Restaurant Shows, Ranked by Stressfulness

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This list was first published on July 7, 2022. We’ve updated it with a new addition now that the show *Black Rabbit* is available on Netflix.

As Ayo Edebiri’s character points out in *The Bear*, working in a restaurant is incredibly stressful. And she knows firsthand – her character is a sous-chef in one of Chicago’s most chaotic kitchens. It’s no surprise that shows set in restaurants are often among the most anxiety-inducing on TV. Given all the stress we’re already facing, it seems counterintuitive to *seek out* more, but there are some genuinely excellent shows about restaurant life that are worth watching. It’s a tough choice!

How much stress you’re willing to handle while watching TV is up to you. But if you’re curious about how relaxing or anxiety-inducing restaurant-based dramas can be – shows where a character’s restaurant job is a major source of problems – check out our list. We’ve ranked them from least to most stressful, and included a ‘stomach-churning’ score to give you an idea of how much tension each show might cause. Enjoy!

16.
Bob’s Burgers

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=rHM_fvRfnpc

Isn’t *Bob’s Burgers* just the best? While a real-life burger joint like Bob’s would probably be stressful – with kids working, constant health inspections, and all those raccoons – watching the show is pure joy. It’s funny, heartwarming, and you can really feel how much the Belcher family loves each other. Despite the chaos and the restaurant always seeming to struggle, things always manage to work out in the end.

I don’t need any antacids! I’m going to relax and, as Linda suggests, enjoy a generous amount of wine – about half of four bottles, if you’re keeping track.

15.
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place

This Boston pizzeria caused one major problem for the show: its name made the title way too long. After two seasons, they removed the pizzeria’s name and gave Ryan Reynolds the spotlight.

I didn’t need any antacids while watching the show, but I definitely will after eating all the pizza it made me want! And honestly, dealing with dairy is stressful enough as it is.

14.
Happy Endings

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=hN5IMqj0Hcw

Dave Rose faced some real challenges keeping his steak sandwich food truck, Steak Me Home Tonight, in business, but he never gave up. Some issues stemmed from letting friends help – specifically one friend, Max, who caused problems in both the kitchen and with marketing. However, Dave also created his own difficulties, like a cocktail that had the unfortunate side effect of giving everyone vivid dreams about him.

This show is so over-the-top and fun, it’s completely soothing – I don’t need any antacids! But I’d happily wear at least three really low-cut shirts to pay tribute to Dave, absolutely.

13.
It’s a Living

Above the Top appears to be a surprisingly relaxed workplace, despite being a fancy restaurant in a luxurious hotel. It’s a strange mix of serious issues like sexual harassment and lighthearted, retro fun. At least the waitstaff have plenty of downtime to chat on the pay phone during breaks.

Let’s just say the players need antacids – even from the stress of deciding which uniform to wear each game! There’s a lot of attention on their outfits, with plenty of necklaces and revealing necklines.

12.
Sweetbitter

You’d expect the Starz drama about a restaurant mirroring the Union Square Cafe to be incredibly stressful, given how self-important most of the staff are. However, the show ultimately feels more affected than actually tense. While a new employee, Tess, has a brief moment of panic after starting with no experience, most of her time – and much of the show – involves simply observing the other characters. There’s some relatable awkwardness with workplace romances, but the overall drama feels surprisingly low-stakes.

Antacid count: One, but only because Tess is really creeping me out with all the staring.

11.
The Monster Foodies Truck Sketch on Sesame Street

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=gHczBGKrHHw

Yes, *Sesame Street* is generally a relaxing and kid-friendly show. But whenever I see the Cookie Monster and Gonger sketch where they run a food truck, I get a little anxious! Neither of them wear hairnets, and they’re practically made of fur! Plus, they’re always running out of ingredients, which means constant trips to farms and factories, slowing everything down. And honestly, the way they deliver the food – launching it with a catapult – is just… concerning, on multiple levels!

Okay, so I’m a little worried about the heartburn, needing only two antacids after all that… but honestly, these monsters are just too adorable! And their theme song? Seriously catchy. I can’t help but be a fan, even with their… unusual eating habits.

10.
Frank’s Place

Want to hear a truly stressful story? Meet Frank. He’s suddenly in charge of his estranged father’s restaurant in New Orleans – a father who abandoned him as a toddler – and to make things worse, an employee has put a voodoo curse on him! Returning home could ruin his life completely. Imagine running a restaurant while fearing a real curse – that’s intense! Frank, a Boston professor with no restaurant experience, finds himself in this crazy situation. While the show, set in the ’80s, touches on some heavy themes, it’s ultimately a feel-good story.

I took two antacids. One was due to some playful teasing from Frank’s staff, and the other… well, you won’t believe what I wrote about that curse!

9.
The Perfect Match (Taiwanese drama)

Okay, so this story is about a super talented chef, Huo Ting En, who basically tries to intimidate this amazing street food vendor, Wei Fen Qing, because she dared to make a curry similar to his. It’s a weird meet-cute, honestly! She ends up becoming his apprentice, and sparks *immediately* fly in the kitchen. But their romance is complicated by this old family secret that keeps getting in the way. Honestly, the best part of watching is seeing them work together – even when he’s ‘scolding’ his staff, it’s more like a disappointed nudge than actual anger. There was this one time he tried to quiz her on ten different curries she’d just tasted in thirty seconds – totally setting her up to fail! – but most of the tension isn’t about the food, it’s just wanting these two to finally get together. And trust me, they *do*! It’s so sweet watching them navigate everything.

I’ve given this relationship 3.5 antacids. Two are for the general stress that comes with romance. One is for when Ting En and Fen Qing dramatically fell from a rooftop (they were okay, though!). And half an antacid is for the slightly creepy reason Ting En was initially attracted to Fen Qing – she reminded him of his deceased sister. Despite all that, I’m still rooting for them!

8.
Chef!

This sitcom from the mid-90s features Lenny Henry as Gareth Blackstock, a demanding chef at a fancy French restaurant in England. He immediately establishes himself as a difficult and abrasive personality – he even introduces himself by declaring he’s unpleasant and a bit of a jerk! The show is a comedy, and much of the humor comes from Gareth’s harsh treatment of his staff and customers. However, the laugh track sometimes makes his behavior feel even more uncomfortable. While he’s incredibly critical, it’s eventually revealed that Gareth is also a bit of a softie who can’t quite bring himself to fire anyone, despite their mistakes. He’s simply incredibly passionate – obsessed, even – with his craft. It’s over-the-top, but ultimately, you can’t help but find the humor in it.

I was initially going to count four instances of antacid use, but I’m subtracting one. Blackstock’s reaction to the guest who asked for salt before tasting his food in episode two was funny and completely justified, so it doesn’t quite count as needing an antacid!

7.
Aftertaste

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=xNrn0f0gnQg

The show *Aftertaste* follows Easton West, a formerly famous chef, as he tries to rebuild his career in a couple of different restaurants. He’s not necessarily facing huge, dramatic stress, but he *is* a pretty unpleasant person – incredibly arrogant and quick-tempered. Dealing with him at work would be tough, but his niece, Diana, a talented young pastry chef, mostly manages by ignoring his behavior when they start a business together (though things get tricky when it hits close to home, as often happens with family and coworkers). The main source of stress for both of them is the pressure they put on themselves. Oh, and there’s also the possibility of bodies buried near their restaurant, which is definitely stressful too!

I needed four antacids after that. No matter how stressed I was, it all faded when I remembered Diana’s opening night prank: she replaced the crème brûlée with a chocolate dessert shaped like a vagina, and served it without any silverware. It was incredibly soothing to watch the diners figure out how to eat it.

6.
Oh My Ghost! (South Korean version)

Okay, this is a weird one: Does the health code address what happens when restaurant staff get possessed by ghosts? It’s already stressful working for a difficult celebrity chef – especially when you secretly have a huge crush on him, even though he’s rude and overbearing (and keeps physically guiding your hands while showing you how to do things!). But *then* you have to worry about a ghost taking over your body?! And this isn’t just any ghost – the one possessing the quiet kitchen assistant, Bong-sun, in this Korean comedy is incredibly… enthusiastic. Apparently, this ghost, Shin Soon-ae, died a virgin and is determined to experience intimacy, even in the afterlife. And just to be clear, this restaurant definitely doesn’t have an HR department.

Okay, honestly? This movie gave me a serious case of the nerves – watching Chef Kang Sun-woo demand perfection in the kitchen was *intense*. And then, on top of that, there were… well, let’s just say a lot of unexpected ghostly encounters that added another layer of stress! I needed a couple of antacids just getting through it, and honestly, another three for everything else that happened.

5.
Feed the Beast

The 2016 drama *Feed the Beast* follows a grieving wine expert (David Schwimmer) and a former convict chef (Jim Sturgess) as they try to launch a Greek restaurant in the Bronx. While the restaurant itself runs surprisingly well, the show is incredibly stressful to watch – but not because of typical restaurant problems. The stress comes from the show’s many tangled storylines, the questionable choices made by the characters, and the over-the-top villain, a Polish mafia boss nicknamed the Tooth Fairy who isn’t very scary. Add to that a high body count, Jim Sturgess’s inconsistent New York accent, and a completely wild cliffhanger ending, and you’ve got a recipe for anxiety.

Seriously, how did David Schwimmer’s character not smell the gas leak? Five antacids for that unbelievable oversight! He’s a trained sommelier – his sense of smell is his livelihood! A gas leak might be subtle, but someone with his nose should have noticed something was wrong before the explosion.

4.
Kitchen Confidential

Given that this series is based on a book by Anthony Bourdain about the restaurant world, I expected it to be a bit more intense and raw. However, it feels more like a silly comedy than a realistic look at the challenges of working in a kitchen. While there are plenty of energetic scenes showing the fast pace of a busy kitchen, the real tension comes from two things: constant pranks and disrespectful treatment of women. And honestly, both of those things are incredibly frustrating to watch!

I’m stocking up on antacids – three for when Steve inevitably cuts himself in the kitchen, and three more to cope with all the frustrating sexism I deal with.

3.
SpongeBob SquarePants

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=-edtuhm55fo

Even though it’s a Nickelodeon cartoon, *SpongeBob* can actually be really stressful to watch. Especially when it focuses on the Krusty Krab! Poor SpongeBob is always trying his best, but he has to deal with a coworker, Squidward, who clearly dislikes him, a greedy boss, Mr. Krabs, who often takes advantage of him, and Plankton, who never gives up trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula. It’s a lot for such a sweet little sponge to handle, and honestly, it’s exhausting for viewers too!

Even in the seemingly cheerful Bikini Bottom, life isn’t always easy! Our innocent fry cook is clearly stressed and needs a little relief – half a bottle of antacid, please!

2.
The Bear

The Hulu series *The Bear* centers around Carmy Berzatto, a highly skilled chef who leaves a top-rated restaurant to run his family’s sandwich shop in Chicago after his brother’s death. It’s not just a stressful show about restaurants-it’s one of the most stressful shows on television, period. If chaos had a TV show, it would be this one. *The Bear* is loud, intense, and fast-paced, with characters constantly shouting. The kitchen is a whirlwind of activity, and the atmosphere is both emotionally and physically overwhelming. But this frantic energy is also what makes the show feel incredibly realistic for anyone who’s worked in a professional kitchen-and potentially too much to handle if you have firsthand experience.

I’ve gone through a whole bottle of antacids, and I think I’m going to be sick behind the kitchen. After that, I just want to have a cigarette, and I don’t want anyone to comment on it.

1.
Black Rabbit

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=ueNsPJgWNAg

Seriously, do not work at the Black Rabbit, even if the owner looks like Jude Law. This restaurant isn’t just stressful-it’s genuinely dangerous. The brothers who run it, Jake and Vince Friedken, are awful bosses and clearly have their own issues. If you were to take a job there, you might encounter things like violence, sexual assault, paralysis, hostage situations (potentially orchestrated by your bosses), drug use, unsanitary kitchen conditions, and being forced to watch the owners’ old, terrible punk music videos. It’s a deeply toxic work environment, and no amount of good food makes up for it. The only good thing about the Black Rabbit-and the book about it-is when it finally closes down.

I’m incredibly stressed and coping by taking a lot of antacids and planning a long escape to Tahiti to try and recover.

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2025-09-19 21:58