#inuzuka junpei

Basic Premise: A monster-girl with nowhere to go is taken in by the owner of a magical western-Japanese style restaurant, whose restaurant welcomes all kinds of fantasy characters through its "magic doors". An anthology-style manga which uses food as its connections between many different kinds of individuals.

My Review: I've read quite a lot of these "magical restaurant door opens up to a fantasy world" mangas, and this remains one of my favorites. While the characters aren't especially unique and the dishes aren't anything special, they're described and illustrated with a care and affection that draws the reader in. The descriptions of the meals and the food served were particularly interesting to me--they don't over-rely on the trope of "wow what is this mysterious new food?". Instead, they offer simple dishes like those that might be present in a real-life western Japanese restaurants, adding a touch of nostalgia and familiarity that makes it feel like a real beloved eatery.

The rotating cast of characters ascribe to fairly common tropes for the genre, but I recall especially enjoying the bittersweet story of a half-elf adventurer who outlived his companions. It was handled with a grace that felt very mature, and managed to toe the line between heartwarming and heartbreaking with equal measure. The "focal character," the monster-girl in question, is gentle and sweet but not especially memorable. Still, she represents a fairly decent lens through which the mystical talents of the restaurant and its chef-owner shine.