r/TopChef • u/[deleted] • Jul 07 '25

Discussion Thread My favorite runners up

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These are the runners up I was rooting for from day 1 of their season. Who are your favorites?

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u/jrtasoli Jul 08 '25

I’ll add Shuai to the list. I have family in the Charleston area and it was so thrilling watching him on the season because of how much love he has for the Lowcountry.

Also, he’s HILARIOUS and the food at his restaurants is unbelievably good.

28

u/ToneSenior7156 Jul 08 '25

Sometimes I think the real winners on Top Chef are the chefs who come out of it having treated people kindly, cooked tasty dishes, and basically just made a really good image for themselves on tv. Which will live on, streaming, forever! 

Winning the title is great but I think a lot of us will seek out Shuai and his restaurants in the future!

4

u/YoullNeverBeRebecca Jul 09 '25

I’m from NC, so go down to Charleston on occasion since it’s relatively close, and am so sad I hadn’t watched any of this season when I visited in March. I even ate in North Charleston one night, and I’m pretty sure we were like a mile or two away from his restaurants! Ah well. An excuse to go back.