Out of all of Gordon Ramsay's television shows, Hell's Kitchen stands out as the most intense — here are the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked from worst to best. Rather than taking chefs one on one like MasterChef, Hell's Kitchen puts experienced restaurant chefs into two teams that compete at the end of the episode in a fast-paced kitchen setting. Like all Gordon Ramsay programs, the show features a ton of overly dramatic moments and famous Ramsey rage explosions.
The best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked isn't the easiest feat. Each season contains its own gems, memorable chefs, superb food, and high-stakes competitions. If the drama isn't coming from Kitchen Nightmare's host Gordon Ramsay, then it's from the relationships of the chefs, whose competing egos sometimes get the better of them. Seeing Ramsay interact with experienced chefs is a special treat, as it's always great to see someone in their element doing what they do best. However, some seasons of Hell's Kitchen are better than others.
Season 7
One of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked so low because self-important winner Holli Ugalde couldn't even become the head chef of Ramsey's Savoy Grill in London because of issues with her visa — basically making the entire season a waste, although it felt like a fitting ending for Season 7.
In this season, truly a low-point for the show, the only thing of note was that the red team lost every single dinner service they competed in. Arguments between chefs on Hell's Kitchen got old as egos collided, and Ramsay seemed to be even more abusive than usual. All in all, the drama of the season was more grating than it was entertaining.
Season 9
The winner of Season 9, Paul Niedermann, took the Head Chef slot at BLT Steak in New York City as his prize for securing the season. It saw the beginning of the Private Charity Night during dinner service, although it also saw the last time the show would have a double dinner service.
For the first time in its history, season 9 of Hell's Kitchen aired episodes in different time slots and days, which perhaps contributed to the viewership slip from the previous seasons. This unfortunate dip in viewership and ratings is why one of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked so low.
Season 4
Season 4 of Hell's Kitchen is one of the best, but was somewhat unusual in that it presented an odd number of contestants, making the divided teams uneven from the outset. In the end, Chef Christina Machamer won the season. Season 4 is considered by some to be one of the best seasons in Hell's Kitchen by employing a compelling "underdog" story.
Machamer, a culinary student at the time of competing on the series, had the least experience out of all the contestants, yet still managed to achieve victory in the end. Unfortunately, what could have been one of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons was scuppered by most contestants, outside the cheating Jen Gavin, being quite forgettable.
Season 17
Hell's Kitchen season 17 is known as the "All-Stars" season because it pits former competitors against each other. Michelle Tribble from season 14 is the one who wins the competition in the end, though many wondered what happened to Elise Wims from season 9.
Usually, the All-Star idea delivers in spades, but the reason what should have been one of the best Hells Kitchen seasons isn't ed fondly is because the idea overall fell flat. While in-fighting is par for the course with Hells Kitchen, some audiences have accused the drama of being forced, possibly even scripted, and the season felt faker than most.
Season 1
Michael Wray from Fort Collins Colorado won the inaugural season of Hell's Kitchen, and the prizes (which differed from those that followed): he was given his own restaurant in Los Angeles and an opportunity to learn with Chef Ramsay in London - although he turned the latter down for personal reasons.
Since it was the first season, it contributed several things that would continue throughout the show, such as the first Signature Dish Challenge. However, the first season of Hell's Kitchen is unmissable for introducing fans to one of the funniest reality show judges on television. One of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked in the middle because it's clear that the show is in its earliest stages, and pacing issues run rampant.
Season 3
The third season of Hell's Kitchen continued the show's upward trend, capitalizing on everything that had worked in the first two seasons while ditching the aspects that hadn't resonated as well with fans. Chef Rahman "Rock" Harper took the championship for the season, beating out eleven other contestants.
Given that the show was still in its infancy, the third season of Hell's Kitchen did the legwork to keep the show in the public eye. Even though one of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked a little lower, it did succeed in outshining the inaugural season even if it didn't quite reach the merits of its immediate predecessor.
Season 6
Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen marked one of the most shocking eliminations, as it was the first time ever that Ramsay eliminated a chef in the kitchen, doing so during the after-service post-mortem. It also marked the first time a contestant ever returned to the series, with Robert Hesse from Season 5 returning to the competition.
Other series firsts were the two finalists being the first in the series to that point avoiding having been nominated for eliminations, as well as having the first time Ramsay walked out during dinner service. The season was eventually won by Dave Levey of San Diego, who became Head Chef at Araxi Restaurant & Bar in Whistler, British Columbia. Despite the twists and turns, one of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked in the middle because outside of the twists there was little substance.
Season 16
Though many consider it one of the worst seasons of Hell's Kitchen, along with Seasons 14 and 15, this season managed to be both the third consecutive and third overall season to feature an all-female Final Three. Blowing all other teams out of the water, the red team completely dominated this season with a record eight dinner service wins. One of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked in the top 10; however, the drama wasn't really at the forefront, and Ramsay seemed to hold back.
On the flip side, the blue team was thrown out of dinner service a record seven times - no doubt contributing to this being the only season with two contestants being eliminated in a single episode on two separate occasions. Kimberly-Ann Ryan from Michigan eventually took home the top prize, Head Chef at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian in Las Vegas.
Season 10
Featuring some of the most iconic Gordon Ramsay insults, the tenth season of Hell's Kitchen was the only entries in which both teams failed at a challenge so badly that both teams were declared the losers, as well as the only time all of the eliminated contestants were actually nominated for elimination. One of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked middle of the road because there were a few two-parters, making it a longer and more difficult-paced season.
The winning chef was Christina Wilson of Philadelphia, who saw herself into a spot at Ramsay’s titular Gordon Ramsay Steak in Las Vegas - perhaps partially on the back of being a member of the first red team in the show’s history to win a Signature Dish Challenge.
Season 2
Featuring one ofHell's Kitchen was obviously still trying to find its stride going into its second season, which is why one of the best Hell's Kitchen seasons ranked so high. It was the first season where the original teams were separated according to the gender of the contestants, and it seems to have worked out for the series since it was a practice that was maintained up until the 18th season.
Wrapping up the show’s run in standard definition, it also saw the beginning of several challenges that would make appearances in future seasons. This season’s winner was Heather West, then a 25-year-old sous chef from Port Jefferson, New York. It's also well known for the infamous "Where's the lamb sauce?!" Gordon Ramsay meme.
