by The Restaurant Takeover Challenge took place in Episode 19 of MasterChef India Season 9, where all participants competed in a team-based restaurant food sales battle. The team that earned the highest amount of money was declared safe from the Black Apron Elimination Challenge.
MasterChef India Season 9 Episode 19 aired on January 29, 2026, with judges Kunal Kapur, Vikas Khanna, and Ranveer Brar evaluating the contestants. The episode was telecast on the Sony Entertainment Television (SET) channel and simultaneously streamed on the Sony LIV app.
The episode began with all ten participant pairs entering the prestigious Mainland China restaurant, where they were welcomed by the judges. They were informed that the day’s task would be the Restaurant Takeover Challenge, followed by the announcement of teams and rules for the competition.
Teams for Restaurant Takeover Challenge
Red Team:
- Anju Pradhan and Manju Ojha (Captains)
- Deepali Bihani and Jamuna Somani
- Anshmeet Singh and Prabhdeep Kaur
- Vishnu Purohit and Harshini Purohit
- Venu Sharma and Avni Sharma
Blue Team:
- Simran Vohra and Himanshi Vohra (Captains)
- Archana Dhotre and Rupali Jadhav
- Parvati Soni and Himang Soni
- Yashmin Ansari and Mehfooz Ansari
- SaiSri Rachakonda and Chandana Rachakonda
Rules for the Restaurant Takeover Challenge
- Six members from each team would cook in the kitchen, while the other four would take customer orders, serve food, and collect money.
- MasterChef’s World-Class Pantry would remain closed throughout the challenge.
- The Support Pantry would remain open.
- The team that made the highest sales and earned more money would win the challenge.
- The winning team would be safe from elimination, while the losing team would compete in the Black Apron Elimination Challenge in the next episode.
Total Money Earned by Both Teams
- Team Red – ₹34,300
- Team Blue – ₹45,700
Both teams collectively earned ₹80,000 during the Restaurant Takeover Challenge. However, the Blue Team hit the jackpot in sales, with their restaurant menu featuring creatively named dishes like “Pushpa Raj,” which customers particularly enjoyed. Their popular menu led to higher orders and greater earnings.
Winning Team of the Restaurant Takeover Challenge
- Blue Team
The Blue Team won the Restaurant Takeover Challenge of MasterChef India Season 9 by earning ₹11,400 more than the Red Team.
All Blue Team members are now safe from the upcoming Black Apron Elimination Challenge, while each pair from the Red Team will compete in the next episode to secure their place in the competition.
Next Episode Preview: In Episode 20 of MasterChef India Season 9, the Black Apron Challenge will take place. All five pairs from the losing Red Team will compete to save themselves from elimination and continue their journey on the show.
Keep following for more regular updates on MasterChef India Season 9! If you have any queries regarding Episode 19, feel free to drop a comment below.
