Story: 8/10
The story is very simple and straight-forward with Yukihira Soma being forced into a strict cooking academy and having to survive its harsh courses. The story is hardly original having a transfer student scenario in a different setting. There are multiple arcs that seem all too familiar, yet I was never disappointed by the story, despite the lack of originality. There are also no moments in which I question why a certain event happens in bewilderment or any point where I am baffled by the characters' actions. The pacing is great except for the end.
Art: 9/10
The art is very clear and crisp. The characters look gorgeous and the artstyle is simply great on the eye. In addition, there is the food. I have never seen so much hunger emerge from watching an anime than from Shokugeki. The way in which they layer the sizzling effects among other visuals is breathtaking and can create a very powerful desire for food. The attention to detail for preparing food is very admirable.
Sound: 8.5/10
The openings are fantastic. Both the first and second one are above average and create different atmospheres and tones for the story. The first opening song does a great job at creating hype in the viewer, while forming a general emotion of pure bliss. The second opening is very good at introducing the vibe in the arc it is present. The EDs are mixed. The first one leaves a very satisfying taste to any episode, while the second, I generally skip. The voice is too grating on the ears for my taste in music. The insert songs/OST are/is solid at adding to episodes, but they do not completely take over the attention of the viewer. However, the song with the powerful opera and the song for episode previews were definitely a step above the rest.
Characters: 7.5/10
The cast in Shokugeki is very wide. Almost every single character is very likeable and none do not feel like a complete anime trope. However, no character feels memorable. Yukihira is mainly the shounen MC with experience that works hard to achieve his goals. What might become annoying is the comical repetition of Megumi's (main female lead) backstory. It has such heavy usage that it makes me facepalm and almost cringe near the end.
Enjoyment: 10/10
For some reason, this anime just feels amazing! Maybe it's the foodgasms, the art, the articulate preparation of food, but Shokugeki presents itself so well. Even amid the small errors in characterization and story, Shokugeki is amazing at captivating the audience with its comedy, fanservice, and hype cooking. The overall package of this anime had me watching it episode after episode because of how well the show seems to appeal to me. Shokugeki is one of the best shounen animes I have watched and a second season would be greatly appreciated.
Overall: 9.5/10
