One of the most consistent chefs on “Next Level Chef” Season 5 had to be Connor Caine. He impressed the mentors and viewers alike with his modern techniques, calm attitude, and ability to shine under pressure. The 30-year-old professional chef from Manhattan Beach, California, battled through Gordon Ramsay’s intense three-level cooking competition and emerged as one of the final competitors standing. He was hoping to be named the winner of “Next Level Chef” Season 5, but did Connor Caine win “Next Level Chef” 2026 tonight? Find out the results below in our “Next Level Chef” spoilers.
Do NOT continue reading if you don’t want to know who the Season 5 winner of “Next Level Chef” is …
Connor Caine’s Fate on ‘Next Level Chef’
Did Connor Caine win? The answer is…NO! He had a good showing tonight, but when the winner was announced, it was not Connor.
Find out the winner of Season 5 with OUR RESULTS here!
California Vibes for Connor
Before joining “Next Level Chef,” Connor was making a name for himself in Southern California’s culinary scene. He definitely seemed to bring those chill, California vibes to the competition.
The Manhattan Beach chef worked as a private chef and caterer before joining the show. He was focused on elevating comfort food, which often blended refined techniques with approachable flavors. It helped him stand out throughout Season 5.
Connor made a name for himself among the judges and his competitors because of his calm demeanor during some intense challenges. Other contestants could be seen unraveling under the pressure, but Connor consistently stayed composed while delivering technically strong dishes.
Since taping the show, Connor has continued to grow his personal culinary brand through private dining experiences and online content creation. While he competed as a professional chef on the show, he’s definitely embraced the social media food content side of things since being on the show. These videos have helped expand his audience beyond just the television viewers.
Key Moments on ‘Next Level Chef’
For “Next Level Chef” 2026, Connor was a member of Team Arrington. They definitely had a strong start to the season, and Connor was one of the reasons why.
One of his biggest breakthroughs came during the Week 13 challenge, which had the chefs creating next-level appetizers and cocktails for a star-spangled party. They were celebrating America’s 250th birthday, but Connor ended up celebrating having the best dish that week. That turned into him being safe for the week and earning the Time Token advantage for the next week.
Connor also had a shining moment during the semifinal round. During the initial challenge, Connor dropped the ball with his dish. He’s been consistently at the top of the leaderboard, but he dropped to the bottom this week.
He ended up facing off against Gabrielle in the Elimination Cook-Off. Connor was able to pull it back together for that cook-off, with his dish winning and him earning a spot in tonight’s finale alongside Cole Lawson and Darian Bryan.
He’s fighting for that $250,000 prize and year-long mentorship with the “Next Level Chef” judges. Could he pull out the victory?
What do you think of the results on “Next Level Chef” tonight?
