The WORST episodes of Iron Chef America
Every episode of Iron Chef America ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Iron Chef America!
Based upon the Japanese cult sensation, Iron Chef America carries on the legend of Kitchen Stadium and the famed "secret ingredient." Each week, world-class chefs battle the legendary Iron Chefs of America: Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto, Jose Garces, Alex Guarnaschelli, Michael Symon and Marc Forgione. Alton Brown serves as Commentator, Kevin Brauch as Floor Reporter and Mark Dacascos is Chairman.
#1 - Flay/Valladolid vs. Morimoto/Zimmern
Season 10 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/1/2011
Theme : Sea Whistle Salmon Two Iron Chefs are teamed up with special guests in this All-Star Kitchen Stadium battle. Marcela Valladolid, who appears on Food Network's 'Mexican Made Easy' is paired with Iron Chef Bobby Flay; and Andrew Zimmern, of Travel Channel's 'Bizarre Foods,' joins Iron Chef Masuhara Morimoto. Judges are Penn Jillette, Donatella Arpaia Stewart and Simon Majumdar.
#2 - NICA Winner 4 vs. Casanova
Season 10 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/25/2011
Theme : Brook Trout Geoffrey Zakarian, the Season 4 winner of "Next Iron Chef," makes his "Iron Chef America" debut in a battle against Victor Casanova, executive chef at Culina, an Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Judges are Karine Bakhoum, Art Smith and Jill Zarin.
#3 - Guarnaschelli vs Joo
Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/30/2012
In this international competition, newest Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli faces off against Iron Chef UK Judy Joo. The judges are Jeffrey Steingarten, Karine Bakhoum, and Tory Belleci. -- Theme: Mortadella -- Note: Season 11 introduces two new elements to the battle: a 20-minute time limit to present the first dish, and the Culinary Curveball: a mid-battle surprise that must be implemented or incorporated into one of the dishes.
#4 - Morimoto vs. Love
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/20/2007
Theme: Chiles Texas chef Tim Love and Masaharu Morimoto compete. Judges: Akiko Katayama; Cady Huffman; Jeffrey Steingarten.
#5 - Batali vs. Campbell
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/20/2005
Theme : Cheese Iron Chef Batali takes on Challenger Scott Campbell. It’s a gooey battle to the extreme. See who’s cuisine reigns supreme!
#6 - Forgione vs. Curtin
Season 10 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/11/2011
Theme : Tilapia Iron Chef Marc Forgione battles young New York-based chef Nick Curtin in Kitchen Stadium.
#7 - Garces vs. Cowan
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/15/2012
Iron Chef Jose Garces faces off against challenger Madison Cowan. Chef Cowan is the first ever Grand Champion on the hit series Chopped. Judges are Karine Bakhoum, Laurent Tourondel and Farmer Lee Jones. -- Theme: Kale
#8 - Morimoto vs. Bogle
Season 10 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/19/2012
Theme : Paiche Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto faces off against Challenger Justin Bogle, Executive Chef at Gilt in New York City. Judges are Donatella Arpaia Stewart, Ben Sargent and Karine Bakhoum.
#10 - Cora vs. Lee
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/3/2005
Theme : Potato The Chairman introduces a NEW Iron Chef into the mix, pitting new Iron Chef, Cat Cora against reknowned chef, Alex Lee. See who's cuisine reigns supreme.
#11 - Flay vs. Bernstein
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/11/2005
Theme : Sweet Onions Iron Chef Bobby Flay takes on challenger Michelle Bernstein.
#12 - Morimoto vs. Feenie
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/20/2005
Theme : Crab Iron Chef Morimoto takes on Vancouver’s favorite, Challenger Rob Feenie in this international battle! See who’s cuisine reigns supreme!
#14 - Morimoto vs. Sedlar
Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/20/2011
Theme : Quail Chefs: Chef John Rivera Sedlar and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto square off.
#15 - Flay vs. Pham
Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/6/2013
Iron Chef Bobby Flay faces off against Challenger Viet Pham. Chef Pham is co-owner of Forage, an award-winning restaurant in Salt Lake City. Judges are Simon Majumdar, Donatella Arpaia and Ben Sargent.
#16 - Batali vs. Laiskonis
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/13/2005
Theme : Coconut and Chocolate Witness Iron Chef Batali take on Challenger and Pastry Chef extraordinaire Michael Laiskonis in one sweet battle!
#17 - Flay vs. Armstrong
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/27/2005
Theme : Squash Iron Chef Bobby Flay take on Los Angeles’ own Challenger Govind Armstrong. See who’s cuisine reigns supreme.
#18 - Symon vs. Hearst
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/6/2011
Theme : Mozzarella Chef Emma Hearst is the youngest challenger ever to enter Kitchen Stadium! She challenges old pro Iron Chef Michael Symon. Will youth and exuberance trump age and experience?
#19 - Izard vs. Battes
Season 13 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/24/2018
Chef Erik Battes -- a fruit of Iron Chef Morimoto's culinary tree -- applies modern takes to an ancient ingredient in a battle against Iron Chef Stephanie Izard. Michael Voltaggio and Ching-He Huang will determine the winner of this fierce competition. Theme: Olives
#20 - Zakarian vs. Talde
Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/25/2013
Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian faces off against challenger Dale Talde, the Executive Chef at Talde; the judges for this battle are Anya Fernald, Martin Yan and Judy Joo. -- Theme: Sesame
#21 - Flay vs. Hastings
Season 10 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/26/2012
Theme : Sausage Iron Chef Bobby Flay faces off against Challenger Chris Hastings, chef and owner at Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Judges are Anthony Anderson, Donatella Arpaia Stewart and Simon Majumdar.
#22 - Zakarian vs. Taymor
Season 13 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/3/2018
California Chef Ari Taymor rides a wave of success into Kitchen Stadium and immediately gets to the root of the matter against Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Theme: Carrots
#23 - Flay vs. Tsai
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/30/2005
Theme : Duck Iron Chef Bobby Flay takes on Challenger Ming Tsai in a battle to remember! See these two great culinary stars go head to head!
#24 - Guarnaschelli vs. Williams
Season 13 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/17/2018
Boston Chef Douglass Williams makes the most of a little vegetable in a battle against Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli. Ming-Na Wen and John T. Edge will determine which chef triumphs. Theme: Peas
#25 - Dessert Luau: Guarnaschelli/Iuzzini vs. Zakarian/Falkner
Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/7/2014
Iron Chefs paired with pastry-chef maestros conjure up tropical desserts. Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Johnny Iuzzini take on the team of Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Elizabeth Falkner. Judges are Judy Joo, Michael Ruhlman and Sherry Yard.