Home › Kitchen › Chef's Knives
Kitchen · Updated October 2026Best chef's knives 2026: Shun, Wusthof and value
Our pick: Best chef's knife 2026
Shun Classic Asian Chef's Knife, 7 inch
The reference Japanese chef's knife: hard steel, sharp out of the box, and a free-sharpening program that keeps it that way. Listed $179.95; verify at checkout.
The top 3, by scenario
Shun Shun Classic Asian Chef's Knife, 7"
- Shun
- Listed $179.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Williams Sonoma
Why it made the list: Shun Classic is the reference Japanese chef's knife line: hard steel, sharp out of the box, and a handle that suits most hands · The 7-inch Asian chef's profile is a versatile middle ground between a classic chef's knife and a santoku · Shun's free-sharpening program gives owners a real path to keeping it sharp for years
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Cuisine::pro Cuisine::pro Damashiro EMPEROR Santoku Knife, 5.5"
- Cuisine::pro
- Listed $29.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Sur La Table
Why it made the list: At $29.95 it puts a Japanese-style santoku on the board for the price of a cheap dinner · The honest starter knife: sharp enough to learn technique on, cheap enough that mistakes don't sting · Sur La Table backs it with real retail support if the knife arrives with a problem
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Shun Shun Classic 3-Piece Knife Starter Set
- Shun
- Listed $369.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Williams Sonoma
Why it made the list: Chef's knife, paring knife, and utility in the line's signature steel: the three blades most cooks actually reach for · Buying the set costs less than the same three Shun Classic knives bought individually · A complete foundation: add a bread knife later and the kit is finished
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Who should buy the Shun Classic
Buy Shun Classic Asian Chef's Knife if
- You want one do-everything blade and will hand wash it like it deserves
- You prefer Japanese hardness and sharpness over German toughness
- You value the free-sharpening program as a real long-term ownership perk
Don’t buy Shun Classic Asian Chef's Knife if
- You toss knives in the dishwasher: buy the $29.95 santoku instead and replace it guilt-free
- You want a blade you can steel aggressively: softer German steel (Wusthof) forgives more
- You need a full kit now: the 3-piece starter set is the cheaper route to three blades
Launch scores, not lab scores: every price below was checked against the retailer's live listing in October 2026.
No hands-on testing yet; rankings are locked before any affiliate program lookup.
Also worth a look
Wüsthof WÜSTHOF Classic Hollow-Edge Santoku Knife
- Wüsthof
- Listed $170.00 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Williams Sonoma
Why it made the list: Wüsthof Classic santoku at $170.00: softer steel, tougher edge, hones forever.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Miyabi Miyabi Kaizen II Santoku, 7"
- Miyabi
- Listed $189.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Sur La Table
Why it made the list: Miyabi Kaizen II 7-inch at $189.95: another Japanese heavyweight for direct comparison.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Shun Shun Classic 7" Vegetable Cleaver
- Shun
- Listed $289.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Williams Sonoma
Why it made the list: 7-inch vegetable cleaver at $289.95: for cooks who prep produce in volume.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Cuisine::pro Cuisine::pro Damashiro 8" Carving Knife
- Cuisine::pro
- Listed $49.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Sur La Table
Why it made the list: 8-inch carving knife at $49.95: the budget way to slice roasts cleanly.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Wüsthof WÜSTHOF Classic Chef's Paring Knives, Set of 2
- Wüsthof
- Listed $225.00 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Williams Sonoma
Why it made the list: Two Wüsthof paring knives at $225.00: German quality for detail work.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
Cuisine::pro Cuisine::pro Damashiro EMPEROR 6.5" Cleaver Knife
- Cuisine::pro
- Listed $84.95 (verify at checkout)
- Retailer: Sur La Table
Why it made the list: 6.5-inch cleaver at $84.95: heavy chopping on a value budget.
Price as listed by the retailer; verify at checkout.
How we picked
These are launch scores from a verified catalogue audit: listed prices checked against the retailer's own page in October 2026, brand and retailer recorded from the listing, discontinued products filtered out. No hands-on testing has happened yet, so any row without test data carries a lab pending status instead of a score. Rankings were locked before any affiliate program lookup, and affiliate links are still pending approval: every Check price button routes through our /go/ interstitial, which says so plainly until a real link is wired.
Every knife in our catalogue
View all 9 products in this category
| Product | Brand | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WÜSTHOF Classic Chef's Paring Knives, Set of 2 | Wüsthof | $225.00 | Check price |
| WÜSTHOF Classic Hollow-Edge Santoku Knife | Wüsthof | $170.00 | Check price |
| Shun Classic Asian Chef's Knife, 7" | Shun | $179.95 | Check price |
| Shun Classic 3-Piece Knife Starter Set | Shun | $369.95 | Check price |
| Shun Classic 7" Vegetable Cleaver | Shun | $289.95 | Check price |
| Miyabi Kaizen II Santoku, 7" | Miyabi | $189.95 | Check price |
| Cuisine::pro Damashiro EMPEROR 6.5" Cleaver Knife | Cuisine::pro | $84.95 | Check price |
| Cuisine::pro Damashiro EMPEROR Santoku Knife, 5.5" | Cuisine::pro | $29.95 | Check price |
| Cuisine::pro Damashiro 8" Carving Knife | Cuisine::pro | $49.95 | Check price |
Full filterable index: all kitchen products →
Questions, answered
Chef's knife or santoku: which shape should I buy?
How do I keep a Japanese knife sharp?
Are knife sets actually a good deal?
What makes a $180 knife worth it over a $30 one?
- 2026-10-15: Page published: 9 picks ranked from a verified October 2026 catalogue audit; launch scores, hands-on testing pending.