How to Eat at Hell's Kitchen

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 9, 2023 References

If you love watching Gordon Ramsay's intense reality cooking show Hell's Kitchen, you might enjoy becoming a part of the program! Although it may seem impossible, there are actually a few different ways to get a ticket to the show. It's also important to know what to expect when you get there.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Getting Tickets to Hell's Kitchen

1
Work with a casting agency to get recruited to be on the show. Many reality TV shows like “Hell's Kitchen” recruit their audiences from casting agencies. By registering with one of these agencies, you can significantly increase your odds of being selected to appear on the show.^{[1]
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- For best results, go with a casting agency that specifically works with reality TV shows or shows with studio audiences. The registration process for most casting agencies involves submitting registration paperwork, documents that prove your identity, and having your picture taken for the company's portfolio.
- There's also the possibility that a guest or audience member will cancel their reservation. When this happens, producers turn to their back-up list of reservation requests. Your name could be selected as a last minute fill-in, especially if you live around the location of the show's filming.
Tip: Be patient. Chances are, reservations for the next season or two of Hell's Kitchen are already booked up. If you are patient enough to wait several seasons, though, you might be lucky enough to get a spot sometime in the future.
2
Follow FOX's social media accounts to hear about any updates. Fox Broadcasting will occasionally put out calls on through their social media for potential audience members. When this happens, follow the instructions or links in the company's social media posts to begin your application process.^{[2]
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- When this happens, it's usually the first people to respond who are awarded tickets to the show, so be sure to follow social media posts closely!
- For example, follow @foxtv on Twitter and Instagram or visit facebook.com/FOXTV.
- The show's official website once had a "Reservations" section on its front page, located near the bottom of the screen, but the producers removed that section from the website. Nonetheless, you should continue to check the webpage for updates on whether or not reservations are actively being requested.
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3
See if you know somebody with ties to the show who can get you in. Unfortunately, many people who have had luck getting into the show's studio audience simply knew “the right person.” If you know someone who works for the show or who's connected to Fox Broadcasting, ask that person if they can help you get a ticket to the show.^{[3]
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- For example, ask a friend of yours who works for Fox something like: “Do you think it would be possible for you to help me get tickets to be in the Hell's Kitchen audience? It would mean a lot to me.”
- The more influence your contact has within the company or with the show, the more likely you are to succeed in your appeal.
- Make your request directly to the person you know rather than going through official channels.
4
Beware of scams that try to charge you for tickets. As hard as it might be to believe, real tickets to the show should cost you nothing. If a second party website wants your credit card information or other financial data, that website should not be trusted.^{[4]
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Try the Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Las Vegas if you're a fan of the show. Although you won't actually see any of the drama of the TV show, the Las Vegas restaurant does serve many of the dishes that have been made famous from Gordon Ramsay's show. Dining at the restaurant is an easy way to experience Gordon Ramsay-inspired cooking without having to get a ticket to the actual show.^{[5]
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- Be forewarned: you probably won't see Gordon Ramsay at this restaurant.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Knowing What to Expect

1
Dress in an upscale casual attire for the show. Hell's Kitchen is meant to resemble a fine dining restaurant, so you should dress to match your surroundings. Go with a nice suit without a tie or a dress with heels to look the part.^{[6]
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- Be aware that Hell's Kitchen is a show, so you may be filmed and shown on TV. Dress the way you want to be seen by millions of people!
2
Note that you'll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. This is pretty standard when it comes to taking part in reality TV shows. The NDA you sign will probably prevent you from publicly discussing what you see during the taping of the show for a set period of time.^{[7]
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3
Expect to eat for free but without being able to choose your food. If you're part of the audience during taping for the show, you'll probably be served whatever contestants on the show are being tasked with creating. Service will be slow; expect the visit to take at least three hours. As you wait, however, you will be given free alcohol and bread. Diners are typically compensated with free food and maybe some money for the grueling hours involved in taping the show.^{[8]
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- Note that even after you obtain tickets, there is no guarantee that you will actually be able to eat anything there. Per the rules of the show, once Gordon Ramsay calls for an end to the episode, the kitchen shuts down for the evening, regardless of whether all the diners have been served.
4
Be prepared for the venue to not be like a normal restaurant experience. Hell's Kitchen is not an actual restaurant. The kitchen and dining room are on a soundstage, so your dining experience will not be anything like what you might expect at a real eating establishment.^{[9]
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- Unfortunately, you probably won't get to meet Gordon Ramsay face-to-face, either.
- Most people who have visited the set of the show report that the food is decent, but not fantastic. If you still want to go, do so for the entertainment experience and not for the sake of a great meal.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I dine at Kitchen Nightmares?

Community Answer

Kitchen Nightmares isn't a dining experience, rather, it's Chef Ramsay visiting failing restaurants. If they are still open after the program (over 65% are closed), you can visit the restaurant.
Question

How much will it cost me to eat at Hell's Kitchen?

Community Answer

It's free to eat there, though you have to apply/call/email for tickets. It helps if you know someone directly associated with FOX, though you may have to wait a couple of seasons.
Question

Are there any Gordon Ramsey restaurants in Vancouver, BC, Canada?

Community Answer

No. Most of the restaurants are located in the U.S.