Thank you to Netgalley and Udon Entertainment for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This is an adorable slice of life story with some delicious food and some fantastical world-building. However, I am not sure what the point of this story is. I like it but I don't love it. Because of these points, I have to give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I love this series so much. I was so excited I was able to review the second volume.
Just like in the first installment it has smaller stories which reach to an also bigger theme. This volume you get new characters such as a young girl that doesn’t really have a home who at first, they thought was a thief but then they hire her, and she is one of their new favorite coworkers (and becomes a cute character you will fall in love with). They even have a story where you think they might lose their restaurant but do they? You will have to read to find out. These two books so far have been so wholesome and good and show that food can really bring all different walks of life together. I can’t wait to read more and see where this restaurant’s story goes.

If you liked volume 1 of this manga, you'll enjoy volume 2. It's a pretty cozy, slice-of-life restaurant manga. Normally that's not of particular interest to me, but each volume is 90 percent about the joy of Japanese food, and 10 percent about something strange and supernatural happening. Volume 2 confirms things you might have suspected from volume 1, but then goes a step further. This is not something I would buy and reread, but it is something I want to continue reading, just to see where the supernatural elements take readers.

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu (Volume 2) by Natsuya Semikawa, Virginia Nitouhei is a manga style graphic novel. Japanese-style pub “Nobu” is open for business in an odd, foreign world, and the ever-welcoming Shinobu and Chief are happy to serve up unusually tasty bar food to an array of strange customers. A little thief, an obnoxious messenger, and a pair of squabbling craftsmen are all ready to chow down! Kisu tempura, sashimi, omusoba, and shuto and more are on the menu... The delicious aromas of food and drink bring everyone together in this gourmet tale of humanity!

The second volume of Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is just as charming and entertaining as the first. I enjoy seeing how the food of the Japanese and German cultures might be very different- but there are still some things that seem universal. I love that good food and good people always come out ahead and that the less pleasant characters discover that as well. I was happy to see favorite characters make a return, and to meet some new clients and staff at Nobu. The story is well written and drawn and is a lovely, cozy read.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Volume 2.

I thought the second title in the Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu was good. I liked this one a bit more than Volume 1.

This volume is so darling! Effa is such a sweet character! This series as a whole is just so cozy, it is perfect if that’s what you’re looking for!

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

After reading the first book in this series I wasn't sure whether I wanted to continue the series, but I liked the premise and decided to give book 2 a try. I am glad I did as I really enjoyed this book and had fun reading this one.

To me this book felt less formulaic than book 1 with every chapter feeling different and having an interesting development or twist. And they were all just fun to read. I also liked the new character who joins as a dishwasher and how she fit in with the rest of the team.

I liked every chapter of this one, but especially the the one with the guy who doesn't like squid was great especially the last page of that chapter as well as the the guy who wants schnitzel and how that played out. I also liked the chapter with two arguing shop owners who actually are friends. The last chapter was an interesting glimpse into how Nobu connects modern day japan and this fantasy world.

There is plenty of food and new dishes that play a role in this book. The art is well done and I like the way the izakaya plays a role in people's lives. It was fun to see more of the same characters as well as new ones.

To summarize: While I was on the fence about continuing this series after book 1, I am glad I decided to pick up book 2. I had fun reading this one and enjoyed all the chapters in this book. I felt this one felt less formulaic than book 2 and every chapter felt fresh and interesting. The squid and schnitzel chapters were probably my favorite, but all the chapters are great. There's more food, good artwork and recurring and new characters. I look forward to book 3!

A sweet sequel to a great first volume. This volume opened up a new world (literally), which I was a little sad about…I liked being ignorant of the whole thing (haha). Still a wonderful volume.

Hello Fellow Readers,

I loved the first volume of Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu, so it's no surprise that I also loved this one. There is just something wholesome and comforting about this manga that just lures me and makes me devour it. I love the way the food is described and I love the reactions from the characters and we get to go more in detail with this fantasy world that Semikawa has built. I think I was more excited about the world than the food, and I can't wait to read more and find out more about this world.

I've now read book 1 and 2 in this manga series and although there is not very deep meaning in them, they do have a very fun theme to them, and I enjoy reading about it and learning what each dish is! I'm not well versed in other cultures foods, and I find the tale that is created through food to be very cute! Some people find deep meaning in their cuisine, and I think this is true of the Japanese culture.

I also really love that they expanded on the back door to the shop leading to another world, it was truly interesting, and capture my attention fully. I can't wait for more of these books to be quick palate cleansers between other books with serious content.

3.5 stars but rounded up this time

I enjoyed all the storylines but my favourite was the fox who is an emissary to the gods. I loved seeing the kid follow the fox out the back door and into Japan where nothing made sense for her. I appreciated the fox's return of the child as well. It was just such a good look into how the shop exists.

Beyond that, we got all kinds of food! Both things that are similar to the eaters and things that are completely foreign to them. Its such a story of food bringing people together no matter their beliefs, culture, or status.
I also like that it was brought up that Nobu hasn't gone out to explore the local's food or culture even though the shop has been there for awhile now. Hope we get to see some of that in upcoming volumes.
Fun second volume!

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc

The second volume of Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is definitely better than the first installment! The artwork formatting is pleasing, it didn't feel as cluttered or random, and the plot thickens! A young thief shows herself and its up to the Izakaya to welcome her (along with food)

I am fond of food based manga and this izakaya nobu has expanded their plot where it doesn't feel overly repetitive.

This volume was somehow better than the first!

I loved the first volume because of how cozy it felt, and this one was able to keep the same vibe. Each chapter still revolved around a specific food item or items, but it had more a story. I love that you get to learn more about the world in this volume, and well as learn more about the amazing characters. The manga still had its funny moments, and Effa is just so adorable. I am very excited to see where the story goes next, and I plan on continuing with this manga.

Even better than the first! I love the glimpse into the mystery of the Nobu… seeing not only a connection to Japan but *modern* day Japan! Such an intriguing story. I love the characters and the concept so far.

The same style as volume 1, this contains short chapters that are brief vignettes. I liked how they tied in previous visitors to the Nobu.

Every dish is so unique and delicious looking, I can’t help but crave Japanese food after reading this.

I can’t wait to read the entire series. This is wholesome and heartwarming with likable characters and a fascinating mystery!

**Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.** 4 stars. Heartwarming and delicious!

Delightfully fun sequel to the first book. This story of a Japanese restaurant from the modern age which opens up onto a street of a medieval German town is cozy and cute. The food descriptions aren't as detailed as you might find in some other manga with a restaurant setting, but they are still depicted with a mouth-watering accuracy, and everything is listed in a handy index at the end. This is a great read for anybody who enjoys the stories from Restaurant to Another World. An easy, quick read with excellent graphics.

3.5 stars

So I gave this series a second shot to see if it developed any additional plot, and I am giving it an extra half star because I guess you could say it has, but it really is very light. Pretty light on character development as well, though again, just a small touch more.

Izakaya Nobu is one of the fictional places I'll return to with pleasure every time. I adored volume 1, and while it set the scene really well for our characters, it left me with lots of questions. I'm glad to say we get more context in the second volume and some of these questions had surprising answers! I'll let you figure them out on your own :)

We also get more of our favorite established characters and get introduced to a few new ones that I hope are here to stay! The wholesome vibes and mouthwatering dishes continue to be the focal point of the little chapters, so if you're here for the cuisine, you're in the right place.

This is currently my favorite food manga, so I'm looking forward to the next volume!

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

A story about an izakaya with a front door opening to medieval Germany and a back door opening to modern Japan. Each chapter is based on a type of Japanese food (reminds me a little of Midnight Diner / 深夜食堂) and centers around the German customers trying Japanese food for the first time. I liked Volume 2 a lot better than Volume 1, because it had more of a plot and the storyline around the izakaya picked up a lot more. There isnʻt a lot of background or development to the characters, but the atmosphere and food descriptions and drawings make it a cute and quick read. I will definitely read the next volumes!

Another fun installment in this series! As before, there's less of a strong throughline in terms of plot, but a fun read for anyone that enjoys slice-of-life and food-centric manga.