With just one episode left, Dungeon Meshi is wrapping up, and it’s been a while since a fantasy anime has captivated me this much. As the genre grows ever more popular, many works fall into tired, predictable tropes, leading to a dip in quality. But lately, a few fantasy titles have brought fresh air to the scene, and Dungeon Meshi has done exactly that for me. It doesn’t boast a sprawling world like Frieren or Mushoku Tensei, nor does it lean on groundbreaking storytelling. What makes it stand out, I think, is how it turns the simplest things into something strangely compelling—especially through its focus on food.
Cooking Up Adventure
Let me dig into that a bit more: the way this show weaves cuisine into every layer. Take episode two, for instance. It’s a chance to see each member of Laios’s party shine in their roles while highlighting the challenges of dungeon delving—think monsters and traps.
Those traps can be deadly, sure, but once you figure out how they work, they’re manageable. What if you used the blade of a hanging trap to slice meat? Or grabbed cooking oil from a chest and heated it with a fire trap? These questions sound basic, but repurposing the dungeon’s hazards sparks an odd thrill. Most stories gloss over details like this, yet as I mentioned earlier, Dungeon Meshi’s magic lies in making the mundane irresistible through food.
Senshi, still new to the group, hasn’t fully grasped everyone’s roles, which sparks a small clash with Chilchuck when he accidentally gets in the way. There are countless ways to resolve character conflicts, but Dungeon Meshi opts for something clever: letting Chilchuck try Senshi’s job for himself.
Food as a Bridge
Conflicts and misunderstandings are just part of how characters interact—sometimes over personal gain, sometimes over silly mix-ups. But they’re also what drive growth. Through a shared meal, Senshi and the others open up, swapping stories and bonding. Those interactions tighten their connection and deepen their understanding. That’s the real value food brings to Dungeon Meshi.
Whether in Eastern or Western culture, cooking emphasizes balance—blending ingredients into hearty, nourishing meals. It’s a time for family and friends to gather, chat about life, and grow closer. In Dungeon Meshi, this happens right in the dungeon, yet the spirit remains intact.
A Fresh Take on Old Conflicts
Episode four shines brightest in showing food’s emotional weight. It tackles the ideological clash between humans and orcs—a familiar theme in fantasy, one Dungeon Meshi doesn’t reinvent entirely.
In other fantasy anime I’ve seen, orcs are painted as brutal, war-hungry, bloodthirsty raiders who pillage villages for kicks. Dungeon Meshi doesn’t erase that reputation—its orcs are milder but still carry those traits. What sets it apart, though, is the perspective it offers on this human-orc rift.
Orcs slaughter humans because humans butchered them first, seizing their land and forcing them underground. But the orcs, driven by their own warring nature, raid and ravage other races too, fueling the cycle—all for survival. The show delivers this through cooking in a way that’s downright funny, stripping away any tension even during debates about ideology. Author Ryoko Kui doesn’t aim to tragedize the orcs’ plight. Instead, she nudges us to empathize—conflicts flare because neither side fully understands the other.
Then, orcs and Laios’s crew sit down together, savoring dishes they’ve labored over. That meal pulls them closer, letting them air their lingering grievances. Through those squabbles, we glimpse each race’s burdens, fostering mutual respect. Food’s value shines again, subtle and seamless.
A Flavorful Finale
By making cuisine its signature, Dungeon Meshi stands out among fantasy anime—especially when it aired alongside Frieren’s whirlwind run. All good things end, and with one episode left, Dungeon Meshi’s journey is nearly over. Still, Trigger’s dedication has delivered a polished gem that’s stayed rock-solid throughout. Here’s hoping that consistency holds for a finale as strong as what’s come before.
