Monster Hunter Wilds’ Cheese Naan Craze: When a Game’s Feast Becomes Japan’s Obsession

Monster Hunter Wilds has always known how to whet players’ appetites—both for slaying colossal beasts and, apparently, for devouring some seriously delectable-looking grub. Launched on February 27, 2025, Capcom’s latest action-RPG juggernaut has taken the gaming world by storm, boasting over 1.3 million concurrent Steam players and a staggering 8 million copies sold in its first three days. But amid the buzz of epic hunts and technical gripes, an unexpected star has emerged from the game’s vivid world: cheese naan. Yes, the gooey, golden bread featured in a standout cutscene has transcended the screen, igniting a real-world culinary craze in Japan that’s left Nepalese restaurants scrambling to keep up with demand. This isn’t just a game—it’s a cultural phenomenon that’s rewriting the menu, one cheesy bite at a time.

The saga begins early in Monster Hunter Wilds, in the sun-scorched village of Kunafa. After a grueling trek through the Windward Plains, your hunter and their ragtag crew are welcomed by villagers who know little of combat but plenty about hospitality. As the scene unfolds, they serve up a feast, and there it is: a slab of naan-like bread topped with a generous layer of molten cheese, steam rising as it’s torn apart, revealing a stretchy, irresistible core. It’s not just food—it’s a love letter to texture and flavor, rendered with such painstaking detail that you can almost smell the toasty aroma through your screen. Players on X couldn’t hold back: “That cheese naan made me pause the game and order takeout,” one confessed. Another joked, “Capcom’s out here hunting my wallet and my stomach.”

This isn’t a fluke—Capcom planned it that way. Art director Kaname Fujioka, a veteran of the series since its 2004 debut, revealed in interviews that the Kunafa feast was one of the first scenes crafted for Wilds. “We wanted the food to look delicious, to challenge ourselves,” he said, noting the team’s struggle to nail the bread’s crisp exterior and the cheese’s melty pull. After countless prototypes, they landed on a visual so tantalizing it’s no wonder players dropped their controllers to hunt down the real thing. In Japan, where cheese naan—a fluffy bread topped or stuffed with cheese—is a beloved staple at Nepalese and Indian restaurants, the resemblance was uncanny. And thus, a craze was born.

Social media lit up post-launch. On March 2, 2025, just days after the game’s release, X erupted with posts of players sharing their cheese naan conquests. “Late lunch was divine—thanks to Monster Hunter’s feast scene, I had to have it,” one user wrote, attaching a photo of their golden prize. Another mused, “Seeing that cheese naan in-game made me realize half of Japan’s craving it too—heartwarming!” The ripple effect hit restaurants hard, none more so than Salam Namaste Tokyo, a Nepalese eatery that became an accidental epicenter of the boom. On the same day, they tweeted a viral clip of fast-food workers reacting to a massive order, captioned: “Salam Namaste when we get 99 cheese naan orders at midnight.” It was a jest, but the follow-up was real: “Cheese naan’s too popular. I ran out of cheese and had to hit the supermarket. Thank you, Monster Hunter!”

A Nepalese food restaurant in Tokyo seems to be enjoying this Monster Hunter-inspired cheese naan craze. The restaurant, Salam Namaste Tokyo, shared the 99 Bacon Double Quarter Pounders video (in which fast food workers react to a huge order just before closing) to suggest it’s seen a deluge of cheese naan requests.

The numbers back up the hype. Salam Namaste’s post racked up nearly 10,000 shares, and reports from outlets like Automaton suggest a nationwide surge in cheese naan sales, with some spots hosting impromptu “cheese naan festivals” to capitalize on the frenzy. It’s not hard to see why. Monster Hunter has a storied history of drool-worthy food—think the sizzling steaks of Monster Hunter: World or the towering platters of Rise—but Wilds takes it to another level. Fujioka explained the Kunafa villagers’ diet—dairy from livestock, grain from the plains—grounds the dish in the game’s lore, making it more than just eye candy. It’s a cultural touchstone, a moment of respite that mirrors Japan’s own love for fusion comfort food like cheese naan, a dish born locally as a twist on Indian cuisine.

But this isn’t just about tasty pixels—it’s a testament to gaming’s real-world clout. Monster Hunter has long been a titan in Japan, its portable roots on the PSP cementing a fanbase that’s grown into a cultural force. Wilds, with its record-breaking launch, has only amplified that influence. Posts on X marvel at the absurdity: “A game making cheese naan sell out? Capcom’s playing 4D chess,” one user quipped. Others draw parallels to past media-driven food booms—like The Avengers boosting shawarma sales in 2012—proving that a well-placed meal can move markets. For Salam Namaste, it’s been a windfall; their “thank you” to Capcom underscores how a virtual dish can fatten a restaurant’s bottom line.

Not everyone’s buying the hype, though. Some skeptics on forums argue cheese naan was already a hit in Japan—hardly a niche item needing a game to spark interest. “It’s just a coincidence hyped up by clever marketing,” one Redditor claimed. Fair point—Nepalese and Indian eateries have thrived in cities like Tokyo for years, and cheese naan’s a menu mainstay. But the timing’s undeniable: the spike hit right as Wilds dropped, and the social media flood ties it directly to Kunafa’s feast. Even if it’s not the sole cause, the game’s given it a monster-sized boost.

What’s next? Capcom’s unlikely to patch in a naan-cooking minigame, but the craze could linger. Wilds’ food obsession—stir-fries, roasted meats—keeps players hungry, and with a 85% PC Gamer score despite launch bugs, its grip on fans isn’t loosening. For Japan’s Nepalese restaurants, it’s a golden moment—some are even joking about sending Capcom a bill for extra cheese. Players, meanwhile, are split between hunting wyverns and hunting takeout: “I’ve logged 100 hours in Wilds, but half’s just rewatching that naan scene,” one X user admitted.

This cheese naan saga is more than a quirky headline—it’s a glimpse into how games shape culture beyond the screen. Baldur’s Gate 3 rewrote RPG rules; Elden Ring redefined challenge. Monster Hunter Wilds? It’s making you crave a snack while you swing a greatsword. Bethesda and BioWare might churn out polished worlds, but Capcom’s serving up ambition with a side of melted cheese—and Japan’s eating it up, one naan at a time. As the dust settles on this culinary crossover, one thing’s clear: the future of RPGs might just taste as good as it plays.