Cooking shows have been around as long as television itself, but the cooking competition subgenre — think Top Chef and Great British Bake-Off — is a relatively new phenomenon. Like so many things we love here at Polygon, it’s also a product of Japan in the 1990s. Iron Chef turns the typical cooking show into a head-to-head duel lasting just one hour, with a dramatic stadium setting, color commentary, and a rotating panel of judges. It first aired in Japan from 1993 to 1999, and gained a second life in the United States when dubbed episodes aired on the Food Network from 1999 to 2004. The dubbing blends corny camp with exhaustive attention to detail, and adds a lot to the overall charm of the experience. Seven seasons of that English dub are available to stream now on Peacock and Pluto TV.
Each episode follows the same format. After a bit of fanfare from the cape- and ascot-clad host Chairman Kaga, a challenger enters Kitchen Stadium, and we get a dramatic montage about their background and qualifications. The stadium darkens, and the Iron Chefs representing the world’s cuisines ascend through the stage while silhouetted by gigantic portraits of themselves. Then, the challenger dramatically points toward their chosen opponent, Ace Attorney style, and we’re treated to a Blades of Steel-esque montage of the Iron Chef’s accomplishments. Finally, Chairman Kaga announces the theme ingredient for the day. Hulking heaps of foodstuff rise from below the stage, accompanied by bombastic music and wafting tendrils of dry ice. We are then treated to a third (!!!) dramatic montage in as many minutes, focusing on the culinary significance of the day’s ingredient. This may make you giggle, but it will also convince you that the world needs more hype videos about tofu.
What makes Iron Chef so much fun is the commitment to the bit — everyone involved takes this stuff very seriously. Once the competition starts, we watch the two chefs prepare the ingredients into fancy multi-course menus, as the commentators speculate — with great solemnity — about each dish in progress.
My favorite guy of the bunch has got to be the “Kitchen Reporter” (sadly not a real job) Shinichiro Ohta. His whole shtick is breathlessly interrupting the other commentators with details that don’t seem all that urgent, like, “I’ve just received word that Iron Chef Michiba is preparing a stainless-steel kettle of warm sake!” Then everyone gasps with sincere excitement.
Once the hour is over, we’re treated to a close-up rundown of each chef’s dishes. The challenger presents their dishes first, then the Iron Chef. The judges panel is usually made up of three or four people: actors, chefs, food critics, and even politicians. What’s refreshing here is that the judges are pretty blunt in their critiques when they don’t enjoy a dish, which happens pretty often! Iron Chef predates the era when everyone was an amateur restuarant critic, and judges blurt out unfussy assessments like “this is too greasy,” or “I wish there was more tuna” during a seven-course tasting menu where every dish includes tuna.
In addition to being a delightful pop-culture time capsule, Iron Chef also has some interesting connections to the world of video games. The creator of Earthbound and the Mother series, Shigesato Itoi, appears as a guest judge in no fewer than four episodes. The beloved PlayStation 1 role-playing game, Suikoden 2, also features an extensive Iron Chef-inspired minigame, where you prepare a multi-course menu for a panel of judges and must score higher than your rival.
If you’re looking for an amusing dose of nostalgia to enjoy while you’re working or playing games, Iron Chef is just the ticket. Don’t bother with the American reboot! With seven seasons available to stream, you’ll have plenty of options to whet your appetite.
Iron Chef is streaming now on Peacock and Pluto TV.