Dungeon Meshi Has 14 Manga Volumes — And the Series Is Complete
If you’re here because the anime left you desperate for more, good news: there are 14 Dungeon Meshi manga volumes containing 97 chapters total, and the series is finished. No cliffhangers, no long breaks where the author stops publishing new chapters, no waiting years for the next book. The whole story is available right now.
The manga was written and illustrated by Ryoko Kui. It was originally published one chapter at a time in Harta magazine from February 2014 to September 2023. Yen Press publishes the English edition, with the final volume (Vol. 14) released in July 2024. Each volume collects roughly six to nine chapters — think of volumes as books and chapters as the individual episodes within them. Every volume also includes a bonus chapter called “Miscellaneous Monster Tales,” short side stories that add world-building and character moments you won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you’re planning to read from the beginning or pick up where the anime left off, here’s everything you need to know about the Dungeon Meshi manga volumes.
Where Does the Dungeon Meshi Anime End in the Manga?
This is the single most common question from anime fans, so let’s get straight to it.
Season 1 (24 episodes, produced by Studio TRIGGER, the animation studio behind Promare and Kill la Kill) adapts Chapters 1 through 52. That covers all of Volumes 1–7 plus the first three chapters of Volume 8. The anime’s final episode ends at Chapter 52, titled “Bacon and Eggs.”
Volume 8 contains Chapters 50–56. Since the anime ended at Chapter 52, the first three chapters of Volume 8 (50–52) will be familiar, and the last four chapters (53–56) are brand-new story. Your post-anime reading begins at Chapter 53 (“On Floor One -1-“) in Volume 8.
One thing worth knowing: the anime adaptation is very faithful to the manga. If you watched all 24 episodes, you haven’t missed any major plot points from the first seven volumes. The anime did a great job.
How Much Post-Anime Story Is Left?
A lot. There are 45 chapters of post-anime content (Chapters 53–97), spanning Volumes 8 through 14. That’s almost as much story as what the anime already covered — and honestly, the second half of Dungeon Meshi is where things get wild.
Without giving away any plot details, the post-anime chapters go much deeper into the dungeon’s true nature, the Golden Country, and the Winged Lion. The stakes escalate significantly, and the story transforms in ways the earlier cooking-adventure chapters only hinted at.
Season 2 has been announced and is in production at Studio TRIGGER, but there’s no confirmed release date yet — it’s expected sometime around 2026–2027. And given that Season 1 covered 52 chapters in 24 episodes, the remaining 45 chapters will likely need at least one more full season to adapt, possibly more. Reading the manga now means getting the complete story years before the anime catches up.
Should You Start From Volume 1 or Skip to Volume 8?
Both options work, and there’s no wrong answer here. It depends on what you’re looking for.
Option A — Jump to Volume 8. If you watched the anime and just want to continue the story as quickly as possible, start at Chapter 53 in Volume 8. You won’t be lost. The anime adapted the source material faithfully enough that you can pick up the manga mid-stream without missing a beat.
Option B — Start from Volume 1. This is the better experience if you have the time and budget. Ryoko Kui’s art carries an incredible amount of detail, humor, and visual storytelling that the anime — as good as it is — can’t fully replicate. The manga lets you linger on the cooking scenes and monster ecology at your own pace. Each volume is roughly 200 pages in standard manga paperback format (read right-to-left, as is standard for Japanese manga). You’ll notice background details, expressions, and panel compositions that just hit differently on the page.
Each volume also includes a bonus chapter (“Miscellaneous Monster Tales”) that wasn’t adapted in the anime. These side stories flesh out the world and characters in ways that the main chapters don’t always have room for. They’re a genuine addition to the experience, not throwaway extras.
Budget-friendly suggestion: If you’re not sure about committing to the full series, grab Volume 8 first to continue the story after the anime. If you love the manga experience (and you probably will), go back for Volumes 1–7 whenever your wallet allows.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1
Every Dungeon Meshi Volume at a Glance
Here’s a full breakdown of all 14 Dungeon Meshi manga volumes — what chapters each one contains, what happens (without plot details), and whether the anime has covered it.
| Volume | Chapters | What Happens | Anime Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | Ch. 1–7 | Party enters the dungeon, first monster meals, Senshi joins the group | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 2 | Ch. 8–14 | Deeper floors, new monsters, party dynamics develop | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 3 | Ch. 15–21 | Third floor, undead and spirits, living paintings | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 4 | Ch. 22–28 | Surface detour, return to the dungeon, Red Dragon storyline begins | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 5 | Ch. 29–35 | Red Dragon confrontation, Falin’s fate | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 6 | Ch. 36–42 | New party members, deeper exploration, nightmare sequence | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 7 | Ch. 43–49 | Sixth floor, elven party encounters, rising tension | Covered in Season 1 |
| Vol. 8 | Ch. 50–56 | Transition volume — Ch. 50–52 covered by anime, Ch. 53–56 are post-anime. Major turning point. | Partially covered (Ch. 50–52 only) |
| Vol. 9 | Ch. 57–62 | New threats emerge, party faces major setbacks | Not yet adapted |
| Vol. 10 | Ch. 63–69 | Revelations about the dungeon’s true nature | Not yet adapted |
| Vol. 11 | Ch. 70–76 | Dungeon Lord storyline intensifies | Not yet adapted |
| Vol. 12 | Ch. 77–85 | Climactic battles — the longest volume at 9 chapters | Not yet adapted |
| Vol. 13 | Ch. 86–91 | Winged Lion storyline — the endgame begins | Not yet adapted |
| Vol. 14 | Ch. 92–97 | Final storyline, series conclusion | Not yet adapted |
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 3
Box Set vs. Individual Volumes — What’s the Best Way to Buy?
There are three ways to buy the Dungeon Meshi manga volumes, and the best option depends on how much of the series you want and how you like to read.
The Complete Box Set includes all 14 volumes, an exclusive poster, and a decorative display box. The retail price is $225, but it’s frequently discounted to around $140–180 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major book retailers. It was released in December 2024.
Individual paperback volumes are $15 each through Yen Press. Buying all 14 at full retail comes to $210 — which is actually $15 less than the box set’s list price. But at typical sale prices, the box set is significantly cheaper than buying individually, and you get the poster and display box on top of that.
Digital volumes are $6.99 each on platforms like Kindle and Kobo. All 14 digitally totals about $98 — the cheapest way to read the complete series by far. The series is not available on subscription reading services like Kindle Unlimited, so purchasing individual digital volumes or borrowing through your local library (check apps like Libby or Hoopla) are your main options.
Here’s how the options compare:
| Option | Price (All 14 Vols) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Box Set | $225 retail (~$140–180 on sale) | Includes poster + display box. Best value at sale price. |
| Individual Paperbacks | $210 ($15 each) | Good if you want to buy a few at a time. |
| Digital (Kindle, Kobo, etc.) | ~$98 ($6.99 each) | Cheapest overall. No shelf presence. |
If you’re not sure whether you’ll love the manga, buying Volumes 1–3 individually ($45) is a low-risk way to test the waters before committing to the full set.
Delicious in Dungeon: The Complete Box Set
Best Option for Anime-Only Readers on a Budget
If you just finished the anime and want to keep going without spending a fortune, here are your options ranked by cost:
- Volume 8 alone ($15 paperback / $6.99 digital): The minimum purchase to continue the story. You’ll get four post-anime chapters plus three you’ve already seen in the anime. This is enough to know whether you want to keep going.
- Volumes 8–14 digitally (~$49): The cheapest way to read all the post-anime content. Seven volumes covering 45 chapters of new story.
- Volumes 8–14 in paperback ($105): All post-anime volumes on your shelf.
- The Complete Box Set on sale ($140–180): Honestly, at the discounted price, this is often the best deal even if you only care about the post-anime content. You’d pay $105 for just Volumes 8–14 in paperback — for $35–75 more, you get all seven earlier volumes, a poster, and the display box. If there’s any chance you’ll want to read from the beginning eventually, the box set at sale price is hard to beat.
Bottom line: If you want physical volumes and the box set is under $160, grab it. If you’re unsure about committing, start with Volume 8 digitally for $7 and decide from there.
Is the Adventurer’s Bible Worth Buying?
The Adventurer’s Bible is a companion guidebook by Ryoko Kui, sold separately from the manga volumes. It’s not included in the box set.
There are two editions. The original (released in English in August 2022) is 182 pages. The Complete Edition (248 pages, English release July 2025) adds 70+ new pages over the original, including expanded content. If you’re choosing between the two, the Complete Edition is the one to get.
Inside, you’ll find character profiles, a monster encyclopedia, bonus comics, and deep world lore that Ryoko Kui created for the series. It’s packed with the kind of obsessive detail that makes Dungeon Meshi so special.
One important note: the Adventurer’s Bible reveals major plot details from the entire series through Volume 14. Read it after you finish the manga, not before. It’s not required reading, but if you finish the series and find yourself wanting more from this world, it’s a wonderful bonus.
Will the Anime Catch Up to the Manga?
Eventually, yes — but it’s going to take a while.
Season 2 was officially announced in June 2024 and is being produced by Studio TRIGGER, the same animation studio behind Season 1. It’s currently in active production, but no release date has been confirmed. Most estimates place it around 2026–2027.
Here’s the math: Season 1 adapted 52 chapters across 24 episodes. There are 45 chapters left to adapt. At a similar pace, the remaining story would need roughly 20–21 episodes — which could fit in one more season, though it would be tight. It’s also possible that TRIGGER splits the remaining content across two shorter seasons, especially given how dense the later chapters become.
Either way, the full anime adaptation is likely at least two to three years away from completion. The manga is complete right now. If you don’t want to wait — and the story is absolutely worth not waiting for — the manga is ready whenever you are.