9 Best Chef Shoes For The Kitchen

Finding a perfect pair of chef shoes can make make your job in the kitchen safer and more comfortable. The best chef shoes can help prevent fall and slip accidents at work.

Wet floors and greasy floors are typical of commercial kitchens, and chef shoes can better handle them than regular shoes.

If you want to buy proper kitchen footwear, there’s a multitude of brands available. We have rounded up some of the best choices based on our reviews to help you pick the best pair.

Best Chef Shoes for the Pros

1. Dansko Men’s XP 2.0 Men’s Clog

A comfortable pair of shoes can greatly help if you spend hours on your feet. If comfort is your primary consideration when choosing a pair of proper footwear for your kind of work, Dansko clogs a great choice.

This pair feels great straight out of the box. The instep collar of these shoes is padded for extra comfort when walking. They also have a roomy toe box, giving you a lot of wiggle room for added comfort. You can also add inserts if needed.

Moreover, this pair is lightweight and it comes with EVA midsole. Being lightweight, it reduces fatigue on the feet, making it perfect for everyday shoes.

PROS:

• Durable soft rubber sole and leather upper
• Roomy and padded for extra comfort
• Lightweight
• Slip-resistant shoes
• Made of high-quality materials

CONS:

• Matte color easily scratches

Buy it now: Amazon

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2. Birkenstock Boston – Oiled Leather (Unisex)

If you prefer slip-on footwear to clogs, you might consider the Birkenstock Boston. It is 100% leather with rounded toes and a grooved topline. It is surprisingly very comfortable to wear.

What makes this pair of work shoes extra comfortable is the layer of foam on the footbed. It works as a cushion and provides you more comfort when wearing it. It also features a contoured cork footbed that supports all types of foot arches.

PROS:

• With adjustable buckles for custom adjustments
• Oiled leather gives it a shiny look
• Durable leather upper

CONS:

• A bit wide for women’s feet

Buy it now: Amazon

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3. Merrell Men’s Encore Gust Slip-On Shoe

If you are a big fan of slip-on shoes, this pair is a good choice. Without the fuss of zips, Velcro or laces, you can easily slide your foot inside these shoes and go.

This pair of breathable slip-on chef shoes is a smart purchase for those who work in a fast-paced kitchen environment. It is very comfortable to wear and it keeps you safe from slippage.

The design of the Encore Gust is a perfect balance of casual style and easy-going comfort. And yes, it will look good on slacks and pants. This is a perfect pair for someone who wants kitchen shoes that can be worn over casual wear.

PROS:

• Slip-resistant outsole
• With air cushioning for comfort
• Made of full-grain leather
• With a breathable mesh lining to keep your feet dry

CONS:

• Some customers say that the sizing is a bit off

Buy it now: Amazon

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4. Dr. Martens Slip Resistant, Leather, Lace Up, Unisex

Not a fan of clogs? Try this Dr. Martens pair of nonslip shoes. These iconic shoes are perfect for both work and play. They are also designed to make your 8-hour shift more comfortable because of their innovative extra cushioning.

These kitchen shoes come with full-grain leather uppers. Underneath the leather upper is a breathable and moisture-wicking lining to prevent your feet from getting wet.

What we like most about this pair is that it comes with a contoured soft bed with a memory foam cushion. This is the reason why many of its users shared how comfy it feels on the feet. It also comes with slip-resistant outsoles that offer excellent traction.

PROS:

• Slip-resistant
• Memory foam cushion provides added support and comfort
• Leather material is water-resistant
• With anti-fatigue design

CONS:

• No safety toe cap

Buy it now: Amazon

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5. Crocs Bistro Clog for Men and Women

Crocs is one of the most popular brands of shoes in the health and food service industry. Their shoes are known as the ideal work shoes for chefs. The Bistro clog is one of their best-sellers with thousands of positive reviews.

The Bistro clogs are designed with hospitality, healthcare and food service workers in mind. They are lightweight and very comfortable to wear to help you through your long shifts. They make perfect kitchen shoes.

The best thing about this pair of shoes is that it is slip-resistant so it works well for wet kitchen floors. They are also available in different color options to suit your taste and to best match your kitchen wear.

PROS:

• Different color options
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Non-slip shoes
• Easy to clean
• Enclosed toe design for protection

CONS:

• Some customers say that their shoes shrink if constantly exposed to direct sunlight

Buy it now: Amazon

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6. Skechers Flex Advantage for Men

Sketchers is an award-winning brand, and they also make some of the best work shoes. In particular, the Skechers Flex Advantage is one of the best easy to wear kitchen shoes available.

Unlike many slip-on shoes with a leather upper layer, this pair has a mesh breathable fabric upper. It also features a rubber outsole that is slip-resistant. Moreover, we like that it features a memory foam insole as a cushion because it provides great comfort.

The combination of comfort and breathability plus the use of slip-resistant soles makes this product a great pair of working shoes. It’s worth investing in these shoes if you work in a busy kitchen.

PROS:

• Non-slip outsole provides extra protection from slippery floor
• Breathable shoes and comfortable to wear
• Slip-on design makes it easy to wear
• Made from durable 100% synthetic material

CONS:

• The size runs large

Buy it now: Amazon

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7. Birkenstock Unisex Professional Tokyo Super Grip Leather

This is the only pair of kitchen shoes on this list with a heel strap. Heel straps provide added support to your feet to prevent them from slipping out of the shoes.

The footbed in these shoes is designed to allow the weight of your body to be evenly distributed over the whole foot. This allows for optimal support. If you have flat feet, you may consider trying these non-slip grip shoes.

PROS:

• With strap for added support
• Comfortable to wear
• Made of durable leather
• Non-slip soles

CONS:

• A bit stiff leather upper

Buy it now: Amazon

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8. Shoes for Crews Radium Clog for Men and Women

Shoes for Crews make affordable kitchen shoes for men and women. In particular, this footwear is designed to keep you safe while looking good at work.

These shoes come with TripGuard Technology which incorporates a tapered toe to reduce trip hazards while moving around a wet, greasy and slippery floor.

Another important feature of this chef shoe is the use of SpillGuard Technology. It comes with a protective coating and internal barrier to reduce your risk of injuries due to spills.

PROS:

• With tapered toe to reduce tripping
• With protective coating against spills
• Anti-slip outsole
• Water-resistant

CONS:

• Not breathable

Buy it now: Amazon

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9. New Balance Women’s Slip Resistant 626 V2 Industrial Shoe

For women who work in the hospitability industry, this pair of New Balance work shoe is a good choice if comfort and style are the most important to you. It is ergonomically designed to give you stability, support and comfort through long hours of shifts.

This pair of lace-up shoes comes with pure leather uppers which are both durable and breathable. Unlike most kitchen shoes that have a simple design, this one sports a profile of a classic running shoe.

One of the most important features of this work shoe is its internal shank that improves stability and support. It also comes with ABZORB Crash Pad in the heel to improve your underfoot comfort.

PROS:

• 100% leather
• Oil resistant and non-marking outsole
• Compression-molded midsole
• Provides stability and support

Buy it now: Amazon

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Regular Shoes vs Chef Shoes

You may be wondering why care to buy kitchen shoes when you have a nice pair of running shoes with water and oil-resistant outsole.

Kitchen shoes or chef shoes are very different from your ordinary or casual shoes. ​When working in a fast-paced kitchen environment, you need to wear something that can protect you from all the hazards in the kitchen.

The best chef shoes can protect you from possible accidents caused by hot liquids spillage as well as wet and greasy floors. That’s why most shoes for chefs have water resistance and slip resistance functionalities.

Moreover, since you will be working for an extended period of time which entails standing up and moving a lot, a lightweight and comfortable pair with features such as padded instep and gel insoles can make a big difference.

Wearing the wrong kind of shoes in the kitchen may result not only in sore feet or foot pain but serious accidents. This is something you want to avoid by wearing the right chef shoes or recommended shoes for the kitchen.

​Factors to Consider When Buying Chef Shoes

When it comes to kitchen footwear, the overall function and comfort are more important than aesthetics. If you can find a pair of shoes that offer functionality, comfort and visual appeal, that’s great!

While the visual appeal is more of personal preference, functionality and comfort are inherent to the overall make and design of the shoes.

To help you find a pair that is both functional and comfortable, consider the following factors:

Material for the Uppers

There are two common materials used for the kitchen shoe uppers, and they are leather and synthetic. Leather is very durable and easy to clean. It can handle hazardous conditions such as hot water or oil spillage. However, generally, it is a bit heavier than synthetic uppers.

When it comes to breathability, genuine leather is humid-resistant and more breathable than synthetic material. More often, genuine leather also has hypoallergenic features that help repel allergens.

When checking the uppers, consider your main consideration. Is it the weight of the shoes or the ability of the shoes to handle dangerous conditions? If it is the latter, shoes with leather uppers are a good choice.

Ergonomic Design

The overall design of the shoes can greatly affect your overall comfort. While it’s hard to find all the best features in one kind of shoes, a good pair has most of these features:

• Plenty of arch support especially if you have flat feet
• Removable insole to allow you to put more advanced inserts or custom orthotics for added support and comfort. This is especially useful if you have a condition in the foot such as hammertoe and plantar fasciitis, among other conditions.
• Breathable upper to prevent sweating
• Spacious toe box
• Shock absorption soles and good arch support

Functionality

To ensure that your shoes are perfect for the kitchen environment, one of the most important features you need to check is the quality of materials used. Leather and other types of synthetic materials can withstand daily use and abuse. They also last for many years even with constant use.

Another important factor to check is if the shoe is water and oil-resistant. At the very least, the uppers should be able to withstand water. In a busy kitchen, you are always near boiling water, and hot oil and spilling accidents are an ever-looming danger. Your shoes should be able to protect your feet from those accidents.

The grip of the shoes is also important to prevent slips and falls which are common when the floor is wet or greasy. When choosing your pair of shoes, check if it is a non-slip sole. This is important so that your shoes can handle any floor condition.

Lastly, the best kitchen shoes are easy and quick to clean. With daily use, your shoes will end up dirty and covered with spatters and spills. It’s convenient to have shoes that you can clean in your washer or can easily clean with wiping or brushing.

Style

The style of the shoe affects the aesthetics and ease of wearing it. For instance, if you want easy-to-wear shoes, slip-ons or clogs are a good choice.

More importantly, choose shoes that you are comfortable wearing with your overall wear.

FAQs

Conclusion

Finding the best chef shoes may not be that easy because of the numerous options to choose from. But if you know the factors you need to consider when buying, you can easily narrow down your options and make a better decision.

If you want to save yourself from the hassle of comparing the different brands and models of shoes available, check out the best shoes we have listed. They are all great for kitchen use.

However, if we have to pick the best one for all-around use, it would be the Dansko Men’s XP 2.0 Men’s Clog. The design, relaxed fit and overall make of this pair of shoes make it really versatile for tackling any situation in the kitchen.