If you can’t make up your mind to watch anime or cooking shows, I have a solution. Why don’t you make a watchlist of cooking anime? I listed for you the best ones you can find. From interesting characters to amazing food and recipes – they have all!

Food Wars! (Shokugeki no Soma)

Food Wars! (or Shokugeki no Soma) derives from a Manga of the same name.

The story follows the adventures of Soma Yukihira. To surpass his father’s culinary skills, he enrolls in an elite culinary school. The series primarily takes place at Totsuki Saryo Culinary Institute in Tokyo, Japan, which only a few students succeed to graduate from each year.

Yume-iro Pâtissière (Dream-Colored Pastry Chef)

In the story, Ichigo Amano has a deep passion for eating cakes and cookies. She has the dream of becoming a pastry chef but is clumsy and uncoordinated. One day, a famous patissier recognizes her talent and invites her to attend a prestigious culinary school.

This is a cooking anime, but you can also witness a young girl’s growth and skill improvement.

Kitchen Princess (Kitchen no Ohimesama)

At the center of the anime is Najika Kazami. She is a girl that is passionate about food and cooking, so she decides to leave the orphanage for a special academy in Tokyo. Her quest is to find the boy she calls the Flan Prince, who touched her heart with a cup of flan seven years ago.

Kitchen Princess is shōjo, which means that it targets a teen female audience and has relationships and emotions in focus.

Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji)

The main character in Silver Spoon is Yuugo Hachiken. He is a middle school student who fails the entrance exam for his dream high school. After a stressful home life and a strict father, he enrolls at the Oezo Agricultural High School in the countryside.

He meets a group of new friends and lives an agricultural lifestyle with them.

Bambino!

Shogo Ban, a university student from Fukuoka, enjoys cooking. He ends up working at the line of Roppongi’s best Italian restaurant, Trattoria Baccanale, and discovers that working among the best chefs isn’t as easy as he thought.

Ban is challenged not only by a hectic workload and his co-workers, but also by his relationship with Eri outside of work.

Mister Ajikko

Ajiyoshi Youichi is a culinary prodigy who manages the eating house together with his mother. One day, the unexpected guest invited Youichi to a spaghetti match with Italian chef Marui.

Youichi beats Marui in the match thanks to his enthusiasm for offering his guests a great experience. Then Youichi begins competing with his rivals for the best taste and dishes.

Chuuka Ichiban! (Cooking Master Boy)

The story occurs in 19th century China during a fictitious era called “The Era of the Cooking Wars”. During this era, top Chinese chefs worked on improving their skills and becoming the best in their fields. Chefs compete with each other to gain respect but also run the risk of losing it all.

The story follows Mao. After his mother’s death, he decides to travel across China in order to become a legendary chef.

Restaurant to Another World (Isekai Shokudou)

The plot is in the Western Restaurant Nekoya. It serves Western dishes with a Japanese twist.  The restaurant is open during normal business hours but closed on weekends and holidays. Nevertheless, the restaurant has a secret opening on Saturdays, when it creates portals to another world filled with elves, dragons, animal men, and other interesting creatures.

Yakitate!! Japan

Having discovered the wonders of breadmaking at a young age, Kazuma Azuma sets out to make a unique national bread for Japan. Having unusually warm hands that allow the dough to ferment faster, Azuma is able to bring baking innovations to a whole new level.

After starting to work at a prestigious Japanese bakery chain, Azuma encounters other talented bakers and witnesses the competitive world of baking.