Iron Chef (1993–2002) User Reviews (28)

The cooking show for people who hate cooking shows.

[Basil-3 · 10/10 · 13 March 2000]

Calling "Iron Chef" a cooking show is like saying "Jurassic Park" is a film about animal husbandry. In Tokyo's Kitchen Stadium, Chairman Kaga has assembled the greatest Tokyo chefs in every major world cuisine. Each week, the programming staff selects a challenger to do battle with one of the Iron Chefs. The two chefs have exactly one hour to make as many dishes as they can, using a mystery ingredient revealed by Chairman Kaga just moments before the battle.

The dishes are judged by a panel of Tokyo celebrities, and even scores go to a thirty-minute tie-breaker. However, the most entertaining part is watching the chefs cook as quickly and efficiently as possible.

This is the only cooking show where I actually learned something useful. It's also the only cooking show that I would watch with a roomful of friends and a six-pack.

The greatest cooking show ever.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 12 December 2021]

While there have been two different "Iron Chef" series made in the States (including a 'one-off' pilot that fizzled and the series on the Food Network), the original Japanese version of the show is better...as well as the best cooking show ever....and I have seen many, many different cooking shows. The combination of the pageantry, over the top presentations and amazingly skilled chefs make this an impossible show to beat.

My only reservations about this original is that I cannot find subtitled versions of the Japanese show...only two different dubbed versions. Of the two dubbed versions, the first (including the theme from "Backdraft") is the best...though currently on my Amazon Fire, I can only find the second dub on Peacock and one other channel. I assume this is because of the rights issues to the music.

Excellent cooking show

[PeteRoy · 10/10 · 3 February 2004]

I started watching Iron Chef recently and I like it.

The host and the Iron Chefs very interesting. The host talk in a unfamiliar way and the Iron Chef look like Samurais.

This cooking show is a lot better than other cooking shows.

The only show I watch regularly

[Marcus_Membrane · 20 June 2001]

This show is my favorite. Finally a cooking show that's not a boring "how to" session, it is not at all the intention of this show to teach you how to cook. You just sit back and watch these guys use the theme ingredient to prepare a gourmet meal in an hour, and you ooh and ahh.

It's no surprise to me that the challengers take the contest so seriously. Cooking is their art, and the challengers are very respected among the culinary world, owning only the classiest restaurants. This is a true test of their mettle, and they have something to prove. The other great thing is that this isn't a petty game show where some obscene amount of money is at stake. According to the show's intro, all the challenger gets if he/she (yes, I have seen a female competitor on the show) wins is "The peoples' ovation and fame forever". Okay, that sounds a bit silly, but seriously, all they win is the honor of beating an Iron Chef. The only material prize is an indirect one, since the winner's restaurant can now boast an Iron Chef victory and will definitely gain a lot of new customers.

I think that the Food Network did a great job converting the show for an English speaking audience. First off, congrats for not dubbing Kaga. His "If my memory serves me right..." monologue is my favorite part of the show, and I like to listen to how he speaks the Japanese language, even though I don't speak a word of it myself. Second, congrats on dubbing everyone else. Reading subtitles for the whole show would get very tiresome. Some of the dubbed voices sound downright silly (especially Chen Kenichi and Hiroyuki Sakai), but that's ok. I think that it adds an element of humor (intentional or not) without making the whole show seem like a big joke. And finally, they did a good job budgeting time. You don't see the whole hour of cooking, but you see enough of it to know what's going on, and there's still time for the intros and the judging. My only complaint it that there is a TON of commercials.

And one more thing - I like Ota! Everyone seems annoyed by him, but how can you have an episode without him? His "Fukui-san!" comments are the only thing that explains what the chefs are doing, and since they are doing so much so fast, Ota has a lot to tell Fukui-san and the audience. It is amazing to me how he memorizes every ingredient that goes into the pans.

Best Cooking Show Ever!!!!

[shaverlakeco · 10/10 · 9 March 2019]

I fell in love with this show when it started airing in America with subtitles in the 90's. Absolutely fantastic. I watch the American version now, but pales in comparison to the original. Genius! Thank you Chairman thank you

Yummiest food ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stephenchase-63504 · 10/10 · 2 February 2022]

Featuring Japanese judges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL & ROFL.

THE WAY ALL COOKING SHOWS SHOULD BE!!🤣😁😃

[tonyagirl13 · 10/10 · 23 February 2022]

This show, as you've read, is the best thing happening, at least for me. I've been reintroduced on Redbox. It's nostalgia TV. It's clean, fun, FUNNY and might make you want to try something new. The sub-titles are hilarious and I adore the commentator. Take a break from drama, violence and TVMA. Sit down, relax & laugh 😃!!

Thank you!!!

[chefmrg · 10/10 · 5 March 2022]

For years I've been trying to watch this show in quality picture. Thank you so much for finally bring quality culinary programming back to the screen. Best food I have ever seen prepared by the best chefs who have ever held a knife. All you need to bring back now is Emeril Live.

Iron Chef (Japan) on DVD ?

[ou_chia_ling · 6/10 · 6 June 2006]

Hello to all Iron Chef fans - hope you all can help me out with this. ^_^ I was wondering if anyone knew the website where you can supposedly petition for the release of the original Japanese cooking show 'Iron Chef' or 'Ryori no Tetsujin' ? I have been looking everywhere for the DVDs or VHS tapings on that show but to no avail. Anyone have any idea where I could get them ? It was undoubtedly one of my favorite TV shows while living in the States. But then I moved overseas and couldn't get FoodTv on the local cable subscription and am now desperate for any tapings either on VHS or DVDs on the original Japanese cooking shows. Please, if anyone out there have any idea of where to get them, I would really appreciate your inputs/comments =) Iron Chef (Japan) rules! It was undoubtedly the most entertaining cooking show ever aired!

Pure spectacle; very entertaining

[Mike Sh. · 6 August 2001]

There is no other show like this anywhere on television. Shown in the USA on cable TV's Food Network (complete with awkward English dubbing). this show is part Frugal Gourmet, part Worldwide Wrestling Federation, and part Japanese monster movie. There are so many small touches that make the show a surrealistic trip - the fact that everyone's voice is (badly dubbed) except the master of ceremonies, who speaks Japanese while English subtitles are flashed on the screen; this same man's mysterious smile as he bites into a yellow pepper during the show's opening sequence; the breathless commentary from the reporter on the floor, who shouts "Fukui-san!" every fifty seconds or so; the seemingly bottomless knowledge on the finer points of gourmet cooking displayed by various actors, pop singers, news anchors, and other celebrities who sit on the panel of judges every week; the mixture of bravado and faux humility shown by both Iron Chefs and challengers, seen in the United States only in professional athletes; etc.

There is simply no way to encapsulate the atmosphere of this show in a few lines of commentary. It has to be seen to be experienced. and once you buy into the premise of the show, you will find it very entertaining.

Battle Royale, Cooking Style

[Sargebri · 4 April 2004]

I have begun to watch this show on the Food Network and it is quite enjoyable. It not only is quite interesting to watch some of Japan's best chefs compete against each other in creating various dishes almost spontaneously, but listening to the English dubbed commentary can be quite humorous as well as they try to convey how the panelists enjoy or dislike each dish that they eat from each competition. Also, even though I'm not much of a gourmet, I do find most of the dishes appetizing, even though I probably won't eat them due to the fact that many of them are quite expensive.

Also, I just found out that the Food Network is going to do an American version of the show featuring many of the chefs that are featured on the various programs on the network. They will have to really come up with something spectacular if they hope to match the special charm of this show.

Camp appeal!!!!!!!

[Comrade Genghis · 25 October 2000]

I love this show. The melodrama's the best part. I love the way it's set up like a sports show. I love the way the host is dressed like Liberace. I love the dramatic entrance of the theme ingredient. "And the theme ingredient is..." (tension mounts...what is it? what will it be???) "BROCCOLI!!!" Enter an enormous load of broccoli. I love the way some (not all) of the Japanese celebrities are so haughty, which makes them look like a fool since we Americans haven't heard of them. I like the way other celebrities are so honest, simple, and likable (like that fortune-teller). She's cool.

I like cooking, but being a staunch vegetarian I don't often watch cooking shows that regularly feature slaughtered animals as ingredients. However, this show I can't tear myself away from. That's how much fun it is. I once watched an Iron Chef make an ice-cream-like dessert out of sardines. What's not to love?

(I will concede, however, that some of the English voice-dubbing is annoying after awhile. But it's worth it.)

These chefs really are awesome, by the way. They are creative and boy do they know their craft. All kidding aside, I bow to the Iron Chefs, and those brave enough to challenge them.

What a show! I'm addicted to it!!

[terp_92 · 7 May 2001]

I love Iron Chef. What an idea for a show!! I love the premise of bringing renowned chefs from all over Japan and the world to challenge Chairman Kaga's Iron Chefs, and to have them create dishes on the spot using the theme ingredient announced at the beginning. It's also fun to listen to the play-by-play announcing; you'd think this was a sports events.

The fact that these chefs can prepare 4-6 dishes on the spot in one hour attests to their amazing skills and imagination, especially when an Iron Chef of one cooking style is confronted with a theme ingredient they normally don't use. I wish I was there to taste some of their amazing creations.

What astounds me about the show is how seriously some challengers take this, like the Italian expatriate chefs and their battles against Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe, and the Ohta Factions' (a society of Japanese chefs who are staunchly traditional in their cooking techniques) war against Iron Chef Japanese Masaharu Morimoto.

I can't wait for IC3 next month. My local cable company just recently added the Food Network, so I didn't see the original Bobby Flay/Morimoto contest. After watching what Morimoto has done in previous episodes, I really can't see Flay winning. I've also thought about whether Emeril would someday appear on Iron Chef, but I think he's a bit too laidback for something as tense and fast-paced as this.

A Great Cooking Show

[mOVIemAN56 · 28 May 2005]

Iron Chef is an interesting, Japanese-produced cooking show a level above the rest of the American cooking shows. Plain and simple, a visiting chef comes into Kitchen Stadium and challenges an iron chef specializing in either: Chinese, French, Italian, or Japanese. They're given one hour and an unusual ingredient and the chef's must prepare 3+ dishes featuring the dish.

The show will make your mouth water as world class chef's prepare amazing dishes. You'll learn a little about cooking from the fast talking announcer Kenji Fukui and various Japanese actors and food critics. It is a fun show and a bit more interesting then the usual cooking show. Each dish is unique and you'll probably not even recognize it even if it is tomato or chicken.

Ryori no tetsujin (Iron Chef. Starring: Chen Kenichi, Masahiko Kobe, Masaharu Morimoto, Hiroyuki Sakai.

4 out of 5 Stars.

Crack cocaine for foodies

[cougarflounder · 27 June 2003]

If you like cooking shows, then you have to watch Iron Chef...forget the dubbing..it's not annoying, it's funny,like GODZILLA..it's camp, but it's good...and though corny, the cooking is amazing..you can learn so much...but have a fun time doing it...culinary contests fascinate me, and Iron Chef is why. One hour isn't very long, and when you don't know what your theme is..it makes for improv, although it is rooted in fundamentals, and it's true..dishes never before seen.

My favorite Japanese TV Show!

[KitchenStadium2001 · 20 June 2001]

Although I have only watched the Food Network version of the show, I enjoy watching "Ryori no tetsujin," (ahem) "Iron Chef." However, if you people at Food Network or FujiTv are reading this, I hope Morimoto-san gets another chance to face Bobby Flay.

Great fun with food.

[Irish14 · 11 June 2001]

A fantastic cooking show, designed to push chefs to their creative limits. Especially if you take it light-heartedly, you can really enjoy the format of the show as well as enjoy watching the Iron Chefs and the challengers prepare their dishes, all of which must utilize the theme ingredient. While it is dubbed from Japanese into English, the dubbed voices are rather funny and make for a laugh. And even if you think the show is somewhat of a joke, all the chefs are truly amazing in their cooking abilities and in making unique dishes in less than an hour. I highly recommend Iron Chef as an alternative to cable television prime time programming. An American version is in the works!

Iron Chef: Not just your normal cooking show

[amanda1020 · 24 January 2004]

I've seen this show since December 2002, and I have my opinions on this show. First off, it's interesting to see how the chefs can take an abnormal food item and use it in 3-8 exciting dishes. Something that isn't used in one cuisine can and will be used in that one and another. Second, I'm interested in learning about certain ingredients and how to cook them if I would like to use them in the future. Learning how to prepare ingredients in this show is key for the viewers, and I agree with most of the tips. Some of them were new to me, but I understand them now since I've watched this show many of times.

NASCAR meets Emeril!!! (review refers to the English-language version only)

[pete4winds · 17 March 2003]

I have to agree with pretty much everything in Mark Messina's review, but here's my take on it anyway:

I first got hooked on it when my fiancee turned me onto it long before we moved in together. I spent weekends at her house, and watching "Iron Chef" on Friday nights was a weekly ritual. As a long-time NASCAR fan, my FIRST impresion was that this is what the result would be if Emeril Legasse worked for NASCAR. Why is that, you ask? Anyone who is familiar with both Iron Chef and NASCAR knows exactly what I mean.

The action is fast paced, and the "color commentators" Kenji Fukui and Hattori Yukio in the booth give a flawless play-by-play. However, the real star of the show, in my opinion, is kitchen reporter Shinichirô Ôta. NASCAR fans will recognize him as "Iron Chef's" answer to pit road reporters such as Dr. Jerry Punch and John Kernan. His "right in the middle of the action" perspective adds an up-close and personal element to the show. Without Ôta, much of the action would be lost to viewers, simply by virtue of the program's pacing. Besides, how could you not love the incredibly inappropriate timing of his frequent "Fukui-san!" interjections? Nowhere else in the world would a rude interruption be so welcome!!! Besides, half the fun of the show is watching the competitors try to wave Ôta like a really irritating mosquito.

I mentioned early on that Iron Chef has a NASCAR feel to it. The comparison is clear when talking about the color commentary, but when it comes to the competitors, this is nothing short of a knock-down drag-out brawl. All of the Iron Chefs are great, but Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi is by far the most entertaining...not for his vast talent, but for the fact that he tends to stress WAY too much. Whenever he's on, the near-panicked look on his face as the end of the hour nears...priceless.

Finally, Takeshi Kaga, the chairman of Kitchen Stadium, not a chef at all, but a long-time musician and theater actor. What can I say about Kaga? Well-known for being the first Japanese to portray Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as the first japanese to play Jean ValJean in Le Mis, these days he's just another in a long list of reasons to tune in. Above all else, I can't escape the thought that he is Japan's answer to Liberace.

The best damn show on TV

[hexgirl311 · 20 March 2000]

I just have to say, this is the greatest cooking show I've ever seen. One of my roommates watches the food channel all the time, and I've always hated everything I've seen until this show came along. In response to the other comment: I have seen several women go up against the IRON CHEFS, and I'm sure several have won. There are two retired Iron Chef Japanese, and the current one is Masharu Morimoto. There is one retired Iron Chef French, the current one is Hiroyuki Sakai. Iron Chef Chinese is Chen Kenichi and the most recent addition is Iron Chef Italian, Masahiko Kobe. My favorite is definitely Iron Chef Japanese, the sexy Morimoto. Man would I LOVE to have him cook me up a tasty Japanese dinner. He is the top chef at Nobu, which is in in the Tri-Bec-A section of New York City. I'm definitely going to have to eat there soon. He makes the most wonderful looking Neo-Japanese dishes. From what I have heard on the show, he is respected in Japan for his skill, but disliked for his cooking style. He is not traditional at all, which upsets many "old school" Japanese cooks. They often go on the show, bad mouthing him and trying to take him down, but Morimotio has the highest win percentage of all the current Iron Chefs. CHECK THIS SHOW OUT!

The best show currently on television.

[R.W. · 10 July 2000]

Iron Chef is far and away the best show currently on television. In addition to simply being an amazing cooking show, it also teaches us about different cuisines and eastern culture. There are 4 Iron Chefs who do battle with the challenger chefs preparing dishes which best articulate the chosen THEME INGREDIENT. There have been women challengers, and in fact I have seen one of them defeat Iron Chef Chen Kenichi. Incidentally, and for the record, the 4th Iron Chef (Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe) does have his own platform, it is just separate from the other 3. The four Iron Chefs are Iron Chef Japanese Masaharu Morimoto, Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakei, Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi, and Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe. Perhaps some of you saw Food TV Chef Bobby Flay get his butt kicked by Morimoto San in the Food TV Iron Chef NY Battle which aired on June 25th? For those who want to watch, Iron Chef can currently be seen on Food TV at 10pm on Fridays and Saturday nights, and at 7pm on Sundays.

Might Be Boring- (My Comments- not the show.)

[katlb97 · 5 July 2002]

I am surprised that more people haven't written about this show. It has caused a cultural revolution, and has made such an impact that SNL even bothered to mimic the show. It is supposed to be melodramatic, and I love the dubbed voices. Almost every one I know who knows of this show loves it, and is addicted. Even though I would not want to eat some of the dishes at times, watching them put those dishes being put together is always interesting. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night I tape The Iron Chef. Its one of the best shows on television.

Come for the creativity, stay for the sea urchin

[knsevy · 25 November 2003]

A friend of mine tried for six months to convince me to watch some of his Iron Chef tapes, when it first hit the U.S. The way he described it, I just couldn't see how I would enjoy it. I finally relented and watched his tapes, and I don't think I've missed an episode in the three years since then.

That a chef could make up recipes or cook from memory isn't so amazing, but a chef who can do BOTH, under the spotlight in a timed competition and STILL produce dazzling food is amazing. If you would ask me how to cook bell peppers, I might be able to tell you three things to do with them. I've seen close to twenty, from the chefs and challengers on this show.

Of course, the campy dubbing adds to the charm, as well as the celebrity guests. Some of them seem to actually know their cooking, but the majority kind of fade from the commentary, offering an occasional, 'Oh,' or 'That looks good'.

I don't know how much this show has taught me about Japanese culture, but I have learned something about gourmet culture: if it's edible, but nobody should eat it, that's gourmet food. How else do you explain anglerfish, potato starch, sea cucumber and sea urchin used as theme ingredients? The very DESIGN of the sea urchin screams out 'DO NOT EAT!'

All jokes aside, I have learned quite a few things from this show. Not really useful things...I know what miso and tianmanjon are, how to recognize a daikon radish, and I can tell the difference between crab brains and lobster liver by the color.

Great fun; a show to watch with friends. The only warning I'd give is to watch out for live theme ingredients, if you're squeamish. You might not appreciate the cleaning/butchering techniques.

People would ask, "This is a cooking show????"

[wwjd1983ad · 7 December 2002]

This is like no other cooking show I have ever seen. What makes this show so unique is that a contestant battles an Iron Chef who specializes in a certain style, and they have a key ingredient. This allows both chefs to display their creativity in cooking. That's why I love it. I think they should make an English version of the show because sometimes the dubbing is a little annoying especially when they are dubbing people talking on screen (not like the commentators). And in the English version they should have big name chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck as the Iron Chefs (Emeril would be great because he too is very creative with his dishes). That would be awesome. Or a world wide Iron Chef with chefs from around the world representing their country or continent. In any event this show is unique and different, and anyone who loves competition and hates cooking shows (but loves food) proabably would love this non-traditional show.

What a show!

[mm-39 · 14 November 2004]

There are 2 things in this world I like sports and food. Now I can watch both of them on TV. Unlike most reality shows, where little people with big egos act idiotic over stupid events for money, one watches professionalism preforming at a creative peak. The dinners, and how one creates them is exciting. The food is of a high caliber. What a disadvantage for the viewer not being able to taste or smell the food. Sometimes, I believe the judges favor the Iron Chef, but I could be wrong. For if one can not eat the food, one can not judge. The show is a lot harder than what the camera envisions. 45 minutes too cook a mystery main course, is a true test of one's wit. Best and only show I have seen imported from Japan. Makes me want to go out and dine at a Japanese restaurant on Saki and Sushi.