~Menu~
Appetizer: Stir-fried living armour
Main course: Giant red dragon steak
Dessert: Man-eating plant tart
If this surreal menu stirs your appetite, then book a table right now at the Ryoko Kui x Delicious in Dungeon Exhibition!
Organized by the recently active INCUBASE Arena events space at Bukit Bintang’s glitzy Fahrenheit88 Mall from 01 Aug – 28 Sep 2025, this exhibition is a celebration of manga artist Ryoko Kui and her wildly successful manga series Delicious in Dungeon (aka Dungeon Meshi) as well as its anime adaptation.
Recently, I had the opportunity to partake in this exhibition and see whether this latest official Japanese pop culture export passes the taste test.
Entering the Dungeon
Tickets for the exhibition can be booked via INCUTix, Ticket2U or Klook, with standard ticket for adults starting at RM50. There are also packages bundled with merchandise or themed meals.
Entering the venue, you’re immediately given a freebie stamp card (more on this later) and a reminder of the rules: smartphone photography is allowed, but DSLR-sized cameras and video filming is prohibited. Sadly, you won’t have a chance to sharpen or flex any photography tips and tricks you learned here.
After saying hello to a statue of the adorable walking mushroom that kicks off Delicious in Dungeon, you’re greeted by a surprisingly meaty retrospective on Ryoko Kui’s earlier works.
A Fiery Appetizer
This retrospective begins with The Dragon’s School is on Top of the Mountain, Ryoko’s first published anthology in 2011 that explores the parts of fantasy often left in shadow, such as human-centaur labour disputes or the ugly aftermath of a hero’s triumph.
Besides the early presence of dragons that links her first work to her most successful, you can also see her signature theme of exploring the fantastic through mundane concerns such as work, play and especially food.
The exhibition continues to explore these themes and motifs with Ryoko’s following works – Seven Little Sons of the Dragon and Terrarium in Drawer. Again, both are fantasy anthologies with their own twists and turns.
Throughout the exhibition, framed reproductions of Ryoko’s manga manuscripts, book covers and promotional illustrations give you a close-up look at her efficient yet warm drawing style.
These are accompanied by previously published and new exclusive interview excerpts by both Ryoko and her editors. Through comments and anecdotes, they flesh out the struggles and triumphs behind the creation of her works.
Particularly noteworthy anecdotes include Ryoko and her editor locking themselves in a conference room for days to finish a draft while another details how – after finishing Delicious in Dungeon – a typically simple meal at a ramen chain restaurant managed to take on a special meaning.
Thankfully, save for one humorous sign, almost all of the exhibits are translated faithfully in English next to the original Japanese text.
After an appetizer of Ryoko Kui’s early works, you can start digging into the main course of the exhibition – Delicious in Dungeon!
Do Adventurers Dream of Dragon Steak?
Breaking out into the top manga sales of 2014, Delicious in Dungeon tells the tale of four adventurers of differing fantasy races and their odyssey to save one of their own.
Thrilling battles, terrifying monsters and heroic deeds abound, but also tummy aches, dungeon ecosystems and of course – what to eat for dinner!
Related: Looking for exotic cuisine? Then have a bite of the 5 Must-Try Foods in Xinjiang
Ryoko Kui’s magnum opus – hopefully the first of many – is explored in its full glory through not only the aforementioned interview excerpts and manuscripts, but also interactive props and stunningly lifelike recreations of dishes from the show.
Starting from the manga itself, the exhibit features a huge exclusive interview with Ryoko herself which takes up a queen-sized bed’s worth of wall space.
In it, she goes into detail on her transition from short stories to a full series, her creative processes, as well as a little bit about her own likes and dislikes.
Following this is undoubtedly one of the exhibitions highlights – an entire cover art retrospective of all 14 volumes of Delicious in Dungeon (vague but major spoilers here for anime-onlys!).
Ryoko’s musings, regrets and relief on each cover helps spice up the surrounding early drafts and alternate versions, giving visitors a glimpse of the unseen toil that goes into creating these memorable works of art.
Dungeon in Motion
But the quality doesn’t stop there, as the next section moves onto the anime adaptation of Delicious in Dungeon, which similarly debuted to raving reviews back in 2024.
Now, the circle of interviewees expands to include the huge cast of directors, composers and voice actors involved in the show’s production.
A sample of the many topics covered includes reactions when first reading the manga, struggles over which portions to adapt and the chemistry between the voice actors in a true behind-the-scenes look at this beloved series.
Last but definitely not least, the exhibition also includes a series of stunningly impressive replicas of every dish featured within the first season (no spoilers here, anime-onlys)!
Fancy looking at succulent slices of giant scorpion meat? Or grotesquely appetizing mandrake heads? Maybe even some sea monster gnocchi?
All these fantastical dishes are faithfully reproduced in spectacular detail, with their oily sheen, dazzling colours and thoughtful presentation managing to whet my appetite and entice a grumble or two from my stomach more than once!
Japan doesn’t just make fictional foods look good, they make some very real colourful traditional wagashi Japanese desserts too!
Sprinkled among these dishes were a few hit-or-miss dioramas, interactive exhibits and photo-op zones.
I thought the flash-sensitive basilisk mural and giant golem chair were memorable, but the comically barebones Falin skeleton and giant block for Laios’ solo siren concert were quite underwhelming. Including more interactivity, technology (perhaps VR?) or even footage from the show might have gone a long way here.
And remember that piece of paper you’re given at the start? Scattered throughout the exhibition are stamp stations which, when put together, form the scorpion mushroom hotpot, so make sure to get all of them before you leave!
Past the last surprise of the exhibition (which I won’t spoil), you’ll be greeted by a wall where visitors can stick their own message or art for posterity.
And of course, a gift shop stocked with all sorts of Delicious in Dungeon merchandise will be waiting right at the exit! If food’s more your thing, then there’s also the collab café sitting just a few metres away.
So, is it worth it?
If you are fan of Delicious in Dungeon, then ABSOLUTELY!
Manga readers will get some new insights into her work and see her manuscripts up close, while anime-onlys will love the voice actor interviews and food replicas.
As a casual fan of the show myself, I also found an appreciation for Ryoko Kui’s earlier works, which have sadly not all been officially translated yet.
However, it’s better to come along with friends to take advantage of all these photo-ops spots. Non-fans might be better off looking somewhere else too.
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Still craving more Japanese pop culture? Then check out our ultimate guide to Akihabara or the real-life locations that inspired your favourite anime.
If you’re a Hollywood film buff, then consider a trip to one of the many locations that inspired the recent Dune movies by Denis Villeneuve.
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Ryoko Kui x Delicious in Dungeon Exhibition (01 Aug – 28 Sep 2025)
INCUBASE Arena Malaysia
Lot No. 2-02 – 2-06, Fahrenheit88, 179, Jln Gading, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (10 mins walk from Bukit Bintang MRT)
INCUSBASE Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/incubase.arena.my
Tickets: Incutix | Ticket2U | Klook
Links
James Nicoll Reviews – Justified In The End
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/justified-in-the-end
