Bon Appetit, Your Majesty

This drama started with high expectations due to the many positive reviews, but unfortunately ...

Sometimes a drama doesn’t fail because it’s bad — it fails because the expectations become too high.
This was unfortunately one of those cases for me. After being flooded with overwhelmingly positive reviews, I went in expecting something truly exceptional. Instead, what I got was a drama that started well but gradually lost its impact.
The chemistry between the leads is good, and I genuinely enjoyed the cinematography — visually, this drama is beautiful. The framing, lighting, and atmosphere were well done and clearly had effort put into them. On a technical level, it deserves praise.
However, by the time the drama reached episode 5, the story began to feel repetitive. The narrative didn’t progress in a meaningful way, and scenes started to feel predictable rather than engaging. What initially felt charming slowly turned into something dull, making it harder to stay emotionally invested.
I didn’t hate this drama, and dropping it wasn’t an easy decision. But with so many other dramas out there that feel more exciting and fresh, I had to let this one go. Sometimes it’s better to move on than to force yourself to finish something that no longer holds your interest.
This drama might still work for viewers who enjoy slow-paced storytelling and visual aesthetics over plot development. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

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A short but flavorful treat

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a well-made short K-drama that’s perfect to binge-watch in 2025. For me, the last episode felt a little too short since some events weren’t fully expounded on. But at the same time, keeping it at 12 episodes was a good choice — any longer and it might have turned dragging and less impactful.

I’ve seen many dramas that feature cooking, but this one really stood out. The cooking scenes were beautifully portrayed, and they genuinely showcased the richness of Korean cuisine. Watching it makes you want to fly to South Korea just to try authentic royal cuisine for yourself! Bon Appétit!

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The Way to a Man's Heart and everybody else

From the trailers, my curiosity peaked and as I waited for every episode each week, this drama did not disappoint me.
Each episode is titled according to a particular dish, and each dish has a meaning to someone who ate them.

What do I love about this drama?
The Story - yes, it is another time travelling experience and it involves food like that of Mr. Queen. Conveying childhood stories through food resonates to every race on planet earth. It captures not just the taste, but the memories of loved ones of the characters.
I believe 12 episodes are just enough to put us in different waves of emotions - of wonder, of fear, of joy, of anger, and of love. I am not a scholar on period dramas, but the production looks immense, well researched and prepared. Even as Cook Jeon thinks through each recipe, especially during the competition, there are recollections of what is existing and what is not during that era.
I had fun watching the special effects whenever the king eats Cook Yeon's food. The drama gave us a balance of comedy, drama and action.
I just find one episode that the acting is too much, much like theatrical.

The Actors
Yoona - superb acting. I love her in King the Land, and though how grim the situations sometimes, you can still see a ray of hope and joy in her face. From the time I watched Jewel in the Palace, I had always taken note how Kdramas showed emotions just by their facial expressions. There may be moments that I question - "What the heck?!" when a character seemed acting foolishly in such an extremely violent situation.
Chae Min - though young, he really is a good actor, conveying different emotions. His stature is befitting of a king; his eyes speak even if there are no dialogues. It is quite difficult to see him in modern clothes, when you have seen him how majestic he is in period drama.
The jester and the king's bodyguard - it is funny how people swoon over these two men when they don't have any romantic scenes. What I love about these characters are their unwavering support to the king, their masterful use of the sword and how they escape death.
The villains - they are just great how they put so much flavor into the drama. And somehow their deaths had given us viewers the hope of good winning over evil. Prince Jesan and 4th Consort's facial expressions truly pictured evil plotting.
The other cooks - I love these bunch of Cook Yeon's team, and good to see them again in the modern era.
The inventor - he is so cute, Cook Yeon and him jived and comes in when you need him the most. Can we have him in the modern era too?

What do I dislike about the drama?
Actually, I am not a fan of killing scenes. I usually turn away from it. But what can we do, it is part of the story that can't be ignored.

Overall, I love this drama. Thank you for all the cast and crew who poured out their time and efforts. Their dedication to producing and even preparation for the roles is applauding.

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A Food Drama With a Side of Romance

I'm a sucker for food dramas so this is right up my alley. It's like a cross between a historical drama and Food Wars minus the ecchi, so I had a great time watching this. The characters are endearing and the historical aspects quite intriguing. It made me dig deeper into the real history the story was based on and read pages of historical facts about the notorious Yeonsangun of Joseon. To me, this was a kind of elseworlds type of story, a “what if” the true events that transpired were distorted to fit the narrative of those in power. After all, history is written by the winners.

But alas, the writing in this is far from perfect. There are many suspend-your-disbelief moments, inconsistencies, and obviously contrived instances. But my biggest beef is that while it started with a bang, it ended with a whimper. I didn't mind that they spent too much time on the cooking as I saw this as a food drama with a side of romance and not the other way around. However, the ending was a bit of a letdown to me because they didn't even bother to show how the King ended up in modern-day Seoul, his misadventures prior to finally finding the love of his life, what happened after he disappeared in Joseon, and why he was allowed to travel to the future. I would've rather they ended with just them laying eyes on each other in a tearful poignant scene after showing those “missing” pieces of the puzzle. But they chose not to and so their reunion didn't really feel earned. I can forgive the hiccups in the writing, but the rushed ending, I cannot. They could've just made a special episode to wrap things up more properly. I mean, it was enjoying some of the highest ratings in a K-drama in the last 10 years, an additional episode would've been most welcome. In fact, it warranted one more episode.

Despite all its flaws, I can't deny the fact that this was one of the more entertaining K-dramas I've seen to date. It made me look forward to the next episode and it didn't bore me, not one bit. It's the kind of drama that you would definitely enjoy more if you just took it for what it was, a tropey, silly but fun little food drama/rom-com that had the old school and formulaic K-drama vibes.

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Yummyyy!

This was cute! The food looked so, so good – I really would have loved a taste haha! I liked how the female lead took action often, I found her quite reactionary when necessary. Personally, this is not a grandiose series by any means, but I enjoyed its run a lot from start to finish, which makes me quite happy because Yoon A’s last drama … wasn’t for me to put it nicely. She plays these comedic characters well enough to keep my attention throughout! Now, the plot wasn’t that crazy, especially the political aspect. It was pretty watery, and I was emotionally unaffected from the events we see in episode 11 because I did not quite understand the grandmother’s motives to get rid of the late Queen. It’s not like she had a strong hold on the male lead after he became king, so why this plot? The ending was also quite funny … “We’re not telling you how he came back because that doesn’t matter” … okay?! 🤣🤣 That’s lazy, but I’ll let that slide because the show was overall very entertaining and visually pleasing! I only wish they could have toned down that filter … no one’s skin is THAT flawless to be honest… and everyone is pretty enough anyway! Good times!

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If you just think of it like a stage play it is less disappointing

My rating is 8/10

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is an entertaining and amusing historical drama with a fresh twist, blending time travel, palace intrigue, and a heavy dose of culinary flair. The 12-episode series kept me engaged throughout with its lighthearted take on familiar tropes, offering comedic elements that set it apart from typical historical dramas. The romance between Han Yu-ri (Kim Seo-ha) and King Lee Chan (Lee Je-hoon) isn’t particularly sizzling, especially in the early episodes, but it builds to a satisfyingly sweet conclusion. The show leans heavily into cooking, particularly in the first half, making it a delight for fans of period dramas, time-travel narratives, and cooking shows. While it’s not a series I’d rewatch endlessly, it was a fun one-time watch that I’d recommend to those who enjoy period settings with a quirky, culinary spin.

 Spoilers

The show requires a bit of a stage-play mindset, as some plot points stretch historical plausibility. Han Yu-ri’s (Kim Seo-ha) brazen, disrespectful speech toward King Lee Chan (Lee Je-hoon) and other royals would’ve been unthinkable in a real palace setting—other royals would’ve never tolerated it, even if Lee Chan himself was unbothered. Yet, she faces no serious consequences, which feels unrealistic. Lee Chan’s early brutality, like imprisoning Yu-ri in stocks, makes it hard to buy her quick forgiveness and budding feelings for him. His initial unlikability is intentional and well-executed, but with only 12 episodes, the turnaround to a believable romance feels rushed and less compelling.

The show leans heavily into the “magic” of Yu-ri’s cooking, which borders on fantastical—her food convinces reluctant eaters and nearly heals the crown prince, which feels exaggerated even for a comedic drama. The cooking competition, while a fun centerpiece, is blatantly forced but works if you embrace the show’s playful tone. Yu-ri’s character, while a talented cook, comes off as foolish in other areas, especially her ignorance of royal etiquette despite being in a palace. Her lack of shock at time-traveling to the past is odd, and her obsession with finding a book to return to the future feels illogical—she has no evidence it’s a two-way trip or that she could bring others, yet she clings to this idea. And not in a just “this is my only chance” type mindset but it seems she thoroughly believes it to the extent she acts as if she can just bring others along.

The ending has highs and lows. The climactic fight where Lee Chan battles his uncle is tense, but Yu-ri’s inaction—standing there fixated on the book while he’s fighting for his life—feels frustrating, though she redeems herself by throwing herself in front of a sword. Lee Chan’s arrival in the future is a sweet touch, but the show glosses over how it happens, leaving it to a vague “missing page” in the book. My daughter, who watches dramas with me, felt the writers deliberately trolled us by raising the question of how he time-traveled and then dismissing it without explanation. It’s also disappointing that history still records Lee Chan as a tyrant who mysteriously disappeared. While he did harsh things early on—understandable given constant assassination attempts—his later redemption makes the tyrant label feel unfair, and I wished the show had shown history altered to reflect his growth. He could have willingly stepped down after restoring his name.

The reincarnation of past characters as identical modern counterparts is another unanswered question, adding to the silliness. How did that happen? Other reincarnation tropes always have them with the same “soul” but their bodies typically look different.

The 12-episode length suits the story’s light, whimsical nature, but it limits the depth of Yu-ri and Lee Chan’s romance. While sweet by the end, their connection doesn’t feel like they’re utterly devoted, making it less emotionally gripping. Still, for what it is—a quirky, cooking-centric time-travel romp—it’s enjoyable, if not a masterpiece.

A huge round of applause from me that Netlix, for once, did not throw a bunch of “woke” elements in this time. Maybe a tiny bit with her “I am woman hear me roar” sassiness in the beginning but it wasn’t overt like they do a lot of times when they throw in something that is either inaccurate for the historical frame or just doesn’t fit the plot. At least they didn’t do that this time.

Synopsis

Year: 2025

Number of Episodes: 12

Runtime: Approximately 1 hour per episode

In this delectable fusion of time-travel fantasy and historical romance, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty transports the ambitious modern chef Yeon Ji-yeong (Im Yoon-ah) from the cutthroat kitchens of contemporary Seoul to the opulent yet treacherous Joseon palace during a tyrannical king's reign. Thrust into the role of royal cook after a solar eclipse mishap, Ji-yeong must blend her French culinary flair with Joseon staples to appease the volatile King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), whose discerning palate could mean life or death. As forbidden sparks ignite amid palace conspiracies and jealous rivals, Ji-yeong's innovative dishes not only tempt the king's heart but also unravel the mysteries of his tormented past, forcing her to choose between rewriting history and savoring a love that defies eras.

Major Characters

*Yeon Ji-yeong (Im Yoon-ah): A fiercely talented French-trained chef from the present day who time-slips into Joseon and becomes the king's personal cook, using her modern recipes to survive court dangers and spark an unlikely romance.
*King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min): The brooding, tyrannical Joseon ruler infamous for his explosive temper and exquisite taste buds, whose icy facade softens through Ji-yeong's flavorful innovations, revealing a vulnerable soul haunted by betrayal.
*Kang Mok-ju (Kang Han-na): A scheming and envious palace consort driven by ambition, who views Ji-yeong's arrival as a threat to her status and orchestrates plots to undermine the new royal chef.
*Prince Je Seon (Choi Gwi-hwa): The king's cunning and power-hungry uncle, a key antagonist who manipulates court politics and family loyalties to challenge Yi Heon's throne.
*Queen Dowager (Seo Yi-sook): The formidable and tradition-bound mother of the king, who wields subtle influence over palace affairs and scrutinizes Ji-yeong's "foreign" ways with a mix of suspicion and reluctant admiration.
*Seo Gil-geum (Yoon Seo-ah): A kind-hearted palace maid who forms a fast friendship with Ji-yeong, providing loyal support and insider knowledge to help her navigate the treacherous royal household.

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Well, I Love Shows about… Food

I don’t have much to say about this drama because unlike many other viewers, I did not watch it for the plot.

Okay, wait omg, hear me out, yeah sure, a show should have a good storyline for you to watch and enjoy it BUT I didn’t go into this one hoping to enjoy the plot.

In all honesty, if you ask me what the story is about, I’ll probably have nothing to say.

“So, why the 7.5 ratings if the story is forgettable?” 😏

I’ll tell you.

THE FOOD. THE COOKING. HOW THE CHARACTERS TREAT FOOD LIKE IT IS PURE ART.

That’s all. That’s the only reason this drama show was a good watch for me.

I just love the cooking, the food, the trad cooking competition …

Now if you’re looking for a fascinating romcom drama, or something with romance that will make you swoon, this is not that show.

Oh, I also have to add that Lee Chae Min outdid himself with this one. His acting was commendable. And to think I almost didn’t watch this because I was scared he might not be the best cast for the “Tyrant King” character. But surprisingly, he proved himself as a versatile actor.

Anywaysss, that being said, is this a terrible show? Absolutely not! Is it a great one? Umm, not really.

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A recipe for yummy food and tasty mayhem

The path to a successful sageuk dramas can be fraught. It can swing from boring to farcical and every stop in between. This drama managed to land in the Goldilocks zone where being entertaining trumps historical accuracy . . most of the time.

I won't waste time with a detailed recap. Let's just say it is the usual enemy to lover trope plus a big dose of time slip fantasy. The fact that the FL is a quintessential modern woman and the ML is the Jeonha gave half the plot away.

Where the writer-nim did well is to shake up our preconception of their power dynamics right from their meet-cute.

The FL certainly doesn't play by Joseon rules. This sets the tone for much of their early interactions. Of course, the FL has to play nice once she work out who are the apex predators. Yet she is one of the chosen few who can speak their minds to the King without fear or favour.

The writer-nim also hit paydirt with the k-dramas trifecta. Romance, food porn and sageuk makjang.

In terms of romance, the chemistry of our leads is strong. It starts slow but we are left with no doubt they'd die for each other as the show progresses. The palace is hardly a fertile ground for skinship, but there are cute and swoon-y moments. Our ML definitely gave it a good go. Woof!

Next we have the food porn. It is every bit as fanciful as you'd expect. It is an amalgam of French, Korean and Chinese cuisines. I'd consider it a win if they tastes half as good as they look. It is definitely a big step up from shows like Mr Queen.

Is the culinary competition between nations legit? I'll leave that debate to historians. Oh, that reminds me. The actors playing the Ming delegates are all Korean. They are good actors and they would have received Mandarin language coaching. Even to my untrained ears, they don't always sound right. I don't understand why they didn't hire some veteran Chinese actors for the roles. Two of them did speak some Korean as part of the plot, but it would be more convincing to have Chinese actors try to speak Korean rather the other way around.

Finally, we have a full-on makjang bloodbath. As with the loveline, this is a slow burner. The usual palace intrigue, power games and evil eyes from the harem once our OTP's romance blossoms.

There is nothing to hint at what is to come. Forget about tying loose ends with pink bows. This is problem solving with extreme prejudice. It was all over in minutes, discounting any time to count the bodies.

Unfortunately, this brings about the one serious deficit of this drama. It is quite understandable that the FL will return to the present. Everything is geared towards that. It closes the time loop after a herd of temporal elephants have rampaged through it. The butterflies don't stand a chance! ;)

What is less "satisfactory" is the appearance of the ML in the present. Obviously, this is necessary for a HEA ending so I can't complain. However, the how, when and why is largely brushed aside by the show. It is such a significant development yet we are simply told not to worry about it. Are they planning a bonus EP?

This is particularly frustrating as the series is based on a popular web novel so the ending is well known. There are plenty of posts and videos online purporting to be the "definitive ending explained". They all seem convincing, but bear little resemblance to the actual finale. It left the sudden appearance of the ML feels contrived and unsettling.

Regardless, the ML carried the show with able assistance from the FL. This is an unexpected blessing as he was a last minute replacement for another actor who got into a spot of bother with public opinion. Combined with lush food porn and above average production value, this drama is hitting above its weight.

Fundamentally, it is a romantic fantasy loosely based on a troubling time in the 1500's. The steamrolling of some horrible events might not sit well with some. The sweet romance is the grease for the squeaky wheel. Is it believable? I wish it is, but it can feel quite contrived at times when the FL have epiphany after epiphany. While the King watched indulgently from the sideline. This brings about the awkward question of whether the show's portrayal of King Yi Heon is totally fanciful or not.

In the end, the show might not be good history, but it is good entertainment. The Korean ratings will be telling whether the locals concur.

When is fiction better than fact? Peace.

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Such a sweet drama with a new star

The title did not attract me and also not the names of the actors. However, from episode 2 onwards, the charme of the story and the actors caught me. I laugh and smile while watching as the FL is sassy (totally normal:-) to the king, so shocking for the old Joseon days:-) Very funny this combination of an independent and strong FL and the king expecting people to kneel and bow in front of him. Funnier as he is actually a very young man:-) I saw in other reviews all the old FL vs young ML discussions. Hello, we are in 2025 and still discuss that someone is 10 years older? As actors? Do you see this age difference in the roles? And if so, who cares? Just enjoy the funny and strong Yoona and Chaemin who plays a non-highschool student the first time. I think he will be one of the leading actors of his generation. Also enjoy the great food presentations! Very interesting how the Korean cuisine has evolved. Just a good K drama with a new twist

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