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The Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16

Every episode of Top Chef Season 16 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Top Chef Season 16!

Binge this in 10h 30m·Peaking at 7.6/10
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Top Chef Season 16 Episode 14 - The Tao of Macau
    7.6/10(31 votes)

    S16:E14

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 3 - Naughty and Nice
    7.5/10(35 votes)

    S16:E3

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 5 - Restaurant Wars Part 2
    7.4/10(30 votes)

    S16:E5

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 15 - Finale
    7.4/10(32 votes)

    S16:E15

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 1 - The Fastest 2 Minutes in Cooking
    7.3/10(38 votes)

    S16:E1

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 8 - Whatever Floats Your Boat
    7.3/10(33 votes)

    S16:E8

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 13 - Holy Macau!
    7.3/10(30 votes)

    S16:E13

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 2 - Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo
    7.2/10(35 votes)

    S16:E2

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 4 - Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars
    7.2/10(33 votes)

    S16:E4

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 12 - Kentucky Farewell
    7.2/10(27 votes)

    S16:E12

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 9 - Music City Usa
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    S16:E9

    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, including Caleb Followill, model Lily Aldridge, and Chef Jonathan Waxman.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 10 - Hoop Dreams
    7.1/10(30 votes)

    S16:E10

    "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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 6 - Roaring Munchies
    7.0/10(31 votes)

    S16:E6

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 7 - Carne!
    6.9/10(32 votes)

    S16:E7

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Top Chef Season 16 Episode 11 - The Greatest
    6.8/10(29 votes)

    S16:E11

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 16 Ratings Summary

"The Tao of Macau" is the best rated episode of Top Chef season 16. It scored 7.6/10 from 31 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on March 7, 2019. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Naughty and Nice".