Kebab Chefs! - Restaurant Simulator

Kebab Chefs! - Restaurant Simulator is a co-op cooking and restaurant management game that allows up to 4 players to work together to run their very own kebab shop. As the name suggests, the game revolves around cooking and serving a variety of kebab dishes and other foods to customers in order to earn money to upgrade and expand your restaurant.

I enjoyed the relaxed pace and rewarding gameplay loop of running the restaurant with friends. Cooking the different kebab recipes and customizing the restaurant with tons of decorative items was quite enjoyable.

The cartoonish art style also lends itself well to the lighthearted atmosphere. While fairly simple, the management aspects like managing stock and staff, as well as attracting customers via marketing are surprisingly addictive.

Delicious Kebabs Galore

The wide selection of kebab varieties and other Middle Eastern dishes was a highlight for me. From familiar doner kebabs to more obscure regional kebab recipes, mastering the different cooking methods for various meats and veggies kept things fresh.

I also appreciated the inclusion of non-kebab appetizers, mains, and desserts which helped diversify the menu. Compared to more chaotic cooking games like Overcooked, the slower pace here is more beginner-friendly. Sure, Overcooked doesn't aim to be a "professional" cooking simulation, like the aptly-titled Cooking Simulator, but neither does Kebab Chefs.

Customizable Restaurant Interior Design

One of the first things that grabbed me about Kebab Chefs was just how extensively you can customize the look and layout of your restaurant. From the wallpaper, flooring, and furniture to even minor decorations like plants and wall hangings, you’re given tons of design freedom.

It was quite enjoyable slowly upgrading the furnishings as I earned more money. My only gripe was the lack of flexibility when laying out counters and kitchen equipment. For fans of micromanaging every aspect of their restaurants or businesses in tycoon-type games, Kebab Chefs can be somewhat frustrating in how it limits the player's creativity.

Relaxed Management...to a Fault

Running the business side of the restaurant with my friends was pretty straightforward but also fairly basic. While managing stock, staff, and money provided short-term goals to work towards, some additional depth would’ve been welcome.

Marketing options simply increase a hidden “popularity stat” rather than directly affecting customer numbers. Also, a wider selection of upgrades and facilities for customers would’ve incentivized long-term progression more. Since the game is still in active development, I expect the developers to come up with more ways to keep players hooked.

As it is at the moment, Kebab Chefs offers a great base for what could be an addictive cooking sim that never takes itself too seriously. Centering the game around a specific theme is also great for foodies who are looking for something that not even Cooking Mama, with her international culinary talents, has touched before.

Pros

• Great visual style
• Tons of kebab varieties and customization options
• Easy to pick up and play with others

Cons

• Fairly basic business management
• Can feel repetitive after extended play
• Lack of kitchen layout flexibility