
Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

My princess kept reminding me of pasta while I was watching it. Then I learned that they were done by the same director.
If you want a similar romance drama with the same lovable vibe, and a slowly progressing romance, with good acting cast…
They even have similar music.
Both are very addicting after the first episode.
If you want a similar romance drama with the same lovable vibe, and a slowly progressing romance, with good acting cast…
They even have similar music.
Both are very addicting after the first episode.

The protagonist is young, determined, inspired to join the restaurant/bakery that they've eaten from. Romantic lead is an arrogant, skilled hot tempered chef/baker who doesn't cut the protagonist any slack. 2nd romantic lead is very kind and caring to the protagonist during their rough time at first.

Both dramas have the same director, screen writer and lead actor, so while watching you might get the same feeling.
But that's not it. Both dramas don't focus on the romance directly. In "Pasta" it is about working in a restaurant, while in "Miss Korea" it is about working out to be Miss Korea and managing a cosmetic company.
Beside the lead actor, Lee Sun Gyun, actors Lee Sung Min and Choi Jae Hwan also acted in both dramas as supporting roles.
But that's not it. Both dramas don't focus on the romance directly. In "Pasta" it is about working in a restaurant, while in "Miss Korea" it is about working out to be Miss Korea and managing a cosmetic company.
Beside the lead actor, Lee Sun Gyun, actors Lee Sung Min and Choi Jae Hwan also acted in both dramas as supporting roles.

Fang Jia Hua is the successor of a business. His dream is to open a chocolate store and be an expert in chocolate. He ends up leaving his business and his family to fulfill his dream. Hong Xi En is someone who spent her days slogging and taking up part time work. One day, she ends up working for him and above all, she has to dress herself as a man for the job.

Chae Yong Ju is a former member of the special forces in the military. She's physically and mentally strong and has her own unique cheerfulness. She is also good at hiding her true emotions. Now working as a salesperson for a liquor company for the past six years, she has been dubbed the sales king. Despite her dedication, her branch is on the verge of closing.
To avoid the closure, she carries out a mission to sell a new beer made by brewmaster & CEO of the brewery company Yun Min Ju. Min Ju is a sensitive man good at sensing other people's emotions. He lives in a peaceful, quiet rural area to focus on making beer. When Yong Ju appears in front of him, however, his life is about to change.
To avoid the closure, she carries out a mission to sell a new beer made by brewmaster & CEO of the brewery company Yun Min Ju. Min Ju is a sensitive man good at sensing other people's emotions. He lives in a peaceful, quiet rural area to focus on making beer. When Yong Ju appears in front of him, however, his life is about to change.


Both dramas concentrate on a specific culinary area.
Both teach you a lot about their respective domain.
Both revolve around a master in his field that is forced to accept an unwanted disciple - a headstrong woman, who gives her all to learn.
Both dramas are rather slow and have a certain "Indie" feeling about them.
If you enjoyed one of them, you'd enjoy the other one too.
Both teach you a lot about their respective domain.
Both revolve around a master in his field that is forced to accept an unwanted disciple - a headstrong woman, who gives her all to learn.
Both dramas are rather slow and have a certain "Indie" feeling about them.
If you enjoyed one of them, you'd enjoy the other one too.

Love comes in all flavors.
Secret Ingredient is the story of a Korean man who gives up his entire luxurious life in Seoul in search of his childhood girlfriend, someone he’s never forgotten all these years, in the hopes that she would fall in love with him, not for who they were back then or who they are now, but for what they can aspire to be: happy, fulfilled and blissfully in love with one another.
Secret Ingredient is the story of a Korean man who gives up his entire luxurious life in Seoul in search of his childhood girlfriend, someone he’s never forgotten all these years, in the hopes that she would fall in love with him, not for who they were back then or who they are now, but for what they can aspire to be: happy, fulfilled and blissfully in love with one another.

This drama is a love story between Kataoka Sakuya, a grim reaper who comes to the human world for the first time, and Mochizuki Nayuki, a woman who lost her father at a young age and has devoted her life to raising her only remaining family—her younger brother. As they meet, they gradually come to understand each other, and slowly, they begin to fall in love. However, a fate that will dramatically change their lives awaits them both…



Fukuyoshi Hina, Arare, and Hana are three sisters whose family run Fukuya, a 450-year-old traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto. This is the story of their individual romances, love of family and sacrifices for the sake of protecting tradition.
~~ Adapted from the manga "Fukuyadou Honpo" by Yuchi Yayomi.
~~ Adapted from the manga "Fukuyadou Honpo" by Yuchi Yayomi.

Even though the themes are extremely different (cooking and hospital), there are way more similarities between these dramas than I thought
- FL harbors a seemingly unrequited love for the ML
- FL is headstrong, stubborn, optismistic, perservering inexperienced newcomer at her workplace
- ML is seemingly cold at first and often yells/scolds at FL and gradually begin to soften with her over time as he develops a mentor/mentee relationship with FL
- ML and FL first meeting was cute and FL had a good impression of ML until FL met him again at the workplace where he is a seemingly cold and ruthless workaholic
- There's a scene where ML professes his love for FL saying he loves her more than she loves him despite being the colder/less affectionate between the two of them
- ML starts to show his affection for FL after getting injured for saving ML from a dangerous situation
- Near the end of the series, both FL is given a chance to go study abroad and ML supports her in going although the FLs make different decisions in their respective dramas
- FL harbors a seemingly unrequited love for the ML
- FL is headstrong, stubborn, optismistic, perservering inexperienced newcomer at her workplace
- ML is seemingly cold at first and often yells/scolds at FL and gradually begin to soften with her over time as he develops a mentor/mentee relationship with FL
- ML and FL first meeting was cute and FL had a good impression of ML until FL met him again at the workplace where he is a seemingly cold and ruthless workaholic
- There's a scene where ML professes his love for FL saying he loves her more than she loves him despite being the colder/less affectionate between the two of them
- ML starts to show his affection for FL after getting injured for saving ML from a dangerous situation
- Near the end of the series, both FL is given a chance to go study abroad and ML supports her in going although the FLs make different decisions in their respective dramas

Seo Yu Gyeong endured the gruelling job of kitchen assistant at high-class restaurant La Sfera for three years in hopes of being promoted to chef. Things are looking up as she meets a handsome stranger on the street who ends up being the restaurant's new head chef. On his first day on the job, however, he fires all the female cooks, including Yu Gyeong.
Yu Gyeong, too stubborn to let go of her dream, is willing to do whatever it takes to get her job back. Yu Gyeong struggles as she butts heads with the new chef while trying to learn everything she can from him at the same time, and sparks begin to fly.
Things are complicated by the presence of Kim San, a charming customer with an eye for Yu Gyeong who seems to have mysterious ties to the restaurant, and O Sae Yeong, a famous TV Chef and former love of Hyeon Uk, not to mention the kitchen politics that get in the way of their budding romance.
Yu Gyeong, too stubborn to let go of her dream, is willing to do whatever it takes to get her job back. Yu Gyeong struggles as she butts heads with the new chef while trying to learn everything she can from him at the same time, and sparks begin to fly.
Things are complicated by the presence of Kim San, a charming customer with an eye for Yu Gyeong who seems to have mysterious ties to the restaurant, and O Sae Yeong, a famous TV Chef and former love of Hyeon Uk, not to mention the kitchen politics that get in the way of their budding romance.