Throwdown with Michael Symon

Michael Symon pulls out all the stops for a throwdown focused on a couple of the things he does best -- burgers and barbecue. Slinging a burger piled high with juicy pulled pork, his mystery competitor is former fine dining chef Matt Abdoo, now at Brooklyn's canalside hot spot, Pig Beach.

Michael Symon makes the call for a throwdown challenge involving khachapuri, the rich, savory, cheesy and decadent stuffed bread from the nation of Georgia. Competitors Ricky and Mariia Dolinsky have mastered this comfort food classic at their hip downtown New York City restaurant, Tzarevna, to the delight of fans and food critics alike. Michael and his sidekick Katie hope their cheesy bread boat sails to victory.

Michael Symon knows his fried chicken, but this throwdown is focused on the extra crunchy, extra flavorful variety popular in Korea and Japan. Michael and his culinary partner Katie Pickens have stiff competition in Maiko Kyogoku and Emily Yuen, whose Japanese-style fried chicken with global influences leaves diners at their restaurant Bessou swooning.

It's on every street corner in New York City, but when shawarma shows up as Michael Symon's throwdown challenge, can he look past the spinning tower of meat towards victory? Not if the Sussman brothers have anything to say about it! Samesa owners Eli and Max have been NYC's shawarma darlings since they began marinating and roasting meat as a pop-up. Michael and his culinary right hand, Katie Pickens, are confident they can win this one, but that cockiness could cost them the title of Throwdown Shawarma Masters.