The 9 Best Board Games for Food Lovers

Eater Staff

Stephanie Ganz
is a writer and recipe developer whose work has appeared in BUST, Bon Appétit, The Kitchn, and Epicurious. She’s the author of the Substack newsletter But Wait, There’s More.

Board games have a knack for sparking conversation and erasing social anxiety, so they’re also a good fit for dinner parties, but finding the right one for your crew is key. Some are silly, get-up-on-your-feet affairs (Hello, Throw Throw Burrito) while others tap into your guests’ keen intellect to keep things interesting (Enter: Murder Mystery Party). Here are my top picks for board games to entertain any kind of crowd.

Best for an Italian Dinner Party: Murder Mystery Party: Pasta, Passion, and Pistols

You don’t have to match your board game to do your dinner, but when the opportunity presents itself, you probably should. In this roughly two-hour long game designed for up to eight players, your guests will become characters in a red-sauced whodunnit as they discover clues and unravel the mystery, bite by bite. It pairs perfectly with a cheesy lasagna and a bottle of Big Red.

Pottery Barn Portable Social Pong Set

Prices taken at time of publishing.

“Pong” (preceded by “beer” or any other beverage of choice) isn’t just for frat boys—it feels downright dignified with this elevated set that turns the college classic into an upscale lawn game.

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Best for Old Friends: Yahtzee: SPAM

I’ve always loved Yahtzee, with its perfect balance of luck and skill, and now the classic dice-rolling game is available in SPAM flavor. It’s still the same dear old game I grew up with, but now it includes classic SPAM dishes, from Musubi to a Fried SPAMwich. Whether it inspires you to fry up your own SPAM or just provides a little diversion while you chat with your guests, this one deserves a spot on your game shelf.

Exploding Kittens Presents Throw Throw Burrito

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Sure, it starts out as an innocent card game, but soon the stakes change into a dodgeball-esque battle of burrito-throwing. (Don’t worry—they’re soft, squishy, and won’t make a mess.) Even the instruction manual is a riot.

My family’s favorite food-related game, Sushi Go, is a fast-playing card drafting game in which players score points by creating combinations of maki rolls, sashimi, and nigiri, plus the ever-important puddings. A round of this game never fails to make me and my sushi-obsessed 13-year-old hungry. Designed for two to five players, ages eight and up, even younger players (like my 6-year-old) can get the hang of it with a little help. I like that it comes in a little tin, rather than a cardboard box, which makes taking this game to the pool or to a friend’s house much easier.

From the people who brought us Exploding Kittens (now a Netflix series, because of course it is), Anarchy Pancakes is a slightly unhinged card game that encourages players to create combinations of pancakes and toppings in a mad dash against their opponents. It’s a wild, fast romp that ends with the winner yelling, “Anarchy Pancakes!” and being awarded — what else? — a slab of butter. Designed for two to five players, this is ideal for groups of four or five.

A fun, lively card-slapping game with cute illustrations and neat Sriracha-bottle-inspired packaging, Sriracha: The Game would be an excellent choice to bring along to a family get together in which there’s a chance of boredom ensuing. Each game only takes 10 to 15 minutes, making it a good choice for situations where players may need to come and go.