The BEST episodes of Top Chef

#1 - Watch What Happens Reunion

Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/16/2009

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

#2 - Finale, Part 2

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/25/2009

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

#3 - All Stars Dinner

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/4/2009

Past chefs recount their favorite moments from the series.

#4 - Thunderbirds

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/2/2009

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

#5 - Pigs and Pinot

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/14/2009

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

#6 - Reunion

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/18/2008

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

#7 - Strip Around the World

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/11/2009

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

#8 - Glacial Gourmand

Season 10 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/13/2013

Adventure awaits the chefs in a glacial-theme test. Later, a meal prepared by Emeril Lagasse and guest judge Roy Choi sets the stage for an elimination challenge.

#9 - Finale (2)

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 10/3/2007

The Top Chef is chosen.

#10 - Restaurant Wars

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/21/2009

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

#11 - Finale (1)

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/26/2007

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

#12 - Meat Natalie

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/28/2009

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

#13 - Finale, Part 1

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/18/2009

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.

#14 - Finale (2)

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/9/2009

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

#15 - Finito!

Season 17 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/18/2020

The final three all stars face off in an epic Italian showdown to cook the meal of their lives in an effort to take home the ultimate title and prize.

#16 - The Final Plate

Season 19 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/2/2022

#17 - The Last Supper

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/11/2009

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.

#18 - Finale (1)

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/24/2007

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.

#19 - Restaurant Wars

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/21/2009

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

#20 - Finale (1)

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/2/2009

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

#21 - Champions in Paris

Season 20 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/1/2023

The final four land in Paris, the culinary capital of the world and home of the 2024 Olympics. In the Quickfire, they compete in the infamous Wall Challenge. Unbeknownst to them, their partners are no strangers to competition and are U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The chefs must work with their mystery partners to create identical plates in hopes of impressing Michelin-starred guest judge Greg Marchand. For their final Elimination Challenge, they must create a Michelin-worthy dish using one of France’s most humble ingredients: the Champignon de Paris. To help determine who will make it to the finale is a star-studded table of diners.

#22 - Finale

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/2011

The remaining two chefs have no time to digest what just happened as their final challenge is immediately announced. The 2 finalists choose their sous-chefs... blindfolded!

#23 - Finale

Season 16 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/14/2019

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.

#24 - First Impressions

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/13/2007

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

#25 - Finale

Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/29/2012

Season 9 comes to a close with the final chefs commandeering a Vancouver restaurant, where they must cook up a four-course meal for the judges and some surprise guests.