Join Topshare to explore the list of "Top 10 best cooking anime" to explore the world of food full of creativity and emotions. From the dramatic cooking match of Shokugeki no Soma to the inspiring journey of Yakitate!! Japan, let's enjoy the joy of food through each piece. Immerse yourself in fascinating cooking matches, discover unique food culture, and feel the message of passion and creativity. These anime will surely satisfy both your culinary taste and soul.
1 Shokugeki no Soma

Shokugeki no Soma - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source:
Shokugeki no Soma - The trailer for the best cooking anime you should watch.
Shokugeki no Soma (also known as "Food Wars!") is a very popular and fascinating anime about cooking. This anime series is based on the manga of the same name by author Yūto Tsukuda and artist Shun Saeki.
The story revolves around Yukihira Soma, a high school student at Totsuki College, where cooking is considered an art and students compete vigorously to become the best chefs. Soma is a talented chef with her own unique cooking style and creativity. He participates in cooking challenges called "Shokugeki" to challenge and beat other chefs, climbing step by step in the world of cooking.
This anime series is famous for its detailed presentation and vivid images of the dishes, creating a unique visual experience for viewers. In addition to focusing on cooking, Shokugeki no Soma also explores the relationships between characters, competition, and the protagonist's personal growth. With a compelling storyline and unique culinary displays, Shokugeki no Soma has become one of the favorite cooking anime series and attracted great attention from the anime community.
Release year: 2015
Directed by: Yoshitomo Yonetani
Screenwriter: Shogo Yasukawa
Characters: Soma Yukihira, Erina Nakiri, Megumi Tadokoro, Takumi Aldini
Actors (voices): Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Soma Yukihira), Risa Taneda (Erina Nakiri), Minami Takahashi (Megumi Tadokoro), Natsuki Hanae (Takumi Aldini)
Genre: Comedy, Family, School, Life, Food
Episodes: 5 seasons with a total of 86 episodes (including OVA and SP)
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: J.C.Staff
2 Yakitate!! Japan

Yakitate!! Japan - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: Netflixc
Yakitate!! Japan - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Yakitate!! Japan is an anime series whose content revolves around the art of bread making. This anime is based on the manga of the same name by author Takashi Hashiguchi. The story begins with Azuma Kazuma, a boy whose dream is to create the perfect bread to deliver to the whole of Japan. He has a special ability to discover and concoct unique recipes for bread. Kazuma joins a bakery and begins his journey in the world of professional bread making. He participates in the "Yakitate!! 9" contest, a prestigious competition to find the most special bread.
Yakitate!! Japan not only focuses on bread making, but also brings the audience funny scenes and dramatic matches between chefs. The anime is also educational in bread and baking principles by explaining and illustrating the baking process in detail. With an innovative and unique storyline, Yakitate!! Japan has attracted the interest and love of many anime and food lovers. This anime series gives the audience fun, humor and knowledge about the art of making bread in a creative way.
Release year: 2004-2006
Directed by: Yasunao Aoki
Screenwriter: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
Characters: Kazuma Azuma, Kyousuke Kawachi, Tsukino Azusagawa, Shigeru Kanmuri
Actors (voices): Tomokazu Seki (Kazuma Azuma), Nobuhiko Kazama (Kyousuke Kawachi), Yurika Ochiai (Tsukino Azusagawa), Kazuki Yao (Shigeru Kanmuri)
Genre: Comedy, Food, Daily Life
Episodes: 69
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: Sunrise
3 Toriko

Toriko - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: Manganetwork Plus
Toriko - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Toriko is an anime and manga series created by author Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro. The story takes place in a world where people hunt and cook rare dishes.
The main character of the story is Toriko, a professional hunter with supernatural powers and a desire to become the "perfect" hunter by searching for the rarest food ingredients in the world. Together with the talented chef Coco and the culinary scientist Sunny, Toriko explores the primordial land and decides on rare and legendary dishes.
The Toriko anime series combines elements of action, adventure and food. Each focuses on hunting and cooking a special dish, and often features dramatic battles with powerful creatures. Toriko's plot also delves into the exploration of different countries and lands within its world. Toriko is highly regarded for its vivid visuals, unique dishes, and compelling storyline. This anime series offers viewers an exciting adventure experience in the colorful and rich culinary world.
Release year: 2011-2014
Directed by: Akifumi Zako, Mitsuru Obunai
Screenwriter: Isao Murayama
Characters: Toriko, Komatsu, Coco, Sunny
Actors (voices): Ryotaro Okiayu (Toriko), Romi Park (Komatsu), Takashi Kondo (Coco), Tomokazu Seki (Sunny)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Food, Supernatural
Episodes: 147
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: Toei Animation
4 Isekai Shokudou

Isekai Shokudou - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: Random Curiosity
Isekai Shokudou - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Isekai Shokudou (also known as "Restaurant to Another World") is an anime series based on the light novel of the same name by author Junpei Inuzuka.
The story in Isekai Shokudou revolves around a restaurant called "Youshoku no Nekoya" (Western Cuisine Restaurant) that has a normal appearance in the modern world on weekdays. However, on Saturday, the shop opens its doors to another world, where magical creatures and characters from other worlds can come here to enjoy delicious food. This restaurant becomes a place of communication between two worlds, attracting special customers from all over the world.
Each episode of the Isekai Shokudou anime focuses on a specific food and otherworldly customer character, as they come to the restaurant to enjoy rare and delicious dishes. Through interactive stories between restaurant characters and customers, we have the opportunity to explore cultures, traditions and culinary sensibilities from different worlds. Isekai Shokudou offers a mysterious and diverse culinary space where characters from different worlds can meet and enjoy special dishes. This anime series combines elements of food, humor and a bit of mystery, creating an interesting experience for viewers.
Release year: 2017
Directed by: Masato Jinbo
Screenwriter: Masato Jinbo
Characters: Tenshu, Aletta, Sarah Gold, Kuro
Actors (voices): Junichi Suwabe (Tenshu), Sumire Uesaka (Aletta), Saori Oonishi (Sarah Gold), Shizuka Itou (Kuro)
Genre: Comedy, Food, Casual, Isekai (Reincarnated Into Another World)
Episodes: 12
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: SilverLink.
5 Sweetness & Lightning

Sweetness & Lightning - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: IMDb
Sweetness & Lightning - Trailer, the best cooking anime you should watch.
Sweetness & Lightning (Amaama to Inazuma) is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by author Gido Amagakure. This anime follows the lives of Kouhei Inuzuka, a widowed high school teacher, and his young daughter, Tsumugi. After losing her mother, Tsumugi became a great source of motivation for Kouhei to get through everyday life. Even though Kouhei doesn't know how to cook, he decides to learn how to cook so he can take better care of his daughter.
Their lives change when they meet Kotori, a high school student who is passionate about cooking. The three decided to form a cooking group and often gathered at Kouhei's house to prepare delicious food.
Sweetness & Lightning not only focuses on cooking, but also creates a warm family picture and the connection between father and son. Through cooking and sharing meals, the characters develop and learn about love, care, and family affection. This anime gives a cute and warm feeling through showing the love of parents and family. It also demonstrates that cooking can be a way to create memorable memories and create bonds between loved ones.
Release year: 2016
Directed by: Tarou Iwasaki
Screenwriter: Mitsutaka Hirota
Characters: Kouhei Inuzuka, Tsumugi Inuzuka, Kotori Iida
Actors (voices): Yuuichi Nakamura (Kouhei Inuzuka), Rina Endou (Tsumugi Inuzuka), Saori Hayami (Kotori Iida)
Genre: Slice of life, family, food
Episodes: 12
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: TMS Entertainment
6 Cooking Master Boy

Cooking Master Boy - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: Anime Anime Global
Cooking Master Boy - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Cooking Master Boy (Chuuka Ichiban!) is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by author Etsushi Ogawa. Set in ancient China, this anime revolves around the journey of a talented young chef.
The story begins with Mao, a 13-year-old boy, who is a young but talented chef with special taste. Mao has a goal of becoming "Chuuka Soba", the greatest chef in the world of Chinese cuisine. He travels through cities and villages, participates in cooking competitions and meets new friends and opponents on his journey.
Throughout Mao's journey, the Cooking Master Boy anime series offers viewers engaging cooking matches where chefs use their talents and creativity to create delicious and unique dishes. In addition, it also explores the culture and culinary traditions of ancient China, with traditional dishes and special cooking techniques.
Cooking Master Boy offers audiences a combination of adventure, intrigue and unique cuisine. This anime series is known for its beautiful drawing style, dramatic cooking matches and messages about passion and dedication in cooking.
Release year: 1997-1998 (part 1), 2019 (part 2)
Directed by: Masami Anno (part 1), Junji Nishimura (part 2)
Screenwriter: Akira Miyashita
Characters: Liu Mao Xing, Meili, Shirou Yukihira, Leon
Actors (voice): Masaya Onosaka (Liu Mao Xing), Yuriko Fuchizaki (Meili), Yasunori Matsumoto (Shirou Yukihira), Kazuhiko Inoue (Leon)
Genre: Action, Family, Food
Episodes: 52 (season 1), 24 (season 2)
Status: Completed (part 1), in progress (part 2)
Country: Japan
Studio: Nippon Animation
7 Ristorante Paradiso

Ristorante Paradiso - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: IMDb
Ristorante Paradiso - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Ristorante Paradiso is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by Natsume Ono. The story in Ristorante Paradiso revolves around a restaurant in Rome, Italy, called Casetta dell'Orso. This restaurant is special because all the waiters are middle-aged men, each wearing dark glasses. This special makes the restaurant unique and attractive.
The main character of the story is Nicoletta, a young girl who comes to Rome in search of her father, Lorenzo, who is divorced from her mother. Nicoletta found the Casetta dell'Orso restaurant by chance and started working there as a waitress. During her work, she met and interacted with the male staff in the restaurant, from the chef to the other waiters.
Ristorante Paradiso not only focuses on cooking and restaurant service, but also explores the relationships between characters. The story shows Nicoletta's growth and expansion as she learns her family and secrets. This anime brings a warm and romantic feeling, combined with the beauty of Italian cuisine and a special restaurant atmosphere. Ristorante Paradiso focuses on exploring love, family and friendship through delicious food and deep conversations between characters.
Release year: 2009
Directed by: Mitsuko Kase
Screenwriter: Shinichi Inotsume
Characters: Nicoletta, Claudio, Olga, Gigi, Luciano
Actors (voices): Fumiko Orikasa (Nicoletta), Kenji Nomura (Claudio), Masako Ikeda (Olga), Masayuki Katou (Gigi), Jun Fukuyama (Luciano)
Genre: Slice of life, romance, family, food
Episodes: 11
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: David Production
8 Mister Ajikko

Mister Ajikko - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: TT8
Mister Ajikko - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Mister Ajikko is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by Daisuke Terasawa. The story in Mister Ajikko revolves around a boy named Ajiyoshi Yoichi who has a boundless passion for food. Yoichi is a talented chef, and he soon becomes a famous chef in the culinary world. He participates in cooking competitions and creates amazing dishes to challenge other chefs.
Besides competing with other chefs, Yoichi also learns many cooking techniques from experts and explores the cuisine of different regions in Japan. Each episode of the anime focuses on a particular dish or type of dish, and Yoichi will face the cooking challenge to create a great version of it.
Mister Ajikko offers audiences a vibrant and exciting experience in the world of cooking and food. This anime series not only creates a fascinating feeling about cooking and enjoying delicious food, but also explores the culture and culinary traditions of Japan. It also conveys the message of passion, patience and creativity in cooking.
Release year: 1987-1989
Directed by: Yasuhiro Imagawa
Screenwriter: Tadashi Nishimura
Characters: Youichi Ajiyoshi, Harumi Ajiyoshi, Genjirou Murata, Reiko Sagisawa
Actors (voices): Masaaki Sakai (Youichi Ajiyoshi), Yoshiko Sakakibara (Harumi Ajiyoshi), Toshio Furukawa (Genjirou Murata), Keiko Toda (Reiko Sagisawa)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Food
Episodes: 99
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: Sunrise
9 Antique Bakery

Antique Bakery - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: IMDb
Antique Bakery - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Antique Bakery is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by author Fumi Yoshinaga. The story in Antique Bakery centers on a classic pastry stand called Antique, run by a special group of employees. The owner of the shop is Keiichiro Tachibana, a rich and mysterious man who opened the shop after experiencing an incident in the past.
The main characters in the story include Ono Yusuke, an expert bartender, and a man who attracts people; Chikage Kobayakawa, a young but talented and charming waiter; and Eiji Kanda, a young chef passionate about baking. Together they work and create amazing pastries to satisfy customers.
Besides exploring the culinary world, Antique Bakery also focuses on developing characters and exploring the relationships between them. The story includes both humorous and emotional elements, and it explores the characters' friendships, love, and pasts. Antique Bakery gives the audience an interesting experience of the world of pastry and food, and also creates a feeling of warmth and romance through stories of personal growth and camaraderie.
Release year: 2008
Directed by: Hiroshi Ishiodori
Screenwriter: Natsuko Takahashi
Characters: Keisuke Tachibana, Yusuke Ono, Chikage Kobayakawa, Eiji Kanda
Actors (voices): Keiji Fujiwara (Keisuke Tachibana), Kazuhiko Inoue (Yusuke Ono), Yasuhiro Takato (Chikage Kobayakawa), Tetsu Inada (Eiji Kanda)
Genre: Casual, Comedy, Romance, Food
Episodes: 12
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: Nippon Animation
10 Koufuku Graffiti

Koufuku Graffiti - The best cooking anime you should watch. Image source: Tumblr Gallery
Koufuku Graffiti - The best cooking anime series trailer you should watch.
Koufuku Graffiti, also known in English as "Gourmet Girl Graffiti," is an anime special about food and the love of food. The story revolves around Ryou Machiko, a young girl who loves to cook and lives alone after losing her parents. Ryou believes that eating with others can bring joy and happiness, and she often cooks delicious food for herself. When she realizes that eating with others makes food even better, she begins to share her meal with her roommate, Kirin Morino.
Koufuku Graffiti not only shows the deliciousness of the dishes that Ryou cook, but also brings back the emotions, memories and lovely moments when enjoying food together. This anime creates a warm and cute space where every meal becomes a memorable experience. In addition to presenting mouth-watering dishes, Koufuku Graffiti also explores friendship, family, and the interactions between characters. This anime gives the audience a feeling of warmth, joy and support through enjoying food and sharing meals with others.
Release year: 2015
Directed by: Akiyuki Shinbo
Screenwriter: Makoto Uezu
Characters: Ryou Machiko, Kirin Morino, Shiina
Actors (voices): Rina Satou (Ryou Machiko), Asuka Oogame (Kirin Morino), Mikako Takahashi (Shiina)
Genre: Slice of life, comedy, food
Episodes: 12
Status: Completed
Country: Japan
Studio: Shaft