Introduction
The story takes place in 19th century China during the Qing Dynasty, where the Emperor was weakened and the country was close to chaos. It is also during a fictitious era called "The Era of the Cooking Wars". It was an era in which top chefs with different cooking styles tried their best to improve their skills and to become the best chef in China. It is a country where insulting a high-grade chef or fooling around with cooking could land a person in a jail, and impersonating a top-chef is as good as usurpation of authority. Chefs compete with each other in order to gain respect and even power, but also with the risks of losing everything.
The country of China has four major regions: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai, and Guangdong.
The beginning of the story takes place in Szechuan, Mao's birthplace.
After the death of Mao's mother, Pai, who was called the 'Fairy of Cuisine', Mao becomes a Super Chef in order to take the title as Master Chef of his mother's restaurant. However, before he takes his mother's place as Master Chef, he continues to travel China in order to learn more of the many ways of cooking, in the hopes of becoming a legendary chef, just like his mother. During his journey, he meets great friends and fierce rivals who wish to challenge him in the field of cooking.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Audience reviews
7 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
madjo1999
After rewatching this anime i still feeling the nostalgic sensation of CMB even after some months ago, i always found it amazing than the remake one mostly because i already know the original storyline of the anime. The bizzare animation, the weird technique, and watching Chinese Cuisine is alway amazing
The only thing that bugged me is that Mao is portrayed as boy wonder who can't make mistake and still feeling weird even i like it. I think mostly because i watched SnS and the MC is sometimes lose against the adversary
but, this is an old anime and i don't really bother by it
a little bit advice for anybody who want to watch CMB, watch the original 1990s since the remake is kinda feel off for me
Read at the sourceilovebishie
Got to know this series after my brother bought me the manga and since then I really, really love it.
The story is well ... a bit cliche but it's enjoyable. Searching around China to find tools for cooking that have magical power.
The art is also awesome for an old manga. The sound is okay. The characters are fine, I guess, considering this anime is pretty old.
The villain, I guess it just need a bit improvement. The ending is also a bit rushed but overall, it's fine
The bond between characters is okay. Two villains become friends is unexpected.
Read at the sourcevalentinefaye
I first encountered Chuuka Ichiban when I was about 10, as reruns of it were being shown on Chinese TV. The premise is quite simple: the protagonist Liu Mao Xing explores China's culinary landscape, while making friends and battling other chefs, in order to become a legendary chef himself. I didn't remember too much from the show, but I did remember having a lot of fun and learning about food at the same time (entertaining and educational - who'd have thought?) The simple premise, humor and intense cooking scenes were enough to keep me hooked back then.
I revisited the show about a year ago, mainly due to nostalgia. Although the animation and sound don't hold up to today's standards anymore, I still felt the same degree of excitement I did 10 years ago. The characters are quirky and likea…
Read at the sourceZheng56
To me, this series is one of the most underrated series that I have ever watched. The Chinese cooking theme is surprisingly interesting, although the cooking style and food appearances are a little over exaggerated to me, but I still like it.
Read at the sourceKokoaKuroba
I remembered when I was a kid, I've watched like 2-5 episodes of this on TV and thought that I want to Completely watch it. My first impression of it was something like making Yakitate Japan into a cooking anime set in 19th century China. Watching it completely right now, I saw that this was really an enjoyable series. The story was alright (though they say the manga was better), It was not predictable(unlike other shounen anime were you already know how the MC will win),it also made good cliffhangers and twists which was truly unexpected, and the animation is good for an 80's show. I think I can't say anything bad about the show except that they should have made Liu Mao Shing more older. I know the show is titled Cooking Master "BOY" but come on I don't think a 13 year old boy would have…
Read at the sourceNimnutter
I've only watched the Cantonese dub of this anime when I was a child but the memories of this anime is still fresh in my mind.
This is a type of anime which makes a normal profession seem like magic. You will see people chopping food in outrageous fashion, the critics' food reactions are hilarious and down right over the top. That was what made me fall in love with this anime and also attempting to cook like they have although my cutting skills still can't make cabbage fly yet.
Plot wise it's like Pokemon to be honest. Main character goes off to venture the country, meet memorable characters then fight bad guys to a cook off death match. Then main character goes to a gym, in this case it's a cooking competition; wins and then venture some more with more new companions on the way plus mo…
Read at the sourceekleclipseie
Cooking Master Boy is an anime about a boy who happens to be really good at cooking [obviously] much to the surprise of the people he meets along the way. Despite it's rather plain subject matter, I give the series high marks for the enjoyment that comes with watching it. Although not a fan at first, I was hooked by the fifth episode and watched faithfully to the end. Although simplistic, the artistry grabs the eye and the sound, although plain, grabs for the heart. I especially enjoyed hearing the dub in Cantonese, as the voice actors were excellent. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes a good yarn without a lot of dark baggage, and is appropriate for all age groups.
Read at the source