chef's kiss
/ʃɛfs kɪs/
Very CommonA gesture or phrase meaning something is perfect, excellent, or exactly right.
Often used with slight theatricality. Can be genuine or playfully overdramatic. Works in text as 'chef's kiss' or just the emoji sequence.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | the way she clapped back at that comment, chef's kiss | The response was perfectly delivered. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | these tacos are a chef's kiss, i need the recipe | The food is excellent and the person wants more. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | casting a short king as the romantic lead? chef's kiss from me | The casting choice is exactly what the person wanted to see. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | sent that email and cc'd her manager. *chef's kiss* | The action was perfectly calculated and satisfying. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Food tastes incredible or looks perfect.
- Someone said or did exactly the right thing.
- An outfit, aesthetic, or design is flawless.
- A plan or decision comes together perfectly.
Do not use it when
- Something is just okay or above average.Use “not bad” instead.
- You are being sarcastic about something bad.
Chef's kiss vs ate that
chef's kiss
Chef's kiss is a reaction to something excellent, often said by an observer.
VS
ate-that
Ate that describes the person who did something nailing it, usually self-referential or said about a performer.
Origin and context
Based on the Italian gesture 'al bacio' (literally 'to the kiss'), used by chefs to express something tastes perfect. Entered internet slang through food culture and meme contexts in the mid-2010s.
- First seen
- mid-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/chef-kissUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0