William Shatner is 95, and somehow he’s still giving people things to talk about—like his very specific idea of what the “last meal” should taste like.
In a guest appearance on the “Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle” podcast, the actor made it simple: no retirement, no nonsense, and a final menu that boils down to two cuisines—Japanese and Mexican. He’s not trying to force a single winner, either. Instead, it’s more like a friendly, lifelong rivalry in his head, with sushi sitting on one side and mole on the other.
Shatner said he’s a “real sushi aficionado,” praising Japanese food for its “simplicity” and also its “complexity.” Then he pivoted—quickly, almost like he could already smell the kitchen in his mind—toward Mexican cuisine, which he says is finally taking its rightful stage. He called out “a great Mexican” spread of flavors and ingredients: “mole and avocado and rice and beans.” And he doesn’t frame it as just tasty; he adds that “a sophisticated Mexican cuisine is really good and healthy.” So, rather than settling on one path, his choices reflect admiration for both.
The deeper part, though, is that his interest in food doesn’t show up like a one-off trivia moment. Misryoum newsroom reported on how Shatner has a real comfort around cooking and eating—plus some playful public moments that make it feel grounded, not staged. His muffin recipe includes a secret ingredient worth adding, and he’s been a frequent guest on cooking shows and podcasts. Even if his career is the headline—Captain Kirk on “Star Trek,” decades of Emmy-winning work—food has been woven into the background.
And yes, there are plenty of hints over the years that Japanese cuisine really has a hold on him. Misryoum editorial desk noted that Shatner has talked about loving sushi through the years, even eating it during a live television interview. There’s also the time he managed to fold a sushi lunch into a career overview in the Spokane Spokesman-Review—odd detail, but also very “him.” Then there was his stint on NBC’s “Better Late Than Never,” where he enjoyed a Japan trip described as a gastronomic experience of a lifetime.
On the Mexican side, he hasn’t named one exact dish the way some people do. Misryoum analysis indicates that his most specific nod came in an interview where he said his favorite midday meal in California is “lunch in a great neighborhood Mexican restaurant.” That’s not exactly a menu item with a name, more like a vibe. But it does suggest he’s not just chasing something flashy—he’s into the kind of places where the basics land perfectly, where rice, beans, mole, and avocado aren’t “ingredients,” they’re the whole point.
So when Shatner imagines his final meal, it’s not random celebrity whimsy. It’s two cuisines he already knows how to talk about—with respect for craft on both sides. Japanese for its balance, Mexican for its depth. And somewhere in the middle is the part that almost feels unfinished—because, honestly, who’s to say he doesn’t end up turning it into a tie?
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