We Tested 13 Pairs of Kitchen Shoes to Find Our Favorite Comfortable, Non-Slip Options

Here’s a fact I know from wearing shoes all my life: Shoe preference is highly subjective. What works great for one person may not work for another. There’s a whole bunch of science behind this relating to things like foot dimensions, leg angles, skeletal alignment, and perceived levels of cushioning (that’s even an acronym—PLC!).

That said, as professional cooks, we still wanted to give you our opinions on the best, most comfortable kitchen shoes. So, our staff put 13 pairs to the test, wearing the shoes at home and in the test kitchen to land on our recommendations. 

The Tests

• Wear Test: This was our one test. Our editors wore the shoes for weeks, evaluating their comfort, break-in period, durability, and more.

What We Learned

Stiffer Shoes Needed Breaking In (Though This Wasn’t a Bad Thing)

The shoes we tested with stiffer upper or footbed materials—including leather, cork, and rubber—required a couple of wears to break them in. However, most of these shoes—such as the Birkenstock Tokio Super Grips, Birkenstock Professional Unisex Birki Slip, and SeaVees Bolina Boot—grew comfortable quickly and even formed to the foot. That said, any shoe that was super-stiff and stayed that way was a no-go. For example, the Dr. Scholl's Dynamo Shoes had brutally hard soles that left one of our editors in pain. 

Always Go With a Closed Toe 

Because kitchens are full of very sharp, very hot things (chef’s knives, frying oil, boiling water), any kitchen shoe should be closed-toe. Sandals and the like leave your feet exposed. If you’ve ever accidentally knocked a knife onto the ground, you know why this could be a problem.

We Liked Shoes That Were Easy to Slip On and Off

For the most part, we favored slip-on kitchen shoes. This was so that if something did splash or fall, the shoe could be taken off swiftly—no one wants to have to untie a pair of sneakers in a panic. 

Kitchen Shoes Should Be Easy to Clean

Most of the shoes we tested repelled liquid and could be wiped down, with exteriors composed of plastic, leather, or rubber. After all, spatters or spills happen in the kitchen. Some shoes—like the Calzurro Classic Clog—can even be cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in Kitchen Shoes

Kitchen shoes are usually work shoes and should offer protection and have closed toes. They should also be comfortable to wear: If you’re standing on your feet for hours and hours at a time (like we do in the test kitchen), you want something supportive. They should be non-slip, too, and easy to clean.

Our Favorite Kitchen Shoes

What we liked: These slip-on, vegan leather shoes have a spacious toe box and a plushy sole. “These are so comfortable! I genuinely really love them,” says culinary editor Genevieve Yam. “I was surprised by the amount of arch support. They're water-resistant and easy to wipe down and have a great non-slip sole, and if I still cooked professionally, these would be my go-to. They've kind of become my everyday shoes—I wear them while running errands!” They’re available in a range of hues, including a pastel pistachio and a vibrant blue.

What we didn’t like: Depending on your size, some of the colors seem to be sporadically available.

Key Specs

• Materials: Vegan leather upper; rubber sole
• Care instructions: Wipe clean; air-dry
  

What we liked: “I absolutely love these. The arch support is great, and as someone who's a caretaker to my mom, I'm on my feet for hours at a time working with her,” says writer An Uong. “These shoes have kept my feet comfortable throughout the day when I'm at my mom's place. The material is also incredibly easy to clean, which is convenient for any splatters that inevitably occur in a busy kitchen. With just a quick wipe they look just like new. They also come in a variety of very fun colors!” While these shoes lack a backing, we also tested a similar version with a substantial heel cup and liked it—though the shape required more of a break-in period.

What we didn’t like: There are some wide sizes available, but not as many as we would like.

Key Specs

• Materials: Polyurethane
• Care instructions: Wipe clean
  

What we liked: These kind of look like stylish water shoes. The Standard’s modular design features shells and insoles that can be separated for easy cleaning. (You can also order replacements of either.) “I have always been averse to kitchen clogs. I've had too many experiences of my ankles rolling out in them,” says senior culinary editor Leah Colins. “Great ankle support and stability are top priority to me when I'm on my feet cooking for long hours, and these Mise kitchen shoes have the best ankle support I've ever experienced with a kitchen shoe. I was worried they were a bit snug and restrictive at first, but within a few days, they formed to my feet perfectly. I also love how I can separate and remove the sole insert for easy cleaning (no smelly shoes here!).”

What we didn’t like: They’re only available in black and white. “My one critique would be that if I was wearing these in a professional kitchen, I wish they were hard-toed shoes, to avoid injury, but for home cooking this isn't as big a worry,” Leah says.

Key Specs

• Materials: Recycled leather; polyurethane
• Care instructions: “Just remove the shoes from your feet, rinse and wipe the outer shell. Your removable insole can be soaked in a solution of cold water and dish soap, followed by wiping and air drying,” per the manufacturer

What we liked: With a supportive heel, side vents, and bumps on the footbed that keep your feet from sliding around, the slip-on Calzurro clog impressed us. “These were more comfortable than I thought! I liked the grippy bottoms and seamless construction—they look snazzy,” says editor Grace Kelly. “The inside of the shoe is textured, which at first I thought would be irritating, but eventually I forgot about it while wearing them, so it was wholly innocuous.” Calzuros were designed for medical professionals (like surgeons) and can even be sterilized in an autoclave. At home, however, you can throw them in your dishwasher or washing machine.

What we didn’t like: “I have high arches and wide feet, and because the shoes are a little narrow and have heels, I did find my arches ached a bit at the end of the day,” Grace says.

Key Specs

• Materials: Rubber
• Care instructions: Machine-washable  

What we liked: Unlike standard Crocs that are perforated, these clogs have a solid upper. “While Crocs may be divisive, I absolutely love these bistro clogs. Full disclosure: I used to own a pair when I was a cook,” Grace says. “They're wide, supportive, and breathable—what more can you ask for in a great kitchen shoe? I also love that they're easy to wash since splatters and stains are inevitable when I'm puttering around the kitchen. The heel strap is optional and can be swung down if you want a little more security, though I've never had one of these clogs fly off my foot mid-stride. The bottom of the shoe features a crosshatched texture that's super grippy, even on slippery linoleum floors.” 

What we didn’t like: If the graphic patterns aren't your thing, Crocs also offers the shoes in standard colors like white, navy, and black.

Key Specs

• Materials: Rubber
• Care instructions: Clean with soapy water

What we liked: Walk into any test kitchen, and you’ll see someone wearing these sturdy shoes. “I love their generous footbed and support,” says associate editorial director Megan O. Steintrager. “These clogs have rock-hard soles and that combined with the by-design looseness in the heel made these a bit difficult for me to walk around in. But for simply standing in the kitchen, they are great. If you like a very firm sole and like the timeless clog look, these could be perfect for you.”

What we didn’t like: As mentioned above, the sole is harder and the shoes tend to shift as you walk. (Your heels are liable to pop in and out.) 

Key Specs: 

• Materials: Polyurethane; leather
• Care instructions: Hand-wash after removing the footbed

What we liked: These shoes feature an adjustable buckle and a padded heel cup. “After spending the first half of my life proclaiming that I was way too punk rock to ever wear Birkenstocks, I now own seven pairs,” Megan says. “The ‘regular’ size of Birks fits my wide feet and they have just the right combination of support and give for me. They are the only shoes of the bunch that I tried that I comfortably wore for full days in the kitchen, at work, and out and about. I even had to run for a few blocks in them because I was late for an appointment and they felt fine! No pain.”

What we didn’t like: They aren’t available in wide sizing.

Key Specs

• Materials: Polyurethane; leather
• Care instructions: Wipe clean

What we liked: With an ultra non-slip, tread-like bottom, these shoes are indeed super grippy. We liked their adjustable heel strap, too, which ensured a secure fit. “These are a bit stiff at first, but once broken in, they are extremely comfortable through hours of wear,” An says. “The soles on these Tokios are extra grippy, which is great for when I'm frantically moving around the kitchen or fast-walking through the grocery store. I especially like the stability that the backstrap adds, and they are still easy to slip on and off even with the backstrap.”

What we didn’t like: As mentioned above, these shoes do have a break-in period, thanks to their cork footbed. However, if you’ve worn Birkenstocks before, this won’t be surprising. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Leather, suede, cork, rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate
• Care instructions: Wipe clean

What we liked: "The Blundstones have become my go-to kitchen shoe," says associate visuals director Amanda Suarez. "I get a solid eight hours out of them before I become aware that I've been on my feet for eight hours." These boots are slip-on and, honestly, look cool pretty cool. They do, however, require breaking in. "I switched into these the first day we got them in the studio and did not have high or thick enough socks and my feet were not happy that day. However, after four NYC weekend days (aka 13,000-plus steps running around the city) with thick socks and a dedicated mindset, they fit great and are very comfortable," Amanda says.

What we didn't like: Besides having to break them in, not much.

Key Specs

• Materials: Leather
• Care instructions: Wipe or brush clean; use leather polish or conditioner

What we liked: These are essentially rain boots, but very plushy, fashionable ones. “Even though I wish these had more arch support, they're very comfortable once you break them in,” Genevieve says. “Good for wet markets and other messy tasks, like breaking down a large cut of meat or fish.” They come in some fun colors, too, including a vibrant yellow.

What we didn’t like: See: more arch support.

Key Specs

• Materials: Rubber
• Care instructions: Spot clean with a damp cloth

The Competition 

• Dr. Scholl's Dynamo Shoes: These shoes were too stiff and uncomfortable, even after trying to break them in.
• Birkenstock Boston Soft Footbed: These are incredible house shoes (and multiple staffers love them), but their soft suede leather top gets easily stained in the kitchen and doesn’t offer as much protection as other purpose-built pairs. They also come in more water-resistant EVA and oiled leather, though we haven't tested those variations.
• SeaVees Bodega Clog: We liked these, but numerous customer reviews about the heels peeling off made us wary about their durability.

FAQs

How do you clean kitchen shoes? 

The best way to clean kitchen shoes depends on the shoes. For example, these Dansko’s should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth and then treated with leather conditioner. However, these ones from Calzuro can be machine-washed, disinfected with bleach, or even thrown into a dishwasher. The bottom line: Just check the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Where can I buy kitchen shoes? 

Many kitchen shoes are available on Amazon or can be purchased directly from the manufacturer/brand. For the shoes we’ve highlighted above, we tried to include both options.

How do you tell if work shoes are non-slip?

The easiest way to tell if your work shoes are non-slip is to check their labels or look up their online product page to see if the manufacturer says they are. If you can't find that information, look at the shoes' soles to see if they have the deep, intricate grooves that are most effective at channeling liquids out from underneath your foot as you step. They should also be made of rubber or a rubber-like material to increase grip against oily or wet floors.

Why We’re the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate editorial director at Serious Eats.
• She's been at the site since 2021 and previously worked for America's Test Kitchen, Food52, and EatingWell. She’s been testing products for more than six years.
• The Serious Eats team is made up of avid home cooks who all spend hours at a time in their home kitchens or in the test kitchen, developing and testing recipes.