Rank & Rate: Top Chef

[DeltaEst1903]

I'm forcing my partner to watch Top Chef because it’s one of my favorite shows and realized that AW hasn’t discussed it yet. We’re on season 6, my favorite season.

What’s not to love: focus on cooking, the weird challenges, the hilariously obvious product placements, and drunk Padma. I want to see how AW ranks its seasons.


6 - Las Vegas
17 - All Stars LA
12 - Boston


3 - Miami
5 - New York


4 - Chicago
9 - Texas
11 - New Orleans
13 - California


16 - Kentucky
14 - South Carolina
15 - Colorado
8 - All Star NY
10 - Seattle


7 - DC


2 - LA
1 - San Fran

I hate season 2 with a passion.

[James]

I hate season 2 with a passion.

I love season 2 - it was the first season I saw and the drama from that one is simply the best.

I'm going to have to do a refresher on the seasons but I do have a particular fondness for the recent All Stars.

[DeltaEst1903]

I love season 2 - it was the first season I saw and the drama from that one is simply the best.

I'm going to have to do a refresher on the seasons but I do have a particular fondness for the recent All Stars.

See, I loved it when I first saw it, but upon rewatch, that group was just absolutely toxic. That whole Marcel situation for instance left me completely sour with that season. But it’s also a valuable season because it forced the show runners to really think about and rework the formula.

The recent all stars is an amazing season with one of my favorite final 4 and favorite winners. It’s all on Hulu, James and there is a new Best Of tourney for 2000s shows so it might be worth it to rewatch!

[AHiddenEnthu]

17 unseen and halfway through 16

love
6>5(that winner tho...>3>11>12

good
10>8>14>2>1

meh to bad
9>7>4>13>16>15

[siowafc]

How many good seasons of Top Chef were ruined by completely inexplicable winners? 5 and 7 were both great, until...

9 might be the best season with a great winner.

The early seasons are also really fun.

[Pingy]

I hate season 2 with a passion.

The wrath of Betty...

[DeltaEst1903]

The wrath of Betty...

Also JOSIE and her laugh.

[AHiddenEnthu]

I am still so mad about Nina losing season 11

[Jiffy]

I'd have to think about this, but I'm inclined to say Season 5 as my fave (minus the awful, awful winner) and Season 4 as my least favorite.

[Abby]

I am still so mad about Nina losing season 11

That and the way Stephanie was eliminated kinda ruined that season for me. Nick was the woooooorst.

I think season 17 might be my favorite? Objectively season 2 is terrible, but it is so entertaining in terms of trainwreck value.

[DeltaEst1903]

Am I the only one who cannot stand Richard Blais?

I am still so mad about Nina losing season 11

Yeah this was one of the most inexplicable picks ever. I didn't think Nick was the most awful winner, but Nina was right freakin' there!

[siowafc]

Am I the only one who cannot stand Richard Blais?

I think everyone hates him, LOL! The way All-Stars was designed to be a coronation for him was so gross!

[jb]

I've only seen 1, 2 (Marcel was robbed!), and 6, so:

6
2
1

On 3 now. Can't believe they read Legend Hung for his arroz con pollo.

[DeltaEst1903]

I think everyone hates him, LOL! The way All-Stars was designed to be a coronation for him was so gross!

Oh no, you’d be surprised. Reddit for example loves Richard Blais. I also love how he went on that season exclaiming people thought he should’ve won season 4, as if Stephanie Izard didn’t handily sweep Top Chef Chicago.

I've only seen 1, 2 (Marcel was robbed!), and 6, so:

6
2
1

On 3 now. Can't believe they read Legend Hung for his arroz con pollo.

Speaking of Marcel, he’s got something cookin’ !

[Pingy]

Speaking of Marcel, he’s got something cookin’ !

Why couldn't Cliff had been more thorough w/ those clippers...?

[Alvy Singer]

Speaking of Marcel, he’s got something cookin’ !

Season 2 Sam will always be the hottest, followed by Season 7 Angelo.

[Abby]

Am I the only one who cannot stand Richard Blais?

I find him so smug and annoying, and his repeated insistence that he was “robbed” of the season 4 win is ridiculous considering Stephanie killed that season and is one of the most successful TC winners.

The only good thing about him winning season 8 is that it prevented a Mike Isabella win *shudders*

[dyedred19]

Sam was so hot.

But let's please not forget about Eric Adjepong!

[Pingy]

Season 2 Sam will always be the hottest, followed by Season 7 Angelo.

Sam's a hottie for sure, but Angelo's a total headcase so no thanks. I still wanna be in the middle of a Voltaggio Bros. sammich...

[Alvy Singer]

Sam's a hottie for sure, but Angelo's a total headcase so no thanks. I still wanna be in the middle of a Voltaggio Bros. sammich...

But they’re both so boring!