Iron Chef

E1 Chen vs Xie Huaxian (Lobster Battle)

January 8, 1999 30 min

E2 Sakai vs Koei Kamimura (Codfish Battle)

January 15, 1999 30 min

E3 Kobe vs. Costantino Gemmoli (Bell Pepper Battle)

January 22, 1999 30 min

E4 Morimoto vs. Hiroyuki Hakogi (Yellowtail Battle)

January 29, 1999 30 min

Toshiro Kandagawa is not happy with the results from the Ohta Faction challengers so far. Two have tried to defeat Morimoto, and two have failed. Ohta responds by choosing a challenger that is skilled at using salt. This challenger first met Ohta when he was only 15. Eight years later, he was one of Ohta's favorite cooks. He feels that salt is essential for drawing out the natural flavors of the ingredients. Will the third time be the charm for the Ohta Faction.

E5 Morimoto vs Tetsuji Iio (King Crab Battle)

February 5, 1999 30 min

The Royal Park Hotel's Grand Chef Mitsuo Shimamura's last two proteges defeated the Iron Chefs. Iio is Shimamura's right hand man, and his strongest yet to enter Kitchen Stadium.

E6 Kobe vs Tsujiguchi Hironobu (Banana Battle)

February 12, 1999 30 min

E7 Sakai vs Senba Toshiya (Oyster Battle)

February 19, 1999 30 min

E8 Chen vs Asao Ryozo (Sturgeon Battle)

February 26, 1999 30 min

E9 Morimoto Retrospective Part I

March 5, 1999 30 min

The first hour of the Morimoto Retrospective: Michiba & Morimoto tour New York City

E10 Morimoto Retrospective Part II: Morimoto vs Nakamura Komei (Egg Battle)

March 12, 1999 30 min

The second hour of the Morimoto retrospective.

E11 Sakai vs Koji Hosogai (Oxtail Battle)

March 19, 1999 30 min

E12 Morimoto vs Masahara Seiya (Anglerfish Battle)

March 26, 1999 30 min

E13 Chen vs Cui Yufen (Chinese Cabbage Battle)

April 2, 1999 30 min

E14 Sakai vs. Tohru Komori (Udon Battle)

April 9, 1999 30 min

While Japanese cuisine tends to tradition-bound. This challenger refuses to be bound by old rules. He respects the basics, but is always looking for new ways to expand. He entered cooking at the age of 18. He joined a group with a 178-year tradition in Edo-style cooking.

E15 Kobe vs. Franco Canzoniere (Tomato Battle)

April 16, 1999 30 min

A master of Roman cuisine devotes himself to proving that his Italian cuisine is better than the Iron Chef's.

E16 Morimoto vs. Yusuke Yamashita (Cod Roe Battle)

April 23, 1999 30 min

Morimoto faces the newest challenger from the Ohta faction, who want to prove that the Iron Chef and his innovative cooking methods are too bizarre. The challenger relies on saki to add traditional flavors.

E17 Morimoto vs. Yamashita Yusuke Overtime (Scallions Battle)

April 30, 1999 30 min

The Cod Roe battle ended in a tie, leading the chefs to battle with green onions (scallions).

E18 Chen vs Okubo Takeshi (Bean Sprout Battle)

May 7, 1999 30 min

The Kihachi sends its third challenger into Kitchen Stadium. So far the Iron Chefs have been successful against these well trained chefs. Can Chen continue the winning streak against Takeshi Okubo?

E19 Sakai vs Michel Husser (Lamb Battle)

May 14, 1999 30 min

The Iron Chef must face an authentic French chef who is endorsed by some of the top culinary experts of the day. The battle mimics the Sopexa, the most famous French culinary battle in Japan.

E20 Chen vs Spano Stelvio (Piglet Battle)

May 21, 1999 30 min

The Iron Chefs have been on a losing streak. The Chairman brings in an up and coming chef who could prove to be very dangerous indeed.

E21 Indonesian Expedition Part I

May 28, 1999 30 min

Japanese Iron Chef Emeritus Michiba and Japanese Iron Chef Morimoto travel to Indonesia

E22 Indonesian Expedition Part II

June 4, 1999 30 min

Japanese Iron Chef Emeritus Michiba and Japanese Iron Chef Morimoto travel to Indonesia

E23 Kobe vs Makoto Osada (Giant Lobster Battle)

June 11, 1999 30 min

Osada is the head chef of Nangoku-shuka, the Chinese restaurant that brought shark fin soup to Japan. The Prince of Pasta shows up to battle the newest challenger in this Chinese versus Italian battle.

E24 Morimoto vs Nakazawa Keiji (Sushi Battle)

June 18, 1999 30 min

The secret ingredient isn't an ingredient at all, but actually a style. The chairman, however, gives the chefs five themes to focus their sushi: tuna, kohada, anago, eggs, and kanpyo.

E25 Sakai vs Makio Isao (Black Pig Battle)

June 25, 1999 30 min

As Sakai battles thoughts of retirement, the rare ingredient is an equalizer between two powerful chefs who were friends in middle school.

E26 Morimoto vs Michael Noble (Potato Battle)

July 2, 1999 30 min

A Canadian superchef was inspired by an episode he watched. He brings his fine French cuisine to battle Morimoto.

E27 Chen vs Tateno Yuji (Sea Urchin Roe Battle)

July 9, 1999 30 min

Michiba returns to Kitchen Stadium, this time with his assistant as the competitor he's sponsoring. Yuji Tateno enters Kitchen Stadium prepared to battle an Iron Chef and to change the minds of the world-famous Zagats, culinary experts. What dish will exemplify sea urchin the best?

E28 Morimoto vs Tanigawa Yoshimi (Pike Eel Battle)

July 16, 1999 30 min

Kyoto's Gion festival inspires the Chairman to find a Kyoto cuisine expert. The combatants must create dishes focused on the flavor of the pike conger.

E29 Kobe vs. Shoji Yamaoka (Jumbo Mushroom Battle)

July 23, 1999 30 min

The two chefs battle it out over jumbo mushrooms. The challenger is a mushroom expert, so Kobe has his work cut out for him.

E30 Chen vs Dominique Corby (Foie Gras Battle)

July 30, 1999 30 min

In this special episode, the 300th competitor enters kitchen stadium. The chairman has Chen face a French challenger with an ingredient that does not lend itself to his cooking style.

E31 Chen vs. Dominique Corby Overtime (Asparagus Battle)

August 6, 1999 30 min

When the 300th challenger entered kitchen stadium, everyone expected an epic battle. This tie breaker is part two of the massive battle.

E32 Kobe vs Sakai Hiroki (Conger Eel Battle)

August 13, 1999 30 min

The challenger is an Italian chef who has impressed some of the biggest names in Kubuki-za theater. Will he impress the judges in Kitchen Stadium?

E33 Morimoto vs Watanabe Akira (Cuttlefish Battle)

August 20, 1999 30 min

Battle cuttlefish becomes a test of the chefs' seafood knowledge.

E34 Sakai vs Yoshihide Koga (Stingray Battle)

August 27, 1999 30 min

The sea ray rules the ocean, who will rule the kitchen?

E35 Morimoto vs Shigematsu Ryozo (Sea Bass Battle)

September 3, 1999 30 min

E36 King Of Iron Chef's Tournament Round One (Tokyo X Battle)

September 10, 1999 30 min

Two Iron Chefs will enter kitchen stadium, but only one can advance. Chen versus Kobe in a pork battle for the ages.

E37 King Of Iron Chef's Tournament Round Two (Bell Pepper Battle)

September 17, 1999 30 min

Steamed Bell Pepper custard and Bell Pepper Royale with Pike Eel feature in this match between Morimoto and Sakai.

E38 King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 1

September 24, 1999 30 min

Chen versus Sakai in what is supposed to be the grand finale of the tournament. Both Iron Chefs go all out with dishes like a classic lobster bisque and a cutting edge egg mousse and gratin au chili lobster. As the tournament nears its end, Sakai has been crowned King of Iron Chefs. Or has he? The chairman has another battle up his sleeve.

E39 King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 2

October 1, 1999 30 min

E40 King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 3

October 8, 1999 30 min

Alain Passard vs. Sakai, the winner of the King of the Iron Chef Tournament. The theme is Longgang Chicken. The challenger for this final Kitchen Stadium battle has been here before. He competed against Iron Chef Komei Nakamura in the 1997 Iron Chef World Cup. That battle ended in a tie. Chairman Kaga has invited him back to take care of this unfinished business. This chef is called the best in the world by some. He is a three star chef from France. He began cooking at 8 years old. This will a very tough challenge for the Iron Chef.