{{Short description|Japanese manga series and its franchise}} {{Good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox animanga/Header | name = Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma | image = Shokugeki no Souma Volume 1.jpg | caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume cover, featuring Soma Yukihira | ja_kanji = 食戟のソーマ | ja_romaji = Shokugeki no Sōma | genre = {{ubl|Comedy<ref name="VizLicence"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/food-wars|title=The Official Website for Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109092955/https://www.viz.com/food-wars|archive-date=January 9, 2018 }}</ref>|Cooking<ref>{{cite web|last=Morrissy|first=Kim|title=Cooking Masters Unite: Food Wars!, Chūka Ichiban! Announce Food Collab Menu|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-09-29/cooking-masters-unite-food-wars-chuka-ichiban-announce-food-collab-menu/.151427|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 1, 2020|date=September 29, 2019|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209030330/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-09-29/cooking-masters-unite-food-wars-chuka-ichiban-announce-food-collab-menu/.151427|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="debut"/>|Slice of life<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sentaifilmworks.com/catalog/food-wars|title=Food Wars!|publisher=Sentai Filmworks|access-date=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510005536/http://www.sentaifilmworks.com/catalog/food-wars|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per MOS:A&M). --> }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = manga | title = | author = Yūto Tsukuda | illustrator = Shun Saeki | publisher = Shueisha | publisher_en = {{English manga publisher | NA = Viz Media }} | imprint = Jump Comics | magazine = {{ubl|Weekly Shōnen Jump|Jump Giga}} | magazine_en = {{English manga magazine | NA = Weekly Shonen Jump }} | first = November 26, 2012 | last = August 29, 2019 | volumes = 36 | volume_list = List of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma chapters }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = light novel | title = Shokugeki no Sōma: À la carte | author = Michiko Itō | illustrator = Shun Saeki | publisher = Shueisha | imprint = Jump J-Books | magazine = | first = February 4, 2014 | last = April 3, 2015 | volumes = 3 | volume_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = | title = Shokugeki no Sōma: L'étoile | author = Michiko Itō | illustrator = Taiki Asatoki | publisher = Shueisha | imprint = | magazine = Shōnen Jump+ | first = March 3, 2015 | last = June 21, 2019 | volumes = 8 | volume_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = tv series | director = Yoshitomo Yonetani | producer = {{ubl|Noriko Dohi|Kouhei Kawase|Ryuu Hashimoto|Ryousuke Mori|Horkazu Hara|Jun Fukuda|Akifumi Fujio|Hiroshi Kamei|Terushige Yoshie|Souji Miyagi|Ayako Ooyama|Ryuutarou Usukura}} | writer = Shōgo Yasukawa | music = Tatsuya Kato | studio = J.C.Staff | licensee = {{ubl|Crunchyroll LLC{{efn|In North America, through Crunchyroll (formerly known as Funimation) and, in Australia, through Crunchyroll Store Australia (formerly known as Madman Anime).}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-05/crunchyroll-sentai-filmworks-partner-for-home-video-releases/.163655|title=Crunchyroll, Sentai Filmworks Partner for Home Video Releases|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=September 5, 2020|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 6, 2020|archive-date=September 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907010616/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-05/crunchyroll-sentai-filmworks-partner-for-home-video-releases/.163655|url-status=live}}</ref>|{{English anime licensees | NA = Sentai Filmworks{{efn|Despite Crunchyroll having the license for seasons 3–5, Sentai Filmworks still controls home media releases and in-house English dubbing for the series.}} | UK = {{ubl|Animatsu Entertainment (expired)|Anime Limited (current)}} | SA/SEA|Medialink}} }} | network = TBS, MBS, CBC, BS-TBS, Animax, Tokyo MX, BS11 | network_en = {{English anime network | NA = Anime Network | US = Adult Swim (Toonami) }} | first = April 4, 2015 | last = September 26, 2020 | episodes = 86 | episode_list = List of Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma episodes }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = light novel | title = Shokugeki no Sōma: Fratelli Aldini | author = Michiko Itō | illustrator = Shun Saeki | publisher = Shueisha | imprint = Jump J-Books | magazine = | published = October 2, 2015 | volumes = | volume_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Video games | content = * ''Shokugeki no Soma: The Ultimate Recipe'' (2015) * ''Shokugeki no Soma: The Dish of Friendship and Bonds'' (2015) }} {{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'''''|食戟のソーマ|Shokugeki no Sōma|{{lit|Sōma of the Shokugeki}}|lead=yes}} is a Japanese manga series written by Yūto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from November 2012 to June 2019. Its chapters were collected in 36 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes published by Shueisha. The series follows an aspiring chef who enrolls in an elite culinary school where students take part in cooking competitions. Yuki Morisaki also works as a contributor, providing the recipes for the series. The manga is licensed by Viz Media in North America, who has been releasing the volumes digitally since March 2014, and released the first volume in print in August 2014.
An anime adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired between April and September 2015. A second season, titled ''Food Wars! The Second Plate'' aired between July and September 2016. The first cour of the third season, titled ''Food Wars! The Third Plate'', aired between October and December 2017. The second half aired between April and June 2018. A fourth season, titled ''Food Wars! The Fourth Plate'', aired between October and December 2019. The fifth and final season, titled ''Food Wars! The Fifth Plate'', aired between April and September 2020. The series has also had a pair of video games released in 2015.
By March 2020, the manga had over 20 million copies in circulation. The series has received positive reactions to the narrative and genuine recipes depicted, though its fan service has received criticism.
== Synopsis == === Setting === The series is set mainly at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy (Tōtsuki Saryō Ryōri Gakuen), an elite culinary school located in Tokyo, Japan, where only a handful of students graduate from each year.{{efn|While the English manga volume 1 back cover indicates the school has a 10% graduation rate,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-volume-1/product/3612|title=VIZ: Read a Free Preview of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 1|website=www.viz.com|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=December 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217164350/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-volume-1/product/3612|url-status=live}}</ref> it appears to be about 1%, as Dean Senzaemon says in his opening speech that in the last year, of 812 entering freshman, only 76 made it to the second year, and that the number of students who graduate each year can be counted on one hand.{{Ref|Chapter|Ch. 4}}}} Its students mostly come from Totsuki's junior high school, but transfers are taken provided that they pass the entrance exam. The campus is a wide-ranging resort with many research societies (clubs), cooking classrooms, and large arenas used for competitions.
The top student chefs occupy seats on the Council of Ten Masters, the highest governing body in the school aside from the school director. Students can initiate a {{Transliteration|ja|shokugeki}} (anime: food war), a cook-off with stipulations on the line, with any other student or alumnus. Battles fought in this way could be for cooking utensils, research society facilities, council membership, or even expulsion from the school.
=== Plot === {{Main|List of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma characters{{!}}List of ''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' characters}} Teenager Soma Yukihira aspires to become a full-time chef in his father Joichiro's family restaurant, "Restaurant Yukihira", and to surpass his father's culinary skills. However, Joichiro gets a new job that requires him to travel around the world and close his shop. Joichiro has enrolled Soma in Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, an elite culinary school where students engage in cooking competitions called ''shokugeki''. Soma secures himself a spot at the school, despite the objections of Erina Nakiri, the talented granddaughter of the school's dean. Soma is assigned to Polaris Dormitory where he meets other aspiring chefs, including Megumi Tadokoro. The story follows his adventures as he interacts with his peers and challenges Tōtsuki's students as well as others in shokugeki competitions. Learning that his father was not only a student of Tōtsuki, but also the second seat in the Council of Ten, Soma plans on becoming the best at the academy.
Soma and the other first-year students participate in a cooking camp judged by the school's alumni who expels about a third of the entering class. He enters the Fall Classic, a competition that takes the top 60 first-year students and pares them down to eight students who then compete in a single elimination tournament, The Autumn Elections. The first-years then participate in week-long ''stagiaire'' internships at local restaurants, as well as a large-scale school-wide Moon Festival. During the Moon Festival, Erina's father Azami takes over the school, and Soma and Erina form a rebel faction to challenge the establishment. The disgruntled members of the Council join the Rebel Faction and with support from Joichiro and Gin, the Rebels confront Azami's organization "Central" in a Regiment De Cuisine (Team Shokugeki). Eventually the Rebels emerge victorious and oust Azami with Erina as the new Headmaster.
Afterwards, Soma and the others enter into their second year. Several of the members in the Fall Classic have been promoted into the council, replacing the graduating third year batch. Their first assignment concerns about the existence of "dark chefs", those who work with criminal organizations and other VIPs. A particular organization, the "Les Cuisiniers Noirs", is led by Joichiro's former protege Asahi Saiba who defeated the former. Asahi infiltrates Totsuki, and abducts Erina from the academy, with the intention to marry her. To recover Erina, the trio of Soma, Megumi and Takumi participate in an invitation-only cooking competition called BLUE, organized by the World Gourmet Organization under its Headmaster Mana Nakiri, Erina's mother. The trio encounter and fight against the Dark Chefs, with Soma eventually defeating Asahi. The manga ends with Soma and Erina facing each other in the final match of BLUE. Erina acknowledges Soma's cooking but insists on calling it "disgusting".
In the events of the epilogue ~Le dessert~, after the events of BLUE, Soma took an indefinite leave before taking the third year exams. During this time Erina and Hisako ask Joichiro about his past with Tamako, whereas Mana and Azami discover that Asahi is Azami's biological son and Erina's half-brother, leading the former to request him to join the Nakiri family. Many years after all Jewel Generation students graduation from Totsuki, Soma tells Erina that he's returning home and offers another challenge for her to which she gladly accepts, certain that he will make Erina finally say "delicious".
== Conception and development == Yuto Tsukuda has worked on two minor sports manga series, ''Shōnen Shikku'' which was about soccer; and ''Ao no Rettou'' which was about ski jumping, the latter series he wrote while ''Food Wars'' was serialized.<ref name="ann interview"/> In an interview with Anime News Network, Tsukuda said that illustrator Shun Saeki "came up with the idea of a girl eating food, and she expresses herself about the food with 'ecstasy'," but since Saeki wanted to focus on drawing the manga, he needed someone to write a storyline so he got Tsukuda. Tsukuda said that he knew Saeki as a senpai from university. Celebrity chef Yuki Morisaki was brought in as a food consultant.<ref name="ann interview">{{cite web|last=Silverman|first=Rebecca|title=Interview: Food Wars author Yuto Tsukuda|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2017-08-17/food-wars-author-yuto-tsukuda/.120234|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 10, 2020|date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020183826/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2017-08-17/food-wars-author-yuto-tsukuda/.120234|url-status=live}}</ref> Regarding the dynamics of the team, Tsukuda said that his "motivation throughout this whole project came from wanting to demonstrate the greatness of Saeki-sensei's art", and for Saeki, he didn't think he had the storytelling power that Tsukuda had.<ref name="ann interview 2">{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Jacon|title=Interview - The Creators of Food Wars!|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2019-09-13/interview-the-creators-of-food-wars/.151017|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 10, 2020|date=September 13, 2019|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930164247/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2019-09-13/interview-the-creators-of-food-wars/.151017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Tsukuda said that he and Saeki would collaborate on ideas for the storyline, and that later their editor would also be involved in the discussion. Some of the reactions to the dishes were the result of free association games, where they would pick some of the unexpected phrases.<ref name="ann interview"/> They keep a library of possible dishes that they researched before and every week they would see if any would fit their storyline.<ref name="ann interview 2"/>
== Media == === Manga === {{Main|List of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma chapters{{!}}List of ''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' chapters}} ''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' is written by Yūto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. A one-shot was first published in Shueisha's ''Jump Next!'' in April 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=「少年疾駆」附田祐斗と新鋭のコンビがジャンプ増刊に登場|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/68634|website=Comic Natalie|access-date=August 12, 2019|language=ja|date=April 29, 2012|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812104804/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/68634|url-status=live}}</ref> The manga began its serialization in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' on November 26, 2012.<ref name="debut">{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Shonen Jump to Launch 3 New Manga Series in November|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-31/shonen-jump-to-launch-3-new-manga-series-in-november|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 31, 2019|date=October 31, 2012|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531025706/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-31/shonen-jump-to-launch-3-new-manga-series-in-november|url-status=live}}</ref> The series finished in the magazine on June 17, 2019,<ref>{{cite web|author1=Rafael Antonio Pineda|title=Food Wars! Shokugek0i no Soma Manga Ends in 3 Chapters|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-02/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-manga-ends-in-3-chapters/.147308|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 2, 2019|date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602152357/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-02/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-manga-ends-in-3-chapters/.147308|url-status=live}}</ref> while a three-chapter sequel titled ''Shokugeki no Soma -Le dessert-'' was published in ''Jump Giga'' from June 27 to August 29, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Manga Gets 3 More Chapters in Jump GIGA Magazine|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-16/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-manga-gets-3-more-chapters-in-jump-giga-magazine/.147889|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 16, 2019|date=June 16, 2019|archive-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616155359/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-16/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-manga-gets-3-more-chapters-in-jump-giga-magazine/.147889|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「食戟のソーマ」後日譚が完結！ラストファンブックの発売も決定|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/345446|website=Comic Natalie|access-date=December 3, 2019|language=ja|date=August 29, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202131830/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/345446|url-status=live}}</ref> The first {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volume was published on April 4, 2013. The 36th and last volume was published on October 4, 2019. Viz Media has licensed the manga for North America and published the first volume on August 5, 2014, and the last on June 2, 2020.<ref name="VizLicence">{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-04/viz-media-adds-shokugeki-no-soma-cooking-comedy-manga|title=Viz Media Adds Shokugeki no Sōma Cooking Comedy Manga|date=November 4, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406120948/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-04/viz-media-adds-shokugeki-no-soma-cooking-comedy-manga|archive-date=April 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/manga/digital/food-wars-volume-1/2695|title=Food Wars!, Volume 1|access-date=May 28, 2014|publisher=Viz Media|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530020957/http://www.viz.com/manga/digital/food-wars-volume-1/2695|archive-date=May 30, 2014 }}</ref> Shueisha began to simulpublish the series in English on the website and app ''Manga Plus'' in January 2019.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Rafael Antonio Pineda|title=Shueisha Launches Free Global MANGA Plus Service|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-01-27/shueisha-launches-free-global-manga-plus-service/.142634|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 23, 2019|date=January 27, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128090246/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-01-27/shueisha-launches-free-global-manga-plus-service/.142634|url-status=live}}</ref>
A spin-off series, titled ''Shokugeki no Soma: L'étoile'', ran in the ''Shōnen Jump+'' website and app from February 20, 2015, to June 21, 2019. The individual chapters have been collected in eight {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes.<ref>{{cite web|title=More of Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Cast, Spinoff Manga Unveiled|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-12/more-of-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-cast-spinoff-manga-unveiled/.84357|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 21, 2019|date=February 12, 2015|archive-date=June 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621201836/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-12/more-of-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-cast-spinoff-manga-unveiled/.84357|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|title=Food Wars! Spinoff Manga Shokugeki no Soma: L'étoile Ends|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-21/food-wars-spinoff-manga-shokugeki-no-soma-letoile-ends/.148143|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 21, 2019|date=June 21, 2019|archive-date=June 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621201837/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-21/food-wars-spinoff-manga-shokugeki-no-soma-letoile-ends/.148143|url-status=live}}</ref> A crossover story, titled ''Shokugeki no Sanji'', was developed as a tribute to ''One Piece'' and has been published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since July 23, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bae|first=John|title=Interview With the Food Wars! Writer!|url=https://www.viz.com/blog/posts/interview-with-the-food-wars-writer|website=Viz Media|access-date=September 10, 2020|date=October 22, 2019|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703105150/https://www.viz.com/blog/posts/interview-with-the-food-wars-writer|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|title=One Piece/Food Wars! Spinoff Manga About Sanji to Run in English Shonen Jump|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-07-16/one-piece-food-wars-spinoff-manga-about-sanji-to-run-in-english-shonen-jump/.134343|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 10, 2020|date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813025631/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-07-16/one-piece-food-wars-spinoff-manga-about-sanji-to-run-in-english-shonen-jump/.134343|url-status=live}}</ref> Two light novels, written by Michiko Itō, were also released, titled ''À la carte'' in 2014 and ''Fratelli Aldini'' in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.suruga-ya.com/product/2L3791|title=Food Wars!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA - Fratelli Aldini -|website=www.suruga-ya.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://otakumode.com/shop/57734436b92d1afd4493e238/Food-Wars!-Shokugeki-no-Soma-%C3%A0-la-Carte-Vol-1|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma à la Carte Vol. 1|website=Tokyo Otaku Mode (TOM) Shop}}</ref>
=== Anime === {{Main|List of Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma episodes{{!}}List of ''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' episodes}} An anime adaptation was announced in October 2014 by Shueisha.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-28/shueisha-confirms-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-tv-anime-for-2015/.80442|title=Shueisha Confirms Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma TV Anime for 2015|date=October 28, 2014|website=Anime News Network|access-date=April 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418064601/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-28/shueisha-confirms-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-tv-anime-for-2015/.80442|archive-date=April 18, 2015 }}</ref> The anime was directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani at J.C.Staff with Shogo Yasukawa as the series scriptwriter and starred Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as the main character, Sōma Yukihira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-09/j.c-staff-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-casts-yoshitsugu-matsuoka/.80833|title=J.C. Staff Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Anime Cast Yoshitsugu Matsuoka|website=Anime News Network|date=November 9, 2014|access-date=April 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111053945/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-09/j.c-staff-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-casts-yoshitsugu-matsuoka/.80833|archive-date=November 11, 2014 }}</ref> Crunchyroll began streaming the anime on April 4, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-03/crunchyroll-streams-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime/.86722|title=Crunchyroll Streams Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Anime|website=Anime News Network|date=April 4, 2015|access-date=April 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404233706/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-03/crunchyroll-streams-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime/.86722|archive-date=April 4, 2015 }}</ref> Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime for digital and home video release in North America;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-04/sentai-filmworks-adds-pleiades-re-kan-snafu-too-hello-kinmoza-utapri-season-3-is-it-wrong-to-try-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-food-wars/.86760|title=Sentai Filmworks Adds Pleiades, Re-Kan, SNAFU Too, Hello! KinMoza, UtaPri Season 3, Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon and Food Wars|website=Anime News Network|date=April 4, 2015|access-date=May 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507091417/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-04/sentai-filmworks-adds-pleiades-re-kan-snafu-too-hello-kinmoza-utapri-season-3-is-it-wrong-to-try-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-food-wars/.86760|archive-date=May 7, 2015 }}</ref> after the acquisition of Crunchyroll by Sony Pictures Television, ''Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' and ''Food Wars! The Second Plate'', among several Sentai Filmworks titles, were dropped from the Crunchyroll streaming service on March 31, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cardine|first=Kyle|title=Food Wars, Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? and More Are Leaving Crunchyroll|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/03/24/food-wars-is-it-wrong-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-and-more-are-leaving-crunchyroll|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=August 3, 2023|date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> In Southeast Asia and South Asia, the series is licensed by Medialink.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-27/iqiyi-adds-7-summer-anime-for-southeast-asia/.162251|title=iQiyi Adds 7 Summer Anime for Southeast Asia|first=Rafael Antonio|last=Pineda|website=Anime News Network|date=July 27, 2020|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008051951/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-27/iqiyi-adds-7-summer-anime-for-southeast-asia/.162251|url-status=live}}</ref> For the first fourteen episodes of the first season, the series' opening theme is {{nihongo|"Kibō no Uta"|希望の唄|The Song of Hope}} by Ultra Tower,<ref>{{cite web|title="Shokugeki no Soma" TV Anime OP Song PV by Ultra Tower|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/04/13/video-shokugeki-no-soma-tv-anime-op-song-pv-by-ultra-tower|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=April 13, 2015|access-date=April 19, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417030211/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/04/13/video-shokugeki-no-soma-tv-anime-op-song-pv-by-ultra-tower|archive-date=April 17, 2015 }}</ref> and the ending theme is {{nihongo|"Spice"|スパイス|Supaisu}} by Tokyo Karankoron.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00V4VCYMG/|script-title=ja:スパイス(アニメ｢食戟のソーマ｣エンディングサイズ)|language=ja|publisher=Amazon.co.jp|access-date=April 19, 2015|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520121347/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00V4VCYMG/|url-status=live |title=Amazon.co.jp }}</ref> From episode fifteen onwards, the opening theme is {{nihongo|"Rising Rainbow"|ライジングレインボウ|Raijingu Reinbō}} by Misokkasu, while the ending theme is {{nihongo|"Sacchan's Sexy Curry"|さっちゃんのセクシーカレー|Sacchan no Sekushī Karē}} by Seiko Oomori. A 25-minute original video animation (OVA) was bundled with the 19th volume of the manga, which released on July 4, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-28/food-wars-anime-2nd-season-ova-previewed-in-videos/.100369|title=Food Wars! Anime's 2nd Season, OVA Previewed in Videos|date=March 28, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330181251/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-28/food-wars-anime-2nd-season-ova-previewed-in-videos/.100369|archive-date=March 30, 2016 }}</ref> It was later released on DVD releases alongside ''Black Clover'' and ''My Hero Academia'' bundled with the future volumes of their respective manga, as it was announced on Jump Special Anime Festa event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-01/my-hero-academia-black-clover-food-wars-event-anime-get-dvd-releases/.109366|title=My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Food Wars! Event Anime Get DVD Releases|website=Anime News Network|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621123437/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-01/my-hero-academia-black-clover-food-wars-event-anime-get-dvd-releases/.109366|url-status=live}}</ref> A second OVA was also released as a part of the first season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-ivv7q4/food-wars-season-1/|title=Food Wars Season 1|website=Radio Times}}</ref>
A 13-episode second season, titled {{nihongo|''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate''|食戟のソーマ 弍ノ皿|Shokugeki no Sōma: Ni no Sara}} aired from July 2 to September 24, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-10/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-2nd-season/.96320|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Gets 2nd Season|date=December 10, 2015|access-date=December 10, 2015|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211132408/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-10/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-2nd-season/.96320|archive-date=December 11, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="S2Date">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-02-28/food-wars-anime-2nd-season-title-summer-premiere-revealed/.99185|title=Food Wars Anime's 2nd Season's Title, Summer Premiere Revealed|date=February 28, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228180743/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-02-28/food-wars-anime-2nd-season-title-summer-premiere-revealed/.99185|archive-date=February 28, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2016-06-28/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-2-listed-with-13-episodes/.103702|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Season 2 Listed With 13 Episodes|date=June 28, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628160008/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2016-06-28/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-2-listed-with-13-episodes/.103702|archive-date=June 28, 2016 }}</ref> A fourth OVA was released with the 25th manga volume on July 4, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-05-02/food-wars-original-anime-dvd-3rd-promo-video-streamed/.115609|title=Food Wars! Original Anime DVD's 3rd Promo Video Streamed|website=Anime News Network}}</ref> The second season's opening theme song is "Rough Diamonds" by Screen Mode, while the ending theme song is {{Nihongo|"Snowdrop"|スノードロップ}} by Nano Ripe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-22/screen-mode-nano.ripe-perform-2nd-food-wars-anime-season-themes/.102381|title=SCREEN mode, nano.RIPE Perform 2nd Food Wars! Anime Season's Themes|date=May 22, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523094124/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-22/screen-mode-nano.ripe-perform-2nd-food-wars-anime-season-themes/.102381|archive-date=May 23, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-06-21/food-wars-2nd-season-new-promo-previews-1st-autumn-election-match/.103449|title=Food Wars! 2nd Season's New Promo Previews 1st Autumn Election Match|date=June 21, 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626205255/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-06-21/food-wars-2nd-season-new-promo-previews-1st-autumn-election-match/.103449|archive-date=June 26, 2016 }}</ref> A third OVA was bundled with 24th manga volume.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=18937&page=28|title=Shokugeki no Soma: Shūgetsu no Meguriai (special) [Release dates] - Anime News Network|website=www.animenewsnetwork.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2026|reason=User-generated source}}
The first cour of the third season, titled ''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Third Plate'', aired from October 4 to December 20, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Gets 3rd Season This Fall|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-22/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-3rd-season-this-fall/.117823|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 22, 2017|date=June 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622115148/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-22/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-3rd-season-this-fall/.117823|archive-date=June 22, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="Season 3">{{cite web|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime's 3rd Season Premieres on October 3|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2017-08-24/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-3rd-season-premieres-on-october-3/.120493|website=Anime News Network|access-date=August 24, 2017|date=August 24, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216132252/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2017-08-24/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-3rd-season-premieres-on-october-3/.120493|archive-date=December 16, 2017 }}</ref> A fifth OVA was released during the third series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-01/new-food-wars-ova-promo-shows-erina-doing-laundry/.128429|title=New Food Wars! OVA's Promo Shows Erina Doing Laundry|website=Anime News Network}}</ref> The first opening theme song is "Braver" by Zaq, while the ending theme song is {{Nihongo|"Kyokyo Jitsujitsu"|虚虚実実}} by Nano Ripe.<ref>{{cite web|title=ZAQ, nano.RIPE Perform Theme Songs for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Season 3|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-08-17/zaq-nano.ripe-perform-theme-songs-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-3/.120235|website=Anime News Network|access-date=August 17, 2017|date=August 17, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909215327/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-08-17/zaq-nano.ripe-perform-theme-songs-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-3/.120235|archive-date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref> The second half aired from April 9 to June 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-03-05/food-wars-the-third-plate-anime-2nd-cour-premieres-on-april-8/.128566|title=Food Wars! The Third Plate Anime's 2nd Cour Premieres on April 8|website=Anime News Network|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174315/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-03-05/food-wars-the-third-plate-anime-2nd-cour-premieres-on-april-8/.128566|archive-date=March 14, 2018 }}</ref> The second opening theme is {{Nihongo|"Symbol"|シンボル}} by Luck Life, and the ending theme song is {{Nihongo|"Atria"|アトリア}} by Fo'xTails.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-18/luck-life-foxtails-perform-theme-songs-for-food-wars-the-third-plate-2nd-cour/.127909|title=Luck Life, Fo'xTails Perform Theme Songs for Food Wars! The Third Plate's 2nd Cour|website=Anime News Network|date=February 18, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218231545/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-18/luck-life-foxtails-perform-theme-songs-for-food-wars-the-third-plate-2nd-cour/.127909|archive-date=February 18, 2018 }}</ref> In July 2019, Sentai Filmworks licensed season 3, which released on home video with an English dub in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Jennifer Sherman|author2=Rafael Antonio Pineda|title=Sentai Filmworks Licenses Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul Anime Film, Food Wars! Season 3 TV Anime (Update)|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-05/sentai-filmworks-licenses-made-in-abyss-dawn-of-the-deep-soul-anime-film-food-wars-season-3-tv-anime/.148639|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 5, 2019|date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705183048/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-05/sentai-filmworks-licenses-made-in-abyss-dawn-of-the-deep-soul-anime-film-food-wars-season-3-tv-anime/.148639|url-status=live}}</ref> A fourth season entitled {{nihongo|''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fourth Plate''|食戟のソーマ 神ノ皿|Shokugeki no Sōma: Shin no Sara}} aired from October 12 to December 28, 2019.<ref name="season 3.5">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-16/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-4th-season-in-october/.147888|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Gets 4th Season in October|website=Anime News Network|date=June 16, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026114711/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-16/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-4th-season-in-october/.147888|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-09-02/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-4th-season-reveals-new-visual-october-11-premiere/.150641|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime's 4th Season Reveals New Visual, October 11 Premiere|website=Anime News Network|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 2, 2019|archive-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902114500/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-09-02/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-4th-season-reveals-new-visual-october-11-premiere/.150641|url-status=live}}</ref> The opening theme is "Chronos" by Stereo Dive Foundation, while the ending theme song is "Emblem" by Nano Ripe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-08-04/stereo-dive-foundation-perform-opening-theme-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-4th-season/.149680|title=Stereo Dive Foundation Perform Opening Theme for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime's 4th Season|website=Anime News Network|date=August 4, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804160414/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-08-04/stereo-dive-foundation-perform-opening-theme-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-4th-season/.149680|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-08-19/nano.ripe-returns-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-season-4-ending-theme/.150177|title=nano.RIPE Returns for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Season 4's Ending Theme|website=Anime News Network|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819051334/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-08-19/nano.ripe-returns-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-season-4-ending-theme/.150177|url-status=live}}</ref>
A fifth and last season entitled {{nihongo|''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate''|食戟のソーマ 五ノ皿|Shokugeki no Sōma: Go no Sara}} aired from April 11 to September 26, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-12-21/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-5th-season-in-april-2020/.154626|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Gets 5th Season in April 2020|website=Anime News Network|date=December 21, 2019|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605001253/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-12-21/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-gets-5th-season-in-april-2020/.154626|url-status=live}}</ref> The opening theme is "Last Chapter" by Nano Ripe, while the ending theme song is "Crossing Road" by Mai Fuchigami.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-09/nano.ripe-mai-fuchigami-perform-themes-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-5th-season/.156244|title=nano.RIPE, Mai Fuchigami Perform Themes for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime's 5th Season|website=Anime News Network|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313162748/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-09/nano.ripe-mai-fuchigami-perform-themes-for-food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-5th-season/.156244|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 17, 2020, it was announced that after the second episode, the remaining episodes of season would be delayed until further notice due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-17/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-delays-new-episodes-due-to-covid-19/.158711|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Delays New Episodes Due to COVID-19|website=Anime News Network|date=April 17, 2020|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419111404/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-17/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-delays-new-episodes-due-to-covid-19/.158711|url-status=live}}</ref> In late May 2020, it was announced that weekly new episodes would resume on July 18 after Japanese TV stations reran the first two episodes on July 4 and July 11.<ref name="se05e03AirDate">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-29/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-resumes-on-july-3-after-covid-19-delay/.160075|title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Anime Resumes on July 3 After COVID-19 Delay|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704164259/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-29/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-anime-resumes-on-july-3-after-covid-19-delay/.160075|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the United States, the series aired the English dub on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from July 7, 2019, to June 18, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Rafael Antonio Pineda|title=Toonami Premieres Food Wars! Anime on July 6|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-28/toonami-premieres-food-wars-anime-on-july-6/.148366|website=Anime News Network|access-date=June 28, 2019|date=June 28, 2019|quote=July 6 at 1:00 a.m. EST, effectively July 7|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628210524/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-28/toonami-premieres-food-wars-anime-on-july-6/.148366|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Video games === Two games released in Japan were produced. {{nihongo|''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Ultimate Recipe''|食戟のソーマ 最饗のレシピ|Shokugeki no Soma: Saikyō no Recipe}} is a mobile game published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game was released for iOS and Android on August 17, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/20/shokugeki-no-soma-getting-mobile-game-later-year/|title=Shokugeki No Soma getting Mobile Game later this year|date=April 20, 2015 |publisher=Silicon Era|access-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724131051/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/20/shokugeki-no-soma-getting-mobile-game-later-year/|archive-date=July 24, 2016 }}</ref>
{{nihongo|''Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Dish of Friendship and Bonds''|食戟のソーマ 友情と絆の一皿|Shokugeki no Soma: Yūjō to Kizuna no Hitosara}} is a visual novel developed by FuRyu<ref name="VGame">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/17/shokugeki-no-soma-is-also-cooking-up-a-visual-novel-for-nintendo-3ds/|title=Shokugeki No Soma is also Cooking up a visual Novel|date=June 18, 2015 |publisher=Silicon Era|access-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823113929/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/17/shokugeki-no-soma-is-also-cooking-up-a-visual-novel-for-nintendo-3ds/|archive-date=August 23, 2016 }}</ref> and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was released for the Nintendo 3DS on December 17, 2015. A teaser trailer was revealed on May 24, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-25/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-3ds-game-teaser-streamed/.88535|title=Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma 3DS Game's Teaser Streamed|website=Anime News Network|access-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020154803/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-25/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-3ds-game-teaser-streamed/.88535|archive-date=October 20, 2017 }}</ref> The game features an original story that takes place in Europe while characters from the series interact among each other. In addition, the characters will be voiced by their respective voice actors from the anime.<ref name="VGame"/> Gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the duration of the game is spent on reading the text that appears on the screen which represents either the dialogue between the various characters or the thoughts of the protagonist. Like many other visual novels, players will go through all kinds of situational events as the original story unfolds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.play-asia.com/shokugeki-no-soma-yujo-to-kizuna-no-hitosara/13/708tmp|title=Shokugeki No Soma Yujo to Kizuna No Hitosara|publisher=Play Asia|access-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609075011/http://www.play-asia.com/shokugeki-no-soma-yujo-to-kizuna-no-hitosara/13/708tmp|archive-date=June 9, 2017 }}</ref>
== Reception == === Critical response === Rebecca Silverman of ''Anime News Network'' gave the first volume of the manga series a B; praising the art and Soma as a likeable protagonist. However, she called the amount of fan service unnecessary and noted that it might make some readers uncomfortable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/food-wars/shokugeki-no-soma/gn-1/.77445|title=Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma GN1 - Review-|website=Anime News Network UK|access-date=December 4, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711025509/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/food-wars/shokugeki-no-soma/gn-1/.77445|archive-date=July 11, 2017 }}</ref> On the conclusion of the first series, Silverman commented "bumpy run with a slow start and some problems along the way".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma/episode-24/.93432 |title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma ‒ Episode 24 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125013701/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma/episode-24/.93432 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ashley Hawkins writing for ''Manga Library'' called the manga a "insta-buy" due to its depictions of food and how the recipes are genuine. However, she was also put off by the amount of fan service present in both the manga and anime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Series Review: Food Wars! |author=Hawkins, Ashley |work=Manga Librarian |date= April 2, 2019|access-date=20 May 2022 |url=https://mangalibrarian.com/2019/04/02/review-food-wars/ |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517191607/https://mangalibrarian.com/2019/04/02/review-food-wars/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Cecilia D'Anastasio writing a piece on fan service for ''Kotaku'' also commented that they wouldn't watch the anime, saying it had a "distracting breast-to-food quotient".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anime's Fan Service Can Be A Minefield |author=Cecilia D'Anastasio |work=Kotaku |date= December 6, 2016|access-date=9 May 2022 |url=https://kotaku.com/animes-fan-service-can-be-a-minefield-1789730580 |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509154121/https://kotaku.com/animes-fan-service-can-be-a-minefield-1789730580 |url-status=live }}</ref> Russel Fernande, of ''One Tech Traveller'' gave the series a 4.7/5, calling it "addictive".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://onetechtraveller.com/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-1-review/ |title=Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Season 1 Review |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511042305/https://onetechtraveller.com/food-wars-shokugeki-no-soma-season-1-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The manga ranked twelfth on the 2014 ''Kono Manga ga Sugoi!'' Top 20 Manga for Male Readers survey,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-09/top-manga-ranked-by-kono-manga-ga-sugoi-2014-voters|title=Top Manga Ranked by Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2014 Voters|date=December 9, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508113757/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-09/top-manga-ranked-by-kono-manga-ga-sugoi-2014-voters|archive-date=May 8, 2014 }}</ref> and third in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-06/japan-bookstore-employees-rank-top-manga-of-2014|title=Japan's Bookstore Employees Rank Top Manga of 2014|date=February 6, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508115746/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-06/japan-bookstore-employees-rank-top-manga-of-2014|archive-date=May 8, 2014 }}</ref> Dan Barnett commented for the ''UK Anime Network'' that despite it having a "simplistic structure", the series was "utterly brilliant".<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Anime Network - Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma - Eps. 4-26 |author=Barnett, Dan |work=UK Anime Network |access-date=20 May 2022 |url=http://www.uk-anime.net/anime/Food_Wars!_Shokugeki_no_Soma_-_Eps._4-26.html |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420095417/https://uk-anime.net/Anime/Food_Wars!_Shokugeki_no_Soma_-_Eps._4-26.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Helen Knight, also writing for the ''UK Anime Network'' likened the series to the marmite slogan "either you love it or hate it".<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Anime Network - Food Wars! Season 1 |author=Knight, Helen |work=UK Anime Network |access-date=20 May 2022 |url=https://www.uk-anime.net/Anime/Food_Wars!_Season_1.html |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422115201/https://uk-anime.net/Anime/Food_Wars!_Season_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Sales === Volume 1 has sold 139,657 copies by April 28, 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-01/japanese-comic-ranking-april-21-27|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, April 22–28|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408020148/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-01/japanese-comic-ranking-april-21-27|archive-date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref> volume 2 has sold 176,682 copies by June 16, 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-21/japanese-comic-ranking-june-9-15|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, June 10–16|date=June 21, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402070605/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-21/japanese-comic-ranking-june-9-15|archive-date=April 2, 2014 }}</ref> volume 3 has sold 238,590 copies by August 18, 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-21/japanese-comic-ranking-august-12-18|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, August 12–18|date=August 21, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403193337/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-21/japanese-comic-ranking-august-12-18|archive-date=April 3, 2014 }}</ref> volume 4 has sold 252,975 copies by September 22, 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-26/japanese-comic-ranking-september-16-22|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, September 16–22|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517185613/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-26/japanese-comic-ranking-september-16-22|archive-date=May 17, 2014 }}</ref> volume 5 has sold 271,570 copies by December 22, 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-30/japanese-comic-ranking-december-16-22|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, December 16–22|date=December 30, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520213726/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-30/japanese-comic-ranking-december-16-22|archive-date=May 20, 2014 }}</ref> volume 6 has sold 277,726 copies by February 23, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-27/japanese-comic-ranking-february-17-23|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, February 17–23|date=February 27, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508111853/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-27/japanese-comic-ranking-february-17-23|archive-date=May 8, 2014 }}</ref> and volume 7 has sold 279,364 copies by April 20, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-23/japanese-comic-ranking-april-14-20|title=Japanese Comic Ranking, April 14–20|date=April 23, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2014|website=Anime News Network|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425222823/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-23/japanese-comic-ranking-april-14-20|archive-date=April 25, 2014 }}</ref> By May 2, 2018, it was revealed that the manga had 14 million copies in print;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-07/roundup-of-newly-revealed-print-counts-for-manga-light-novel-series/.130972|title=Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series (March - May 2018)|website=Anime News Network|date=May 7, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507174913/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-07/roundup-of-newly-revealed-print-counts-for-manga-light-novel-series/.130972|url-status=live}}</ref> the manga sales had 19 million copies in print by June 17, 2019; and it reached 20 million by March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mantan-web.jp/article/20190616dog00m200032000c.html|title=食戟のソーマ：テレビアニメ第4期「神ノ皿」が10月スタート|language=ja|date=June 17, 2019|access-date=March 7, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629053759/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20190616dog00m200032000c.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also == * ''Cooking Papa'' (1985 debut), a cooking manga and anime series * ''Chūka Ichiban!'' (1995 debut), a cooking manga and anime series * ''The God of Cookery'' (1996), a Stephen Chow cooking film * ''Oishinbo'' (1983 debut), a cooking manga and anime series * ''Yakitate!! Japan'' (2001 debut), a cooking manga and anime series * ''Tenmaku Cinema'' (2023), another manga series by the same authors
== Explanatory notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.shonenjump.com/j/rensai/soma.html|Official manga website at ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{Official website|http://www.shokugekinosoma.com/|Official anime website}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{Anime News Network|manga|15848}}
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