Mediocre at best
For anyone who has watched Mr Queen, This drama would be a real disappointment. The story line is too weak and it has all the cliché in k drama resulting it being boring and nothing new. The romance between the ML and FL felt forced, the pace of the drama is off, the villains had no real reasons to be villain, some camera angle made the FL look ugly.The positive side : some scenes are pretty and pleasant to the eyes, good looking ML, humour is OK, the second ML looks cute,
I have watched 10 épi so I will continue just for the sake of finishing. If you are just starting, don't bother.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Feast for the Eyes, But Not the Story
This drama, essentially a MasterChef competition set in the Joseon era, is certainly a fun watch with an interesting premise. I was immediately hooked after the first episode, which masterfully showcased the great idea of a culinary competition. If you enjoy food competition shows, you will absolutely love the culinary aspects. The food styling is insane—it is impossible to watch without immediately feeling hungry, as the cooking and resulting dishes are undoubtedly the main character of the show. The popularity of the drama is understandable, driven by this appealing culinary theme and the presence of a handsome male lead.However, after that strong start, the show faltered as the focus shifted away from the great cooking and toward courtly intrigues. Where the show excels visually, it fails narratively. While the story is loosely inspired by real historical events, this is strictly a backdrop and not a properly explored historical drama. If you are looking for a deep storyline or compelling plot execution, this is not the right choice. It is an easy watch, but the story is not deep, and it suffers from being overhyped. There are far greater dramas that deserve this level of attention, which is a real shame.
The drama struggles significantly when the cooking and competition are removed. Chae Min was the only character that truly stood out, and if you take away the culinary element, you are left with a weak script. This failure of writing became painfully apparent in the final episodes. They were a real disaster—so boring and badly written that I was forced to skip scenes just to finish. It’s a huge missed opportunity; the show should have concentrated more on the actual story and explored the female lead’s potential arc, such as her attempts to change the future, instead of relying on the cooking spectacle. Ultimately, the miracle ending felt unearned, capping off a season where great visuals were let down by poor scripting.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
not everyone's cup of tea
It wouldve been a good series except it wasnt (for me). not a hater because i looked forward to watching this since its hyped. the story started slow. i had to endure 2 whole episodes just so it could get me going but ended up putting it in 1.25 speed then 1.5. i got tired of all the cooking show down (i think the only best one was with the Ming cooks) and unending side comments of villains but u know theyre just gonna turn around and like her dishes. Romantic moments are so predictable. cant directors think of anything new?! i hated Yoona's character being winny and loud to the point that its not realistic for someone who got lost in another timeline. theyre trying so hard for her character to be funny but its just so frustrating. The last 2 episodes are dragging and unrealistic. imagine killing each other then sit down together to talk about things. this is the 2nd time i've watched a series in 1.5 speed, even pushing the fast forward button more than 30x. i'd just give the acting a higher rating specially Lee ChaMin. no hate for the actors/actresses, but its just how the series was directed. if directors want a series portraying something light and funny (where Yoona's character fit) then stick to that even if its Joseon era setting - no killings, no heavy drama or revenge or anything, but if its something a bit more realistic, then it shouldve been like that where all the historical dramas fit. its just like directors couldnt make up their minds and tried to throw in everything in it but didnt work.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Food is the focus
The food being displayed looked actually quite delicious not gonna lie. I really want go try making one of those dishes. When i see kang han-na i know she is hoing to eat her role up but unfortunately we didnt get to see her true true villian style. She really does well in these types of dramas. I first saw her in scarlet heart with IU. Am i the only one who whenever ML and FL appear on screen i remember the 10 year age gap between these actors?? Cook yeon and gil geum and such a cute friendship. The scene where a historical document is revealed to him and he goes mad is actually so good and the grandma telling him his mother wanted him to be a sage king not a tyrant which in turn cook yeon changed the course of history (u see what i did there)... why was that ming emperor so so annoying?! Tang bailong the man you are. The scene where cook yeon changes how the food looks so the other male cook of the ming gets to try really it warmed my heart.The ending do the people who came back from joseon dynasty remember her or only the king himself? I think they shouldve just kept the king only not all of them. I love hwo the dude who first nitpicked on her food continued to do it also in another timeline. And also how the king just randomly told him in modern time "do u wish to be striked down by a sword" ;). The story felt weak but yk just grab some popcorn put it on 1.25x speed or more and let it run. It didnt let me on the edge of my seat but the food and the cute moments were good asf.
Was this review helpful to you?
Simple Yet Enjoyable
My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.I don’t often watch sageuks, but I tend to like sageuks that involve a female lead that goes back in time. I think I am just able to relate to them better that way – by watching someone from my generation figure out how to survive in a foreign world. I dropped The First Night with the Duke because the female lead from the modern world didn’t bring any modernity with her (aside from the cliché of a female lead being really good at mixing drinks and playing drinking games...and sexual promiscuity…). Fortunately, Bon Appetit, Your Majesty delivered on what I was looking for from this type of drama.
Acting/Cast: I didn’t like the male lead so much in the beginning because of his acting style, but he grew on me throughout the course of the drama. I thought I wouldn’t like the female lead, but she did a really good job. I think she fit the role very nicely. I liked the side characters – particularity Gil Geum. She was so cute. I really enjoyed her relationship with the female lead. Most of the characters are likable in general, aside from the villains. 7/10
Writing: I think the female lead was a very well-written character and I think that is what ultimately made this drama work as well as it did. She is fun, strong, talented, level-headed, and, most importantly, believable. Like I alluded to in the beginning, the female lead’s character brings aspects of the modern world with her to the Joseon era, such as hand gestures, vocabulary, and of course recipes. Instead of trying to just blend in with everyone else, she remains unique and even tells other characters that she’s from the future. I was very happy about that. The premise of the drama is simple. So simple that if you don’t enjoy the cooking aspect of the drama, then, there’s not much else to hold your attention. The majority of the drama is the cooking and in contest-like fashion. I didn’t think I would enjoy something like that, but I did. I was actually bummed when the cooking stopped towards the last couple episodes or so. Even though the drama focuses heavily on food, there is a consistent romance storyline as well as the typical plan to overthrow the king that persists throughout the entirety of the drama. It’s all pretty basic since this is a 12-episode food-centered drama, but I enjoyed all of it. One thing I dislike about sagueks is that they are typically very depressing with a lot of torture. This drama is not like that at all, which is a huge reason why I liked it as much as I did. However, I can say that I was hugely disappointed that more wasn’t done with Gil Geum’s character, such as her own love story. I was also disappointed in the ending. It’s not the worst ending, but it would have been easy to give us some sort of explanation. It’s like the writers gave up in the end. The characters suddenly felt lifeless—as if they only existed for the female lead instead of being their own unique individuals. 4.5/10
Direction/SFX/Music: This drama has a charming quality to it. It’s like a comfort drama. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and it looks nice. The food scenes are definitely the highlight of the drama. The OST didn’t stand out to me. It’s your basic K-drama romance songs. 6/10
Entertainment Value: I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this drama. This is the first time I’ve watched a food drama. Even though I’ve never been a foodie, I found it interesting and educational. I liked to watch while eating dinner. 7/10
Overall, I gave this drama a 6/10. A 6 or higher is in my ‘would recommend’ zone. It’s a pretty basic drama, but it has a certain charm to it. The female lead is a well-written and acted character and the other characters are likable as well. I would recommend this drama if you like happier and more family-friendly sageuks.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cooking contest or love story? Still not sure ?
The story idea was pretty good, and I really liked the concept at first. However, it felt like most of the drama focused on cooking competitions rather than the romance. I wish they had spent more time developing the emotional connection between the main characters, because sometimes I wasn’t even sure if I was actually watching a romance. Still, it’s an easy and light drama to watch — not one of those slow ones that are hard to finish. The overall vibe is nice, and the story flows well. The only thing I didn’t really enjoy (just a personal opinion) was the casting choice, since the age gap between the leads felt a bit too noticeable.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
what were they thinking?
There are several aspects of this show that make you wonder what they were thinking.1. Yeonsangun - they took the worst South Korean tyrant of all time and made him the love interest. They also post his murderous mother as sympathetic and kind.
2. French cuisine - they pose French cuisine as if it is far superior to Korean cuisine. isn't that a bit racist towards Koreans?
3. Ming - but that's fine because we're know Korea as a whole loves things like macaroons, which are so sweet that the rest of the world finds them inedible. But the Chinese in particular do not like sweet desserts (a dessert compliment in China is "not too sweet") - but here they show FL deciding serving macarons to a Ming ambassador is a good idea. Not only that, but all the "Ming" are Korean, can barely speak Chinese, and the depiction is incredibly racist.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Beautifully Plated Mess
This isn’t a bad show, but nothing about it is great either. The most annoying thing is the undeserved hype and praise it received online, which had me going in with unrealistic expectations. I’m not quite sure what exactly I expected — I just know it didn’t deliver on any front.First of all, what exactly passes as fantasy these days? Time travel? That’s all it takes, I guess. The plot was a nonexistent mess. This wasn’t a story with food in it — it was food with a side of story. The writers must have realized this problem toward the end and tried to throw in an actual plot in the last few episodes, but by then, it felt like a betrayal of the tone.
Most of the characters are shallow and one-dimensional. The ML was the only one with any real growth. The side characters were a waste of time and space — their arcs went nowhere and added nothing to the main story. The overused trope of using childhood trauma to justify a ML’s horrendous actions was painfully on the nose here. We barely got a moment to meet his character before being hit with the unbearable tragedy he endured as a child, which the show then used to excuse his behaviour.
As for the romance, how these two fell in love is still a mystery to me. No real conversations, no shared experiences outside of a few scattered episodes. I started watching K-dramas for the romance, but lately, writers seem to have forgotten how to depict the act of falling in love on screen in any believable way. It was so forced, with no build-up — even the actors’ chemistry couldn’t save it.
The acting was fine. Lee Chaemin was good, though I don’t think he deserves any awards for this. Yoona looked like she was in it for an easy paycheck. I’d like to see her in something that actually challenges her.
The OST was pleasant but forgettable. The visuals were overwhelming — and not in a good way. The excessive editing and endless effects scenes got old after the first few times.
Without going into much detail, the last episode was genuinely awful — like hot, flaming, pile-of-garbage awful. I enjoyed this show in the same way I enjoy other average ones like Business Proposal. It wasn’t great, but at least it wasn’t King the Land bad.
Was this review helpful to you?
5This review may contain spoilers
All Hype, No Substance
Bon Appétit promised a lot with Yoona in the lead role, but the result turned out to be a major disappointment.The finale spends almost the entire episode on the rebellion against the king, in scenes that feel almost copied from Mr. Queen. What should have been thrilling quickly dissolves into a predictable climax. Even the long-awaited love confession feels flat, lacking passion or emotional weight.
The ending, where she returns to the present and reunites with him, arrives without logic or convincing explanation. It all happens simply “because it has to,” leaving the audience to fill the gaps on their own.
In the end, Bon Appétit is neither a memorable K-drama nor a strong romance. It’s a recycled, sugary, and directionless story. The only thing sustaining the buzz around it is the fandom, unwilling to admit that their favorite stars ended up leading a trainwreck of a series.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Enjoyable, but not fully satisfying
It starts off strong with a fun mix of food, romance, and time travel. A cheerful chef named Yeon Ji Yeong (played by Yoona) opens a strange book during an eclipse and ends up in the Joseon era, where she meets King Yi Heon (Lee Chae Min). He’s a strict ruler but loves good food, and their bond grows through cooking and shared meals.The first few episodes are full of charm. The food scenes are colorful and exciting, with creative dishes and fun cooking battles. The romance between Ji Yeong and the king is sweet and believable. Lee Chae Min does a great job showing both the king’s serious side and his softer, playful side when he’s enjoying food. Their chemistry makes the show enjoyable to watch. But as the story goes on, things get messy. The show tries to mix too many ideas i.e, romance, cooking, politics, and war. The cooking battles are fun, but takes too much time away from the main couple. The political drama becomes confusing and takes over the story, making it feel like two different shows.
The final battle is also hard to believe. A small group of cooks and helpers somehow defeat a large group of rebels, which doesn’t make much sense. The villains, who seemed strong before, are defeated too quickly, and there’s no real payoff or celebration. Most side characters don’t get enough development. They feel flat, and we don’t learn much about them. A little backstory could have helped us care more about their roles.
The biggest problem is the ending. It feels rushed and leaves out important details. We never find out how the king travels to the future or how he suddenly fits into modern life wearing a suit. Ji Yeong also wakes up in a hospital without any clear reason. These missing pieces make the ending feel incomplete and disappointing.
In the end, its is a fun watch if you enjoy food shows and romantic moments. The cooking scenes are well done, and the lead actors are charming. But the story loses focus, and the ending leaves too many questions.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not bad but not good; OK
I liked and enjoyed the story until the last two episodes. The last episode, especially, made me feel like I was watching a comedy skit or something; everything and anything was happening without making any sense.I think they rushed the last two episodes; otherwise, it would have been a 10/10 drama for me.
Overall, I enjoyed the drama because the cast was very good at acting, especially the leads. The editing of the scene while they ate her food was very funny and interesting. I wish they hadn't ruined the ending for the sake of giving the drama a happy conclusion.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
came in for a fun entertaining show but got bored quite fast...
I feel like you are really big fans of the actors you can enjoy it but coming from a person who is watching for the story and not the actors then this drama was really very mid, unfortunately. I had high expectations but from the start itself it started feeling very odd...Firstly, the budget for the drama. He's the king of Joseon but the rooms he was given were equal to the room she was staying in. Literally one table with a mattress so small. And also the assembly hall was so bland without anything decorations or furniture... (maybe i have just watched too many cdramas) but yea it felt like the budget was quite low for this drama.
Regarding the story, its your typical time travel story so nothing new. I felt like they spent way too much time on her making all kinds of food instead of developing her relationship with him. To some it can be enough but to me it was not. I did not feel any chemistry between them and would have preferred if they just removed the whole love line in that case. The last 2 episodes were just so forced, to move forward with the plot and history but at the same time they also needed a way to bring her back to the present.
However, I did enjoy the display of food. So for those interested in cooking and trying out the dishes I feel you can give this a try.
Overall story was average, so you can let the drama play the background while having a meal or something.
Was this review helpful to you?
