Power Rankings After ‘Desserts Fit For A Queen’: Who’s the Frontrunner for Top Chef Season 23?

After the Southern Charm Quickfire crossover and a regal dessert challenge celebrating Queen Charlotte’s birthday and the show’s 20th anniversary, we update the rankings and look ahead to Restaurant Wars.

Episode 7 of Top Chef: Carolinas (Season 23) aired Monday, April 20, 2026, on Bravo. It delivered a fun Bravo-universe mashup in the Quickfire and high-stakes sweets in the Elimination — a classic pressure point where even strong savory chefs can stumble.

With roughly 9 chefs left after Sieger Bayer’s elimination in the previous week’s whole-hog BBQ challenge, the field is tightening fast as we head into Restaurant Wars next week.

Here’s our updated power rankings post-Episode 7, plus analysis of who gained momentum, who hit a dessert wall, and who looks like the strongest contender for the $250,000 prize and Food & Wine feature.

Updated Power Rankings After Episode 7

Rankings reflect overall consistency, performance in both Quickfire and Elimination this week, ability to handle non-signature categories (like desserts), leadership potential, and momentum heading into Restaurant Wars. Changes noted from post-Episode 6 rankings.

1. Laurence Louie (Quincy, MA) — +1
   Strong recent form continued. Laurence has shown all-around excellence and earned immunity in the BBQ challenge. If he handled the dessert round smoothly (or at least avoided the bottom), he solidifies as the most consistent frontrunner. His creativity and composure make him dangerous in team challenges like Restaurant Wars.
2. Sherry Cardoso (Brooklyn, NY)
   Frequently in the top across multiple episodes. Sherry brings bold flavors and reliability. A solid showing in the Southern-inspired Quickfire and regal desserts would keep her near the top. Watch for her to shine when personal expression meets technical execution.
3. Oscar Diaz (Durham, NC) — +1 or steady
   Local Carolina chef who understands the region’s ingredients deeply. His hometown advantage and steady performances make him a quiet threat. Strong Quickfire teamwork could boost him further.
4. Brandon Dearden (Hamilton, MT) — Twins factor
   One half of the identical twins. Brandon has had highlight moments earlier in the season. The twins’ friendly (but competitive) dynamic adds intrigue — did one edge out the other this week?
5. Jonathan Dearden (Alexandria, VA)
   The other twin. Their head-to-head energy is one of the season’s most entertaining storylines. Both remain competitive, but dessert pressure might have separated them slightly.
6. Anthony Jones (Alexandria, VA)
   Has shown flashes of winning potential. Needs to maintain consistency to climb higher.
7. Duyen Ha (Los Angeles, CA)
   Solid but sometimes flies under the radar. A good dessert performance could push her up noticeably.
8. Jennifer Lee Jackson (Suttons Bay, MI / Detroit, MI) — Couple dynamic
   Part of the real-life chef couple with Justin. Personal stakes are high; any visible strain or standout teamwork in the Quickfire could be telling.
9. Justin Tootla (Suttons Bay, MI / Detroit, MI)
   Jennifer’s partner. The couple’s restaurant co-ownership background gives them real-world experience, but balancing individual performance with relationship dynamics adds pressure.

Eliminated this week (or sent to Last Chance Kitchen): TBD based on final judging (check live recaps or Bravo for the exact bottom placement and elimination). With desserts on the menu, pastry-weak chefs were most at risk.

Big Risers and Fallers This Week

• Risers: Chefs who excelled at elevating Cracker Barrel classics in the Quickfire or delivered impressive, crowd-pleasing regal desserts likely gained the most ground. Anyone who impressed Melissa Benoist probably earned big points with viewers and judges.
• Fallers: Non-pastry specialists who struggled with technical dessert execution (tempering, plating under time pressure, balancing sweetness with the “queenly” theme) likely dropped. The large service for 60 superfans amplified any execution flaws.

Dessert challenges often shake up rankings dramatically — this episode was likely no exception.

Frontrunner Analysis: Who Has the Best Shot at Winning Season 23?

Top Contenders Right Now:

• Laurence Louie currently looks like the strongest overall package: consistency + recent immunity + composure.
• Sherry Cardoso and Oscar Diaz are close behind with strong flavor intuition and regional knowledge.
• Wild Cards: The Dearden twins and the Jackson-Tootla couple. Their personal connections add emotional layers and potential drama, but could also become liabilities if focus splits in high-pressure team settings like Restaurant Wars.

Key factors for the win:

• Ability to perform outside comfort zones (desserts proved this again).
• Leadership and teamwork for Restaurant Wars.
• Creativity rooted in personal story or the Carolinas setting.
• Handling the growing physical and mental fatigue as the competition thins.

Restaurant Wars (Episode 8, airing April 27) will be a major proving ground. Strong individual performers this week will likely become team captains or key contributors.

What’s Next: Heading Into Restaurant Wars

Episode 7 set the stage perfectly for the season’s most intense team challenge. With fewer chefs remaining, alliances, rivalries, and personal stakes (twins + couple) will come to the forefront. Expect high drama, ambitious concepts, and brutal execution critiques.

The competition is sharpening. One bad service in Restaurant Wars can end even a frontrunner’s run.

Who’s your #1 pick to win Top Chef Season 23 after Episode 7? Drop your own rankings and thoughts in the comments — are you Team Laurence, riding with Sherry, or betting on a twin upset?