Perkins Released Custom Menu-Inspired Mahjong Sets

The restaurant chain launched a limited-edition board game to encourage face-to-face interaction while dining.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dining Out

Perkins Released Custom Menu-Inspired Mahjong Sets

Live Poll

Would you prefer to use a provided game instead of your phone while dining out?

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery has released custom Mahjong sets featuring designs of its menu items and restaurant storefronts. Developed with an independent artist, the sets are available for purchase at select locations across the country.

Why it matters

The campaign aims to foster face-to-face social interaction and reduce screen time for guests during their visits to the restaurants. By integrating the game into the dining experience, the company hopes to build deeper connections with its customer base.

Perkins operates approximately 300 locations across 29 states. The Mahjong tiles feature custom illustrations of restaurant menu items and building designs created by an independent artist.

The players

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery

This American restaurant chain, which specializes in breakfast and baked goods, was founded in 1958.

Ascent Hospitality Management

This investment group acquired the Perkins brand and restaurant network in 2019.

Arcadia

This creative agency partnered with Perkins to oversee the design and commissioning of the custom game sets.

The details

Perkins and the agency Arcadia commissioned an artist from Etsy to create the game pieces. Customers can also visit a promotional microsite to enter for a chance to win one of the custom sets.

Matt and Ivan Perkins launched the original chain in 1958.
Ascent Hospitality Management purchased the brand in 2019.
Perkins released the custom Mahjong sets in October 2026.

Culture Shift

Perkins joins a growing list of casual dining chains utilizing physical entertainment to follow the broader pattern of incentivizing in-person social activity. This move mirrors the post-pandemic push for analog social engagement in the hospitality industry.

Diners interested in the Mahjong sets should check their local Perkins location for availability, as they are not offered at every restaurant. Customers can also visit the brand's digital microsite to participate in the contest for a chance to win a set.

The takeaway

Engaging in offline games while at a restaurant provides a structured way to disconnect from mobile devices during a meal. Consider bringing a travel-sized board or card game to your next dining outing to encourage conversation without digital distractions.