Blizzard has a secret fondness for pairing its games with culinary experiences. From the World of Warcraft cookbook to the old Diablo-themed beer, they clearly enjoy turning game concepts into something edible.
However, whether these concepts actually make sense is another matter.
The World of Warcraft Official Cookbook was great. I’ve always been curious about the countless dishes that appear in that game. But things get a bit complicated when you move to games like StarCraft or Diablo, where there’s absolutely zero description of food. Do the Protoss, who don't even have mouths, eat anything? And would the people of Sanctuary—a world so chaotic that it wouldn't be surprising if they were wiped out tomorrow—even care about culinary culture?
In that sense, the 'Diablo Beer' released a few years ago felt incredibly fresh. It wasn't a familiar flavor, but it made me wonder: if 'Hell' had a taste, would this be it? The Diablo franchise, having found some success with that, later collaborated on wine, further cementing its ties to alcohol. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Diablo logo on a bottle of soju.
▲ A surprisingly enjoyable review of Diablo beer
But to my surprise, this time it was the turn of authentic cuisine. On April 27, one day before the launch of the 'Lord of Hatred' and in celebration of the Diablo franchise's 30th anniversary and the release of Vessel of Hatred, I attended the 'Kitchen Diablo' event. For the first time, I was presented with 'Diablo food' rather than alcohol.
The tasting began with a menu presentation by 'Seungwoo's Dad,' an influencer and chef who reportedly traveled all the way to the Anaheim headquarters to develop the dishes. After hearing the somewhat chilling promise that he would "show us the taste of Hell," I picked up my cutlery with high expectations.
▲ "I will show you the taste of Hell"
Today's menu is as follows.
🍽 Menu Composition
1. Feast of Hell
ㄴ A platter featuring 'cranberry blood,' fire-grilled patties, ribs, burger buns, and vegetables
2. Mephisto Pizza
ㄴ A spicy pizza where you break the red lid—representing Mephisto's shadow—and mix the 'shards of hatred' with the black hell-mayo sauce underneath
3. Dessert: Horadric Cube Bread
ㄴ Toast shaped like the Horadric Cube, a staple of the Diablo universe, served with fruit and ice cream representing various gems and materials
ㄴ A refreshing non-alcoholic highball with blood-red hibiscus and strawberry, designed to soothe the fires of Hell
Now, let me describe the 'taste.'
🍴 Feast of Hell
- Cheese sauce, buns, pork ribs, beef patty, cabbage pickles, chili peppers, paprika, onions, and cranberry sauce
📌 One-line review: "A dish you have to eat with your whole body"
It looks like a burger plate, but it's not a burger. It's designed to be taken apart, and as you can see, if you try to eat it with your hands, they will end up very colorful.
Opening the top bun reveals two blackened baby back ribs. At first glance, they look so dark I mistook them for being severely overcooked, but they actually just taste like a rich, dark barbecue sauce. The grilled vegetables on the side are just that—grilled vegetables. However, the chili pepper is incredibly spicy. While the cranberry jam, cheese sauce, and barbecue sauce are pleasantly standard, the chili is truly the taste of Hell.
The overall flavor is well-balanced. With just the right amount of sweetness and acidity, it’s hard to dislike. However, it was quite cold due to the nature of group catering, which was a shame. It might be even better if ordered fresh and hot.
A downside is that because the sauces are red, black, and yellow, the plate gets very messy. If you pick up the ribs, your fingertips turn black as if you've dipped them in ink. By the end, you'll find yourself eating like the Butcher. I got sauce all over my clothes—I looked like a performance artist...
▲ Open the bun to reveal... not burnt human ribs, but barbecue pork ribs
▲ The plate gets messier the more you eat. And I'm usually a pretty neat eater.
🍴 Mephisto Pizza
- Pepperoni, button mushrooms, spicy black mayo sauce, crushed red pepper, and a pizza topped with a tuile
📌 One-line review: "A crispy and spicy pizza from start to finish"
At first glance, it’s hard to tell if it’s a snack or something else, but the 'Mephisto's head' on top is a fairly thick tuile. If you tap it to break it, the pizza underneath is revealed.
The tuile tastes like a standard tuile. Since it's more about texture than flavor, it doesn't have a unique taste, but it adds a satisfying crunch throughout the meal. The pizza itself is a familiar, decent pepperoni pizza, but the black mayo sauce is excellent. It’s moderately spicy with a sweet, rich flavor, though it isn't so overpowering that it masks the other ingredients.
However, once you break the tuile, there's nothing to hold it together, so as you eat, the pieces keep falling off. It’s a bit inconvenient; to eat it properly, you have to pick up the fallen shards one by one and place them back on the slice.
▲ Once you break the tuile, the pizza is revealed
▲ Not excessive, but it has a nice kick. A bit less spicy than Papa John's Spicy Italian
🍴 Horadric Cube Bread
Honey bread, fruit jam, nuts, yogurt, ice cream, mint
📌 One-line review: "A sweet, sour, and exemplary dessert"
The lid of the square honey bread, scorched to look like a Horadric Cube, is removed, and the inside is hollowed out and filled with fruit chutney and yogurt. It’s a dish that seems to depict the process of putting various ingredients into the Horadric Cube. Vanilla ice cream, yogurt, and blueberry jam are served on the side.
Honestly, this is the kind of dish where you know exactly what it’s going to taste like the moment you see it. Ice cream, fruit jam, yogurt—it’s all familiar. Since the previous dishes were generally on the spicy side, this makes for a perfect follow-up.
However, the honey bread that acts as the 'cube' has a very strong burnt taste—I wonder if they actually charred the surface. It's best to keep in mind that it's just a container for the other ingredients.
▲ Think of the bread as a container, like a bread bowl for clam chowder
🍴 Hibiscus & Strawberry Non-Alcoholic Highball
- Hibiscus tea & strawberry extract
📌 One-line review: "A refreshing acidity to cleanse the palate"
A drink to accompany the other dishes. It was reportedly inspired by the blood of Lilith, and for 'blood,' it’s surprisingly delicious. Since hibiscus tea is naturally red and acidic, it blends perfectly with the strawberry without any awkwardness.
Personally, this was my favorite menu item in terms of pure taste. There’s a reason the Wanderer was obsessed with Lilith's blood. It’s delicious.
The 'Kitchen Diablo' menu will be available for about three weeks until May 17 at the Devil's Door Central City branch in Banpo-dong, Seoul. Events for visiting gamers are also prepared, and those who order from the menu and provide proof of purchase will receive special in-game items.
Separately, the venue is very well decorated. The stained-glass decals on the windows are so exquisitely applied that I didn't even realize they were stickers at first, and the decorations throughout the venue fit the 'Lord of Hatred' concept perfectly. I've prepared a few photos so you can see what it looks like.
▲ The impressive stained glass▲ You can also see the ever-suffering Inarius and some skeletons▲ A portrait of the Prophet, his daughter, and plenty of health potions▲ It would be perfect to go with three people, order one of each menu item, and share...
This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of NC AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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