Introduction
Food Wars!, also known as Shokugeki no Soma, is a culinary anime sensation that has captivated audiences worldwide with its blend of intense cooking battles, over-the-top reactions, and mouth-watering dishes. The series follows Soma Yukihira, a talented young chef from a humble family restaurant, as he embarks on a challenging journey to become the best chef in the world at the prestigious Totsuki Culinary Academy. The vibrant characters, innovative cooking techniques, and dramatic shokugeki matches have made Food Wars! a must-watch for anime fans and food enthusiasts alike.
However, with multiple seasons and original video animations (OVAs), navigating the Food Wars! watch order can be a little confusing, especially for newcomers. It’s easy to miss content or watch episodes out of sequence, which can detract from the overall experience. That’s where this guide comes in. This article serves as your comprehensive roadmap to watching Food Wars! in the correct order, ensuring you don’t miss a single delicious moment. We’ll cover the core anime seasons and the optional-but-recommended OVAs, providing you with everything you need to enjoy the series to its fullest. We will also touch upon how the anime later on starts to deviate from the source manga, so you know what to expect.
The Main Course: Food Wars! Anime Seasons
The heart of Food Wars! lies within its five main anime seasons. These seasons tell the primary story of Soma’s culinary journey, showcasing his growth, challenges, and rivalries. It is absolutely crucial to watch these in order to fully understand the overall plot, character development, and escalating stakes.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (Season One)
This inaugural season, released in Spring of two thousand fifteen, consists of twenty-four episodes and marks the beginning of Soma’s incredible adventure. The story opens with Soma working at his family’s restaurant, Yukihira Diner, honing his cooking skills under his father, Joichiro Yukihira. When Joichiro unexpectedly closes the restaurant to travel the world, Soma is sent to Totsuki Culinary Academy, an elite cooking school where only a small percentage of students graduate.
Season one focuses on Soma’s initial struggles to adapt to Totsuki’s rigorous environment and his determination to prove himself against the academy’s talented and privileged students. He faces numerous shokugeki battles, showcasing his unique cooking style and resourcefulness. Key arcs and highlights include Soma’s enrollment exam, his rivalry with Erina Nakiri (the “God Tongue”), and his participation in the Totsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp. This season establishes the foundation of Soma’s character and the core concept of Food Wars!.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate (Season Two)
Following the success of the first season, The Second Plate arrived in Summer of two thousand sixteen. This season features thirteen episodes and picks up right where the first season left off. The primary focus of The Second Plate is the Autumn Elections, a prestigious tournament where first-year students compete to showcase their culinary talents and earn recognition.
The Autumn Elections arc is a major highlight, featuring intense cooking battles and the introduction of several new rival characters, including Akira Hayama, Ryo Kurokiba, and Alice Nakiri. The season also delves deeper into Soma’s relationship with his fellow Totsuki students and his ongoing pursuit of becoming a top chef. Notable episodes include the qualifying rounds, the main tournament battles, and the introduction of new cooking techniques.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Third Plate (Season Three)
The Third Plate, which was released in two parts during Fall of two thousand seventeen and Spring of two thousand eighteen, is the longest season, comprising of twenty-four episodes. This season marks a significant shift in the storyline as Soma and his friends face a formidable new challenge: the Central organization, led by Erina’s father, Azami Nakiri.
The season is divided into two distinct arcs. The first half focuses on Azami’s takeover of Totsuki and his implementation of a strict, elitist culinary philosophy. Soma and his allies form a resistance group to challenge Central and fight for their freedom to cook. The second half culminates in the Regiment de Cuisine, a large-scale team cooking battle between Central and the resistance. This season introduces darker themes and explores the complex dynamics of power and culinary freedom. Key moments include the introduction of the Elite Ten Council members, the Regiment de Cuisine challenges, and the increasing pressure on Soma to protect his friends and his cooking style.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fourth Plate (Season Four)
The Fourth Plate, released in Fall of two thousand nineteen, contains twelve episodes. It continues the storyline following the Regiment de Cuisine and focuses on the aftermath of Central’s defeat. Soma and his friends are now facing new challenges as they advance within Totsuki and confront increasingly skilled opponents. The season also begins to set the stage for the BLUE tournament, a global culinary competition that attracts chefs from around the world.
This season sees Soma and his friends focusing on refining their skills and further developing their individual cooking styles, preparing themselves for the upcoming tournament. We also see the introduction of Noir chefs who are antagonists in the season, particularly aiming at the BLUE tournament. The major turning points are the individual challenges that the protagonists face in order to advance and the development of strategies for upcoming fights.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate (Season Five)
The Fifth Plate, released in Spring of two thousand twenty, is the final season of the anime adaptation. Consisting of thirteen episodes, it concludes Soma’s journey by focusing on the BLUE tournament. The series is unfortunately considered to be weaker compared to the previous seasons.
The BLUE tournament itself is the central focus of the Fifth Plate, showcasing intense culinary battles between Soma and the world’s most talented chefs. This season brings Soma’s growth as a chef and his relationships with his friends to a satisfying conclusion. Key moments include the final battles of the BLUE tournament, the unveiling of new cooking techniques, and the resolution of the conflict between Soma and the overarching antagonist. While opinions on the Fifth Plate may be mixed, it provides a necessary conclusion to the anime adaptation of Food Wars!.
Appetizers: Food Wars! OVAs
Original video animations, often shortened to OVAs, are special episodes released outside of the main anime seasons. They often provide additional context, explore side stories, or offer a lighthearted diversion from the main plot. While not essential for understanding the core storyline, the Food Wars! OVAs offer extra content that enhances the viewing experience and provides further insight into the characters and their relationships.
Food Wars! Jump Festa two thousand fifteen OVA
This special episode was released as part of the Jump Festa event. It provides a fun and lighthearted look at the Totsuki students outside of the competitive environment. The events of this OVA fit well between season one and season two, likely after the training camp. It’s often considered canon. The episode focuses on Soma and his friends as they prepare for a school festival, showcasing their unique cooking styles and personalities in a more relaxed setting. This OVA offers a charming and enjoyable break from the intense cooking battles of the main series.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: Tanoshimi ni! Erina-sama no Gōka Kyūka (OVA)
Released after The Second Plate, this OVA offers another glimpse into the lives of the Totsuki students outside of the formal competition setting. The title, translated to “Looking Forward To It! Erina’s Magnificent Vacation,” suggests that the OVA will be a vacation setting. This special episode is often placed between season two and season three to help give some context and breather between the arcs. Whether this should be considered canon or not is up for debate.
In general, even though OVAs are considered optional, it’s recommended to watch them, especially since it enriches and helps to better understand the series.
A Side Dish: Manga versus Anime Adaptations
Food Wars! is based on a manga series written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. While the anime adaptation generally follows the manga’s storyline, there are some differences and deviations, particularly in the later seasons.
The first few seasons of the anime stay relatively true to the manga, faithfully adapting the cooking battles, character interactions, and plot developments. However, the later seasons, especially the fifth plate, faced criticism from fans due to pacing issues, changes in character portrayal, and the omission of certain plot points. Some viewers felt that the anime rushed through the later arcs and didn’t fully capture the depth and nuance of the manga.
If you find yourself dissatisfied with the later seasons of the anime, particularly the Fifth Plate and the BLUE tournament arc, you might consider switching over to the manga. The manga provides a more complete and detailed version of the story, allowing you to experience the original vision of the creators. Many fans would argue that starting around where season three begins, going to the manga will feel like a much better pace and story telling.
Plating Up: Where to Watch Food Wars!
Food Wars! is readily available on several popular streaming platforms, making it easy to catch up on Soma’s culinary adventures. Some of the most popular platforms include Crunchyroll, which offers both subbed and dubbed versions of the series, and Netflix, which features a selection of seasons and OVAs. Hulu may also offer Food Wars!, depending on your region.
Most of these streaming platforms require a subscription to access their content. However, they often offer free trials or discounted rates for new users. If you prefer to own the series, Food Wars! is also available for purchase digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Google Play Movies. Physical copies of the series on Blu-ray and DVD are also available for purchase from online retailers and specialty stores.
Conclusion
To recap, the ideal Food Wars! watch order is as follows:
First, dive into Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma. Then, savor Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate. Afterward, experience Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Third Plate. Next, relish in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fourth Plate. Finally, conclude with Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate. Sprinkle in the OVAs where they fit chronologically for an enhanced experience.
Food Wars! is a unique blend of culinary artistry, exciting battles, and engaging characters. The vibrant animation, mouth-watering food presentations, and over-the-top reactions make it a truly unforgettable anime experience. Whether you’re a seasoned anime fan or new to the genre, Food Wars! offers something for everyone. The series has excellent character development that is captivating, and the journey that Soma goes on from starting from a small restaurant to competing with culinary experts is awe inspiring.
Now that you have the ultimate Food Wars! watch order, it’s time to embark on this delicious journey. Don’t hesitate to share your favorite Food Wars! moments or dishes in the comments below. Happy watching!
