MEET the denizens of “Hell’s Kitchen 2.” Almost half of these would-be super-chefs are from the New York area.

Viewers will get to see them go under the knife of master devil-chef Gordon Ramsay on the latest edition of Fox’s cooking reality show, debuting next Monday (June 12). On the show, Ramsay tries to mold the cooks into his own perfectionist image, verbally abusing them when they mess up during grueling kitchen challenges.

There are 12 vying for a chance to win the coveted title of executive chef (and a share of the profits) at a restaurant in one of Las Vegas’ new Red Rocks Casino Resort Spa, including five from the New York area.

“All of them are just wonderful characters,” says executive producer Arthur Smith, “real New Yorkers, beyond the fact that they all came into this from different backgrounds and different jobs.” The entire cast, he says, was subjected to a much more intense experience than last year’s group.

“Hell’s Kitchen 2” was taped last February in the same former TV station in L.A. that producers converted into a real restaurant last season.

The space was renovated again last winter to look snazzier this time around.