Top Chef: San Francisco
Top Chef: San Francisco, originally titled simply as Top Chef, is the first season of the American reality television series Top Chef. It was first filmed in San Francisco, California, before concluding in Las Vegas, Nevada. The season premiered on March 8, 2006, and ended on May 24, 2006. The show featured chefs from around the United States living together in one house and competing in a series of culinary challenges. The prizes for the winner of the competition included a feature in Food & Wine Magazine, a showcase at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, a Kenmore Elite kitchen set, and. The series was hosted by Katie Lee Joel, in her only season as host, and judged by chef Tom Colicchio and food writer Gail Simmons. In the season finale, Harold Dieterle was declared the winner over runner-up Tiffani Faison.
Contestants
Twelve chefs competed in Top Chef: San Francisco.| Name | Current Residence | Age |
| Stephen Asprinio | Las Vegas, Nevada | 24 |
| Andrea Beaman | New [York, New York] | 38 |
| Harold Dieterle | New York, New York | 28 |
| Tiffani Faison | Las Vegas, Nevada | 28 |
| Brian Hill | Los Angeles, California | 37 |
| Candice Kumai | Pasadena, California | 23 |
| Ken Lee | Los Angeles, California | 34 |
| Dave Martin | Long Beach, California | 40 |
| Miguel Morales | New York, New York | 27 |
| Lisa Parks | Los Angeles, California | 45 |
| Cynthia Sestito | East Hampton, New York | 52 |
| Lee Anne Wong | New York, New York | 28 |
Tiffani Faison and Stephen Asprinio returned to compete in Top Chef: All-Stars. Faison later competed in Top Chef Duels. Lee Anne Wong returned for Top Chef: Colorado, competing in the Last Chance Kitchen, and ''Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.''