The Devil’s in the Lunch Deals Volume 1 Review

Tokyopop has released the first volume of The Devil’s in the Lunch Deals, a fantasy manga by Ishiko licensed for Western distribution. The story follows Lainey, who sells box lunches from a cart in the Northern Kingdom while hiding her true identity as Solange, a former goddess stripped of her powers. To regain them, she must perform good deeds daily, aided by her giant chicken companion Chun-chan. Her routine is interrupted when Minister Lilac tastes her food and later encounters a monster born from human emotional gaps. Lainey calmly tames the creature, surprising Lilac with her gentle nature despite her past role in a war between kingdoms.

The series features an idiosyncratic art style that complements its deadpan humor and gradual backstory reveals. It was ranked sixth in the 2026 Kono Manga ga Sugoi awards. Nate Derr handles translation, with lettering by Andrew Copeland. The release includes a bonus two-page story titled Spring Update. While published by Kodansha in Japan, Tokyopop manages both physical and digital releases in the West. Readers can access up to Chapter 15 via the K Manga platform.