Justin and Will’s global-inspired feast on My Kitchen Rules has earned them perfect 10s, high praise from Manu Feildel and a wave of fan support.

Justin and Will turned up the heat in Tuesday night’s episode of My Kitchen Rules, earning rave reviews and perfect scores in the first Ultimate Instant Restaurant of the season. Their globe-trotting menu, emotional cooking, and a hefty dose of strategic gameplay at the dinner table made for one of the most dramatic episodes of MKR Australia Season 15 yet.

Viewers were left in awe as My Kitchen Rules contestants Justin and Will turned kitchen chaos into perfection, winning over both judges and fans. (image – Channel 7)

The Sydney-based mates delivered a six-course feast that celebrated heritage and bold international flavours — and it paid off with a massive 75 out of 100, cementing their place as serious contenders.

“It was the ugliest dish you’ve ever served, but also one of the most delicious. The depth of flavour is hard to describe. You’ve honoured your family, and I’m honoured to be here tonight.”

— Manu Feildel

The night began with tension bubbling from the start, as rival team Maria and Bailey openly admitted to being “hyper-critical”, claiming they wanted to expose any weaknesses in Justin and Will’s cooking. But while their strategy may have been sharp, their scoring wasn’t enough to shake the frontrunners.

A world tour on a plate

The menu spanned continents — from South Africa to France — with dishes that reflected the duo’s cultural roots and culinary ambition. The entrée course featured Cape Malay Beef Samosas with Tomato and Chilli Chutney alongside a Kingfish Crudo with Black Caviar.

Colin Fassnidge scored the samosas a seven, noting “a few tweaks could elevate them from good to great.” Meanwhile, Manu gave the Kingfish entrée a six, saying “It was missing something. A good dish, but I expected more.”

Then came the mains that changed the mood — Dong Po Rou with Asian Greens and Rice and Ouma’s Seafood Hotpot, a treasured family recipe.

Justin was visibly emotional when Manu awarded the hotpot a perfect 10, calling it one of the most memorable dishes of the season so far. Colin praised the Dong Po Rou, giving it an eight.

Dessert drama delivers sweet redemption

Disaster nearly struck in the dessert round when the pair’s Paris-Brest with Pistachio Crème collapsed in the oven. Undeterred, they whipped up a second batch that wowed the judges, with Manu calling it “a big surprise – such a dainty little number,” and handing out another perfect 10.

Colin, who judged their New York Cheesecake, found it well-made but lacking “a little more sparkle,” giving it a five.

Open scoring exposes rival motives

For the first time this season, MKR introduced an open scoring twist — forcing each team to reveal their feedback and scores in front of the group. The result? A dinner table drenched in awkward silence and thinly veiled tension.

Maria and Bailey gave a low 6, instantly drawing the ire of other contestants who accused them of playing strategic rather than fair. Social media lit up with criticism of the pair, with one viewer on Reddit writing that “they might be strategic but they’re not playing fair.” Another comment labelled them “snakes,” accusing them of lowballing other teams throughout the season.

Meanwhile, fans praised Justin and Will’s emotional cooking and authenticity. One viewer described the seafood hotpot moment as “the best of the season so far,” while another admitted to “crying over an ugly hotpot I’ve never even eaten.”

A dramatic My Kitchen Rules dinner saw Justin and Will’s heartfelt cooking triumph over criticism in one of the most talked-about episodes of the season. (image – Channel 7)

Rivalries simmer as the competition heats up

While Danielle and Marko earned praise for their supportive attitude at the table, others weren’t as gracious. Viewers noted Lol and Lil’s increasingly critical tone, with one fan saying the duo had become “pretty judgy and negative the longer they’ve been in the competition.”

Maria and Bailey’s scoring left many viewers unimpressed, with one bluntly calling them “the cringe team.”

Despite the chaos, Justin and Will walked away proud, with their flavours and heart winning over the judges and much of the audience.