The WORST episodes of Iron Chef
Every episode of Iron Chef ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Iron Chef!
Iron Chef is an innovative cooking competition from Japan. Originally produced by Fuji TV, Iron Chef combined the excitement of a one on one sports competition with gourmet cooking. The title Iron Chefcomes from the original Japanese title, Ironmen of Cooking. This innovative game show was always popular in its native Japan, but it found international success when the Food Network bought the series and began airing English dubbed episodes. It became a cult classic as viewers were treated to exotic ingredients and innovative cooking techniques. No expense was spared. Chefs seemed to have almost limitless supplies of the most exotic and expensive gourmet ingredients. The competition is hosted by Chairman Kaga, an over-the-top master of ceremonies. He introduced a "secret ingredient" that the challenger and the chosen Iron Chef had to incorporate into every dish. Originally, the program was 30 minutes long, but it was soon expanded to an hour format. Each chef presented his/her dishes to a panel of 3-4 judges who rated the dishes to crown a winner. All of the competitions occurred in a specially designed "kitchen stadium". The New York Times once described Iron Chef as "kamikaze cooking". Iron Chefs and their competitors became celebrities in their own right. Storylines developed between groups determined to defeat the Iron Chefs. The show was so successful in English speaking countries that several spin-offs, specials, and updated versions were produced.
#1 - Sakai vs Wein Nishi (Apple)
Season 4 - Episode 46 - Aired 11/15/1996
The challenger is the head of a very successful restaurant in New York. The New York Times gave his restaurant 3 stars. His grandfather is Japanese, and spent a lot of time talking to young Wayne about the culture of Japan. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Mayuko Takata, Tekenori Emoto, Yukio Hattori
#2 - Chen vs Yamamoto Takeshi (Pork)
Season 4 - Episode 32 - Aired 8/2/1996
#3 - Nakamura vs Thierry Houngues (Caviar)
Season 4 - Episode 33 - Aired 8/9/1996
#4 - Chen vs Tsugawa Toshizo (Sea Eel)
Season 4 - Episode 34 - Aired 8/16/1996
#5 - Sakai vs Sugawara Ken'ji (Corn)
Season 4 - Episode 35 - Aired 8/23/1996
The challenger was personally trained in California Cuisine by the legendary Wolfgang Puck. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Chizuru Azuma, Ichiro Zaitsu, Asako Kishi
#6 - Chen vs Shinsuke Shimada (Fleshy Prawn)
Season 4 - Episode 36 - Aired 8/30/1996
The challenger is a famous comedian in Japan. He is also known to be one of the most skilled chefs among entertainers. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Keiko Saito, Ichiro Zaizu Asako Kishi
#7 - Nakamura vs Uetake Toshimasa (Peach)
Season 4 - Episode 37 - Aired 9/6/1996
#8 - Sakai vs So Choumei (Softcrab)
Season 4 - Episode 38 - Aired 9/13/1996
#9 - Nakamura vs Endo Tokuo (Mackerel Pike)
Season 4 - Episode 39 - Aired 9/20/1996
#10 - Chen vs Kashiwabara Takeo (Wax Gourd)
Season 4 - Episode 40 - Aired 10/4/1996
The challenger leads the kitchen of a hotel on the island of Okinawa. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Kazuko Kato, Hideki Takahashi, Asako Kishi
#11 - Nakamura vs Fujita Shin (Soba)
Season 4 - Episode 42 - Aired 10/18/1996
#12 - Nakamura vs Ogusu Ryuichi (Chestnut)
Season 4 - Episode 43 - Aired 10/25/1996
#13 - Chen vs Daniela Ozik (Mushroom)
Season 4 - Episode 44 - Aired 11/1/1996
#14 - Sakai vs Yamaoka Hiroshi (Chinese Cabbage)
Season 4 - Episode 45 - Aired 11/8/1996
#15 - Nakamura vs Toriumi Masaru (Oyster)
Season 4 - Episode 31 - Aired 7/26/1996
#16 - Nakamura vs Kuroki Kenjiro (Angler)
Season 4 - Episode 47 - Aired 11/22/1996
The challenger is the head chef for several hotel kitchens. He lives near the largest fishing seaport in all of Japan. He uses his speed in the kitchen to overcome his small stature. He is known as Ushiwakamaru. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Nagisa Katahira, Tenmai Kanoh, Asako Kishi
#17 - Nakamura vs Miyashiro Kiyoshi (Cow's Tongue)
Season 4 - Episode 48 - Aired 11/29/1996
The challenger is the owner/chef at a restaurant known as a favorite of Japanese author Shusaku Endo. He trained in France for five years before returning to Japan. He was unhappy with the direction of French cuisine in Japan, so he opened his own restaurant. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Megumi Ooishi, Takao Horiuchi, Asako Kishi
#18 - Chen vs Ishizaki Yukio (Garlic)
Season 4 - Episode 49 - Aired 12/6/1996
#19 - Sakai vs Suzuki Yoshio (Orange)
Season 4 - Episode 50 - Aired 12/13/1996
#20 - Nakamura vs Belnare Lebrance (Gull)
Season 4 - Episode 51 - Aired 12/20/1996
#21 - Chen vs Michifude Hiroshi (Dried Scallop)
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/17/1997
The challenger is the 25-year-old son of a prominent Chinese cuisine chef whose restaurant "Kochouran" in Kobe was demolished during the huge earthquake back in 1995. It's been 2 years by the time they taped this, and the chairman, while disappointed that the chef of Kochouran permanently quit the business when his restaurant was destroyed, was pleased to find the chef's son as the head chef of Canton Shuka "Ten" in Kobe. Kaga's theme announcement expressed confidence that Kobe was indeed building its "pillars" or foundations firmly after the disaster. The word for "pillar" in Japanese is "hashira". This immediately brings to mind "kai-bashira" (shell-pillars, a common idiom for the adductor muscle of bivalves). But not just any kaibashira - no, they had to be the most prized "kaibashira" in Chinese cuisine - dried scallops, also known as ganbei or conpoy. Judges: Eimoto Takinori (Baseball?), Megumi Oishi (Newscaster), Zaitsu Ichiro (Actor?), Asako Kishi (Critic)
Watch Now:Apple TV#22 - Sakai vs Kasahara Hiroshi (Rice Cake)
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/10/1997
#23 - Sakai vs Rory Kennedy (Rabbit)
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/24/1997
The challenger is the head chef of a London restaurant that was established in 1798. He is a master of Gibier (wild game) cuisine. Only four months after this episode originally aired in Japan, Chef Kennedy died after a fall in his restaurant.
Watch Now:Apple TV#24 - Sakai vs Rory Kennedy (Pigeon) Overtime
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/31/1997
It is only the second overtime battle in the history of Kitchen Stadium. The chefs used most of the supplies and ingredients in the first battle, so they must be creative during this 30-minute overtime cook-off.
Watch Now:Apple TV