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The Worst Episodes of Top Chef

Every episode of Top Chef ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Top Chef!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Top Chef Season 6 Episode 15 - Finale (2)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Finale (2)

    S6:E15

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Top Chef Season 6 Episode 16 - Watch What Happens Reunion
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Watch What Happens Reunion

    S6:E16

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 17 - Finale
    5.1/10(37 votes)

    #3 - Finale

    S11:E17

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 6 - Texas Trailblaze-hers
    5.5/10(64 votes)

    #4 - Texas Trailblaze-hers

    S19:E6

    The chefs must create salty-sweet desserts that will inspire a new flavor of Talenti gelato; in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must draw inspiration from the lives of some of Texas's most influential women.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Top Chef Season 1 Episode 2 - Food Of Love
    5.8/10(73 votes)

    #5 - Food Of Love

    S1:E2

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Top Chef Season 2 Episode 13 - Finale (2)
    6.2/10(51 votes)

    #6 - Finale (2)

    S2:E13

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Top Chef Season 13 Episode 5 - Big Gay Wedding
    6.2/10(36 votes)

    #7 - Big Gay Wedding

    S13:E5

    Top dishes for dates are served up by the chefs in Palm Springs, Cal. Later, they cater a wedding for 25 gay couples. Appearing: model Chrissy Teigen and foodie Art Smith.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Top Chef Season 18 Episode 12 - The Cheesier the Better
    6.2/10(41 votes)

    #8 - The Cheesier the Better

    S18:E12

    As the final four chefs near the end of their journey in Portland, Padma is joined by Vitaly Paley and Gregory Gourdet to introduce an old school Quickfire Challenge paying homage to the Oregon Trail. For the Elimination Challenge, legendary chef and special guest Massimo Bottura tasks the chefs to pull inspiration from his famous parmigiano reggiano dish and create delectable dishes utilizing cheddar five different ways. To gain inspiration, the chefs embark on a tour of the Tillamook Creamery. Dale Talde and Ed Lee serve as this week’s guest judges and help determine which three chefs move forward.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Top Chef Season 18 Episode 13 - Shellfishly Delicious
    6.2/10(41 votes)

    #9 - Shellfishly Delicious

    S18:E13

    The remaining chefs get an early wake-up call from Padma to go meet guest judge Brooke Williamson and dig for clams for their Quickfire Challenge. In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs honor the area where James Beard spent his summers, creating both a hot dish and a cold dish with one of his favorite ingredients, Dungeness Crab. Kwame Onwuachi and Nina Compton serve as guest judges this week to help determine which chefs will move on to the finale.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 9 - Freedmen's Town
    6.2/10(56 votes)

    #10 - Freedmen's Town

    S19:E9

    The chefs are tasked with creating a monochromatic plant-based dish for their Quickfire Challenge; for the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are tasked with creating dishes that speak to their souls for a block party fundraiser.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Top Chef Season 15 Episode 3 - Keep on Truckin
    6.3/10(33 votes)

    #11 - Keep on Truckin

    S15:E3

    In a Sudden Death Quickfire based on the iconic Denver omelet, the intensity in the kitchen is egg-ceptional as one chef completely cracks under the pressure in one of the most gut wrenching eliminations in Top Chef history as judged by Padma, Tom and Chef Lachlan Patterson. Then, the cheftestants tap into their college palates as they make dishes in food trucks for students in Boulder. Internet sensation, Logan Paul helps wrangle the diners and Chef Hosea Rosenberg joins the judges for indulgent, hangover inspired food.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Top Chef Season 18 Episode 3 - Pan African Portland
    6.3/10(67 votes)

    #12 - Pan African Portland

    S18:E3

    The pressure is laid on the chefs in the Quickfire Challenge as they are tasked to make a layered dessert. Carrie Baird joins Padma to pick the winner, who will get their dish turned into a Talenti gelato to be sold nationwide. Gregory Gourdet and Kwame Onwuachi take the chefs on a tour of restaurants in Portland that feature food from the African diaspora. For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must make dishes inspired by their tour for the judging and dining panel, as well as the restaurant’s owners.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Top Chef Season 1 Episode 4 - Food on the Fly
    6.4/10(62 votes)

    #13 - Food on the Fly

    S1:E4

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 12 - Mississippi Mud Bugs
    6.4/10(33 votes)

    #14 - Mississippi Mud Bugs

    S11:E12

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 13 - Oui Si a Challenge
    6.4/10(33 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. Top Chef Season 13 Episode 4 - It's a Dry Heat
    6.4/10(34 votes)

    #16 - It's a Dry Heat

    S13:E4

    Palm Springs, Cal., is the destination for culinary competition. Here, the chefs use solar-powered stoves in the desert, then prepare dishes on a famed golf course. Appearing: John Besh and Mary Sue Milliken.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Top Chef Season 19 Episode 10 - Dinner in Zero Gravity
    6.4/10(43 votes)

    #17 - Dinner in Zero Gravity

    S19:E10

    The competition reaches new heights as the chefs voyage to the Houston Space Center; they'll have to create a stellar new menu item that they would crave if they were on a multi-year mission to Mars.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Top Chef Season 1 Episode 8 - Wedding Bell Blues
    6.5/10(57 votes)

    #18 - Wedding Bell Blues

    S1:E8

    Teams compete for the chance to cater a commitment ceremony.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Top Chef Season 2 Episode 6 - Thanksgiving
    6.5/10(52 votes)

    #19 - Thanksgiving

    S2:E6

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Top Chef Season 2 Episode 10 - Unhappy Customers
    6.5/10(48 votes)

    #20 - Unhappy Customers

    S2:E10

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Top Chef Season 7 Episode 4 - Room Service
    6.5/10(34 votes)

    #21 - Room Service

    S7:E4

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Top Chef Season 9 Episode 15 - Culinary Games
    6.5/10(29 votes)

    #22 - Culinary Games

    S9:E15

    The final 4 chefs arrive in Whistler, British Columbia, for a Top Chef twist on the Olympic games. From cooking on the world’s fastest gondola to a biathlon that requires marksman like precision to get the best ingredients, the chefs will need to have the concentration of a true culinary Olympian to advance to the next round in Vancouver.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Top Chef Season 11 Episode 11 - Giving It the College Try
    6.5/10(29 votes)

    #23 - 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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  24. Top Chef Season 14 Episode 14 - Comida Final
    6.5/10(28 votes)

    #24 - Comida Final

    S14:E14

    The final two chefs face-off to serve the best meal of their lives and earn the coveted title of Top Chef. The finalists will cook an epic four-course progressive meal with the help of three sous chefs, comprised of two eliminated chefs and one from their restaurants back home. The pressure is on as only one chef can win. The chefs must impress a dining room filled with their families, returning judges Graham Elliot and Gail Simmons, and distinguished chefs Joachim Splichal, Jonathan Waxman, Martha Ortiz, Jonathan Sawyer, Daniel Boulud and FOOD & WINE's Nilou Motamed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Top Chef Season 2 Episode 5 - Social Service
    6.6/10(52 votes)

    #25 - Social Service

    S2:E5

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Finale (2)" is the worst rated episode of "Top Chef". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 12/9/2009. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Watch What Happens Reunion".