Ugly Delicious – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ugly Delicious

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2018

72%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

Chef David Chang's globe-trotting food doc asks big questions about culture and authenticity—with plenty of f-bombs and mouth-watering visuals.

100%

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Ugly Delicious

show

TV-MA, 2018

72%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

Chef David Chang's globe-trotting food doc asks big questions about culture and authenticity—with plenty of f-bombs and mouth-watering visuals.

100%

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Screenwise Verdict

Ugly Delicious is smart, gorgeous, and genuinely enriching—but it's absolutely not for kids. The TV-MA rating is real: there's swearing throughout, and the conversations about race, class, and cultural appropriation require adult maturity to process.

That said, for the right audience (older teens and adults), this is fantastic. It's food TV that respects your intelligence, challenges your assumptions, and makes you hungry all at once. David Chang is a compelling guide—funny, vulnerable, and willing to ask uncomfortable questions. The 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score isn't hype.

The safety score tanks this for family viewing, but if you've got a 16 or 17-year-old who's interested in food, culture, or just learning to think critically about the world, watch it together. It'll give you plenty to talk about. Just maybe not during dinner with the 8-year-old.

Age Fit

Best for older teens (16+) and adults who want food TV that makes them think. The TV-MA rating is earned—this isn't family viewing. But for a 17-year-old heading to college or an adult who loves food culture, it's genuinely enriching and entertaining.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show models genuine curiosity and cross-cultural respect as David Chang explores food traditions worldwide. Conversations are authentic and often vulnerable, touching on identity, family, and belonging. However, it's rated TV-MA for strong language throughout, and the tone is decidedly adult—this isn't sanitized food TV. The pacing is relaxed and thoughtful rather than chaotic, but the profanity and mature themes around race, class, and cultural appropriation mean it's not emotionally 'safe' for younger viewers in the traditional wholesome sense.

Imaginative

This series is genuinely curious and intellectually adventurous. It challenges viewers to rethink what 'authentic' food means, explores how dishes evolve across cultures, and asks big questions about why we value certain cuisines over others. The cinematography is gorgeous and makes you see familiar foods in new ways. It doesn't invite hands-on creativity like a cooking show might, but it absolutely sparks imagination about culture, history, and the stories behind what we eat. The willingness to tackle uncomfortable topics and 'skim the surface' of complex debates shows real intellectual ambition.

Safe

TV-MA rating is accurate here. The show includes frequent strong language, references to alcohol, and while there's no violence or sexual content, the mature thematic discussions about race, cultural appropriation, and class can be intense and nuanced. The graphic close-ups of food preparation (including a massive lobster tower) might bother some viewers. This isn't a show where a 10-year-old can wander in mid-episode and be fine—the language alone would be a problem, and the cultural conversations require maturity to process. Common Sense Media suggests 13+ but even that feels young given the TV-MA rating and actual content.

Enriching

This is where Ugly Delicious truly shines. It's deeply enriching for viewers ready to engage with its ideas. The show tackles food justice, immigration, cultural exchange, and identity with nuance and heart. You'll learn about culinary history, regional variations, and the politics of taste. It builds empathy by showing how food connects to memory, family, and belonging across cultures. The conversations with chefs, writers, and celebrities are substantive and thought-provoking. For older teens and adults, this offers real intellectual and ethical growth—it changes how you think about food and culture. It's also genuinely entertaining, avoiding the dry documentary trap.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely thought-provoking exploration of food, culture, identity, and what 'authenticity' really means
Stunning food cinematography that makes you hungry and curious in equal measure
Tackles uncomfortable topics like cultural appropriation and food snobbery with nuance and humor
Perfect for older teens learning to think critically about culture, or adults who want their food TV with substance
David Chang is charismatic and vulnerable, making complex ideas accessible without dumbing them down

⚠

What to Watch For

TV-MA means TV-MA: frequent strong language throughout, not just occasional swearing
The cultural conversations can be complex and sometimes 'skim the surface' of deep issues—great for sparking discussion but may frustrate if you want deeper dives
Graphic food prep close-ups (think whole lobsters, butchering) might bother squeamish viewers
Common Sense Media says 13+ but honestly, 16+ feels more realistic given the language and thematic maturity

Conversation Starters

"What does 'authentic' food even mean? Can a dish evolve and still be 'real'?"
"Have you ever felt judged for the food you eat or the way your family cooks? How did that feel?"
"Why do you think some cuisines are considered 'fancy' and others are seen as cheap or low-brow?"
"The show talks about cultural appropriation in food—where's the line between appreciation and appropriation?"
"What's a food that reminds you of home or family? What memories does it bring up?"

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