IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING READING THIS MANGA I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND YOU TO READ UNTIL ONLY THE END OF THE PROMOTION EXAMS ARC (CHAPTER 263) AND ALSO TO IGNORE THE LAST ARC ENTIRELY.

'Shokugeki no Souma' used to be one of my favorite mangas. I discovered and binge-watched 12 episodes of the anime's first season in one night and to my surprise then as an anime enthusiast (who usually has enough patience and only follows anime adaptions), I decided to start reading the manga because I couldn't wait for episode 13 to come out. Despite how horrible and messy the blue arc is, I managed to read through every single chapter and have completed the entire 315 chapters * in which I highly suggest you to save your time and don't read any of it if you haven't done so yet.

I think the reason this is the manga I've read the most chapters of without loosing interest (in the beginning) was because of how amazing and detailed the (food) art is. I also loved how each dish was memorable and unique with descriptions of its creation process from inspirations to come up with its concept to the impactful role of all ingredients/materials incorporated and the distinctive method/steps done before presenting the dishes (until the manga started going downhill).

The story's progression format may be repetitive and each arc's result or plot twist can be predictable, but for most parts, the manga was still enjoyable; the range of many new characters we're introduced to as Souma meets (to compete against and refines his skills) in each arc...again, stressing the importance of excluding the last (blue) arc.

I'd already thought at the start of the hot spring investigation arc that this manga should've ended at its peak with the promotion exams arc. However, I didn't expect the story to spiral downhill as quickly and disastrously as it did in the final arc. I was so happy when they announced that the manga was ending in 3 chapters as too much damage had been done in the recent 50 chapters, destroying the high rating the numerous older chapters had built. Overall, this manga generously went down from an 8 to a 6 for me.