Some inspirations behind Seaside Supper

In this article, I’ll talk about the various sources of inspiration for our ongoing visual novel, Seaside Supper, and how they’re taking shape in our project.

Coffee Talk

Similar to Coffee Talk, the player manages a business—but this time, instead of serving drinks, they’ll be preparing and serving dishes. Seaside Supper takes place in a small coastal town, where the player takes on a two-week job as a seasonal restaurateur leading up to the summer festival. During their stay, they’ll cook meals for the locals, figure out their tastes, and, through this, uncover their stories. Serving the right dishes is key to progressing each character’s narrative.

Midnight Diner

Midnight Diner is a manga about the owner of a restaurant that opens from midnight to 7 a.m. and offers to cook anything as long as he has the ingredients. The customers all have their own stories, which sometimes intertwine when they cross paths one night. In Seaside Supper, I want to recreate that same restaurant atmosphere—where you’re a witness to other people’s stories, where you overhear groups chatting, and occasionally step in—rather than taking on the role of a “confidant” to whom characters only speak directly. I want players to see characters interacting in different groups, experiencing varied social dynamics, giving them a broader sense of the small town they’ve just arrived in.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Home Town Cha-Cha-Cha is a Korean drama set in a tight-knit seaside town. In Seaside Supper, we draw inspiration from this cozy, intergenerational community—one that, despite its small daily dramas, feels deeply connected. I want to tell the story of ordinary people, about life itself—with all its ups and downs, both the good and the bad. I want to create a warm sense of belonging, making players feel like they’d truly want to visit this little town, meet the characters, and share a meal with them.