MasterChef Česko
MasterChef Česko is TV Nova's cooking competition in which amateur cooks fight it out to be crowned the best of them all. Since 2019 their fate has been in the hands of a judging panel unlike anything Czech TV cooking had ever seen: Radek Kašpárek, Přemek Forejt and Jan Punčochář.
I'm a big Gordon Ramsay fan, so MasterChef has always been close to my heart. I actually think the Czech version is even better than the famous original. All three judges cook in their own restaurants, so you can put what they preach on TV to the test right at the table. That's exactly what I did.
How MasterChef Came to Czechia
MasterChef started out as a British BBC format, but it was mainly the American version with Gordon Ramsay that made it famous worldwide. Czechia first tried the format in 2012, in a joint Czech-Slovak version with the Slovak channel Markíza, and the first standalone Czech series launched on Nova in 2015. The first two series were judged by Marek Raditsch, Marek Fichtner and Miroslav Kalina.
The turning point came with the third series in 2019, when Kašpárek, Forejt and Punčochář took their seats on the panel. Two of the three judges now cook at restaurants with a Michelin star. Seven series had aired by December 2023; in spring 2026 Nova opened casting for series eight (as of September 13, 2026, it has yet to hit screens).
Radek Kašpárek: Field and 420
Kašpárek's Field has held a Michelin star every year since 2016 - and lately it's been openly going after Prague's two-star restaurant. I've eaten at Field twice: first for the lunch menu during Covid, then for the big tasting menu, where almost every dish is finished right in front of you. What stuck with me most were the grilled duck hearts - I loved them, but my dining companion left them unfinished - the only course on the entire menu that went back half-eaten. That's exactly the kind of controversy I think Field is going for.
On Old Town Square, Kašpárek also runs 420 Restaurant, which pairs honest Czech cooking with Michelin precision. The bread rolls from its bakery may well be the best I've ever eaten. And if you think Kašpárek is strict on MasterChef, check out the Czech version of Hell's Kitchen - there he played the tough Gordon Ramsay to the hilt.
Přemek Forejt: Entrée
Forejt trained in Brno, spent three years cooking at the Michelin-starred L'Autre Pied in London and has run Entrée in Olomouc since 2015. Most of the country knows him better from the screen than from the plate - which is a shame, because for me Entrée is one of the best restaurants in Czechia. The nine-course tasting menu I had two days before Christmas 2021 still ranks among my most memorable food experiences. And the Houbový jan soup? Probably the best I've ever had in my life.
I'd been saying for years that Entrée would get a star as soon as Michelin started rating restaurants outside Prague. In December 2025 that's exactly what happened: the guide covered the whole of Czechia for the first time, and Entrée won Olomouc's first-ever Michelin star. My prediction came true to the letter.
Jan Punčochář: U Matěje and Šnycl
Jan Punčochář, a three-time winner of the Czech Zlatý kuchař (Golden Chef) award, worked his way through a string of renowned restaurants, and opening his own place, U Matěje, made a long-held dream come true. Of the three, his cooking comes closest to what Czechs really love: modern and classic Czech food without needless showmanship. The veal spider steak with mushroom and dill sauce and a Carlsbad dumpling was done to perfection at U Matěje. And the quark-filled yeast buns with rum sauce tick all four boxes at once: dense, heavy, shamelessly indulgent, delicious. At Šnycl he focuses on Austrian cooking, with schnitzels stealing the show.
Put the Judges to the Taste Test
For Field, 420, U Matěje and Šnycl, head to Prague; for Entrée, to Olomouc - and to see how the judges measure up against the rest of the country, take a look at my rundown of Michelin restaurants in Czechia. Would you rather try the intriguing experiments at Field, or Punčochář's hearty buns? 😊
420 Restaurant, Prague: Even Better Value Than Before. The Experience Near the Astronomical Clock Is Now Much More Affordable
420 Restaurant in Prague's Old Town Square focuses on perfectly executed traditional cuisine. The concept has recently undergone a transformation. The menu has been simplified and food prices have dropped. The establishment has thus taken a very welcoming step toward guests. Today, 420 Restaurant represents an exceptionally attractive choice with an excellent ratio of price to overall experience.
Field Restaurant ⭐, Prague: Radek Kašpárek Reaches for a Second Star
Prague restaurant Field by Chef Radek Kašpárek represents an established icon of Czech fine dining. After years of successfully defending one Michelin star, it is now ambitiously targeting a second star. The establishment bets on an immediate experience, where the final preparation of dishes moves from the kitchen directly before the guests' eyes. Staff precisely finish plating or flambé meat at the table, blurring the lines between chef and waiter.
420: The Best Restaurant on Prague’s Old Town Square
The 420 restaurant on Prague's Old Town Square offers an original take on Czech cuisine. The project is led by Radek Kašpárek, a well-known chef, with Marek Kominek heading the kitchen and desserts crafted by Kateřina Brodnianska. The restaurant is located in a uniquely renovated building with a beautiful courtyard, directly opposite the Old Town Astronomical Clock.
Entrée Restaurant, Olomouc: A Tasting Menu with Pivní Pes, a Spread of Olomoucké Tvarůžky
A nine-course tasting menu at Entrée in Olomouc, the restaurant of chef and MasterChef judge Přemek Forejt: Czech classics disguised beyond recognition, from vepřo, černo, zelo to a katův šleh made of sturgeon, and pivní pes of olomoucké tvarůžky as the regional signature. An evening that ranks among my strongest food experiences.
U Matěje Restaurant, Prague: Czech Cuisine by Jan Punčochář
U Matěje Restaurant focuses on both modern and traditional Czech cuisine. The establishment is led by experienced chef Jan Punčochář, known from the TV show MasterChef Česko. Pleasant garden seating, professional service, and perfect presentation of dishes here allow traditional Czech cuisine to shine in its contemporary form.
Field Restaurant ⭐, Prague: Michelin Lunch During Covid Times
Field Restaurant is a Michelin-starred restaurant in the center of Prague specializing in modern Nordic cuisine. Field is led by head chef Radek Kašpárek. During the Covid period, the restaurant offers a three-course lunch menu including coffee for an exceptionally favorable price of 590 CZK (23.60 EUR). Guests can choose from two starters, two main courses, and two desserts. The wine list features both international and Czech wines, and the sommeliers are happy to assist with your selection.