1Salt Fat Acid Heat
If watching The Bear made you curious about how good cooking actually works, then this Netflix series is perfect for you. In each episode of Salt Fat Acid Heat, based on Samin Nosrat’s book of the same name, Nosrat travels to a new kitchen, explores principles of cooking via the local cuisine, and demonstrates techniques that viewers can use at home. You’ll be saying “Yes, chef!” in no time.
2Julia
Julia Child is among the most famous chefs in history, and Julia explores her rise to fame as one of the first women to host a cooking show. Her plight isn’t the same as Carmy’s, but they both find ways to push themselves toward greatness—in and out of the kitchen. The Max series brings a bit of comedy to her come-up story, which stars Sarah Lancashire as the witty and wildly talented Julia.
3The Chef Show
One of the best parts of The Bear is spotting the real-life chefs who make cameos. If the season 3 finale left you wanting more, then check out The Chef Show. This Netflix series is a documentary-style journey through kitchens around the country. Host Roy Choi introduces viewers to culinary bigwigs while providing a sneak peek into the world of top chefs.
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4Feed the Beast
If you thought The Bear was stressful, then try watching Feed the Beast. This series follows best friends Tommy Moran (David Schwimmer) and Dion Patras (Jim Sturgess) as they try to open an upscale restaurant in the Bronx. It’s been their dream for years—but they have a big problem to deal with: Dion has ties to the mob. In order to pay off his debts, he has to turn the restaurant into a moneymaking machine.
5Sweetbitter
This one is for the Richie fans. Sweetbitter takes us out of the kitchen and the front of the house. The series follows Tess (Ellie Purnell), a 22-year-old who moves to New York City, where she takes a job at a random restaurant and is sucked into a fast-paced culinary world. As Tess acclimates to her new gig, she befriends her coworkers, makes a couple of enemies, and learns everything there is to know about running a successful business.
6Ramy
Ramy follows Ramy Hassan (played by Ramy Youssef), a young American Muslim man navigating life in two worlds. The Bear’s creator, Christopher Storer, directed a few episodes of the Hulu series. Later, Youssef returned the favor, directing the Copenhagen-set episode in season 2 of The Bear.
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7Kitchen Nightmares
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares is a master class in kitchen renovation. It’s also a reality-TV classic for a reason: In each episode, the celebrity chef runs around a failing restaurant (for a full week!) while repeatedly insulting the owner, chef, and/or staff—in an attempt to fix their business. Is it worth the abuse? It is for me.
8Beef
Beef may not actually be about Italian beef, but the intensity of the series definitely hits the same fever pitch as The Bear. The series follows two strangers (played by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong) who—after a road rage incident—continue to drive each other crazy.
9Whiplash
Okay, so Whiplash may be a movie and not a TV show, but nothing else matches the intensity of The Bear’s wildest kitchen nightmares. A jazz drummer hitting the cymbals so hard that his hands bleed? That’s the kind of dangerous dedication that the world’s craziest chefs would support.
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10Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a 2011 documentary about Jiro Ono, a sushi master and the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant. This man has dedicated his life to preparing sushi—and trains apprentices for ten full years before sending them off into the world. If you think a week of cleaning forks on The Bear was rough, you’re not ready for Jiro.
11Gentefied
Though this dramedy may not have the same tension as The Bear, Gentefied is still a great add to your list. Exploring similar themes of family and food, the show follows three Mexican-American cousins who work in their family’s L.A. taco shop as they try to push it into a new age while dealing with the challenges of gentrification. Gentefied ran for a wonderful two seasons before its cancellation last year.
12Chef’s Table
In this Emmy-nominated series, some of the world’s best chefs let you in on their secrets. In each episode, they share their personal stories, their inspirations, and their unique approaches to cooking, creating a truly inspiring and mouthwatering experience for us all.
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13Itaewon Class
In this K-drama, Park Saeroyi faces a series of tragedies just as he is about to graduate from high school. Years later, in an effort to change the story of his life and get revenge on those who wronged him, he sets out to create his own pub. Along the way, he’s joined by a group of misfits who soon become a family bonded by their commitment to turning their street bar into something great.
14Shameless
If The Bear was your introduction to Jeremy Allen White and you simply cannot get enough, let me introduce you to Shameless, a dramedy (also set in Chicago!) about a dysfunctional family of six kids and their alcoholic father, played by William H. Macy.
15Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Any fervent food fan is familiar with Anthony Bourdain and the impact he had on the culinary world before his tragic death in 2018. In this Emmy Award-winning show, you can travel with Bourdain on a cultural and culinary journey to areas of the world rarely seen in American media. Parts Unknown does an extraordinary job of plucking you out of everything you know and dropping you into the most amazing places (with the most amazing dishes) imaginable.
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