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The Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16

Every episode of Top Chef Season 16 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16!

The Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16

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...
  1. Background image for The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking
    7.1/10(35 votes)

    #1 - The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking

    S16:E1

    In Kentucky, 15 chefs are off to the races at Churchill Downs for the the ride of their lives; the chefs must make a dish that will appeal to a crowd of 200 at a Kentucky Derby party; Churchill Downs' own chef David Danielson serves as guest judge.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo
    7.0/10(33 votes)

    #2 - Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo

    S16:E2

    A pregnant Gail Simmons asks the chefs to feed her cravings; the chefs head to Makers Mark, the oldest U.S. distillery, to put their spins on a meal full of Kentucky classics, including burgoo, Benedictine, mutton, hoe cakes, and dumplings.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Naughty and Nice
    7.3/10(33 votes)

    #3 - Naughty and Nice

    S16:E3

    Richard Blais and Brooke Williamson present a Quickfire challenge; chef Eric Ripert sits down with the chefs to enjoy a traditional French Christmas dinner; Padma tells the chefs they're missing the final part of the tradition of Le Revillon de Noel.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars
    7.1/10(30 votes)

    #4 - Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars

    S16:E4

    The Restaurant Wars challenge comes early this year; first, the chefs duke it out in an amuse bouche-based Quickfire; with 12 chefs remaining, three restaurants battle for victory; Tom makes an announcement that leaves the chefs breathless.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Restaurant Wars Part 2
    7.2/10(28 votes)

    #5 - Restaurant Wars Part 2

    S16:E5

    The Restaurant Wars causes drama and mayhem; Tom announces a double elimination piling on even more pressure; chefs Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton join the restaurant crawl along with Nilou Motamed and guest judge Caroline Styne.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Roaring Munchies
    6.7/10(29 votes)

    #6 - Roaring Munchies

    S16:E6

    The chefs walk in on an epic battle of Last Chance Kitchen and are drafted into the fight; once Tom declares a winner, the chefs begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails; chef Ken Oringer joins for a Roaring Twenties party.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Carne!
    6.7/10(30 votes)

    #7 - Carne!

    S16:E7

    Actress Lena Waithe challenges the chefs to make a trademark Kentucky dish known as the Hot Brown; chef Nancy Silverton and butcher Dario Cecchini break down a whole cow for the chefs to utilize along with locally-sourced ingredients.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Whatever Floats Your Boat
    7.1/10(31 votes)

    #8 - Whatever Floats Your Boat

    S16:E8

    For an elimination challenge, the chefs are split into teams and tasked with throwing houseboat parties on Lake Cumberland; chef Emeril Lagasse joins Padma, Tom and Nilou, along with Capts. Sandy and Lee from "Below Deck" for houseboat hysteria.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Music City Usa
    6.9/10(27 votes)

    #9 - Music City Usa

    S16:E9

    The chefs take a road trip to Nashville and cook on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for country music artist Hunter Hayes. Then, they have to dig deep to create a dish inspired by a vibrant music memory. Next, the chefs work on a plate for a full table of Nashville food and some music personalities, including Caleb Followill, model Lily Aldridge, and Chef Jonathan Waxman.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Hoop Dreams
    6.9/10(28 votes)

    #10 - Hoop Dreams

    S16:E10

    "Top Chef" alum Ed Lee drops by for a Quickfire that's part trivia, part culinary creativity; Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats host a concession-stand cook-off in Rupp Arena; Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis joins the judges.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for The Greatest
    6.7/10(27 votes)

    #11 - The Greatest

    S16:E11

    The chefs take a turn at fried chicken; chef Art Smith judges a secret herbs-and-spices blind taste test ahead of the Quickfire fry-off; after the finger-licking goodness, the chefs turn their attention to boxer Muhammad Ali, aka the Louisville Lip.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Kentucky Farewell
    7.0/10(25 votes)

    #12 - Kentucky Farewell

    S16:E12

    Tom ambushes sleeping chefs and challenges them to make a dish using ingredients harvested from their gardens; for the last elimination challenge, the chefs bid on luxury ingredients at a thoroughbred horse auction house.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Holy Macau!
    7.1/10(27 votes)

    #13 - Holy Macau!

    S16:E13

    The final five chefs travel to the Chinese territory of Macau; Graham Elliot, who has a restaurant in Macau, introduces the chefs to a market full of fascinating ingredients and challenges; the chefs throw a party celebrating the Chinese New Year.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Tao of Macau
    7.4/10(29 votes)

    #14 - The Tao of Macau

    S16:E14

    The final four chefs must cook with the smelly durian fruit; the chefs get a tutorial on the traditional cuisine of Macau; for the elimination challenge, the chefs are tasked with blending their own heritage with Chinese flavors.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Finale
    7.1/10(30 votes)

    #15 - Finale

    S16:E15

    It's the final showdown; the three remaining chefs must create the best four-course meal of their lives; Tom reveals in a twist that only two chefs will get the chance to serve their full menu; only one chef will emerge victorious.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Season 16 Ratings Summary

"The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking" is the best rated episode of "Top Chef" season 16. It scored 7.1/10 based on 35 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 12/6/2018. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo".