You've binged on Bourdain's shows, gotten into the mind of a chef, and drooled over every gorgeous plate on Chef's Table. But there are more deliciously entertaining shows on Netflix for serious foodies to discover. Here are ten series you can start bingeing on that serve up different kinds of food adventures!
Netflix Original (Season 1 coming on Friday, February 23)
The newest food show on Netflix promises that 'you'll eat this sh*t up.' From James Beard Award-Winning Chef David Chang and Academy Award-Winning Director Morgan Neville comes Ugly Delicious — an eight episode series that challenges both tastebuds and minds. David Chang travels around the world along with writers, chefs, activists, and artists who use food as a vehicle to break down cultural barriers, tackle misconceptions, and uncover shared experiences.
2. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman
Netflix Original / available to download / with subtitles
Have you ever imagined yourself teleporting into a fantasy sequence whenever you take a bite of something magical? That is included in a day in the life of Kantaro, a publishing sales rep that has a secret life no one at his workplace knows about — he is incredibly, absurdly passionate about desserts and it is his mission to indulge in nothing but the most delicious sweets. Each episode features a different kind of dessert obssesion, and will make you ache for all the sweets that he swoons for.
Netflix Original / available to download
Phil Rosenthal, creator of sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, goes on an eating journey around the world in this Netflix Original. The travel series features local cuisine and culture of destinations like Bangkok, Saigon, Mexico City and more — his countless tasting sprees in different cities will really make you crave for another vacation to eat your way around a new place!
4. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Netflix Original / with subtitles
Based on the best-selling 'Foodie' Manga series with over 5.5 million copies sold, this Netflix Original series depicts the ups and downs of life as they play out in a small diner called Meshiya, referred to by its patrons as the 'Midnight Diner' because it is only open between the hours of midnight and 7am. The cozy diner, its limited menu, and the comforting food produced by the good-hearted Master attracts different types of customers every night and throughout the seasons.
5. Cooked
Netflix Original / Available to download
In this series, award-winning food writer Michael Pollan explores how cooking transforms food and shapes our world. He tries his hand at baking, brewing and braising, walking through the history of food preparation and its power to connect people. This show will bring out the food geek in you, as its first season focuses on four kinds of transformations during cooking and brings out the science and culture of food while at it.
6. Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
With subtitles / Available to download
Young chef Yukihira Soma is enthusiastic about cooking and is dead set in surpassing the culinary skills of his father. Soma then enters the super elite and super competitive Totsuki Culinary Academy, where graduation rate is only 10 percent. This cheeky and hilarious anime shares all of Soma's explosive kitchen battles and adventures and features some of the most mouthwatering animation that will make you crave for all sorts of Japanese food after every episode!
7. Avec Eric
Available to download
French Superchef Eric Ripert of Manhattan's Le Bernardin lets the viewers in on his fancy kitchen and we also get to follow him around the world in search of the best ingredients and witness his creative journey. If his cooking makes you hungry and inspired after every episode, you can try making the dishes in your own kitchen — the chef shares all his show's recipes in this website. Fancy yourself a Spice Crusted Duck Breast with Orange-Honey Glaze and Cumin Scented Carrots?
Netflix Original / with subtitles
This Japanese series follows Takeshi, a recent retiree who had devoted his entire life to his work. Now without the burden of a 9 to 5 job, he rediscovers his passion for food by getting in touch with his inner warrior—now he can go on eating and drinking what he truly desires! This Netflix Original is based on Masayuki Kusumi’s essay and the manga of the same title.
Available to download
In this South African show, host Brett Rogers travels around South Africa in search for its best restaurants, artisanal food and beers, and edgiest tattoo shops and along the way, discovers the rich and diverse cultures. Follow the hipster host — who's also a model, designer, and swimmer — as he eats and drinks his way around different locations, and occasionally getting inked while at it.
Food Booze and Tattoos Trailer from HalfWolf on Vimeo.
10. Chef & My Fridge (“Please Take Care of My Refrigerator”)
With subtitles / Available to download
This South Korean cooking show pits the top chefs of Korea to compete in the kitchen. The catch? The chefs need to cook using ingredients that they find inside the refrigerators of the celebrity guest stars (any K-drama and K-pop fans out there?). Each episode, they bring the star's actual fridge into the studio for the chefs to examine the food they have and what winning dish they can create out of the ingredients!
