I’m not sure how its possible, but manga always manages to make food look delicious. Sometimes, it’s obvious–cakes and other pastries are fun to draw and delightful to look at, but the real superstars are those artists who take foods that might not appeal on paper (such as monster meat) and make it look like something you’d really want to sink your teeth into. So, today, here are three manga series that are almost good enough to eat! So, grab your favorite clean, dry snack and sit down with one of these mouthwatering reads.
Delicious in Dungeon (Ryoko Kui)
The campaign could not have possibly gone any worse. Not only did Laios and his party lose all their supplies in a failed dungeon raid, but his sister was eaten by a dragon! Completely broke and starving, the group must resort to hunting dungeon monsters for food, all the while trying to track down the dragon that devoured their friend to save her before she’s digested. Along the way, these weary travelers meet a dwarf who introduces them to the world of dungeon meshi, cooking delicious cuisines from the flesh of dungeon flora and fauna such as giant bats, walking mushrooms, and screaming mandrakes.
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! (Chika Mizube)
This fantasy romance series features a voracious lady who delights in the eclectic menu of monster meat, and the mad-blooded duke who is swept off his feet by her curious charms. Melphiera Marchalrayd is just like any other high-born lady–she has excellent and exacting tastes. It just so happens that her preferences in dishes tend toward a rather exotic protein: the flesh of monsters. But, don’t be so quick to judge. Despite its reputation for being…well, monstrous, monster meat can be made into some truly mouthwatering dishes, and Melphiera is determined to change society’s opinion of it, one recipe at at time.
Polar Bear Café
Polar Bear is a walking, talking, pun-loving bear who runs a serene cafe. The regulars include a lovestruck zookeeper with a crush on the cafe’s waitress, and a panda who stops by after a hard day of lounging around at the zoo. Join the cafe’s colorful clientele through the seasons in this comforting and paw-fully funny manga about daily specials, romantic complications, and working the (coffee) grind. If you’re looking for a sweet slice of life, this is the book for you.
