Top Chef Season 16

Top Chef Season 16 is currently streaming on and , and it delivers exactly the kind of format-driven drama that keeps people talking. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. The production never lets the format go stale. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Top Chef Season 16 earns its spot. Top Chef Season 16 has the format that countless others have tried to copy since. Top Chef heads to the state of Kentucky for season 16. This season, 15 new talented chefs from cities big and small across the U.S. Will compete for the sought-after title amid the unique culinary scenes in Louisville, Lexington and Lake Cumberland, before heading abroad for an epic finale showdown in Macau, China. Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2018. What keeps Top Chef Season 16 from feeling stale is a production that knows when to get out of the way. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Best watched with company, Top Chef Season 16 generates takes from everyone in the room. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. The casting and production never let it go stale. The kind of thing that disappears an evening without you noticing.

🎬 Top Chef Season 16 — Episode Guide

The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking

2018-12-06

In Kentucky, 15 chefs are off to the races at Churchill Downs for the the ride of their lives; the chefs must make a dish that will appeal to a crowd of 200 at a Kentucky Derby party; Churchill Downs' own chef David Danielson serves as guest judge.

Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo

2018-12-13

A pregnant Gail Simmons asks the chefs to feed her cravings; the chefs head to Makers Mark, the oldest U.S. distillery, to put their spins on a meal full of Kentucky classics, including burgoo, Benedictine, mutton, hoe cakes, and dumplings.

Naughty and Nice

2018-12-20

Richard Blais and Brooke Williamson present a Quickfire challenge; chef Eric Ripert sits down with the chefs to enjoy a traditional French Christmas dinner; Padma tells the chefs they're missing the final part of the tradition of Le Revillon de Noel.

Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars

2018-12-27

The Restaurant Wars challenge comes early this year; first, the chefs duke it out in an amuse bouche-based Quickfire; with 12 chefs remaining, three restaurants battle for victory; Tom makes an announcement that leaves the chefs breathless.

Restaurant Wars Part 2

2019-01-03

The Restaurant Wars causes drama and mayhem; Tom announces a double elimination piling on even more pressure; chefs Karen Akunowicz and Nina Compton join the restaurant crawl along with Nilou Motamed and guest judge Caroline Styne.

Roaring Munchies

2019-01-10

The chefs walk in on an epic battle of Last Chance Kitchen and are drafted into the fight; once Tom declares a winner, the chefs begin a challenge making dishes based on Prohibition Era cocktails; chef Ken Oringer joins for a Roaring Twenties party.

Carne!

2019-01-17

Actress Lena Waithe challenges the chefs to make a trademark Kentucky dish known as the Hot Brown; chef Nancy Silverton and butcher Dario Cecchini break down a whole cow for the chefs to utilize along with locally-sourced ingredients.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

2019-01-24

For an elimination challenge, the chefs are split into teams and tasked with throwing houseboat parties on Lake Cumberland; chef Emeril Lagasse joins Padma, Tom and Nilou, along with Capts. Sandy and Lee from "Below Deck" for houseboat hysteria.

Music City Usa

2019-01-31

The chefs take a road trip to Nashville and cook on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for country music artist Hunter Hayes. Then, they have to dig deep to create a dish inspired by a vibrant music memory. Next, the chefs work on a plate for a full table of Nashville food and some music personalities,...

E10

Hoop Dreams

2019-02-07

"Top Chef" alum Ed Lee drops by for a Quickfire that's part trivia, part culinary creativity; Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats host a concession-stand cook-off in Rupp Arena; Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis joins the judges.

E11

The Greatest

2019-02-14

The chefs take a turn at fried chicken; chef Art Smith judges a secret herbs-and-spices blind taste test ahead of the Quickfire fry-off; after the finger-licking goodness, the chefs turn their attention to boxer Muhammad Ali, aka the Louisville Lip.

E12

Kentucky Farewell

2019-02-21

Tom ambushes sleeping chefs and challenges them to make a dish using ingredients harvested from their gardens; for the last elimination challenge, the chefs bid on luxury ingredients at a thoroughbred horse auction house.

E13

Holy Macau!

2019-02-28

The final five chefs travel to the Chinese territory of Macau; Graham Elliot, who has a restaurant in Macau, introduces the chefs to a market full of fascinating ingredients and challenges; the chefs throw a party celebrating the Chinese New Year.

E14

The Tao of Macau

2019-03-07

The final four chefs must cook with the smelly durian fruit; the chefs get a tutorial on the traditional cuisine of Macau; for the elimination challenge, the chefs are tasked with blending their own heritage with Chinese flavors.

E15

Finale

2019-03-14

It's the final showdown; the three remaining chefs must create the best four-course meal of their lives; Tom reveals in a twist that only two chefs will get the chance to serve their full menu; only one chef will emerge victorious.

📡 Where to Watch Top Chef Season 16

🎬 Top Chef Season 16 — Episode Guide

🎭 Cast of Top Chef Season 16

📋 All Seasons of Top Chef

Never Lose Track of Top Chef