Isekai Shokudou

Yet another anime adaptation of an isekai genre light novel? In a popular, but in recent years overdone genre that not always (or often) yields good franchises, can this new anime based on the “異世界食堂” light novels by Inuzuka Junpei really bring viewers something new and fresh?

It most definitely can because “Isekai Shokudou” is not a typical isekai story, it is instead a most welcome breath of fresh air for this genre. Admittedly, even though it has another world or ‘isekai’ in its title and features plenty of fantasy elements, this show is not merely an isekai story but is actually more a cooking anime.

Most anime that feature cooking as a core theme do mix it with another genre, for instance “Shokugeki no Souma” with the shounen tournament genre, “Ben-to” with comedy in a typical school setting, and “Koufuku Graffiti” with soothing slice-of-life. “Isekai Shokudou” does the same, mixing cooking with a fantasy setting.

Don’t let these fantasy elements fool you though, because “Isekai Shokudou” feels more like a culinary anime with a slice-of-life style atmosphere. Each episode does feature plenty of fantasy due to the restaurant’s patrons coming from another world, each having a unique backstory and positive reaction to what is otherworldly cuisine to them. However, this seems little more than a gimmick to create a different spin on what are otherwise classic character templates or background stories.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first two episode of “Isekai Shokudou”, do hope it will keep its current level or even improve because it has plenty of potential to become a terrific slice-of-life cooking anime.
Although personally I would not yet label “Isekai Shokudou” as equal to or really the same as the sublime “Koufuku Grafitti”, both anime feel quite similar in their pacing and how the cuisine is a catalyst for the characters emotions, dialogue and interactions.

If you enjoyed “Koufuku Grafitti” or “Shokugeki no Souma”, then I definitely recommend you give this show a try.
You can watch “Isekai Shokudou” as “Restaurant to Another World” on Crunchyroll.