First up on our list is a sweet show that will make you crave Japanese snacks like you never did before. It’s time for Dagashi Kashi!

The show with a name that rolls right off your tongue revolves all around a more neglected part of Japanese culture: traditional candy shops. Kokonotsu Shikada’s family has run such a shop for many generations and it’s his turn to take over the business. The only problem is that the young boy would much rather become a famous manga artist than a candy shop owner. Maybe the eccentric Hotaru Shidare, self-pronounced candy enthusiast, can change his mind to save the family business from going under.

The first similarity to Food Wars is quite an obvious one: a love for food. While in Food Wars we are looking at dishes and whole meals, in Dagashi Kashi you get to experience the love for simple Japanese snacks. Nevertheless, both shows will make you appreciate the nourishment you put into your mouth every day on a whole new level. At the same time, you will also experience hilarious comedy with over-the-top kind of jokes that turn both shows into great anime to watch when you need a quick pick-me-up.

From a recent show, we are moving way back in time to the late 90s with an anime that has stood the test of time.

The setting is China during the 19th century. The emperor is weakened and gives rise to a completely new form of power: the power of chef cooks. A fierce competition commences inside the country to find the best chef of all the provinces of China. This is where Mao steps in. After the tragic death of his mother, an excellent chef herself, the young boy sets out to learn more about the different cooking styles of his diverse country. During his journey he only has one goal in mind: to become the best chef out there and honor his mother’s name.

What a dramatic setting, isn’t it? While the premise of Cooking Master Boy sounds unique, it still holds many elements that you will know from other great shows: comedy, drama, and action among others. Just like Food Wars, it has a strong competitive component as rivals battle each other to find out who’s the best chef out there. Having such an action-filled component in the peaceful framework of cooking is not only interesting, but also very entertaining. If you enjoyed Food Wars and have no aversion towards older shows, then we’d highly recommend you to give this little gem a try.

Naming different cooking shows on this list would be an obvious idea, but we like to keep things interesting. So allow us to introduce you to No Game No Life as our next recommendation.

Siblings Sora and Shiro are good at games. So good, in fact, that they spend their days as shut-in NEETs, doing nothing other than challenging the best gamers out there in online competitions. One day they meet an opponent who comes dangerously close to their skill level. After a fierce competition and a win for Sora and Shiro, they receive a message asking them if they wish to live in a world of games. They accept, taking the offer as a joke, and are promptly thrown into an alternate world where all conflicts are solved by games, gambles, and bets.

Gaming? Gambling? How does this anime compare to a cooking show? Well, obviously the two shows are in different genres, but they still have many elements in common. Both shows revolve around competition, for example. While Souma tries to become the best chef out there, Sora and Shiro want to become the Gods of Games - both have to compete against different rivals to make it to the top. Similarly, the protagonists in both shows are extremely skilled at what they do and will not give up on their dreams, no matter how tough the challenge. Lastly, the overall creativity and whimsical fun of both shows simply made us smile, so if you haven’t checked out No Game No Life yet, you definitely need to change that.

If you’re a fan of more unusual and quirky shows, chances are high you have already heard of Moyashimon. If not, get ready to learn more about the beautiful world of microorganisms.

Tadayasu has a special gift: he is able to see and communicate with all the microorganisms surrounding us in our everyday life. While his talent might alienate him from his peers, it could come in handy as he enters a local Agriculture University. Moyashimon tells the story of Tadayasu and all the bacteria, fungi and viruses he encounters.

Moyashimon definitely is a special show, there’s no doubt about that. While it is a comedy show with a school setting, it is also very educational since it is scientifically correct (if we forget about the protagonist being able to see bacteria with his naked eye, of course). What have bacteria to do with cooking? Well, many microorganisms are actually used in food preparation and Moyashimon teaches you all about their importance and working mechanisms. If you are interested in food, but at the same time want to refresh your knowledge of microbiology, then Moyashimon is the show for you.

We’re staying in the agricultural sector, but moving on to a school of the special kind with Silver Spoon.

Yuugo Hachiken is a good student, but he is sick and tired of the daily routine of his life. In hopes of escaping the pressure set by his parents and school, he decides to enroll in a boarding school in Hokkaido’s countryside. But what the studious Hachiken didn’t expect is that farm life is actually much more difficult than he had anticipated. As he tries to adapt to his new life, he makes friends, finds new hobbies and discovers sides of himself he had never seen before.

If you’re looking for a feel-good show then look no further, because Silver Spoon is exactly what you need. It’s a laid back show that will suck you right into the story and just put a smile on your face. Just like in Food Wars, we have a specialized school where our protagonist is just thrown into. Both Hachiken and Souma have to find their way around, challenge themselves and work hard to become better than they’ve been before. For those of you that are more interested in where your food comes from than how it’s prepared, give Silver Spoon a try.

Our list has already come to an end, but there is one last show we want to give to you on the way out, and that's Muteki Kanban Musume, also known as Ramen Fighter Miki.

Life at a ramen shop could be peaceful and relaxing, but not when Miki Onimaru works there. The upbeat girl helps out at her family’s restaurant and causes all kinds of troubles and drama. She’s a feisty girl who doesn’t mind fighting back if anyone provokes her. Will her attitude stand in the way of doing her job?

Ramen Fighter Miki is a fun show to watch. The producers have not held back when it comes to jokes and funny moments, so you’ll definitely get a good laugh out of this anime. Of course, food and food preparation are the main focus once again. Just like in Food Wars, daily work at a restaurant is being portrayed, but at the same time made much more interesting with the help of eccentric characters. If you’re a fan of cooking shows in general or are looking for your next comedy show to watch, then we’d recommend you to try out Muteki Kanban Musume.