There are all kinds of ways to depict shonen action in anime and manga, and fist fighting and magic are not the only options. Sports are another great way to channel the spirit of competition and personal growth, and even the world of cuisine takes its turn in Food Wars!. Cooking and anime have never blended so well.
The hero is Soma Yukihira, an upbeat and creative chef who's ready to learn any recipe and challenge any rival during his rise to the top at the Totsuki culinary academy. He's suffered a few losses on the way, but he's also scored some impressive (and delicious) victories, too. Thus far in the Food Wars! anime, which ten cooking duels are Soma's finest, in no particular order?
10 Soma & Megumi Tadokoro Vs Kojiro Shinomiya
Soma was the supporting chef in this particular cooking duel, but this shokugeki was an emotional roller coaster with a surprise ending. For a change, Soma was the sous chef rather than the star, and he did well in that role.
This was one of Soma's best duels not because he was the star, but because he trusted the timid and shy Megumi to stand up for herself and cook something incredible to prove Shino wrong. Even if this team lost on merit of the dish itself, Soma's steadfast trust in Megumi and professionalism were highly commendable. Megumi has a real friend in Soma.
9 Soma Vs Akira Hayama
This cooking duel took place during season 3, and by this point, the fragrance-loving student Akira Hayama was on Azami Nakiri's side. He even looked evil now, with his hair loose and a black coat on his shoulders. He seemed like an impossible challenge.
But Soma was ready to give it a shot. The theme was bear meat, and Soma went above and beyond to try and find a good way to cook such smelly and odd meat. This duel was a real nail-biter, but Soma triumphed, and Akira was converted back into a good guy.
8 Soma Vs Subaru Mimasaka
This particular cooking duel took place during the Autumn Election, and Soma was fighting not just for his own sake, but to avenge Takumi and all of Subaru Mimasaka's previous opponents. There was a lot on the line here.
At the risk of forfeiting his cooking career forever, Soma competed with Subaru to make a beef stew dish, and he outmaneuvered the copycat master to win back Takumi's mezzaluna and the claimed knives of all of Subaru's previous opponents.
7 Soma Yukihira Vs Etuya Eizan
This cooking duel had some substantial stakes: whether or not the Polar Star dorm's closure would be reversed. And if Soma were to lose this duel, he would also get expelled from Totsuki, no questions asked.
Soma was going up against a member of the Council, the 9th seat, but he didn't dare back down. Instead, he defeated Etsuya with a cheese-feathered hanetsuki gyoza, and the Polar Star dorm was saved. Good thing, too, since that dorm is the home base for the rebel students.
6 Soma Vs Alice Nakiri
This was one of the first cooking duels fought in the Autumn Elections, and right away, Soma was up against a member of the esteemed Nakiri family. In this case, it was Alice Nakiri, Erina's half-Danish cousin.
The theme was "bento box," and Alice's carefully-crafted, science-based dish was packed with flavor and looked gorgeous, like a jewelry box. Soma, though, eked out a victory with a whimsical and deep bento box, and Alice was forced to admit defeat.
5 Soma Vs Nene Kinokuni
This stern girl is a member of the Council, and she was Soma's first opponent during the 8v8 Regiment de Cuisine battle against Central. Nene, a master of traditional Japanese cooking, was confident that she would demolish Soma and move on to Isshiki soon after.
Not so fast. Despite the theme (soba noodles) favoring Nene, she was a bit too inflexible with her cooking style, and once again, Soma's creative and resourceful methods notched him a win against a superior opponent. Nene couldn't believe her eyes.
4 Soma Vs Somei Saito
This cooking duel also took place in the Regiment de Cuisine, and Somei Saito ranks even higher in the Council than Nene does. He, too, is steeped in the ways of Japanese cooking, but with sushi rather than soba noodles.
Somei had just defeated the copycat master Subaru Mimasaka, and Soma used his vast experience in cooking to gradually build his way toward a superior dish. He was likened to a samurai who had tried out many different swords before finally settling on the best one of all.
3 Soma & Erina Vs Eishi Tsukasa & Rindo Kobayashi
This is the final battle of season 4, and perhaps the most consequential one of all. The best two rebel chefs faced the best two Central chefs, but Erina and Soma have been butting heads this entire time.
So, Soma cooks a bizarre and goofy appetizer for his team, challenging Erina to come up with something to top that in a mini-shokugeki. Erina accepts the wordless challenge and wins it, and thanks to Soma's actions, their team defeats Central for good.
2 Soma Vs Ikumi Mito
Now let's consider one of the earliest cooking duels that Soma ever had. To protect the Don RS (research society), Soma challenged Ikumi Mito, a girl in his class renowned for her expertise in beef and related meats, often A-5 quality meats.
Ikumi knows her stuff, but she's gotten a bit complacent, and Soma defeated her even when she used that famed A-5 meat. Soon after, Ikumi became a friend, and she developed something of a crush on Soma, too. Yesterday's enemy is today's friend.
1 Soma Vs Joichiro Yukihira
This was one of the few cooking duels that Soma lost, but even then, Soma got something out of it, and the duel was fun to watch. Joichiro had paid a visit to Totsuki, and he and his son had their 490th shokugeki against each other.
The theme was apple risotto, and Soma may have lost, but his father (and the judges) noted that Soma's progress thus far is truly impressive. Soma didn't like losing, but he bounced right back, and his on-screen chemistry with Joichiro is impossible to ignore.