‘Next Level Chef' Season 5: Who Went Home Tonight? (Night 9 Elimination)
With only seven talented cooks remaining, the challenge for this week's "Use Your Noodle" episode is to make a next-level noodle dish that honors tradition while elevating this ingredient that is popular worldwide.
Last week, the team competition ended, and it became every chef for themselves, and the Immunity Pin was no longer in play. Tonight, it is being replaced by the Time Token. The chef who creates the winning dish will win a "Time Token," which will give them the ability to either add 10 seconds to their platform grab or take 10 seconds from someone else's grab.
Last week, the winning dish was cooked by Gabrielle and the second-place dish by Andy, both formerly Gordon's Girls, so both women were on the top level this week with judge Nyesha Arrington. Gordon Ramsay was in the middle-level kitchen with Christian, Conner and Darian, while Danielle and Cole were on the bottom level with Richard Blais.
Here's our spoiler-filled recap of who went home on Next Level Chef tonight.
Who went home on Next Level Chef tonight?
Danielle Kartes, 43
Puyallup, WA
Home Cook
Team Nyesha
Related: Next Level Chef Season 5: Who Went Home Tonight? (Night 8 Elimination)
Advancing contestants tonight on Next Level Chef Season 5 Night 9
Andy Allo, 37
Malibu, CA
Social Media Chef
Team Gordon
Christian Alquiza, 35
Austin, TX
Social Media Chef
Team Blais
Cole Lawson, 31
Los Angeles, CA
Professional Chef
Team Gordon
Connor Caine, 30
Manhattan Beach, CA
Professional Chef
Team Nyesha
Darian Bryan, 34
Buffalo, NY
Professional Chef
Team Blais
Gabrielle Coniglio, 34
Palm Beach, FL
Professional Chef
Team Gordon
What was the first challenge on Next Level Chef tonight, and who won it?
The first challenge was 30 minutes to make the best possible noodle dish with the ingredients that were on the platform drop.
The top two dishes were by Cole and Darian with Cole winning the Time Token, which she will be able to use next week.
"I started from the bottom and now I'm here," she said. "You can't keep a player down too long."
They both won the opportunity to cook in the top-level kitchen next week.
What was the elimination challenge on Next Level Chef tonight, and who lost it?
Three chefs failed to inspire with their noodle dishes, so Andy, Christian and Danielle were in the elimination challenge. They were given 25 minutes to create an entrée that was completely starch free. It was about balance, flavor and technique. The protein needed to shine.
The chef that cooked her final dish in the Next Level Kitchen was Danielle.
"I had such a good time," said Danielle, the final home cook in the competition. "Every freakin' cook was just wonderful. The family members that I made. I just don't believe this is the end. There's so much more to do. I can't wait to work with you again. I've been at this for 15 years and I'm going to keep at it. I'm just so proud of myself."
Next Level Chef airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Streams next day on Hulu.
Related: Here's What Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef is Serving Up for Season 5
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM.