Food Wars: Complete List of Episodes by Season
If you’re an anime fan with a love for food-themed storytelling, Food Wars! (Shokugeki no Soma) is undoubtedly a treat. This high-energy series blends intense cooking battles with mouth-watering animation and character development. Whether you’re rewatching or diving in for the first time, having a clear Food Wars list of episodes by season helps keep track of the story’s progression. This guide provides an organized overview of every episode across all seasons.
Food Wars
Food Wars! follows Soma Yukihira, a young and passionate chef aiming to surpass his father in the culinary world. He enrolls at Totsuki Culinary Academy, an elite school where students battle in high-stakes cooking duels called “shokugeki.” Each season brings new rivalries, techniques, and intense culinary showdowns.
With a total of five seasons and 86 episodes, the anime has captivated audiences globally. Let’s explore the Food Wars list of episodes season by season, highlighting major arcs and themes without overwhelming you with raw data.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (2015)
A Delicious Debut
The first season introduces us to Soma Yukihira’s journey from a family diner to the prestigious Totsuki Academy. This season sets the stage with cooking duels that focus on creativity, flavor balance, and technique. Major highlights include the entrance exam, dorm challenges, and the Fall Classic Tournament.
Key arcs include:
- Totsuki Entrance Exam
- Polar Star Dorm Life
- Autumn Elections
Each episode brings forth a new dish, rival, or lesson. Expect plenty of humor, intensity, and unforgettable food reactions that have become a signature of the show.
The Second Plate (2016)
The Autumn Elections Heats Up
This season picks up where the first left off — the Autumn Elections. It dives deeper into the competition, showcasing elite cooking battles with advanced techniques like molecular gastronomy, charcoal grilling, and multi-course creativity.
The Second Plate is shorter, focusing entirely on the finals and the Stagiaire internship arc. Each match feels like a championship showdown, with Soma and his peers facing near-impossible tasks that test their growth.
The Third Plate (2017–2018)
Central vs. Rebels Begins
In this season, the stakes get higher. A power shift at Totsuki leads to the rise of the Central Gourmet organization led by Azami Nakiri, Erina’s father. This change sparks the Rebel Alliance arc, where Soma and others challenge the dictatorship of culinary conformity.
Highlights include:
- Moon Festival battles
- Elite Ten Council confrontations
- Soma and Erina’s evolving dynamic
This is where the story takes a darker, more serious turn. The Food Wars list of episodes here starts to feel more serialized, with plotlines carrying heavily from one episode to the next.
The Fourth Plate (2019)
The Regiment de Cuisine
This season is action-packed from start to finish. The Regiment de Cuisine — a team-based culinary war — dominates the narrative. Rebels versus Central in high-stakes battles where losing means expulsion. Strategies are crafted like military campaigns, and the dishes reflect not just flavor, but philosophy.
Every character shows how far they’ve come, from Takumi’s precision to Megumi’s nurturing touch. It’s not just about food anymore; it’s about ideals.
The Fifth Plate (2020)
BLUE Tournament and Final Showdown
The final season covers the international BLUE competition. Soma and other elite chefs face off against dark chefs, criminals-turned-cooking-prodigies, and even secret organizations. It’s the most over-the-top season, but it wraps up long-standing arcs and character development.
This season also dives into Soma’s family history, including more about his father Joichiro and the source of Soma’s relentless drive.
While some fans feel the pacing here is rushed, others appreciate how it ties all loose ends and gives closure.
Episode Count by Season
Here’s a quick summary of how many episodes are in each season:
- Season 1: 24 episodes
- Season 2: 13 episodes
- Season 3: 24 episodes (split into two cours)
- Season 4: 12 episodes
- Season 5: 13 episodes
Though not listed individually here, each episode title usually revolves around the featured dish or battle — making it easy to identify key moments if you’re rewatching or searching for a particular arc.
Why Follow the Episode Order?
Many fans wonder if they can skip certain arcs or jump ahead. While filler content is minimal in Food Wars!, watching in order is crucial to understanding character development and ongoing rivalries. The Food Wars list of episodes follows a sequential story where each shokugeki has consequences.
Watching season by season ensures:
- You track Soma’s growth accurately
- You see how relationships evolve, especially between Soma and Erina
- You understand the motivation behind Central and the Rebels
Notable Culinary Themes by Season
Season 1
- Fusion cuisine
- Low-cost vs. luxury ingredients
- Traditional Japanese techniques
Season 2
- Specialty cooking (Italian, French, molecular)
- Presentation and story behind dishes
Season 3
- Politics of food
- Power, control, and culinary identity
Season 4
- Team-based strategy
- Innovation vs. tradition
Season 5
- Global cooking styles
- High-concept gastronomy
FAQs
How many episodes are there in Food Wars?
There are 86 episodes across 5 seasons of Food Wars!.
What is the correct order to watch Food Wars?
Watch all five seasons in release order. That’s the same as the chronological order of the story. Start with Season 1 and go through to Season 5.
Is there a Season 6 of Food Wars?
As of now, Food Wars! concluded with Season 5: The Fifth Plate. There are no official announcements about Season 6.
Which episode does Erina change her attitude?
Erina begins to soften around Soma during Season 3, especially after learning more about his father Joichiro in the later episodes.
Are the OVAs important?
There are a few OVAs (Original Video Animations), but they are mostly side stories. While fun, they are not essential to the main plot.
