We’re suckers for an informational food documentary. They often inspire us to try our hand at a slew of dishes that are—probably—best left for the professionals. (Don’t get us started on that homemade chicken vindaloo.)
From Forks Over Knives to What the Health, keep reading for the 14 best Netflix food documentaries that are now streaming.
How long is it? 1 hour and 36 minutes
Who’s in it? Lee Fulkerson, Matthew Lederman and Alona Pulde
Who directed it? Lee Fulkerson
What’s it about? Two researchers attempt to explore an age-old theory: Is eliminating animal products from one’s diet the key to reducing the risk of developing diseases like diabetes and cancer? This doc will offer an all-new perspective on plant-based regimens.
Watch ‘Forks Over Knives’ (2011)
How long is it? 1 hour and 19 minutes
Who’s in it? Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono and Masuhiro Yamamoto
Who directed it? David Gelb
What’s it about? Introducing famed sushi chef Jiro Ono. The 85-year-old culinary genius is the proud owner of Tokyo’s Sukiyabashi Jiro, an award-winning restaurant that has only ten tables. The doc gives an inside look at the eatery’s day-to-day operations. Oh, and did we mention each plate costs $300?
Watch ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ (2011)
How long is it? 1 hour and 32 minutes
Who’s in it? Kip Andersen, Larry Baldwin and Neal Barnard
Who directed it? Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn
What’s it about? This is a must-watch for health food junkies. It follows filmmaker Kip Andersen as he investigates the reason why several health organizations are withholding information from consumers about the negative effects of a high-sugar diet.
Watch ‘What the Health’ (2017)
How long is it? 1 hour and 41 minutes
Who’s in it? Lwazi Dlaminilf, Rufo “Junny” Servado and Katsunori Yashima
Who directed it? Matthew Salleh
What’s it about? Cooking meat over an open flame sounds like a straightforward pastime, but it’s so much more than that. This doc explores the barbecue rituals and traditions that have been passed down for generations across multiple cultures.
Watch ‘Barbecue’ (2017)
How long is it? 1 hour and 33 minutes
Who’s in it? Massimo Bottura
Who directed it? Peter Svatek
What’s it about? The movie tells the story of an extraordinary soup kitchen in Milan that is situated in an abandoned theater. The restaurant was created by Italian chef Massimo Bottura, whose goal is to raise awareness about reducing food waste.
Watch ‘Theater of Life’ (2016)
How long is it? 1 hour and 29 minutes
Who’s in it? Pete Evans, Nora Gedgaudas and Lierre Keith
Who directed it? Rob Tate
What’s it about? The documentary follows five individuals who change their diet from high-fat to low-carb in attempt to overcome recent health struggles. It features interviews with medical experts, chefs and farmers that will make you think twice about the food you put on your plate.
Watch ‘The Magic Pill’ (2017)
How long is it? 1 hour and 31 minutes
Who’s in it? Marty Travis, Dan Barber and Rick Bayless
Who directed it? Matt Wechsler
What’s it about? When farmer Marty Travis saw his community struggling to compete with corporate agriculture businesses, he decided to make a change. So, he pioneered the sustainable food movement in Chicago, which has changed the way people view farming.
Watch ‘Sustainable’ (2016)
How long is it? 1 hour and 13 minutes
Who’s in it? Ben Reade, Josh Evans and Roberto Flore
Who directed it? Andreas Johnsen
What’s it about? Sure, we’re babies when it comes to critters in our home, but this film is surprisingly fascinating. It follows a team of chefs and researchers who explore the benefits of using bugs—like maggots, locusts, termites and buffalo worms—as a sustainable food source. (Warning: This one isn’t for the fainthearted.)
Watch ‘Bugs’ (2016)
How long is it? 1 hour and 38 minutes
Who’s in it? Mike Solomonov
Who directed it? Roger M. Sherman
What’s it about? If your favorite part about traveling is the food, you’ve come to the right place. Award-winning chef Mike Solomonov offers a virtual tour of the best food Israel has to offer. He visits over 70 different locations, all of which provide a glimpse into the country’s diverse cuisines.
Watch ‘In Search of Israeli Cuisine’ (2017)
How long is it? 1 hour and 31 minutes
Who’s in it? Curtis Duffy
Who directed it? Mark Helenowski and Kevin Pang
What’s it about? The film follows chef Curtis Duffy as he oversees every aspect of the creation of his Chicago restaurant, Grace. From starting with nothing to debuting the space on opening night, the doc details Duffy’s journey to success, along with a few tribulations along the way.
Watch ‘For Grace’ (2015)
How long is it? 49 minutes
Who’s in it? Giles Yeo
Who directed it? Milla Harrison-Hansley and Alicky Sussman
What’s it about? It’s not a question we enjoy asking ourselves, but that doesn’t make it any less relevant. An English geneticist attempts to debunk myths about living with obesity, all while highlighting significant factors that are contributing to the worldwide epidemic.
Watch ‘Why Are We Getting So Fat?’ (2016)
How long is it? 1 hour and 20 minutes
Who’s in it? Jake Bickelhaupt and Alexa Welsh
Who directed it? Jack C. Newell
What’s it about? An ambitious chef launches an underground restaurant out of his apartment, and it becomes a total success. So, he and his wife use the money to fulfill their dreams of opening an upscale eatery in Chicago—this is their story.
Watch ‘42 Grams’ (2017)
How long is it? 1 hour and 6 minutes
Who’s in it? Alessandro Di Nuzzo and Santiago Hadida
Who directed it? Mercedes Cordova
What’s it about? A team of experts attempt to track down the origins of Italian cuisine, in addition to the changes it has undergone since branching out to the Americas. (Disclaimer: This movie will make you really, really hungry. You’ve been warned.)
How long is it? 58 minutes
Who’s in it? Javid Abdelmoneim, Matthew Mitchell and Gautam Mehta
Who directed it? David Briggs
What’s it about? OK, this isn’t technically a food documentary, but we’ll let it slide. The movie follows emergency room doctor Javid Abdelmoneim as he studies the science of drinking alcohol.
Watch ‘The Truth About Alcohol’ (2016)
