The best mobile food games that aren't Diner Dash

You can try to resist, but there’s nothing quite like pretending to chop potatoes in Cooking Mama or serving every meal perfectly in a game like Diner Dash. Food games are fun, plain and simple. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are some of the best food and restaurant games on the App Store to whet your appetite.

Order Up!! truly is the best of both worlds, combining the time management stress of Diner Dash and the simulated cooking in Cooking Mama. Open up a restaurant, keep guests happy, and upgrade your facilities to become the top restaurant franchise in town. Man the back-end, too, serving up helpings of your own homecooked meals. It’s a great all-in-one package, and the cartoony graphics are easy on the eye.

Alright, so it’s from the same people who brought you Diner Dash, but this time you’re the chef. Cook up tasty dishes accurately while keeping all of the new orders coming over the counter in line. The challenge lies in preparing food correctly with often limited resources. The amount of money you make hinges on customer satisfaction, and cash flow also determines your progress in the game. If you loved Diner Dash, you’ll enjoy this new take on the franchise.

Bakery Blitz is another time management game, but here you play the role of a patissiere running a bakery in an attempt to restore sweetness to a troubled world. Things get complicated when you start adding layers, decorations, and bonus treats like coffee and lemonade. The game looks stylish and well-made, and there are a lot of fun goals outside of the story to keep you moving forward.

Cooking in games is fun, especially when you don’t have to clean up afterwards. Just make sure you don’t play hungry -- these games might best be saved for after dinner. Bon appetite!

What are your favorite cooking games on mobile? Let us know in the comments.