Head Chef Yoon
Overall, it's a series I've really enjoyed and eagerly awaited every week. A good premise was chosen and combined with food. It's a romance between a cruel king's revenge story and a chef who, we eventually realize, returns to the past thanks to a cookbook he wrote, and ultimately, their reunion. I think it was a well-crafted mix, and the actors were also noteworthy, but unfortunately, there were a lot of mistakes. Things that shouldn't have happened, things our logic wouldn't allow. Unfortunately, these things happen because the screenwriter and I disagree. There are also parts of the plot that were left in for the sake of convenience. In particular, the king doesn't do anything to his suspected concubine. He says he'll kill her, but he neither questions her, punishes her, or has her followed. This affects the plot. If the king were to watch it, he'd reach a conclusion. Why wouldn't you watch someone you suspect? You know there's a conspiracy against you, your mother was murdered, and you investigate, but you take no precautions, no plans, no plans. The king's followers are clowns. In other words, it takes away the credibility. I guess it's not too unrealistic, because something really different happened. It's a fictional series. On top of that, the miraculous invention and use of a pressure cooker by a man who makes rice pops, the invention and use of an airplane, and so on, were all very cheap and far-fetched. I thought it was just for fun. I thought we'd have a laugh. The man exploded a cannon. He won the war. So, he discovered, invented, and used cannons and gunpowder. It all happened too much. These things were so wrong, so exaggerated, so unbecoming of the series. It should have been left to its original form. And the king was so lighthearted. That's how they portrayed him. I don't understand how he's such a cruel king. He's going to get what he's doing. He imprisons a palace lady. They don't know whose palace lady she is. No investigation is made. No precautions are taken. The palace lady is supposedly a very important witness. She's murdered in prison. There's zero credibility. Could something like this even happen? I mean, the king is so passive and cruel. It's a very contradictory portrayal. His rivals are playing tricks on him. They poison the prince. They're pinning him on whomever they want. They're so laid-back. For example, the uncle. This uncle gets away with everything. Then he fools the king by being cute and foolish. He gets away with a lighthearted remark. So, this guy is so stupid, so stupid. He can't do anything. Why aren't the responsibilities given to him revoked? The uncle, you just enjoy yourself. He doesn't say, "Don't come to the palace." He doesn't say, "Go and stay home." Or maybe he didn't. These were way too exaggerated and very noticeable. In short, these were some of the aspects of the series that I didn't like or found wrong. I'd say it didn't really affect the overall performance, or maybe I just ignored it. It affected me as a whole, and I liked it. First of all, the cast was good. The direction was good. The costumes were good. The action was good. Lim Yoon A, in particular, put in a lot of effort. He was dedicated. His performance affected the others as well, in other words, it directly affected their performance. I felt for him. I also thought Lee Chae Min would struggle against him. On the contrary, he was very good. He looks older than his age and he played his part very well. I really liked him. He never smirked, and I think they interacted well as a duo, and they made a good pairing. Even though the romance didn't really sink in, I understood they were drawn together by a love for each other. It was a sweet and fitting romance. It wasn't overdone. Besides that, Kang Han Na added color with her beauty. She was successful in the episodes she was in. It wasn't a lot of work. Choi Gwi Hwi was the star of the series in my opinion. He played well. He made us feel the bad. He's very visible with his dramas these days. He's a candidate for best supporting actor. I liked it. Seo Yi Sook was good. Oh Eui Shik was very good. I liked his performance. Lee Joo Ahn, on the other hand, was one of the best and most noticeable in this series. I think he was the winner. How this actor stayed in supporting roles like this is astonishing. He has the aura of being a star. His physique, good looks, image, and action were perfect. The producers should take this into consideration, I'm saying this here. Maybe someone will hear about it. Or maybe he's lazy. He doesn't want to lift the weight. He wants to keep it simple. I don't know. But he's an actor I really like. Yoon Seo Ah was also one of those who caught my eye. So, the actors were quite good. Ko Chang Seok also stood out as the inventor. Well done. I recommend it to those who haven't watched it. It's one of those series I can watch again. So, I'll watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
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SPOILER ?⭐
literally cried when i heard his voice AKCKSKSABJXBSJS i love love the plot twist : ( thank you BAYM for giving us another historical time slip drama !! truly one of the masterpiece but can we talk about the editing everytime they try a new food of cook yeon? I WAS IJBOLING LMFAOAOAOA ( i relate to it so much cz everytime i try a new food, i would be a sent to a another dimension )10/10. also love the side characters especially gilgeum-ssi <3 the sister relationship between her and cook yeon :P ++ except i hate the character of the superintendent ? you would really know that a villain played a good job when they did a good job at annoying u. the dishes def made me crave for it >< a good job also to yoona and chaemin for giving us the character of cook yeon and yiheon !!! cooking skills + acting + the EMOTION of lee chaemin is there ! especially the scene where cook yeon was returning to the present time.
Bon Appetit Your Majesty, Alchemy Of Souls, and Moon Lovers definitely sit at the same table! however, BAYM wasn't impactful as AOS and ML : ) there are some lacking qualities that aos and ml that doesn't have. i just couldn't identify what that is...
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The writers must've been uninspired
If you've seen the anime "Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma" and the K-Drama "Mr. Queen" and some other sageuk dramas with time travel elements to them, then I really can't recommend this series that much—the synopsis and plot are similar so far, the way the characters react to Yeon Jiyoung's cooking is similar to Food Wars, and I presume the way the story will go as the episodes go on will be similar to that of Mr. Queen.Was this review helpful to you?
The director made a wise decision to replace the OG ML with Lee Chae Min just one month before filming began. Chae Min trained so hard for the character he needed to portray in the drama, within the 1 month he has been given to prepare. And he truly proved himself as an actor with his impressive acting skills and the way he delivered the character so well it is so undefinable
Yoona has always been an outstanding actress. She dedicated herself completely to this character, even took the cooking classes for the drama, and portrayed it exceptionally well.
I also loved the relationship between Jiyoung and Heon from beginning to end, and how he grew and changed because of her. The only drawback is the lack of romance between them, it would be lovely to watch if they add one more episode for their dating era, but overall the drama is extremely good
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a fun comfort show
I'm really not sure why people are so ruthless in their reviews, if it's not your cup of tea sure but damn. Not every story needs to have a stellar deep intriguing plot line or explanation, shows are a means of escape for many and this delivers it. If we're going off logic, then Mr. Queen doesn't make sense either. (I love that show along with scarlet heart). There was no explanation to why they time traveled or returned to their world after death. It is purely fantasy, so I'm not sure why people are upset over a good happy ending. There's a reason why it became so popular.This show was very comforting and fun to watch, I loved the cinematography and king's acting 🤌. I thought the food competition was very engaging too, very unique. This is def a show that I can just come back to and rewatch just for fun moments!
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Screaming, crying, throwing up
This show had me **hooked** and **captivated** all **from the very first episode**! I am saying this as someone who is notoriously hard to please.Who knew a modern day female Michelin Chef who time travels back 500 years to the Joeson dynasty era would be a great idea to adapt to the screen??
The FL and ML have some of the **best tension and aggressiveness that I have seen in a kdrama in years**; they are electric together and their tit for tat relationship is just ✨chef’s kiss ✨
If you like:
✅Grump x Sunshine
✅Tension
✅Hate-to-love
✅Time travel
✅Court intrigue
✅Politics
✅Cooking
Bon Appetite Your Majesty is the show for you.
I know I probably shouldn’t be writing a review for a show that’s only halfway through, but I have a feeling this will be one of the greats even if it shatters us 🙈
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Cooked !!!
It's time to say goodbye to beautiful drama which I'm longing for !! A perfect time travel, fantasy, chemistry really cooked well and I come to know korean cuisine by this drama , I really loved all the dishes but unable to taste.Sad!!I know !! I knew by someday ML( from see you in 19th life )will get recognised by his acting my eyes filled with tears when he cries, when he screams in final episodes ,a perfectly balanced 12 episodes I don't wanna reveal spoilers,but I recommend every drama lovers to watch this.kudos to the writer,and yes HAPPY ENDING.
Happy watching
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serving nostalgia, seasoned lightly with confusion
thinking back, when i started this drama, all i really hoped for was to reenter the k-drama world—a world that had felt shut to me ever since i learned more about the darker side of the korean entertainment industry (and gained trust issues for free). naturally, my moral compass did what it had to do and i took months off, withdrawing from the fanbase and putting every k-drama on hold. out of sentimentality and maybe a teeny tiny bit of desperation to rekindle this passion of mine, i decided to choose my next watch and 'bon appétit, your majesty' felt like a breath of fresh air that somehow didn't seem entirely unfamiliar.and now, after finishing it, i actually feel like being back on track.
the drama itself isn't groundbreaking, but it did transport me straight back to the 2016 k-drama renaissance. the aesthetic was so reminiscent of that era, yet blended with contemporary storytelling in a way that created a lovely, comforting sense of nostalgia.
what stands out the most is the sincerity of acting and the way cooking is woven into the narrative—not just as a gimmick, but as a genuine driving force. the dishes aren't just props. their preparation and significance shaped the plot, deepened emotional connections and honestly made me want to learn every recipe one by one. cooking became both a visual treat and a narrative technique that kept me captivated... and hungry.
the acting is an impeccable aspect of this drama. friendships were blossoming, and animosity was made believable. the romance, however... let's pause there for a moment.
iam afraid, from a personal pov, the inconsistency in plot development affected the relationship between ji young and yi heon severely. they often felt more like siblings as she offered this grounded, mature guidance, while his "maturity" was mostly cemented by the way he spoke, definitely not in the way he thought (some moments of brilliance were there, though). minus the epilogue, that's where they seemed the most compatible, which is strange considering the rest of their relationship arc. his feelings felt genuine, hers… not so much. and no, it's not about the age gap (both actors are consenting adults); it's the script tbh. maybe next time, writer‑nim, a little more depth and a bit better pacing, okay? we need more nuanced relationship development in k-dramaland (and less quirky visual effects).
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Alot of food & alot of violence with last minute unexplained happy ending
The male lead is pretty loathful for a good bit & then his deranged broken bad boy charm slowly (slowly) settles in. This is fiction/fantasy, so it's best to avoid seeing his character as real boyfriend material, but you have to admire his loyalty & "all in" attitude. (well Let's try to say so anyway) . Kudos to male lead Lee Chae Min for pulling off the nuances of deranged, unhinged , smolderingly charming & heartbreakingly distraught.A nod to Choi Gwi Hwa as well for making his villain so maniacal.
The Female lead works really hard to sell her character & though the actress is not my favorite (SO I say ,as I realize just how many drama's I've watched with her in them!) she jumps into every scene with "gusto" and makes it work for her. Male lead's character ,(a demonic form of Austen's Mr. Darcy ), & is angry at everyone & bent on revenge -though he's not sure (or particular about) who the target is. The cooking & the killing being equal parts in this drama, are an odd mix. The cooking segments are wonderful (even if you aren't a foodie) The bite size mysteries that pop up every once in awhile concerning sabotage , trading out new world ingredients for Joseon dynasty ones is surprisingly interesting. Figuring out who (all) the bad guys are is difficult as there are alot of people who'd like to see the leads dead.
In order to enjoy this drama : suspend disbelief a good bit and take it for the violent yet somewhat fluffy drama it is. Set your expectations at that bar & don't get caught up in the few plot holes ( might be more than a few). Overall I enjoyed the drama, though Ep. 11 was brutal & hard to get through, but as you go you see it's necessary. The first half of Ep. 12 is unpleasantly bloody & gut wrenchingly emotional (pun intended). Both Ep 11 & 12 have recollection montages (which I hate) , but the warm fuzzy in them set you up to be emotionally invested in the final struggle & then to fully enjoy the happy conclusion . (Though be warned; the happy ending is both nonsensical & satisfying). If given another episode they might have gone into explanations, but really, why bother ? They have already given clues for us to fill in the blanks ourselves & why does it matter anyway ?
I took off points in my rating for what I felt was too much time spend on drawing out killing scenes . ( A quick stab -camera pans away & move on is the way I like my drama deaths!)
I will rewatch this.
I didn't notice the OST at all, which fits this drama well.
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good for the cooking scenes but it is a bit slow
At the start I laughed a lot with their scenes, but after some episodes it stopped being funny at all. The slow pace and the ML made me drop it.The cooking plotline is attractive and made me want to try the recipes. However the ML was not to my liking. Most of the characters are annoying...
Since this drama is pretty recent, the scenery, the production, the costumes and make up are sublime.
Some of the side dramatic plotlines are interesting and well done. The time travel accuracy was okay
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3-Star Michelin Chef in Joseon
Bon Appetit gave me strong Mr. Queen energy, but with its own flavor that sets it apart. While Mr. Queen leans heavily on rom com chaos, this one takes a more grounded approach. The romance has weight, the politics add tension, and the cooking scenes tie everything together in a way that feels thoughtful instead of gimmicky. It’s that sweet spot where you’re entertained but still pulled into the story’s layers.The pacing sits right in the middle too. Not too simple, not too tangled, just enough suspense to keep you saying “one more episode” until you realize you’ve finished the whole thing in two days. What really hooked me was how several characters sat in that gray area where you’re not sure if they’re good or bad. By the end, that duality actually makes the entire drama feel richer and more memorable.
I genuinely loved this show, and it stays with me even after the final episode. My only tiny wish is that it had a standout OST I could cling to and replay whenever I want to relive the experience. Other than that, it’s a beautifully balanced watch that delivers charm, depth, and flavor all at once.
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A delightful feast of romance, food, and heart
After King the Land, it was such a happy reunion with Yoon-A. I instantly remembered why she’s so endearing — charming, radiant, and effortlessly engaging. She really has a knack for roles where she caters to people’s needs — hotels, royal kitchens — and she brings such warmth that every scene feels welcoming.The male lead, meanwhile, was pure eye candy — but more than just that. He nailed that delicate balance between anger and vulnerability. Yi Heon was grand, dramatic, and just a little too much — but honestly, isn’t that what a king should be? He was acutely aware of his power, of his own authority, which made his softer moments stand out even more.
I absolutely loved the international flavor of the show — from the first segment in France to the cooking contest with the Ming. As a native French speaker and a fan of the Chinese language, it was such a treat to hear both blend naturally into a K-drama. Sure, the Chinese was slower than what I’m used to in C-dramas, but the cultural crossover was so much fun that I didn’t mind. And watching the cast act as though each bite was an extra-sensory revelation? Completely hilarious. Their expressions alone could make you crave the dishes.
The show never took itself too seriously — at least, not until episodes 11 and 12, when everything suddenly turned chaotic. Up until then, it was light, witty, and romantic in the best way. It was clear from the very beginning that he was drawn to her the moment he saw her, even if he didn’t realize it yet. Watching him slowly piece together those feelings and stand by her against everyone was genuinely sweet. And I loved how she learned to see beyond the “tyrant” legend and love the man underneath. And yes, I’ll happily ignore every little alarm whispering “Stockholm syndrome” — it’s fiction, and I had a blast.
My biggest frustration was the ending. He went down in history as a tyrant despite all his efforts to restrain himself, to forgive, to not take revenge for his mother — and for what? Nothing! I was raging 😆. It’s such a shame, because the show had been building toward something great before the historical constraints kicked in and tangled everything up.
Even so, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty remains a charming, visually delicious drama — part romance, part historical fantasy, part food heaven — served with undeniable heart.
I started rating it at 8.5, but the ending chaos shaved off half a point.
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