Soma Yukihira's old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father's culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?!

Leaving home for the first time in his young life, Soma moves into the Polaris Dormitory--a place run by an old crone and filled with crazy and eccentric students! Barely settled in, Soma quickly finds himself in one of Totsuki's legendary cooking duels--a shokugeki! Who will his very first opponent be?