Bon Appetit, Your Majesty

good thing this show is about food because it ATE

As a moth to a flame, go I to sageuks. Even faster do I go when it involves my niche favourite trope of time-travelling. And at rapid speeds do I go even further when morally grey men are involved. And an unstoppable force I become when star-crossed lovers is the focal point, even more so at an enemies to lover basis.

Never was I hungry after an episode from how it fed me, cradled me, held me softly as I watched the story unfold towards an ending always known to come around. What is more tragic than knowing how it ends before it even starts? Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?

It ends how it begins: with a love note.

PREMISE:
Yeon Yi-jeong is an up and coming chef who has recently won star title of chef at a French cooking competition and is more than ready to start her new life and business with the earnings from the show. But before she can return, her father makes one request of her: she needs to collect a historical artifact from the Joseon era to take with her back home. Sure, no problem, what could go wrong?

So much.

So much goes wrong.

When an accident causes damage to the irreplaceable book (irreplaceable in more ways than one), YJ decides to have a little sneak peak because when did curiosity ever kill the cat? And the book is nothing more than a cookbook except - wait, what is that note at the end? A lament for a lost love, the author begging for their return to their side? How cute, but not so cute when the world turns upside down and YJ is thrown through time in a fashion most unkind. She hurtles through the past and finds herself falling from the sky and right into the moment where our male lead, Yi Heon, has decided to hunt.

It is hatred at first sight.

He thinks her a female demon and an omen of bad luck for his already tyrannical rule. And she thinks him to be an actor who has taken his method acting a little too far. It isn't a meet cute, especially when they try to kill each other with YJ gaining the upper hand and she wastes no time in dragging around the king of Joseon like a dog on a leash no matter how many times he insists he most definitely is the king of Joseon. But that's ridiculous because if he was the king of Joseon then that would mean she wasn't in Korea, which would mean she went back in time.

Unfortunately for her, all her worst nightmares turn out to be true.

CHARACTERS:
Yoona plays our heroine, a no-nonsense chef who has one goal and one goal only in mind: return to her time, see her father, and finally open that restaurant she has always wanted. I know some people give Yoona flack for her acting (all because of a show that was over TEN YEARS PRIOR) but she truly shows off her acting chops (pun intended) with her portrayal of Yi-jeong. Never has a more realistic approach been done with a character suddenly thrown through time like YJ. She refuses to believe she's actually in the past until near the end of episode two. She rationalises everything away and turns away when the truth is right in front of her. Because who in their right mind would ever believe they were suddenly in the past? But when push comes to shove, YJ can't deny it any further: she's not in modern day Korea anymore, Todo.

From that moment on, YJ has made her decision: get that blasted mangunrok back and return to the future. And try as she might, the universe is working against her no matter what she does. It's quite refreshing to see such denial and dedication in a character that is so human and realistic of anyone in a situation such as her. YJ is thwarted time and time again, but it does little to deter her; if she can't get mangunrok back, she'll just have to keep surviving anyway she can until it's in her clutches again. And that means doing what she least wants to do: serving the tyrannical king. She knows of him, she shows equal amounts of distain and fear in light of that knowledge. YJ is under no illusions about the truth of her situation and she knows she needs to be careful lest she loses her head.

YJ is a refreshing female lead and Yoona's portrayal of her is equally so. Her desperation can sometimes cloud her mind but not to the point of taking substantial risks, but she is not so cowardly to sit back and hope the answer to all her prayers falls into her lap. She is snarky but knows when to bite her tongue, she is insightful but knows when the moment is right to share her thoughts. She is blatant with the truth about her being from the future, but does not push it when she realises it might result in everyone thinking that she is insane. There is a balance with YJ, and she never loses sight of her end goal.

And yet, her heart wavers with the king deemed one of the worst in Korea's history.

Yi Heon is our male lead and he is neither hero nor the complete villain in the story. He is neither fully good nor fully bad. He exists in the grey area of it all and sometimes he sways before returning once more. He has no idea of the future of his legacy or who his true enemies are, and all he cares about is punishing those responsible for the death of his mother. His moral compass does not point true north, that is if he is even in possession of one. He is impulsive, selfish, rash and also a major foodie. He wants amusement and he does whatever he can to achieve it. So, when he is wrangled by a strange woman who can satisfy his taste buds, he decides to keep her around, disregarding warnings of who or what she might truly be.

Lee Chae Min was addition to the cast but he steals the entire show. I've heard rumours that apparently offers for scripts have multiplied with a number too big for my smooth brain to comprehend, but it's all well deserved. Chae-min expertly crafts Yi Heon in his own image, showing the character as equal parts terrifying and equal parts empathetic. I can't even fathom into words the brilliance of his acting, at just how well he embodies a historical figure known for his tyranny and yet can still carry with him the humanity that comes with being a person.

And the love story - man, the LOVE story.

Despite the bad beginnings and shaky middle, Heon and Yi-jeong find love, comfort and solace with one another. Yi-jeong wavers because she knows who he is, what he's capable of, and yet he smiles so sweetly at her, protects her, aids her in any way that he can. She sees him for who he truly is, and yet she still loves him. He can be monstrous, but he is also kind, he is also gentle, he is also fiercly protective of her. And Heon - for Heon, Yi-jeong is all that is most precious to him. The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but it's as though Yi-jeong has ripped through his chest and taken it for herself. She eases his torment, she listens to him, she soothes him and understands him. She knows he is capable of being good even if everything and everyone else does not. And if she believes it, it must be true and he strives to prove it to her even when the world acts against him. She sees him for all that he is and does not turn away from him. Through time, they find each other and love each other and fight against fate that seeks to tear them apart. Heon will do anything for her, and Yi-jeong will do anything to prevent the tragedy of his ending and the echoes of his terrible legacy.

I came for the love story, but there are other interesting factors at play including the politics, the beautiful cinematography of the cooking and food displays. The other characters are also interesting on both sides of Yi-jeong and Heon, too, even if they fall a little into the typical sageuk baddie categories. But you will have a good time with them, nonetheless. From our adorable gang of cooks, to our sect of evil politicians and those who seek to pull apart and push together our leads, all hold weight in the story and strive to achieve their own goals, seeking to succeed at any possible chance, be it from making a delicious meal to stealing the throne for themselves.

I will say that my biggest if only complaint is the show did lag a little in the second act of the drama due to a drawn-out cooking competition with the cooks of the Ming enjoy that took the guts of 3-4 episodes. I found myself skipping forward a lot during these episodes, but they're still enjoyable nonetheless, just not my taste. There was some political intrigue beneath the entire cooking contest that showed the clear struggle for power in Joseon, but it wasn't really something I found myself frothing at the mouth for.

As for the ending, without giving too much away, I understand people who are frustrated at how rushed it all seemed in the span of two episodes where so many threads needed to be tied up when so much time was wasted on the cooking competition; however, I felt that it was an apt ending for all characters. Perhaps it is a reflection of who I am as a person, but I seek no greater understanding of the universe of how it all came to be, I see no reason to understand when, why, or how it all happened but rather accepting the truth of it all: it just IS. In real life, we often don't get the answers we seek, or perhaps we are too afraid to search for them in fear of what they might be, so the show gives us a secret third option that many fail to realise is there: understanding will not bring us resolution when we have achieved what we have always wanted.

What's more important is accepting that the universe works in mysterious ways that perhaps we will never fathom with our human minds and, sometimes if we're very lucky, it works in our favour.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
-The music was fantastic, but I'm not exactly one to care a lot about the soundtrack of any show.
-The show does balance comedy and the seriousness that oft accompanies sagueks. The show never got TOO dark, but it still had moments that made me hold my breath, particularly in the second last episode where a certain character has a crash out moment. However, this show isn't really marketed as a comedy and therefore, it does not bother me that the comedic moments became few and far between as the shows went on. Often, sageuk dramas will market themselves as a comedy but then abandon the genre at the halfway point, which is often disappointing. But it wasn't a problem here in this show.
-The show, no matter how many episodes in, will always use a title card to indicate the name of a person and their title. Like, by episode 10 it was still telling me the names of main characters and their titles in the palace even though I already knew that. I suppose it was helpful at times when I sometimes couldn't differentiate between the different old men politicians and how they were all connected but I just thought it was a little funny because usually with sageuks, it comes with a big cast of characters and there's always some that slip our mind and we can't remember.
-The set design was of a high quality and no less than I expected from a sageuk kdrama.
-At 12 episodes, the show does all that it can in such a limited amount. I don't know if it would have benefited with the standard 16 episodes, but, again, i felt that the show did drag a little with the cooking competition segment of the show. Perhaps this could have been avoided if they either: had more episodes planned, or spent less time on the cooking competition. Or maybe I'm wrong and what we could have gotten instead was even more of weak second act, it's hard to tell.
-Again, Lee Chae-min. That's it. That's the tweet. That man is going to have an explosive and amazing career after this.

FINAL OPINION:
From the acting, the storytelling, the characters and the cinematography, this show was a feast also for the eyes and not only for the food it displayed. The main characters were enjoyable and fascinating to watch and were portrayed with such excellance that I don't think anyone else could have played them. I will be definitely adding this show to my small collection of k-drama's I will be watching again and again.

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24/08/2025

Just happened across this by chance and so far so good!

Only two episodes are out which is a negative for me as I like to watch whole series if possible or maybe 3-6 at a time, but with Netflix that is not always the case unfortunately.

Not much of a spoiler ahead, if any:

This drama series is about a female chef from 2025 that time travels back to the Joseon era when it was ruled by a particular King with an iron thumb - known for his tyranny.

I suspect this one is going to be strongly based on romance, also, it seems similar to other previous historical dramas yet has its own distinct flair with its story telling so that is a bit of a bonus.

The humour I like, as well as the actors of the King and 18 year old peasant girl, but I'm still warming up to the actor that plays the chef.

I can't say too much about the music as nothing really stands out at all and may not when it comes to OSTs.

Am enjoying it, only I really wish all 12 episodes were released, rather than one or two at a time or one or two a day apart.

If you like rom-coms /romance and series like Hwarang, My Dearest, Mr Queen or Red Sleeve then this may very well be for you.

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Best cooking drama afaik

The cooking is strong, the writing is pretty strong as far as this genre goes. I'm referring to the writing of the cooking bits, at least. Stupendous. The actual plot is quite mid. There are a few things lacking, like... well, to be frank, the chemistry between the main leads isn't that great, but I think that for 99% of things anyway, so... When hetero is good, I don't feel a desire to turn away from the screen. Unfortunately, while the leadup into their romance was good, but after halfway I started turning away again. Likely because I thought the potential was greater than its execution. It's very simple and kind of mid. But the standout is the cooking anyway. The cooking competition was an especial highlight and were fantastic episodes, probably the best I've ever seen in a cooking drama, and this is including Ken with his crepe suzette (Nobunaga no Chef manga, the drama didn't adapt it super well).

The villains are lackluster and 2-dimensional. The male villain in particular is just completely unappealing, and this is speaking as a villain fan. There are plot points that I feel needed to be wrapped up properly for a proper time loop but I hope the novel handled this better. I like the last episode a lot but I do feel like it needed more time at the end.

update: After reading some reviews gushing about the romance, I have sincere concerns about some folks' standards for romance... Guys, it really isn't that great.... (Secret Garden, Word of Honor, Winter Begonia... I love these but even I can't say they were particularly stupendous in this department. To me the take-home award goes to non-asian drama Hannibal "I wondered if our stars were the same" NBC. (Very sad ORV adaption completely ruined the book. The male leads in that also have insane, insane chemistry.))

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king yeonsan references

I really like Yoona and the ML but this show is clearly based on king yeonsan and its feels so unbearable to see how they theyre whitewashing his character. this king has killed so many people, evicted innocent people out of their homes for his haunting ground and kidnapped the whole female population for his own pleasure. sickening how the drama is making excuses for him. not only he took away lives but he also stripped away that very little hope left in humanity by banning hangul and abolishing sungkyunkwan . all because of his mommy issues. and oh btw his mom was known to be highly jealous and temperamental who poisoned another concubines and she also scarred the King's face which was a sin in jeoson. the king even tried to hide his scar when she shoulve been deposed long ago. i guess we know where king yeonsan got his tyrannical genes from. but ofcourse in this drama she and yeonsan are the victims and the previous king is demonized. the history distortion is just insane

this show couldve atleast use a different tyrant king like gwanghae but nope it has to be yeonsan.
guess what, romanticizing him is not going to erase the dystopian world he ran for 12 years. imagine how many people suffered. i'll give you an example, he also executed his eunuch who served 3 kings, forced people to watch him cut off his limbs and his innocent bloodline to 7th degree was also punished. he is the most vile and depraved ruler to ever exist.

even whitewashing him feels so forced in the drama itself.
the entire first episode he did nothing but try to kill ji-yeong without hesitation. he has clearly no ounce of humanity in him, just like he was in history hes willing to kill innocent people. yes he got reminded of his mom by her cooking but his switch-up is just unbelievable to be honest

and oh in the manhwa, she also never went back to korea and just stayed in joseon which was pretty damn stupid. imagine giving up your entire career and human rights like freedom of speech just for a man who tried to kill you at first sight lol. im curious if theyre going to change that in the drama but i cant support a drama romanticizing such figure

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this Male Lead and thi s motley cooking crew made this drama work

It looked like an interesting premise and drama and so, I went right in. I have watched FL a couple of times. She is a rather pretty FL but her acting chops aren’t the most impressive. This is the first time that I am watching the ML. I would say that he’s a pretty fine actor and he did a better job than FL.

What I Liked:
- The ML turned out to be very watchable.
- The motley crew of cooks turned out to be a cute supporting cast.
- The food shown per episode was interesting and looked delectable. I looked forward to finding out about the food to be presented per episode. The background CG which was shown when the food was enjoyed was cute. Very LOL.
- The cooking competition was fun to watch.
- There was some palace thingy going on to try to keep the intrigue.

What I Didn’t Like:
- I didn’t like the (to me) confusing palace intrigue to do with the deposed queen and all that.
- The crazy consort acted well but well, she was too cray cray for me.
- The Je San fellow and all the old bearded men were also kind of cray cray.
- I didn’t like the bloodthirsty characters and bloodshed in the last two episodes even though I understood their necessity.
- The ending could have better IMO. It seemed a little rushed.

Overall, I still enjoyed this drama especially the good, fun parts. :o)
Additionally, the ML worked to keep this drama going. Kudos to him. The food was great. I enjoyed watching the food prep come to fruition per episode. 8/10!

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Bon Appétit, Your Majesty: A Deliciously Funny and Heartfelt K-Drama You Can’t Miss

Story

I honestly loved Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. From start to finish, it kept me hooked in a way few K-dramas do. The story is about a talented chef in a totally unexpected setting, and even though the premise sounds wild, it feels grounded, fun, and surprisingly heartfelt. Characters are introduced one by one, each with their own quirks and motivations, and the plot throws enough subtle twists to keep you guessing without ever feeling forced.

It’s the kind of series that makes you want to binge but also makes you savor every episode. Even though the show is finished now, I can’t imagine anyone watching it without being completely invested in what’s happening. It reminded me of the charm in dramas like Rooftop Prince or Splash Splash Love, where humor, romance, and unexpected situations are all perfectly balanced.

Tone & Themes

The tone is spot on. It’s funny, dramatic, and heartwarming all at the same time. The comedic moments, especially reactions to the food or cooking mishaps, genuinely made me laugh out loud. At the same time, the series hits the right emotional beats without being heavy handed. It’s a show that celebrates creativity, perseverance, and the small ways people can touch each other’s lives sometimes with a meal, sometimes with just being clever and brave.

If you loved the mix of humor and heart in Queen for Seven Days or Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, this series will feel instantly familiar but still completely its own. It’s lighthearted, but it also has just enough depth to leave a lasting impression.

Performances

The acting is fantastic. The lead brings energy, wit, and charm, making you root for her every step of the way. The chemistry with the main cast feels effortless, and the supporting characters are memorable without ever feeling like filler. They add humor, intrigue, and warmth, enriching the story without stealing focus.

It reminded me of character-driven K-dramas like Hwarang or The King’s Affection, where you don’t just follow the story, you really live it through the characters. By the end, you feel like you’ve grown with them, laughed with them, and genuinely care about their journey.

Production

Visually, this series is a treat. The cooking scenes are cinematic and mouthwatering, making food a character of its own. Costumes, sets, and the little references sprinkled in like playful nods to Shokugeki no Soma, add personality without ever being distracting. Everything feels vibrant and intentional.

Even though waiting for episodes each week while it aired was tough, the series maintained tension, humor, and heart in a way that made every episode worth the wait. Now that it’s finished, binge-watching it is incredibly satisfying because the story flows perfectly from start to finish.

Verdict

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a K-drama gem that hits all the right notes: funny, emotional, clever, and endlessly entertaining. It’s the type of show that keeps you invested, makes you laugh, and even makes you think a little, all while showcasing creativity in such a unique setting.

Whether you’re a veteran K-drama watcher or completely new to the genre, this series is a must-watch. It’s lighthearted, heartfelt, and full of surprises that will leave you wanting more, long after the credits roll.

Final Rating: 9.5/10

This series is absolutely worth your time. From the hilarious food moments to the emotional depth and clever storytelling, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty delivers in every way. It’s funny, heartfelt, and smart, and it’s the kind of show that will stick with you.

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SOOO HEARTWARMINGLY HUMAN??❤️‍?

Bro, this is gonna be the most unserious review like you might see But to get down to it first of all, my girl COOK YEON that girl went through so much, and I freaking love her Familia family relationship that she has with all the other cooks who ended up being at the restaurant she ended up manning down After a month of being back in the modern times. When I tell you, I jumped for joy, even though they had different names and they didn’t remember I was like her family yes. And then they had to bring back the myth the man & the legend KING LEE HEON WITH his memories might I say INTACT. this show is so freaking beautiful. Definitely will rewatch one day. So many scenes had let’s say like a few flows of water coming out of my eye sockets tell me why when that one cook from Ming Had that thing going on and she realized my girl made him a plate that wouldn’t intimidate him and that he could actually eat cause he hadn’t eaten since his grandma cooked for him like oh my days when I tell you that broke my heart. She didn’t do it so that he could be able to judge the food properly. She did it out of the care and respectful humanly person she is. And The head cook from Ming Who is such an honourable dude had to put some respect on his name🤞🏾. so many scenes generally, had me loving human beings, and realizing that as there is many evil, but there will always be many good people like my girl COOK YEON. Not her making me actually think of the positive side to this world 😩😊😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Every single meal made was BUSSING And I wish I’d GOT to try it. especially the meals she made that had Such a carely human emotion touch it. THIS DRAMAAAAAA IS 💓💓😝😝💓😝😝💓😝😝😝 and if you can’t understand that’s good for you. Just stay away from me. CLOCKKKK IT😌😏

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This is a Sure Classic and will be Remembered as one of All-Time Favorites

This drama is repeatedly appearing as no. 1 in Korea and in Netflix so I was attracted to watch. I was not disappointed at all. The drama is not that long but it is so beautiful. Funny, Romantic, full of political tensions and historical drama but also full of love and tenderness all mixed into one with unity and harmony.
The FL being a famous actress is expected to do well and she delivered as expected. She is beautiful and loving and captivating all throughout.
The ML is a revelation. I've read that he was a last minute replacement to the original actor and only got one month of preparation but he delivered an excellent acting as if a seasoned actor of highest caliber. My friend told me that there might be riots in Korea if he will not get the Best Actor award for this role. O gosh, the ML made me cry, laugh and felt in loved with him in short period of time. He showed gentleness and strength, love and anger through his eyes and body actions. He is a gem newly discovered. I wish to see more of him.
The story is so beautiful. Imagine, using cooking as a setting for a great drama and instead of a famous hero like King Jumong they chose a historical tyrant King as protagonist ML. This is very revolutionary and something new but it went so well.
This drama is now listed as one of the best of the best and unforgettable among my list of most beloved drama ever. Im so glad to see the happy ending. Now Im dreaming to cook for my beloved king everyday.

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A Masterpiece!!

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is one of the best K-dramas of 2025 so far. It balances romance, fantasy, food, and historical palace drama with precision and heart. It made me care — about the dishes, about the love between Ji-young and Yi-Heon, about the palace’s safety. Lee Chae-min’s King stole my heart; Yuna’s chef earned it. The food scenes alone are worth the watch. And, perhaps most importantly, it gives a happy, satisfying ending — rare and precious when you expect heartbreak.

If you love emotional romance, beautiful food visuals, palace intrigue, and characters who grow (not just fall in love, but become better people), this is must-watch. I’m already hoping for a season 2, or maybe a spin-off.

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