[1] In each episode, Richman explores the "big food" offerings of a different American city before facing off against a pre-existing eating challenge at a local restaurant.

[5][6] After taping for a challenge is complete, Richman spends an hour or so on a treadmill, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Being sedentary is incredibly uncomfortable.

The show emphasizes quality as well as quantity—a number of the locations in season one are Zagat-rated, while others have received honors from Esquire magazine as home of "The Best Sandwiches in America".

Each show wraps with a fake press conference where Richman fields questions about the challenge as if it were a just-concluded sporting event or as if he had just won, or in some cases lost, a big award.

[7][9] Richman unsuccessfully attempted a Guinness World Record when he and a group of 40 regional eaters tried to eat a 190-pound (86 kg) burger in two hours.

[10] The Los Angeles Times noted that the Travel Channel received its highest-ever ratings for a new debut with Man v. Food.

[12] Features reporters Thomas Rozwadowski of the Green Bay Press-Gazette said that "playfully eager host Adam Richman has won me over" and that "it's all in good fun".

[13] Christopher Lawrence of the Las Vegas Review-Journal describes Richman as "impressive" and "likable" saying: "Think a beefier Fred Savage, although one who somehow weighs less than he did last season".

[6] Jonathan Bernstein of British newspaper The Guardian described "mixed feelings" about the series saying he likes "the concept" and "the guy" but that the challenges make him "a little uneasy".

[5] The show travelled to Amarillo, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Austin, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, New Orleans, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Jose, Denver, the North Carolina Triangle, and Minneapolis.

The 20 scheduled episodes included visits to San Antonio; Las Vegas; Charleston, South Carolina; San Francisco; Durham (North Carolina); Honolulu; Sarasota; Philadelphia; Springfield, Illinois; Boise; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Detroit; Brooklyn; Anchorage; Little Rock; Tucson; New Brunswick and Hartford, plus a "Baseball Special" episode that aired on September 30.

[21] The locales featured on Man v. Food Nation were New Haven, Tampa, Nashville,[22] Tulsa, Albuquerque, Mobile, the Florida Keys, the Gulf Coast, Portsmouth, Louisville, Milwaukee, Providence, Dallas, U.S. Route 66, Harlem, New York City, the Pacific Coast Highway, St. Paul, Cincinnati, Rochester, Omaha, Green Bay, Savannah, Oahu, Charlotte and Jackson, as well as a "Street Eats" special and a Thanksgiving "Feast" special.

Season six of Man v. Food, the second hosted by Webb, premiered on December 4, 2017 with back-to-back episodes in Los Angeles and Boston.

[23] In inclusion, Webb also visited eateries in Louisville, St. Louis, Seattle, Burlington, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Daytona Beach, Philadelphia, Boise, the Ozarks, Nashville, and Grand Rapids.

Season seven of Man v. Food, and the third hosted by Webb, premiered on the Travel Channel[24] on May 28, 2018 with back-to-back episodes on the Jersey Shore[25] and in Minneapolis.

[26] In addition, Webb also visited Atlanta, Worcester, Savannah, Palm Springs, Baltimore, Orange County, Duluth, Phoenix, St. Paul, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Maui.

Season eight of Man v. Food, and the fourth hosted by Webb, saw the show move to the Cooking Channel on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 with an episode in Sacramento.

Season nine of Man v. Food, and the fifth hosted by Webb, premiered on the Cooking Channel on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 with an episode from the Delaware Beaches.

During the course of this season Casey also visited Newark, NJ, Richmond, Virginia Beach, VA, Long Island, Boulder, Roswell, NM, Buffalo, NY and Brooklyn.

Season ten of Man v. Food, and the sixth hosted by Webb, premiered on the Cooking Channel on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 with an episode from Orlando, Florida.

After season 8, Webb's first clip show, Man v. Food Hall of Fame, premiered, with each episode featuring a top-5 list of best dishes following a certain theme.