One Piece: Sanji And Other Powerful Cooks In The Series

On long sea voyages, having someone to prepare food, often called a “cook” or “chef”, is crucial due to limited resources. Not only do they ensure crew members get regular meals, but some cooks also play a role in fights, with a few being as strong as their fellow pirates. While not all seafaring cooks are active pirates, the most powerful ones have a history of piracy documented.

Sanji

Black Leg

Current Affiliation: Straw Hat Pirates

Sanji is often recognized as an exceptional chef, having taught himself cooking skills from a young age while preparing meals for his mother, Sora. Although Sora appreciated his culinary abilities, his male relatives found them inappropriate given his royal status, believing that royals should not serve others. His elder sister Reiju helped him leave the family, leading Sanji to work as a cook on a cruise ship called the Orbit.

The ship was assaulted by Zeff, leader of the Cook Pirates along with his crew, but only Zeff and Sanji survived a violent storm. Later, Zeff established Baratie, a unique restaurant on the high seas. Sanji worked as the sous-chef there. Although Zeff taught Sanji both culinary skills and combat techniques to enhance his abilities in both fields, he encouraged Sanji to follow his dream of exploring the All Blue, a place where all types of sea life converge. To achieve this goal, Sanji joined the Straw Hat Pirates, where he now serves as their cook. Under the guidance of Emporio Ivankov, Sanji honed both his fighting and cooking skills, ultimately mastering the legendary dishes of Attack Cuisine after defeating several martial artists under Ivankov’s supervision.

As a staunch advocate for cleanliness in the kitchen, I wholeheartedly embrace Black Leg Style, Sanji’s unique martial art, which he chooses primarily due to Zeff’s philosophy that a cook should always keep their hands pristine. It was evident that this belief resonated with me deeply, as I was taken aback when Wanze, a Cipher Pol 7 agent and ramen chef, used his mouth and nose to knead and trim his noodles, respectively.

Sanji possesses the ability to naturally heat up his legs, enhancing their power in battle. He’s also proficient in both Armament Haki and Observation Haki, which boost the strength of his attacks and enhance his senses respectively. Moreover, due to an unforeseen triggering of the Lineage Factor, a genetic trait bestowed upon him and his brothers by their father Judge, he can now access a hidden power that had been dormant within him for quite some time.

Hatchan

Takoyaki Salesman

Current Affiliation: Takoyaki 8

Hatchan, often referred to as Hachi, is a fish-man with octopus traits and expertise in sword fighting, utilizing the Six-Sword Style. Though he was previously associated with fish-man supremacists (the Arlong Pirates), he doesn’t appear to be bigoted. Instead, he developed friendships with individuals like Silvers Rayleigh and even Nami, a pirate whom his ex-captain, Arlong, had enslaved alongside her predominantly human crew, including the Straw Hat Pirates. Hatchan was initially part of the Arlong Pirates, which later split from and overpowered the Sun Pirates. He engaged in a duel with Roronoa Zoro but couldn’t overcome the swordsman. Following their defeat, most of the Arlong Pirates were apprehended, but Hatchan successfully evaded capture.

Together with his childhood buddy and ex-shipmate, Kuroobi, Hachi harbored dreams of eventually establishing a Takoyaki stand.

In this scenario, the dream became a reality when he cooked takoyaki for a village of catfish who were famished. In return for his kindness, they constructed a ship for him. Now, accompanied by his companions Camie, a mermaid kissing gourami, and Papag, a starfish, Hatchan manages the ship, christened the Takoyaki 8, with the purpose of preparing and selling takoyaki alongside his friends.

When he made takoyaki for a village of hungry catfish, they repaid him by building a ship. Now, Hatchan sails this vessel, named Takoyaki 8, with his pals Camie and Papag to prepare and sell takoyaki.

Thatch

4th Division Commander Of The Whitebeard Pirates

Current Affiliation: None (Died as a member of the Whitebeard Pirates)

Thatch, most famously recognized as the pirate Marshall D. Teach’s victim when he stole the Yami Yami no Mi, was initially part of the crew before his passing. However, it’s worth noting that he held a considerable position within the Whitebeard Pirates, serving as their 4th Division Commander. At the time of his death, there were only 16 commanders controlling various subdivisions of the crew.

The “One Piece” novel series titled “A” offers deeper insights into both Thatch and the overall hierarchy of the Whitebeard Pirates. Thatch isn’t just a cook; he is the chief chef of this pirate crew, which explains his distinctive attire. The story also suggests that the pirate divisions are organized by categories, with Thatch’s division being the culinary team. However, it remains undetermined whether Thatch’s strength or cooking skills played a bigger role in his rank. Despite this, during the Summit War, the last major conflict the Whitebeard Pirates engaged in before their decline, Thatch was still holding his position as commander, suggesting he hadn’t been replaced yet, unlike other active division commanders who were present in the war.

Streusen

Gourmet Knight

Current Affiliation: Big Mom Pirates

Streusen is an experienced pirate cook, who has served in at least three different pirate crews and is still active at the age of 92. In his younger days, he was a cook for an unidentified pirate crew. By the time he was 29, he observed Charlotte Linlin, then just six years old, apparently consume her entire orphanage. This act, which left him feeling ill, sparked his interest in aligning with her. He accepted the challenging task of ensuring that the notoriously hungry pirate had enough to eat.

More recently, it’s been established that Streusen was part of the Rocks Pirates while Linlin was with them. This association is evident from depictions at his age of 48, where he was identified as Linlin’s companion during that period. Throughout history and up until now, Streusen has been a long-standing member of the Big Mom Pirates. He is often recognized as one of the crew’s co-founders and holds the position of executive chef, a role which might be second only to a blood relative of Linlin in terms of importance within the crew.

In simpler terms, Streusen is a renowned chef admired greatly by Linlin for his exceptional cooking skills. Beyond his culinary prowess, he’s also an agile swordsman, using a cutlass in combat and demonstrating remarkable speed and durability. Moreover, he possesses a unique talent as an opera singer. Interestingly, Streusen has consumed the Kuku Kuku no Mi, which grants him the ability to transform ordinary objects into food of his choice, albeit with a rather unpleasant taste. This transformed food not only serves as nourishment but also allows for its properties to be utilized in various ways, such as when Streusen turned the Whole Cake Chateau into sponge cake to soften its impact during a fall.

Goldberg

A Giant Cook

Current Affiliation: New Giant Warrior Pirates

Goldberg hails from the colossal land of Elbaf, recognized by his towering stature and expansive grin. He’s a part of the New Giant Warrior Pirates, a compact group of five, and is essentially the heir to the legacy of the original Giant Warrior Pirates. This band is led by Hajrudin, the illegitimate offspring of the late King Harald of Elbaf, who aspires to rule over the Giants. Hajrudin forged a bond with the Straw Hat Pirates when Usopp rescued him from Sugar’s clutches, and he became one of seven pirate captains who pledged allegiance to them, forming an alliance called the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.

Before becoming part of the fleet, the crew had ties with Buggy’s Delivery, a pirate mercenary group that was once endorsed by the World Government but later became illegal. After its ban and merger into the anti-government Cross Guild, they were the highest-earning members, representing all of the S-class. They chose to leave when Hajrudin asked them to join the Straw Hats, which angered Buggy greatly.

Each member of the newly-introduced colossal pirate crew has a specific task within their team, with Goldberg taking on the role of the cook. Although his culinary skills aren’t extensively detailed, he offers advice to Sanji and Zoro regarding the optimal preparation method for a Groggysaurus, implying that he is proficient in Elbaf cuisine at the very least. As a combatant, Goldberg carries a mace of colossal proportions, matching his own size. Additionally, he owns Nash, a timid shield-like creature, which can inflate to block larger attacks. Notably, Goldberg is shown to possess sufficient strength to carry the Thousand Sunny ship.

Lucky Roux

A Senior Officer

Current Affiliation: Red Hair Pirates

Lucky Roux has been a loyal member of the Red Hair Pirates for quite some time, hailing from South Blue. For over a dozen years, he sailed alongside Shanks and was promoted to Senior Officer, joining other long-standing crew members in this rank. During their stay at Foosha Village, he met Luffy, who was part of Shanks’ crew. Notably, Roux is often recognized as the first character onscreen to take a life, having eliminated one of Higuma’s mountain bandits.

Lucky Roux is renowned for his agile yet substantial physique, which he employs to execute a unique move called self-bowling – rolling into a ball and knocking over people. Moreover, he’s been depicted wielding Armament Haki and a firearm, using the latter to take down a notorious outlaw. Often recognized among Shanks’ key crew members alongside First Mate Benn Beckman and Yasopp, father of Usopp, Lucky Roux holds a significant position within their group.

A lesser-known fact is that Lucky Roux has exceptional cooking skills. He’s often depicted with a hearty appetite, consuming an entire barrel of sake alone and usually accompanied by a rack or more of meat. His role as a cook was only unveiled recently, in the release of the special volume Volume 4000000000, which served as a promotional tool for One Piece Film: Red.

It’s unclear how skilled he is in cooking, as he hasn’t demonstrated any notable cooking abilities on camera.

Zeff

Red Leg

Current Affiliation: Baratie

Zeff is primarily recognized as the mentor figure of Sanji. Together, they were the lone survivors of a catastrophic storm that wiped out both the Orbit and Cooking George, the vessel of Zeff’s pirate crew, the Cook Pirates. Their relationship with each other was somewhat adversarial yet nurturing, a blend often referred to as “tough love.” Zeff felt compelled to save and eventually adopt Sanji because they both held faith in the All Blue, a belief that many of Zeff’s former crew members dismissed as false.

Zeff’s selflessness is most evident when he generously gave all the scavenged rations to Sanji, even though it meant going without a share and eating his own leg instead. As Sanji’s adoptive father, Zeff greatly influenced the beliefs and behaviors that Sanji exhibits today. In his pirate days, Zeff was known for combat involving kicks, since he believed in keeping his hands clean for cooking purposes. His nickname “Red Leg” came from the frequent bloodstains on his lower body from battles with enemies. Although he usually discouraged hand-based attacks, Zeff has been observed using them, but only to harshly discipline Sanji.

In current times, he’s no longer a pirate, having moved on from that life, but his past as a pirate is deeply valued by him. His character, marked by sternness and kindness, is evident in his choice of employees – “ruffian cooks” who often struggle with professionalism elsewhere – and his preference for discipline through tough measures. Interestingly, he follows the tradition of offering food to anyone who asks, a custom also practiced by Sanji, which was later tested by the Krieg Pirates, who unfortunately tried, but failed, to steal the Baratie from him.

It isn’t entirely clear how Zeff acquired his exceptional culinary skills. However, these talents may have earned him the nickname “The Cook Pirates,” a group known for their policy against stealing food. Although they often argued, their shared passion for the All Blue brought them closer together. Zeff’s cooking abilities were undeniably real and played a significant role in inspiring Sanji’s own culinary prowess. Despite Zeff pushing Sanji out of Baratie, it was primarily to challenge the younger pirate to find the All Blue, rather than due to any animosity between them.

2025-08-08 15:39