The BEST episodes of Top Chef season 16
Every episode of Top Chef season 16, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Top Chef season 16!
Top Chef is a reality show unlike any other while it searches for the world's next Top Chef. Each week this talented group of chefs, professionally trained and self-taught, will be challenged and judged by some of the best known chefs in the industry. Over the course of the season and endless challenges one chef a week is asked to "pack their knives and go" until there is only one left standing as the ultimate Top Chef.
#1 - 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.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#2 - Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars
Season 16 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/27/2018
In a massive twist, Padma's favorite challenge Restaurant Wars comes early this year, but before the chefs gear up for battle, they must first duke it out in an amuse bouche-based Quickfire for Top Chef alum turned James Beard Award winning chefs: Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton. Then, the gauntlet has been thrown and with twelve chefs remaining, three restaurants will be battling for victory. James Beard Award winning restaurateur Caroline Styne joins as the guest judge along with Nilou Motamed. And if this unexpected chaos isn't enough, Tom leaves the Chefs breathless with an announcement that will change the course of the competition.
Watch Now:Apple TV#3 - Naughty and Nice
Season 16 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/20/2018
It's holiday time for Top Chef, and Richard Blais and Brooke Williamson help spread the festive cheer by presenting a white elephant Quickfire challenge. Then, the Chefs receive an unexpected gift as Michelin starred super Chef Eric Ripert sits down with them to celebrate an elaborate traditional French Christmas dinner. However, once the last bite is taken, Padma informs the Chefs that they’re missing the final part of the tradition of Le Revillon de Noel...the presentation of 13 desserts. It's a midnight pastry free-for-all as the Chefs try to avoid being on the placed on the naughty list.
Watch Now:Apple TV#4 - Roaring Munchies
Season 16 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/10/2019
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 immediately begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails. Chef Ken Oringer joins Padma, Tom and Graham at a Roaring 20's party with Flappers and Dapper Dans.
Watch Now:Apple TV#5 - Holy Macau!
Season 16 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/28/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#6 - The Greatest
Season 16 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/14/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#7 - Restaurant Wars Part 2
Season 16 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/3/2019
The mayhem and drama continues of the biggest Restaurant Wars in the history of Top Chef. Tom's announcement of a double elimination piles on even more pressure. Top Chef alum turned James Beard Award winning Chefs Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton join the restaurant crawl along with Nilou Motamed and guest judge and James Beard Award winning restaurateur, Caroline Styne.
Watch Now:Apple TV#8 - Music City USA
Season 16 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/31/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#9 - The Tao of Macau
Season 16 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/7/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#10 - Hoop Dreams
Season 16 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/7/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#11 - Carne!
Season 16 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/17/2019
Lena Waithe surprises the chefs, by challenging them to make their best version of the trademark Kentucky dish, the Hot Brown. Then super-chef Nancy Silverton brings her internationally renowned friend, butcher Dario Cecchini to break down a whole cow for the chefs to utilize along with locally-sourced Kentucky ingredients.
Watch Now:Apple TV#12 - The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking
Season 16 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/6/2018
"Top Chef" heads to the state of Kentucky for season 16. This season, 15 new talented chefs from cities big and small across the U.S. will compete for the sought-after title amid the unique culinary scenes in Louisville, Lexington and Lake Cumberland, before heading abroad for an epic finale showdown in Macau, China.
Watch Now:Apple TV#13 - Whatever Floats Your Boat
Season 16 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/24/2019
With more shoreline than Florida, Kentucky is a hotbed for houseboats. For this elimination challenge, the chefs are split into two teams and tasked with throwing raging party in Lake Cumberland. Mega-chef Emeril Lagasse joins Padma, Tom and Nilou along with Captains Sandy and Lee from Below Deck for some houseboat hysteria.
Watch Now:Apple TV#14 - Kentucky Farewell
Season 16 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/21/2019
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.
Watch Now:Apple TV#15 - Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo
Season 16 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/13/2018
A very pregnant Gail Simmons asks the chefs to feed her cravings in a special Quickfire delivery. Then it’s time to celebrate two iconic Kentucky mainstays: local cuisine and bourbon. The Chefs head to Makers Mark, the oldest distillery in America to put their spins on a meal full of Kentucky classics including burgoo, Benedictine, mutton, hoe cakes and dumplings. This is a true battle for Kentucky as the chefs navigate their first team challenge – and one chef makes a potentially fatal shopping error. Can they recover or will they be scraping the bottom of the barrel to make it through? Food and travel editor, Nilou Motamed joins the judges this season, and Maker’s Mark’s in-house Chef, Newman Miller, sits on the panel as a guest judge.
Watch Now:Apple TV