Simple pleasures is the theme for tonight's round as the chefs must create a dish that complements beer, and then throw a tailgate extravaganza for fans of the local team.

Guest Judge: Paul Kahan – Elimination Challenge

Guest Judge: Koren Grieveson – QuickFire Challenge

QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish that Pairs Perfectly with Beer

Elimination Challenge: Cater a Tailgating Party for Chicago Bears Fans

Tailgating

The chefs begin with a sugary challenge, and then move to the historic Second City Theatre where their improvisational skills will be tested by masters of the art – one of the resident troupes. Johnny Iuzzini from Jean Georges restaurant guest judges.

Improv

The microwaves are back, and this time the contestants are to make a healthy meal using a single main ingredient. Chef Art Smith, owner of Table 52 in Chicago performs guest judge duties.

Common Threads

The remaining chefs' knife skills are challenged again, followed by a wedding reception challenge which might bring the blades out for an entirely different purpose.

Wedding Wars

Salad, one of the least respected dishes by chefs, takes center stage tonight as the contestants are challenged to reformulate it, then they continue with the healthy kick by trimming calories and all things bad from a classic entrée.

Serve and Protect

It's all about service tonight as the chefs work the line during a breakfast rush at a diner, and then create their own restaurants from scratch. Washington, D.C. Chef and restaurant owner José Andrés guest judges.

QuickFire Challenge: Work a Short Order Egg Station

Elimination Challenge: Restaurant Wars

Guest Head Judge: Anthony Bourdain

The remaining chefs' butcher skills are tested, and then they must use the cut of meat they made. Guest judge Rick Tramonto, a Chicago chef and restaurant entrepreneur.

High Steaks

There are four chefs and only three spots for the final round, and the contestants know it as they travel to Puerto Rico for the next two challenges.

Guest Judge - Wilo Benet

QuickFire Challenge: Make Two Frituras featuring Plantains

Elimination Challenge: Use a Whole Pig to create Dishes for a Governor's Mansion Event

Puerto Rico

The finalists cook "the most important meal of their lives" for the judges to determine which will be crowned Top Chef.

Guest Judges/Sous Chefs: April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig Dan Barber of Blue Hill and Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin Restaurant

Special Guest Judges: Alfredo Ayala and Tim Zagat

Final Challenge: Create a traditional four course tasting menu

Finale

Season four cast and judges gather to reminisce and learn the winner of the fan favorite contest.

One chef is eliminated in a three-round quickfire involving apples. The remaining chefs create dishes representing the ethnic cuisines of several New York neighborhoods.

Melting Pot

After re-inventing the hot dog for the quickfire challenge, the chefs cook and serve lunch at Tom's flagship restaurant, Craft.

Show Your Craft

For the quickfire, the chefs recreate dishes from the Top Chef cookbook. In the elimination challenge, they cook Thanksgiving dinner for the Foo Fighters at the band's tour stop in Syracuse, N.Y.

Foo Fighters Thanksgiving

After creating a breakfast amuse-bouche for the quickfire, the contestants compete in a live food demonstration challenge in order to earn a booking on "Today."

Today Show

For the quickfire, chefs must identify ingredients in a dish. For the elimination challenge, the contestants cater a bridal shower for judge Gail Simmons.

Gail's Bridal Shower

Domestic guru Martha Stewart oversees the quick fire challenge in this holiday-themed edition. Then, actress Natasha Richardson is the guest judge when the cooks cater a Christmas cocktail party in which the proceeds go to the AIDS research.

12 Days of Christmas

The chefs must create a sweet dish without using sugar (guest judge: chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe Novelli). In the elimination challenge, chefs prepare a family-style meal for blind judging.

Focus Group

Contestants shop for fresh ingredients at a farm and then create a dinner for the farm workers.

Down on the Farm

Two teams have 24 hours to design and open competing restaurants.

A Super Bowl cook-off against seven all-stars from previous seasons.

Super Bowl Chef Showdown

After a three-round fish filleting tournament, the contestants cook at Le Bernadin where their final product will be judged by chef Eric Ripert.

Le Bernardin

Wylie Dufresne judges a quickfire challenge of egg dishes. For the elimination challenge, the five remaining chefs each cook a "last supper" dish requested by a culinary superstar.

The Last Supper

The season finale finds the chefs traveling from New York to New Orleans. While in the "Big Easy" they will be challenged to kick it up a notch when celebrity judge/chef Emeril Lagasse stops by to appraise their culinary skills.

Finale, Part 1

Set in New Orleans, season 5 ends as the winning chef is revealed.

Finale, Part 2

Andy Cohen hosts a candid gathering of season five's chefs and judges.

Watch What Happens Reunion

17 fresh chefs infiltrate sin city to take on culinary challenges in the season six premier.

Sin City Vice

The male chefs and the female chefs compete in a battle of the sexes in catering a poolside bachelor and bachelorette party.

Bachelor/Ette Party

The chefs will be creating meals for the US Air Force Thunderbirds, the most renowned aircraft demonstration squadron.

Thunderbirds

The contestants pair up to create the perfect French dish for acclaimed chefs Joël Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, Hubert Keller, Laurent Tourondel and Jean Joho.

Vivre Las Vegas

The contestants cook with cactus, sleep under the stars, and prepare a menu for Las Vegas cowboys; chef Tim Love serves as a guest judge.

Camping

The contestants deconstruct a classic dish for magicians Penn & Teller. Chef Michelle Bernstein serves as a guest judge.

Penn & Teller

A slot machine determines the guidelines for the quick-fire challenge; the contestants prepare a special dinner for members of the Macy's Culinary Council.

Dinner Party

The chefs head to guest judge Charlie Palmer's Aureole restaurant to host a ``Pig and Pinot'' event.

Pigs and Pinot

Chef Rick Moonen's restaurant is taken over by the contestants and then he serves as their guest judge.

The chefs head to Las Vegas to visit "Craft Steak" and cook for actress Natalie Portman and friends.

Meat Natalie

Past chefs recount their favorite moments from the series.

All Stars Dinner

The chefs must make the perfect breakfast in bed dish. Nigella Lawson serves as guest judge.

Strip Around the World

A challenge based on the Bocuse d'Or. Guest judges include Jerome Bocuse and Thomas Keller.

Culinary Olympics

The final four chefs compete in Napa Valley to determine who will be the final three.

The final three chefs attempt to earn the title of 'Top Chef.'

Chefs and judges reminisce about the season and answer viewer questions.

The season will include 17 contestants, as in prior seasons. Eric Ripert will replace Toby Young on Top Chef's judging panel.

The new chefs introduce themselves by cooking a dish that best represents their home districts while layering in their own signatures.

House of Chef-presentatives

The chefs are asked to do their part to help end childhood obesity and support First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" national initiative by serving a healthy lunch at a local middle school. Guest Judge: White House chef Sam Kass

Outside the Lunch Box

The dreaded desserts take up the Quickfire where the chefs must make a pie from scratch, and then it's off to Capitol Hill where they are tasked with creating a perfect grilled picnic for the interns there

Capitol Grill

Padma's baby is hungry, so tonight's Quickfire requires the contestants to create food to tempt Krishna's budding palate. Next, they are paired together for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the in-room dining kitchen.

Room Service

Fresh is best tonight as the chefs gather crabs for the Quickfire, and then travel to a Virginia farm where its bounty will supply the ingredients for dinner.

Farm Policy

The chefs are divided into teams to concoct entrées in a form best served cold.

Cold War

The contestants prepare lunch for the movers and shakers at one of the city's most famous restaurants.

Power Lunch

The chefs test their version of Ethiopian cuisine with Top Chef Masters' Marcus Samuelsson, and then must create a dish inspired by one of the foreign embassies there in the district.

Foreign Affairs

The most anticipated and, arguably, the hardest challenge of the competition returns as the remaining chefs divide into two teams to conceive and debut their restaurants.

The chefs are asked to take common recipes and create their own completely original redesigned dish.

Covert Cuisine

The contestants take on America's favorite pastime when they take over the concession stands at the Washington Nationals' home, Nationals Park.

Making Concessions

The chefs are tasked with adding flavor to the food American astronauts eat. The final taste test will take place off-planet.

Gastro-nauts

The competition moves to Singapore as the chefs are winnowed down to the final three.

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 or more contestants eliminated in each episode.

The Best Seasons of Top Chef

The Best Seasons of Top Chef

Season 20

Season 22

Season 21

Season 17

Season 8

Season 6

Season 5

Season 9

Season 4

Season 10

Season 15

Season 16

Season 14

Season 12

Season 18

Season 3

Season 19

Season 13

Season 11

Season 1

Season 2

Season 7