Top Chef 2025 Finale Spoilers & Remaining Contestants

The “Top Chef” season 22 finale is heating up, and after a dramatic first half of the two-part closer, the final three chefs have officially been chosen. With one frontrunner dominating, another peaking at the perfect moment, and a dark horse making a bold comeback, this season is ending with a culinary showdown fans won’t forget.

So, who’s in, who’s out, and what went down in the penultimate episode? Here’s a full breakdown of what happened—and who to watch heading into the final cook-off.

Tristen Epps, Shuai Wang, and Bailey Sullivan Advance to the Finale

After a season full of elevated challenges and Michelin-level cooking, three chefs remain: Tristen Epps, Shuai Wang, and Bailey Sullivan.

Epps, originally from Virginia Beach and now based in Houston, has been the clear frontrunner. As chef/owner of Epps & Flows Culinary, Epps built his reputation at Red Rooster in Miami, Ocean Social, and Cooks & Captains in Brooklyn. Known for his neo-Afro-Caribbean cuisine, Epps told “Top Chef” producers he’s determined to represent Black foodways at the highest culinary level. Viewers have praised his performance all season, with one viral post on X claiming, “I’ve never seen Tom hate someone as much as Massimo, and love someone as much as Tristen.”

Sullivan, from Chicago, stunned Bravo fans by earning the final spot. A pasta expert and chef di cucina at Monteverde under James Beard winner Sarah Grueneberg, she’s known for taking Italian cuisine in unexpected directions. Her bold decision to redo a bruleed blue cheese—despite it bombing earlier in the season—paid off. As judge Tom Colicchio often says, “You have to take risks to win this thing.”

Wang, the Beijing-born chef behind Charleston hotspots Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ, found his momentum at just the right time. Wang’s food truck Short Grain was once named a Bon Appétit Best New Restaurant, and his Chinese BBQ spot just earned “Top 10 Best New BBQ Restaurant” from Southern Living. His five-spice duck on creamy polenta secured him the first spot in the finale.

What Happened in Part 1 of the ‘Top Chef’ Finale?

The episode opened with a non-elimination Quickfire Challenge featuring the dreaded risotto. “Not risotto! I thought that I could manifest it out of this competition and completely avoid it,” Epps joked. Despite the contestants choosing grains like farro and barley (which Colicchio reminded them are not technically risotto), the judges were impressed. Epps took the $15,000 prize with a West African-inspired risotto featuring heirloom tomatoes and charred buttered greens. “Look at that! I made Black people risotto and won,” he quipped.

The elimination round featured a head-to-head tournament:

• Round 1 (Polenta): Wang won with a five-spice duck dish.
• Round 2 (Beets): Epps dominated with Haitian-inspired beet pikliz, smoked beet puree, and pork belly.
• Round 3 (Gorgonzola): Sullivan pulled off the upset by reworking her earlier bleu cheese failure into a winning crispy polenta gratinata with brûléed gorgonzola.

Ultimately, Cesar was sent home after delivering a thoughtful but less daring butternut squash casserole. “I got to go to Europe for the first time, I got to see myself grow as a person, grow as a chef,” he reflected on his way out.

Part 2 of the “Top Chef” season 22 finale airs Thursday, June 12, on Bravo.

Tell us! Who do you think will take home the title of “Top Chef” this season? Let us know in the comments below.