Wirecutter

This extremely sharp Japanese knife is one of the best deals we’ve found in cutlery. But it has a slightly less durable blade, and the handle doesn’t provide as much knuckle clearance.

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The Zwilling Professional S 8" chef knife is equally as suited to restaurant work as it is to preparing your family's weeknight meals. With a classic European-style rockered blade, it excels at chopping and mincing. The polymer handle is ergonomic and large enough for even the biggest hands to be comfortable without feeling oversized and unwieldy. 
While not quite as adept at some of the more delicate knife work as some of the Japanese-style blades we tested, the Zwilling handled julienning and chiffonades the best of all the euro-style knives we tried. With an excellent hand feel and enough weight behind it to make short work of winter squashes, this knife was our number one choice for a do-it-all chef knife. 

The Zwilling Professional S 8" chef knife is equally as suited to restaurant work as it is to preparing your family's weeknight meals. With a classic European-style rockered blade, it excels at chopping and mincing. The polymer handle is ergonomic and large enough for even the biggest hands to be comfortable without feeling oversized and unwieldy. 
While not quite as adept at some of the more delicate knife work as some of the Japanese-style blades we tested, the Professional S 8" handled julienning and chiffonades the best of all the euro-style knives we tried. With an excellent hand feel and enough weight behind it to make short work of winter squashes, this knife was our number one choice for a do-it-all chef knife. 

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powerreviews

The Global 8" chef knife is crafted from a single piece of stainless steel, giving it a distinctive look and feel. It has one of the thinner heels of any of the rockered blades we tested, and the entire length of the blade stays thin, which aided performance when slicing, mincing, and chiffonading. Its minimal rocker lets it perform almost as equally as well at chopping and dicing. 
We don't have too many complaints about this chef knife, but we will note that the handle was a bit small for our larger-handed testers. This made it difficult to obtain significant amounts of leverage while trying to cut through tough squashes. However, the short handle might just make it a perfect choice for those with smaller hands looking for an eight-inch rockered blade. The Global 8" is a great all arounder at an affordable price, perfect for putting through the wringer of everyday use either at home or in a professional kitchen. 

The MAC Mighty chef's knife is indeed mighty. With a razor-sharp factory edge and an ergonomic wooden handle, this knife tore through everything we threw at it. An excellent slicer, it could pull off the thinnest of cuts and turn carrots into perfect matchsticks. The dimpled or Granton edge made veggies roll off the side of the blade with much greater ease than many of the other knives we tested, leaving you to cut as fast as you want without having to stop and wipe off the blade. 
This blade has a smaller rocker than classical Europeanchef's knives, so it might take some adjusting if that's what you are used to working with. With a higher price tag and a thin blade that could be more challenging to care for, this MAC knife is best suited for experienced cooks that are looking to upgrade.

The Mac Knife MTH-80 Professional chef's knife is indeed mighty. With a razor-sharp factory edge and an ergonomic wooden handle, this knife tore through everything we threw at it. An excellent slicer, it could pull off the thinnest of cuts and turn carrots into perfect matchsticks. The dimpled or Granton edge made veggies roll off the side of the blade with much greater ease than many of the other knives we tested, leaving you to cut as fast as you want without having to stop and wipe off the blade. 
This blade has a smaller rocker than classical Europeanchef's knives, so it might take some adjusting if that's what you are used to working with. With a higher price tag and a thin blade that could be more challenging to care for, this MAC knife is best suited for experienced cooks that are looking to upgrade.

Consumer Reports

It’s hard to get nitpicky about a $20 knife, and for more casual cooks the KitchenAid Classic 8” Triple Rivet Chef Knife is a stellar choice.A true value, its looks and design are reminiscent of a Wüsthof Classic. Our panelists found it scored moderately well for all hand sizes, even if two panelists did note minor cramping. Several also thought the blade felt a bit heavy, resulting in less than perfect balance. For more options: The Best Chef’s Knives From Our Tests

Chef Knife Comparison