Designing the Cooking Loop
The fast-paced cooking loop took inspiration from Shawarma Legend, but Luo adapted it to the steps of making kaolengmian: preparing ingredients, cracking eggs, brushing on sauce, flipping the noodle sheet, and serving each order. Players must manage these actions while keeping track of incoming orders and impatient customers.
Iterating with Player Feedback
Luo shared early prototypes with players and used interviews and feedback throughout development. Their responses helped him assess how the cooking tasks felt in practice and refine the game as it grew.
Luo also added keyboard shortcuts alongside mouse controls. They made frequently repeated actions quicker and helped players stay in control during busy shifts.
Case Study: Stories at the Stall
A customer at the stall is more than an order to complete. While players cook kaolengmian and keep the line moving, the people who stop by share pieces of their everyday lives: small joys, frustrations, and worries. Luo contributed to the narrative design, helping make these encounters part of the experience of running the stall.
The story also follows the stall owner, who leaves a routine job to start a business, and a young woman who joins them along the way. Cooking gives players a reason to return to the counter each day; the conversations give them a reason to care about the people on the other side of it.
The above player review says: “I really like that the game doesn’t turn running a business into a numbers game. Money matters, of course, but you remember the regular customers and look forward to finding out how they’re doing. As the stall gradually improves, their stories move forward too. It feels less like I’m just making money and more like I’ve actually spent time at this night market. I hope more NPCs are added in the future.”
Storytelling and Release
Customer NPCs bring down-to-earth conversations and glimpses of ordinary life to the stall. Luo contributed to the narrative design alongside his work on gameplay, sound, and production. Released in August 2026, the game has received an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.
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