Cooking Diary review

Cooking Diary adds a story to the restaurant formula. You return to your hometown to revive your grandfather's culinary legacy, with characters, humor and a town to rebuild alongside the cooking levels. The listing promises hundreds of dishes, dozens of restaurants, outfits, pets and culinary competitions with prizes, plus seasonal events such as a Thanksgiving event and a Chef's Pass. It won the Webby People's Voice Award 2020 for Strategy/Simulation Game and a People's Choice Award at the International Mobile Gaming Awards 2019, and US players rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 164K ratings. MYTONA says you do not need to pay to download, update or progress, but it does sell random items for real money. It is a 936.5 MB download and rated 13+ for frequent crude humor. Listed purchases start at $0.99 for a handful of rubies.

Who it is for

Players who want a storyline, outfits and pets

Price

Free to play; listed in-app purchases start at $0.99 on the US App Store.

Handful of rubies $0.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Story about reviving your grandfather's culinary legacy
• Dozens of restaurants and hundreds of dishes
• Outfits and pets to collect
• Culinary competitions with prizes
• Seasonal Chef's Pass and holiday events

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Webby People's Voice Award 2020 for Strategy/Simulation Game
• Strength: Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 164K US ratings
• Strength: Cheapest listed purchase is $0.99
• Weakness: 936.5 MB download
• Weakness: Rated 13+ for frequent crude humor
• Weakness: Sells random items for real money

Key facts

• Developer: MYTONA Ltd.
• App Store rating: 4.7 from 164K ratings
• Age rating: 13+
• Size: 936.5 MB
• Award: Webby People's Voice Award 2020

Where it ranks

Cooking Diary is No. 7 in our Best Free Cooking Games verdict.