Every living creature must eat. From gods to demons, pirates to superheroes, food is a necessity. It just so happens that for some, cooking comes as easy as saving the day. When lunchtime rolls around, these are the anime chefs one would be lucky to have in the kitchen.

Yamcha

Dragon Ball's most downtrodden protagonist has at least one thing going for him: his cooking prowess. As Goku's long time pal and ally, Yamcha has been the butt of many a joke due to his less-than-stellar record against the many enemies that plague Earth. However, compared to other humans, Yamcha's martial arts skills are unparalleled, and according to series creator Akira Toriyama, he's a good cook, too.

In an interview in Dragon Ball Chōzenshū 1: Story & World Guide, Toriyama is asked who among Earth's heroes are the best cooks. “The best ones at cooking are Ox-King and Yamcha, probably? For some reason, they have that sort of image,” said Toriyama.

Given that Goku and Yamcha are often seen training together in their early years, it can be assumed that the smorgasbord of food that the fighters consume faster than a Saiyan can teleport had to have been cooked by someone for whom cooking comes as second nature. Perhaps the image of Yamcha lying face down in the dirt should be substituted for the maligned warrior in a chef's hat and apron, a fitting image for the series' secret foodie.

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Brock

Move over, Pikachu, the real star of Pokémon is Brock and his Level 99 cooking skills! Aside from his famous jelly donuts, Brock has shown proficiency in keeping his Pokémon and fellow trainers well fed on their many journeys from gym to gym.

A self-made man, Brock is simply a Swiss Army Knife of preparation. From his knapsack, Brock can manifest full sets of cooking utensils and kitchenware as well as dishes to serve his meals upon. While traveling with Ash and Misty, Brock reveals that as a child he practically raised himself, learning how to cook out of necessity. What began as a way to survive had blossomed into a true art form by the time Brock ditched the Gym life and set out adventuring.

Not only are his meals enjoyed by his human companions, the Pokémon Brock cares for are also benefactors. Brock is often seen feeding the creatures their favorite dishes and, to date, none have complained. Would Ash and Misty have starved in the woods without Brock? Probably not, but they certainly wouldn't have been as happy.

Rikido Sato

Anime MHA Rikido Sato eating sweets

The students of My Hero Academia's U.A. High are known for their intensity, their dedication to becoming the world's greatest heroes and unmatched bravery in the face of danger. Using so-called 'quirks,' these students can punch through a mountain or engulf themselves in fire and ice, or, as in Rikido's case, become super strong by consuming copious amounts of sugar.

The snack-scarfing would-be hero Rikido eats his body weight in cakes, pies and sometimes just spoonfuls of sugar in order to power his Quirk known as Sugar Rush in the heat of battle. In Season 3, Episode 13, “Moving Into Dorms,” it's revealed that Rikido not only keeps his local bakery afloat on his monthly purchases alone, but that he has become quite the baker himself, preparing cakes and pies which rival the city's best bakers in quality and flavor to fuel his quirk.

Though shy about his talent, Rikido's baking skills draw the attention of his fellow students, who are floored by his secret ability. Given that his Quirk requires obscene amounts of sugar to reach its full potential, one can assume that Rikido is baking constantly in his dorm, honing his skills and developing an unrivaled palate. In other words, if the hero thing doesn't work out, Rikido could almost certainly win Star Baker on The Great British Bake Off.

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Sanji

Sanji Whole Cake Island One Piece

While pirates aren't known for being picky eaters, it takes a chef of immeasurable skill to keep the whole Straw Hat crew happy and well-fed on their many adventures. One Piece's Vinsmoke “Black Leg” Sanji is both a well trained sous chef and one of the most feared pirates in all the land.

Sanji's interest in cooking sprouted from an early age, preparing food for his mother. As an adult, Sanji demonstrates a sharp eye for not only preparing dishes in a traditional way, but utilizing pieces and parts of ingredients that other chefs would discard. In a Master Chef-style battle with professionally trained Marines, Sanji expertly humbles them by preparing a meal for 100 crew members using only the careless cooks' discarded ingredients.

Honing his skills aboard the floating restaurant Baratie under the guiding eye of Chef Zeff, Sanji has proven himself capable of toppling even the most skilled kitchen opponents. His true mark of excellence, however, is maintaining a flawless record as cook of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Erina Nakiri

erina nakiri in food wars with dark chopsticks

As arguably Tōtsuki Academy's greatest chef, Food Wars' Erina Nakiri leaves all other chefs in the dust. Alone, she's a highly motivated and accomplished cook, but coupled with the most overpowered food-related skill of all time, Erina is unsurpassed.

Erina's “God's Tongue” gives her the ability to taste even the most subtle imperfections in a dish. Imagine being able to spot flaws in a painting from a single glance -- now picture the absolutely perfect meal capable of ripping the clothes straight off of you due to its orgasmic flavor profile. Ignoring for a moment her supreme tasting prowess, her kitchen skills have elevated her to top chef as master of any and all cuisines. Her encyclopedic knowledge of ingredients, adherence to perfection and quick adaptation to new skills and challenges makes her a god-tier cook.

Erina truly is the total package of anime's culinary world, who deserves a Michelin-starred restaurant bearing her name.

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