Dating in the Kitchen

I also want to find a boyfriend who is a CEO like Lu Jin :')

I like the simple and warm storyline even though the age gap between the female lead and male lead is quite big, and i like how the writer makes Lu Jin (Lin Shen) a warm, clumsy CEO who really appreciates Gu Shengnan's hard work and sincerely loved Gu Shengnan's cooking. Thank you for not making Lu Jin the typical CEO character in dramas who is cold, possessive, or domineering.

The writer also created Gu Shengnan's (Zhao Lusi) character quite well. Thankfully, they didn't make Gu Shengnan a careless or clumsy girl, instead they made Shengnan a poor girl who had a bright personality, energetic, dared to stand up for herself, and had recognized cooking skills. Shengnan is quite a strong character even though she's much younger than Lu Jin. Of course, there are several scenes where the writer shows Gu Shengnan's childish nature to make it look more realistic and show how different the attitudes and thoughts of someone who is still in their early 20s and someone who has entered their late 30s are.

In terms of production, I'm quite satisfied. It's just that sometimes I think the second couple's love story doesn't need to be given a long broadcast slot, sometimes I just skip it haha.

When it comes to acting, I'm satisfied with Zhao Lusi and Lin Shen's acting. They were able to portray their respective characters and successfully convey to the audience that dating with a big age gap will feel a lot of difference because the mindset between those who are just adults and those who are already matures is definitely quite influential in everyday life.

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Older Men are in

So I'll be honest. I was a little uncomfortable with the age gap when I first read the synopsis, but I watched it anyways for Zhao Lu Si. She is so cute and has had great chemistry with her other partners in other dramas. In the end, I decided to give this drama a go and hope for the best. The minute the male lead comes in, my heart DROPS. He is so handsome, and very very much my kind of older guy. The age gap isn't overwhelming and the chemistry between the leads was ... radiating. Wow... The chemistry was off the charts. I loved the male lead. He was so loyal to the FL during the whole entire drama. I guess that's the best part about being older and more secure in your career. He doesn't feel swayed by the opinions of his mother or secretary. Lu Si's character was the epitome of young, but she always plays her characters well. I love her acting, especially when she cries... my heart just criiiieeees. I really recommend this drama for anyone bored and single.

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The Best and Most Lovable Rom-Com of my Lifetime!

Words are not enough for my review here.
Everything is Perfect! Main Leads, Casts, Crews, and Storyline!
"This is the Most Lovable Rom-Com of my Lifetime!"
My salute to Shen Lin, one of the best C-actor, and Zhao Lu Si, my first time to watch her! They're the Best Couple!
Its storyline conveyed an important meaning for all of us . .
"People fall in love with a Person, not their Age".
As long as you are in love and for the right reasons, your relationship can work. We truly can't help with whom we fall in love. Love doesn't care if someone is older or younger, as long as one is honest and faithful to his or her feelings for one another.
*** This is such a beautiful and excellent drama.
I strongly recommend it to everyone!

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Swoon Worthy Chemistry

If you want a rollercoaster , swoon-worthy couple then you really get that with this series.

Honestly, Lu Jin is one of those characters that makes you melt when he looks at Nan Nan. Lin Shen is one of those actors that can say so much in an expression, he really made the character believable and portray the type of love where the other person just makes you feel complete

Yes there is an age gap with these characters, and they really do use it for the story but in a way that makes it less "lecherous old man and student" and more so that she brings him the spark of being carefree and happy. She helps him shed his heartless, cold shell that kept him protected after his father deserted him and his mother, and learn to to the risk to embrace family and love again.

I found the second couple Richard and Celine to be a bit much. Not that I didn't like them at first, but I really just wanted to rush back to the scenes with Fussy Lu and Nan Nan again since I just loved their chemistry.

Now I do have to say I did get a bit annoyed with the male lead, Lu Jin, a few times since there was some points where I felt he needed to stick up for Gu Shengnan more. But I did like that Nan Nan did seem to start standing up for herself and Lu Jin was there for her when it mattered in many situations.

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A recipe for love, laughter, and a little wisdom — Dating in the Kitchen truly served it all!

I binge-watched this drama, and it was totally worth it! The storyline was engaging and beautifully paced, while the acting was even better; natural, heartfelt, and full of chemistry. Every episode kept me hooked, and even the side love story added a charming touch.

What really stood out to me was how the show used the historical pair Liu Bang and Lu Zhi as an analogy. I don’t believe the female lead truly embodies Lu Zhi’s characteristics, but understanding that comparison gave me deeper insight into the kind of woman a man ought to have by his side and the balance between love and ambition.

There were also several relationship gems throughout the series; moments that felt genuine, reflective, and even instructive. As an older adult watching a story where a mature man falls for a much younger woman, I could appreciate how the drama portrayed the immature yet innocent and adorable side of the female lead. It offered an interesting perspective on growth, vulnerability, and the learning that comes with love at different stages of life.

Overall, Dating in the Kitchen is a warm, funny, and heartfelt drama. I loved every episode. It’s definitely on my favorites list and one I’ll be rewatching for sure!

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Wonderful romance beteen two unlikely lovers

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Zhao Lusi and Lin Yushen did a stellar job bringing the characters to life. Lin Yushen's Lu Jin, a mid-30s CEO who is rich and successful on the outside but lonely and slightly bitter on the inside, is really the star of the show as he learns to navigate his unexpected feelings for Gu Shengnan, a pretty, talented young chef. Lu Jin is an expert in business but a novice in love, and his fumbling attempts to win Shengnan's made me smile over and over. The age gap of 15 years between them faded away as they discovered they were a perfect fit, filling in the empty holes in each other's life.

There are a few familiar tropes here: disapproving mother, scheming secretary who is secretly infatuated with her boss, even a weaselly younger brother willing to use Shengnan for his own ends. The final few episodes were slightly frustrating as the conflict could have been cleared up with an honest conversation, but given Lu Jin's workaholic background and inexperience in opening up to someone, it made sense. This was one of the best C-dramas of the year for me. Highly recommended!

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Another weird and generic drama

The romance between the two leads is really hard to watch there is no chemistry whatsoever esp for the FL. The ml is and looks like he could be her father. Seeing the rating is really baffling to me cauz there is absolutely nothing that is redeeming about this story it's a mess like most cdramas I just had to skip so much, the leads were just awkward if you are normal you don't want to see an old man romancing a young girl old enough to be his daughter as I connect it to real life I don't find it anything swoon worthy, for the acting I guess they tried hard they aren't bad actors tho FL can be really annoying sometimes. Anyway they couldnt save the mess that is this drama might also contribute the fact that I don't like age gap dramas with ml being an old middle age guy

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Wow- chemistry chemistry chemistry!

I am not even done with this drama and it’s the first time I’ve wanted to write a review before a dramas finished- This is not you typical chinese drama - it’s bolder and the chemistry and story are off the charts! I’ve heard of Rosy Zhou and loved Tiger and the rose but never heard of LI Yu Chen until now. I will definitely update after I finish but you must watch this drama!!! It’s so so good-
it has everything ! I actually love the age gap
it adds the the story in a
wonderful way... He is just adorable processing his feelings for her and she is so innocent and sweet that he has to guide her through-‘They are perfect together and I totally shipped them in real life I loved them so much! I can’t wait until a
i’d over to add. my thoughts ... so start watching you won’t regret it!

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Connoisseur Turns Pervert and Chef Turns Tart

I've watched the movie version of this drama, “This Is Not What I Expected”. When the drama aired, it received a lot of good comments and I started watching and liked it a lot. However, by the end of episode 5, I decided I couldn’t continue anymore even though Zhao Lusi’s performance is hilarious for the first 2 episodes which I liked.

Gu Sheng Nan (Zhao Lusi) is like a humpty dumpty; everywhere she goes, she brings havocs. Zhao Lu Si herself is like a "shǎ bái tián" (silly, fair, sweet). Her portrayal is so adorable with not only a bubbly character but also slightly dumb-witted (occasionally) which makes her very endearing. I like how they have used food to convey messages which only a connoisseur can understand and appreciate. Initially the dialogues are unexpectedly good and funny. Then they become ordinary and predictable.

As the story develops, I begin to be put off by how Lu Jin (Lin Shen) coming on to her, knowing she’s just a young financially insecure girl and himself a wealthy and powerful middle age man. I’m in no way against such relationships, but I’m turned off by how he seduces her, and she does likewise. This makes the relationship very artificial which I totally dislike.

By episode 5, Lu Jin turns into a pervert and she becomes a cheap tart. I find the relationship of the male lead and female lead better in the movie (This is Not What I Expected) where their falling in love more natural without all the seduction parts as depicted in the drama here. I also dislike her girl friend Xu Zhao Di who uses people and is terribly materialistic. And I dislike how the personal assistant willing to be used and becomes a willing victim for Xu Zhao Di because he likes to show off.

As how the story goes from here, I cannot see myself liking it further, so I’m dropping it. It is very rare for me dropping a series, but I’m afraid this is one of them.

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Trying characters

OVERALL
Give this drama a try if 1) you have high tolerance for annoying characters, 2) you like dramas with heavy second-hand embarrassment. Skip if 1) you can't stand the above and 2) you are looking for a realistic, well-written love story.

THE STORY
I recently noticed that C-dramas sometimes don't start well but redeem themselves later on, so even though it's not my style, I really tried to push it and watch as much as I could of this drama, despite not being impressed by episode 1. I toughed until episode 5. Why? First, there is absolutely no likeable character in this drama. FL is a mess who takes one bad decision after the next. Although she's good at what she does, there really isn't any aspect of her character that would aspire love so it's hard to understand why ML suddenly (really, out of nowhere) seems to be falling for her. ML is just your typical cold and aloof guy, but with a negative twist: he's also clumsy and kind of...silly? So he's also not that likeable and you're also not sure why FL suddenly starts to care about him. FL's friends are absolutely HORRID, of the worst secondary characters I've ever seen in C-dramas. I wasn't able to care about anybody in this drama. Second, the humor is everything I hate in dramas. Lots of second-hand embarrassment, mostly on FL's part but also on ML's part. Some slapstick too.

On the positive side, I love how good FL is at her job, and all the scenes linked with cooking were the best. I also have a feeling FL is meant to start the drama on the low and grow into a better person, learning to break away from the bad influence of her nasty friends. In that sense, the drama is quite promising. The problem is that she's starting too low, and I have low tolerance for second-hand embarrassment. This is the end of the ride for me.

THE ACTING
I suppose it's okay. No chemistry between the leads, from what I could see, but I also just saw the beginning.

THE MUSIC
Too much background music, all the time. Childish quirky sounds too. I think it wasn't helping.

REWATCH VALUE
Low.

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