One day, the bottom of an underground cemetery gave way, and a man emerged from the depths. This man claimed to be the king of a golden kingdom that perished a thousand years ago, held captive deep underground by a mad sorcerer. With a dramatic flair, he declared that anyone who defeats the sorcerer would inherit his kingdom’s riches, then promptly turned to dust and vanished. And that’s how Delicious in Dungeon kicks off!
Many adventurers flock to this perilous dungeon, including our main character, Laios (a tallman, i.e., human). Laios and his party encounter a fierce Red Dragon and face near-annihilation. Fortunately, his sister Falin uses her magic to save everyone by teleporting them to the surface. Unfortunately, Falin ends up in the dragon’s stomach. In this world, resurrection is possible with magic—if they can recover her body from the dragon. Laios is determined to dive back into the dungeon to save Falin before it’s too late.
However, when Falin’s magic whisked them away, all their supplies and funds were left behind in the labyrinth. Some party members left due to the lack of resources, but Marcille (a half-elf) and Chilchuck (a half-foot) decide to stay. Facing the urgency of rescuing Falin before the dragon’s digestive system completes its work, Laios comes up with a wild idea: why not eat the monsters in the dungeon?
Laios boldly declares, “We’ll eat anything that looks edible.” Enter Senshi, a dwarf with an encyclopedic knowledge of monster cuisine, who is thrilled to join the party. He also mention that it is his dream to cook and eat a Red Dragon!
Delicious in Dungeon, Episode 1 (Senshi is showing his cooking skill here).
I had heard about this manga for a long time but wasn’t interested in reading it, thinking it was just another gourmet manga. I imagined the protagonist would bring surface food into the dungeon and whip up gourmet dishes using dry goods and rice. Boy, was I wrong! This manga is far more imaginative. It features intense battles with monsters, and after each victory, the defeated monsters are cooked and eaten.
The fascinating part is the detailed cooking process, complete with ingredient lists and nutritional information. It delves into the biology of the monsters, explaining which parts are edible and how to cook them deliciously. Foodie readers will even notice that some monsters resemble real-world foods.
The art in this manga is exceptional. This 14-volume series delivers a high-quality fantasy experience both visually and narratively. As of this writing, the anime adaptation is available on Netflix. I don’t have a Netflix subscription yet (maybe I should get one…), so I haven’t watched the anime. But from the trailer, I can say two things: Senshi’s voice (in Japanese, at least) fits his character perfectly, and the food looks amazing! While the manga’s food scenes are in black and white, the anime brings them to life in vivid color, making them look incredibly delicious! In the end, this isn’t just a typical fantasy manga—it’s a delightful journey that combines thrilling dungeon adventures with the unexpected charm of monster cuisine. Whether you’re a fantasy fan, a foodie, or both, this series is sure to captivate and entertain. Dive in, and let the feast begin!
