I really enjoyed my reading ! This manga was very fun and original. It's divided into 6 short stories in the pub and it was a very brillant idea to discover some asian dishes. Everything looked so yummy and the different characters were nice.

I will recommend this manga for people who aren't used to read them because it's easy and very entertaining!!

SO HEARTWARMING!!! I also love the cooking and foods a lot, so this manga really really enjoyable for me. It’s a light reading experience that still delivers emotion and warming my heart with all the interactions between the characters and how food can boost people’s mood too.

Actual rating: 3.5

Okay, so this was cozy as all heck. I’m a sucker for food based manga and this was a very good time. The mechanics of the time traveling (when, where, how) are a little fuzzy, but the coziness of the restaurant, the delicious art and descriptions and reactions to all the food make up for it and then some.

My only issue is that I would have liked to have seen more plot in this first volume, or a hint of plot even, but it is very much focused on telling individual stories.

There is also one creepy moment where a man is looking at his very child-like niece and saying that she’s going to be a beautiful woman soon - that gave me an ick. Go away creepy uncle.

This manga has much promise and with many volumes already out, I’m very curious to see what this story develops into - because while we did get gorgeous art and interesting short stories - as a whole, I’m still having a tough time grasping the true set up of this manga.

*I received an eARC from Udon Entertainment & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

This is your cozy foodie read for the season!

Actually, this manga has been out since 2018 but is on NetGalley right now for review (thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley!) and it got me to get the next volume on reserve from the library. This is an izakaya set in a fictional German town that is supposed to be in an isekai ("otheworldly") setting even though there's nothing to indicate that here. Doesn't matter, it's a cute, soft read about finding basically a reason for life in good food when your job sucks and all the other food is bland and low quality.

Free copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley, review is my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Definitely do not read this manga without any food in your house. It is also best enjoyed by those interested in languages (German and Japanese terms are footnoted and provided in a back glossary) and food, as the characters are not really developed. The focus is more on concepts of nourishment than plot.

Overall, it's a nice meditation on the value of trying the unexpected and the healing power of good food.

tl;dr
The comfort food version of manga. An incredibly pleasant read with lovely illustrations and low drama.

Thoughts
Much like the comfort food featured in this series, Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is warm and familiar with no real surprises, and that's the best thing about it. Each vignette takes on the same formula of a person in some kind of need finding solace in delicious food at a slightly magical izakaya, by trying out a new (for them) Japanese dish. I was delighted to see how well it captured the experience of eating: the one of a guy eating sushi for the first time was hilariously on point; and the hot tofu dish was such a pitch-perfect rendition of trying and failing to wait for a dish to cool before eating it, because it's just too good to wait. Reactions are large and joyous without going as far as the famous "foodgasms" of other food manga, and the food illustrations are extremely tasty. Anyone looking for a cozy, comforting, drama-free read will leave Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu satisfied, if not a little bit hungry for some Japanese food.

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is about a Japanese restaurant located in a fictional European city. The customers of the restaurant are enchanted by Japanese cuisine which makes each chapter a fun read. I think if you are a fan of the anime Restaurant to Another World this title would be for you. I'm intrigued to see if the lore of the restaurant's origin will be revealed in the series as it goes on. Overall this was a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the e-copy of this manga.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute manga, it explored the small things in life that go a long way to create happiness. I didn’t know what to expect going into it, but I enjoyed the characters and the art style. It made me hungry and sad that I can’t visit this restaurant.

The cover is the only reason, I attempted to download,. Couldn't read it, due to content not supported and a total waste of time.

In Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu, volume 1, written by Natsuya Semikawa and illustrated by Virginia Nitouhei, it's all about food, atmosphere, and companionship. Filled with cultural anecdotes, we follow a variety of characters who take time out of their lives to sit and enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine and breathe easy away from their troubles.

At its core, Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is a food and culture manga built on traditional Japanese culture and integrates that with other cultural notes and language, that then delivers itself overall in a cozy, homey package that the reader themselves can immerse themselves within. Great care is taken to showcase the thrill and elation that each character themselves is feeling when eating delicious food, so much so that those same feelings of warmth carry over to the reader.

There are several moments of laugh out loud comedy sprinkled in with wild, weird, and unique characters. If anything, it only feels repetitive, as each chapter follows a similar format: a dubious, sometimes quite vocally rude, first-time customer at the izakaya, who is uncertain about the food, who then becomes enamored with the quality of the dish served to them.

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is perfect for anybody who enjoys a good, hearty meal.

This made me hungry! It's such a cozy food manga, placed in a mysterious setting that combines German and Japanese food concepts. The characters and stories are wholesome; some of the interactions reminded me of Disney's Ratatouille. There wasn't much story development in this volume, leaving quite a few questions unanswered. I can't wait to keep reading and find out more about the world and the little Izakaya!

I saw this book for download on Netgalley and it sounded right up my alley so I decided to download it. Food Wars is one of my favorite series and while this isn’t exactly the same it still reminded me of it. I’m super glad I came across this because I thought it was absolutely amazing.

I’m very intrigued by the concept of the series. I can’t wait to see how this modem day Japanese restaurant ended up in medieval Europe and how it seems to still be connected to modern times at the same time.

Each chapter of the volume can be seen as a short story centered around a particular person/group of people and a particular kind of food. I really like how it plays out over the course of the volume and I look forward to more in the future.

I love the art style. The food looks absolutely delicious and really makes you want to try it.

Overall I highly recommend this for manga fans. I know I compared it to Food Wars but this is solely because of the food content but this isn’t nearly as fan servicey and is more age appropriate for younger teens imo.

Speaks in incomprehensible language *drool, drool, drool, drool, drooool*

Sorry, let me wipe my mouth and try again – Droooooool
I LOVE books about food and people who are connecting and finding joy around a dinner table. Why, I haven't figured out yet, but I always want to join the characters in eating the delicious food on the pages and I love how food makes a great ending to a day.

”Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu, Volume 1” by Natsuya Semikawa and Virginia Nitouhei is set in a medieval-inspired European town where people speak German. I am from Denmark and many German words sound identical to how we pronounce words and this fact added a layer to the story to me. It's set in a world I could relate to and that inspired me because it got me thinking that just around the corner, there might be my new favorite place and new favorite food.

A lovely drool-worthy read.

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Volume 1
By Natsuya Semikawa
Art By Virginia Nitouhei
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy for an honest review.
This is a cozy slow story composed of 6 vignettes, each tell the story of people finding a pub and relaxing. The stories them selves are a bit repetitive, this could got a bit annoying as I read it in one sitting but that's just me, the art was really nice though and the food looked wonderful.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Down a back alley in a fictional medieval European city stands an unusual restaurant: one with glass windows, a sign in Japanese, and a warm, inviting atmosphere in a cold climate. Izakaya Nobu, a pub where Chief Nobu creates meals that astonish and delight patrons, becomes a culinary haven for local soldiers tired of the same old kartoffeln (potatoes), a reminder of the joy of youth for a greedy and cynical tax collector, and a source of wonder for a spoiled little aristocratic girl. Though customers might enter with doubts, by the end of the meal they have found contentment and fellowship in sharing such excellent food and drink.

Granted, this manga is really light on plot, but any story that emphasizes the discovery of delicious new foods and the joy that brings is one I will surely love. The artwork really conveys the change in customers' spirits as they sample new-to-them dishes and find deeper appreciation in the world around them. This will surely appeal to readers who enjoyed the cozy foodie fantasy worlds of Legends and Lattes, The Nameless Restaurant, or the manga Restaurant to Another World. 4 stars,

Thank you, Udon Entertainment and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Plot: A series of vignettes about villagers who find comfort in a local pub.

Pros: Nice artwork. Wish it was in color though. The food would be more appetizing and maybe make the love the characters have for the food more relatable if you could see the foods in color. Despite that fact that this story was not quite my cup of tea, I can see foodies enjoying the story through the visuals and descriptions of the food served in the story.

Cons: Unfortunately, the story just didn't do it for me. It was 6 vignettes that all told the same story over and over again. Person in vignette hears about amazing pub. Person doesn't believe it can be that good. The pub owner makes them food. It really is that good. Repeat!

Audience: I think the target audience for this would be someone who enjoys a slow story that is cosy, low stakes, and doesn't have much of a plot. This is tailored towards people who enjoy the comfort of food, and enjoy a good meal.

Personally, this story was not for me, but I think those looking for a cosy read could possibly enjoy! 3/5 stars

Thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A Japanese pub set in medieval Europe. This is broken up into a four chapters where the European characters have problems that are solved by the food in this pub! I liked this manga. It was a cute, unique idea and it delivered!