When you think of "Shonen anime," what comes to mind? Martial artists fighting for the fate of the universe? Swordsmen clashing with evil beasts? Maybe ninjas with deadly powers? All of this and more is out there in the Shonen world, but there's more than one way to tell the story of a fighter who won't quit. How about the competitive world of cooking, like in Food Wars?
This anime is based on the hit manga series, and as of this writing, the high-voltage season 4 is underway. At the elite Totsuki culinary academy, the rogueish Soma Yukihira is fighting his way to the top, and he's meeting new rivals and friendly chefs along the way. So, which 10 episodes of Food Wars are the best, according to user ratings on IMDb? We find out.
10 Season 2, Episode 13: "Pomp & Circumstance" (8.9)
This episode helps flesh out Shino as a character, and there is more to him than "the vegetable guy." In this episode, we wrap up the tale of Soma and his stay at Shino's restaurant, where Soma prepares his own idea of a chicken and egg rice bowl. With any luck, it will earn a spot on Shino's restaurant menu.
The dish falls a bit short, but Shino is impressed, and he tweaks it a bit. Now it's on the menu, and Soma has truly made his mark. This allows season 2 to end on a high note, and Soma returns to Totsuki feeling more pumped than ever.
9 Season 3, Episode 4: "A Pride of Young Lions" (8.9)
This is near the climax of the Moon Festival, and as the screenshot above shows, Soma and his ally Megumi are having a tough time. What are they doing? Soma, being himself, boldly challenged the Elite 10 member Kuga Terunori to a competition, and Kuga is pulling ahead.
All is not lost, though. The line for Kuga's spicy Chinese food is actually getting too long, and Soma's diner nearby is collecting more and more guests. Soon, Soma has some serious business on his hands, and more than one classmate dives in to help keep the place running. By the day's end, Soma achieved his goal and beat Kuga's profits for one of the Festival's days.
8 Season 3, Episode 5: "The Darkening Dinner Table" (8.9)
Soma has already defeated all kinds of rivals and challengers by now. He beat Nikumi in a Shokugeki, beat Mimasaka in the Autumn Elections, and he did a fine job competing with Kuga (all in good cheer). But a new enemy has arrived and is nothing like Soma has seen yet.
Just as Soma and Megumi visit Erina Nakiri's restaurant with Rindo Kobayashi, a sinister man arrives, Erina's father, Azami. He's ice-cold, and ambitious too. In fact, Azami Nakiri has appointed himself the new dean of Totsuki, and a majority of the Elite 10 members support him. Things are about to get ugly, fast, and this episode has an impeccable sense of dread throughout.
7 Season 3, Episode 22: "To the Final Battleground" (8.9)
Pictured is Nene Kinokuni, the 6th seat of the Elite 10 and a follower of dean Azami Nakiri's ways. We've come a long way in season 3, and by now, Erina has gained the courage to defy her tyrannical father and has joined with Soma, Megumi, and others to form a rebellious sect of student chefs.
Now, a final battle is starting: a massive 8 vs 8 team Shokugeki, one for the history books. Soma is facing off against Nene, a master of noodle dishes, and Isshiki faces a new member of the Elite 10. Soma is facing Nene on her home turf (soba noodles), but he's not one to give in. Rather, he tries an unorthodox method to prepare those noodles. Will it impress the judges?
6 Season 1, Episode 24: "The Banquet of Warriors" (9.0)
The final episode of season 1 is an electrifying one. The popular Autumn Election tournament is going to start soon, but only eight student chefs may compete. To thin out the herd, a panel of judges (such as the gentleman pictured), will score each student's dish.
The students are split into groups A and B, with only four from each allowed to compete in that tournament. Akira, the master of fragrance, scores very high, and Soma does nearly as well, so both boys will take part in the Autumn Election. Soma, though, is tense and realizes that he needs to hone his cooking even further. The easy part is behind him.
5 Season 2, Episode 6: "Dawn Will Come Again" (9.1)
The Autumn Election dominates the 12-episode season 2, and pictured is Subara Mimasaka, who has a unique cooking style. He's a culinary copycat: to defeat someone in a Shokugeki or tournament, he will stalk his future opponent and mimic them down to the finest detail. It's pretty creepy, but it works, and he has won 99 Shokugeki matches in a row this way.
Mimasaka used this "trace" to crush Takumi Aldini, making for his 100th victory. Now, he and Soma compete to cook a fine stew, and Soma narrowly wins the match by being even more creative and forward-thinking than his wily opponent is. Soma has won back Takumi's beloved mezzaluna knife, but Takumi won't accept it back until he wins it back in a match.
4 Season 2, Episode 9: "The Sword That Announced Fall" (9.1)
It's a three-way battle for the top. How did this happen? When Ryo and Akira dueled for a spot in the final match, they were so incredibly close in performance, both were allowed to advance. This meant that Soma, who defeated Mimasaka, would face them both in a three-way battle. Fish would define their next plate.
It's a tense battle, and Ryo, being the kitchen maniac he is, finishes his dish and presents it. Unsurprisingly, it's another heavy-hitter. And as usual, Akira presents a dish with a superb aroma to wow the judges. But Soma isn't out of this yet. So far, his own fish recipe seems to lag behind the other two, but he's got a trick up his sleeve. This episode ends on a cliffhanger: will Soma pull off a surprise victory of the fishes?
3 Season 2, Episode 12: "The Magician Returns" (9.1)
Now for the second to last episode of Food Wars' electrifying second season. Soma is asked to work in Shino's restaurant, and it's brutal there. Despite all his skill and diner experience, Soma falls behind, and he's in danger of getting kicked out.
But he's a tough kid, and Soma outdoes himself with prep work so he can learn and improve at the hands of professional chefs. So, he's back in the game after all, and to finish things off, he's asked to prepare a dish worthy of the restaurant's menu. Can he pull it off?
2 Season 3, Episode 24: "The Basis for Strength" (9.1)
Season 3 has some of the highest stakes of all, and all of the rebellious Totsuki students are betting it all in this 8 vs 8 team Shokugeki in snowy Hokkaido. How does this season wrap up? By now, Nene and Soma are ready to present their dishes, and only one soba recipe will come out the winner.
It's the upset of the century as Soma's soba recipe proves superior, and Nene faces the reality that her cooking style is a bit too narrow. Elsewhere, the rebellious Elite 10 member Megishima (a ramen expert) demolishes his opponent, and Isshiki (a member of Soma's dorm) also wins his match. But let's not relax just yet. The remaining Central student chefs, such as Tsukasa and Rindo, are on a whole different level. In season 4, we will see them in action at last.
1 Season 2, Episode 10: "A New Genius" (9.2)
It's the finale of the Autumn Elections. Often, the final episode of a battle or tournament will prove the most popular in an anime, and Soma, Akira, and Ryo are fiercely competing head-to-head-to-head to see whose fish recipe will come out on top.
Akira secures victory since his aromatic dish was the most original of the three. Still, Soma takes it in stride, and he tells his father that he's aiming to reach new heights in cooking, no matter what. Finally, Jun, Akira's good friend, explains what the upcoming Stagiaire will entail. Will Soma be up to the challenge? He's never done anything like this!