The Detour with David Chang is a six-episode CNN Original Series that sends chef, restaurateur and author David Chang on a road trip built around discovery rather than viral restaurant lists. The series premieres September 20, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CNN, with two episodes airing each Sunday and episodes available to stream the next day through CNN’s app and website.
The first season travels through Las Vegas, South Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Sonoma. Each leg pairs Chang with a different companion, including Cord Jefferson, Eric André, Cristela Alonzo, Gillian Jacobs, Christina Tosi and Chris Ying.
The Detour with David Chang at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Premiere | September 20, 2026 |
| Network | CNN |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Schedule | Two episodes weekly on Sundays |
| Streaming | Next day on the CNN app and CNN.com/watch |
| Host | David Chang |
| Production | Majordomo Media and Tremolo Productions |
What is The Detour with David Chang about?
The central idea is to get Chang off the algorithm. Instead of treating a city like a checklist of famous restaurants, the show follows local leads, friend recommendations and unexpected discoveries. CNN describes it as a pursuit of no-frills but unforgettable food on the open road.
That gives the series a looser, more exploratory structure than a conventional restaurant-ranking show. The destination matters, but the detour is the point: Chang is looking for meals and people he may not have found by following the most obvious online recommendations.
The Detour with David Chang episode guide
| Episode | Location | Guest / travel companion | What the episode explores |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | Cord Jefferson | Why Las Vegas may be one of America’s most exciting food cities |
| 2 | South Florida | Eric André | The region’s multicultural food landscape |
| 3 | Texas | Cristela Alonzo | A new generation of Texas barbecue |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | Gillian Jacobs | Pennsylvania food traditions |
| 5 | Tennessee | Christina Tosi | A pilgrimage to Benton’s smokehouse and Tennessee food culture |
| 6 | Sonoma | Chris Ying | Wineries, oyster farms and artisan producers |
Las Vegas with Cord Jefferson
Oscar-winning filmmaker Cord Jefferson joins Chang in Las Vegas. Instead of limiting the city to casino restaurants and celebrity-chef dining rooms, the episode looks at the broader food ecosystem that has grown around one of America’s most visited cities.
South Florida with Eric André
Comedian Eric André joins Chang for the South Florida leg. CNN highlights the region’s multicultural flavors, making this episode an opportunity to move beyond a single cuisine and show how migration, neighborhoods and local history shape what people eat.
Texas with Cristela Alonzo
Comedian and actress Cristela Alonzo travels with Chang through Texas as they look at a new generation of barbecue. Rather than treating Texas barbecue as frozen tradition, the episode appears designed to explore how younger cooks and changing communities reinterpret it.
Pennsylvania with Gillian Jacobs
Actress Gillian Jacobs accompanies Chang through Pennsylvania, where the series revisits regional food traditions. This leg fits the show’s broader interest in places that may not dominate national social-media feeds but have strong local identities.
Tennessee with Christina Tosi
Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi joins Chang in Tennessee for a trip that includes Benton’s smokehouse, a destination with major influence among chefs who care about traditional smoked pork products.
Sonoma with Chris Ying
Author and podcaster Chris Ying travels with Chang through Sonoma. CNN says the episode explores wineries, oyster farms and artisan producers, giving the finale a strong producer-focused angle rather than only a restaurant focus.
Where can you watch The Detour with David Chang?
The show airs on CNN beginning September 20, 2026. Two episodes are scheduled each Sunday at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET/PT. CNN says episodes will become available the following day on the CNN app and at CNN.com/watch.
Is The Detour a remake of the TBS comedy?
No. The Detour with David Chang is a nonfiction food-and-travel series. It is unrelated to the scripted TBS comedy The Detour. Keeping David Chang’s name in searches is the easiest way to avoid mixing the two titles.
Why the show may appeal to food-travel viewers
The series is built around a useful frustration: online discovery can make every traveler visit the same places. Chang’s premise is to restore some uncertainty by following people rather than rankings. That gives the show a mix of food, travel, conversation and cultural observation rather than a simple best-restaurants format.
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Frequently asked questions
The six-episode CNN series premieres September 20, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Season 1 has six episodes.
The season features Cord Jefferson, Eric André, Cristela Alonzo, Gillian Jacobs, Christina Tosi and Chris Ying as travel companions.
The first season visits Las Vegas, South Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Sonoma.
CNN says episodes will be available the next day on the CNN app and at CNN.com/watch after airing on CNN.