Cover of the game Critter Kitchen: À La Cart

Critter Kitchen: À La Cart

Cardboard Alchemy, HIT Games, Lucky Duck Games · Board game · 2025
Ludopedia
9.0 Ludopedia
BoardGameGeek
8.1 BoardGameGeek
Players
2–7 · best 4
Play Time
60 min
Weight
Weight 2.7/5
Year
Year 2025
Minimum age
Minimum age 12+
Buy
9.0 rating Ludopedia
8.1 rating BoardGameGeek

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Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

If you love cooking chaos with cute critters, this expansion cranks up the fun and fits a big group.

Highlights
  • new location twists
  • extra chefs and critics
  • 6‑7 player mode
  • high replay value
Keep in mind
  • adds slight rule complexity
  • requires base game
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Critter Kitchen: À La Cart arrives as the first expansion for the beloved Critter Kitchen, adding fresh layers of strategy and fun to the chaotic kitchen of the little Zous chefs. Beyond recipes and prep turns, you now get location variations that change how dishes are served, injecting unexpected twists into your planning. The expansion brings extra Zous chefs, picky food critics, restaurant owners with unique goals, and a swirl of rumors that can become opportunities or traps, dramatically boosting replay value with countless character and rumor combos. A standout feature is the 6‑ or 7‑player mode, letting the whole family or friend group gather around a single table without splitting up. Core mechanics from the base game—allocation of different worker types, contracts, player‑specific abilities, and programmed movement—stay intact but receive new cards and rules that broaden tactical options. Complexity remains light (weight 2.7/5), perfect for those who enjoy quick, thematic, highly interactive games. Components are high‑quality, with colorful art that highlights the anthropomorphic animal theme and the bustling restaurant vibe. In short, À La Cart upgrades the original’s charm while making it even more accessible for larger groups, ensuring game nights are filled with laughs, surprising strategies, and delightfully sabotaged dishes.

Expansion for

Published additional content

1 items

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Critter Kitchen: À La Cart English · PDF
Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–7 players
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST
5 REC
6 OK
7 OK

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Misc: LongPack Games Organizations: Game Designers of North Carolina Players: Expansions Changing Player Count Theme: Anthropomorphic Animals
Publisher Cardboard Alchemy, HIT Games, Lucky Duck Games, Maldito Games, YOKA Games
Designer Alex Cutler, Peter C. Hayward
Artist Sandara Tang

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

2,593owners
134wishlist
9want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
How many players can join?
From 2 up to 7, with a special 6‑7 player mode that lets everyone sit together.
What’s the typical play time?
About 60 minutes, roughly the same as the base game.
Do I need the base game?
Yes, À La Cart is an expansion and requires the original Critter Kitchen to play.
How complex is the expansion?
It stays light (around 2.7/5 weight), easy to pick up even with the added rules.
What new components are included?
New Zous chef cards, critic cards, restaurant owner cards, rumor cards, and extra location tiles.