Bon Appetit, Your Majesty

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.

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Cooking Up Love in Joseon — Why Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Stole My Heart (and Appetite)

Honestly, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty was such a pleasant surprise. It’s one of those dramas that feels cozy yet emotional, funny yet romantic — like a warm meal on a rainy day. The story of a modern chef accidentally ending up in the Joseon era sounds wild, but it somehow works so beautifully. Watching her cook with so much heart and seeing the king slowly fall for her — not just because of the food, but because of her kindness — was just so sweet. A lot of people said there wasn’t much chemistry between them, but I have to disagree. Their connection grew so naturally; you could feel it through the smallest glances, shy smiles, and quiet moments over food. It wasn’t flashy, but it was real.

The visuals were stunning — every dish looked so rich and comforting that I swear I was hungry half the time. And the king’s reactions when he tasted her food? Priceless. You could literally see his walls breaking down one bite at a time. The ending left me with such a warm, content feeling — not overly dramatic, just perfectly wrapped up. Sure, a few scenes felt rushed and some side stories could’ve been explored more, but overall, it’s such a beautiful, comforting drama. If you love food, romance, and a good story about healing and love that grows slowly but deeply, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a must-watch. 💛

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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.

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?️? A Tasty Trip Through Time

So I started this drama because my sister recommended it… and honestly, it didn’t disappoint! The story is solid, the acting is superb, and the music hits just right. Our lead travels back in time and turns out to be an amazing cook — and, of course, the king falls head over heels. 😍
One of my favorite parts? The way the drama explains traditional Korean dishes — I legit learned a thing or two and got hungry just watching! 🍲
Now, full disclosure: I found the humor a bit missing. Maybe I was subconsciously comparing it to Mr. Queen, which has that perfect mix of laughs and chaos. If you loved Mr. Queen, you’ll notice the storyline vibes are kinda similar here, just with minor tweaks.
For me, I like some laughs in my period dramas, so I probably won’t rewatch it. But as a one-time watch, it’s definitely tasty, charming, and worth your time.

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Deliciously Entertaining, But Not Without Flaw

COOKING TIME: 12 episodes, each around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

YIELD: A bold fusion of romantic comedy, palace intrigue, and political twists—bursting with charm in its early episodes, yet marked by abrupt tonal shifts and a finale that leaves key questions unanswered.

INGREDIENTS:

A Modern Chef and a Young King: Lim Yoon A’s spirited time-traveler and Lee Chae Min’s earnest monarch drive the show’s heart. Their romance is consistently engaging, providing warmth even as the surrounding drama fluctuates.

Overpowering Court Intrigue and an Implausible Final Battle: The series starts with playful palace antics but quickly turns toward intense political scheming. As the stakes rise, these twists overtake the story’s earlier charm, causing abrupt and sometimes unsettling tonal shifts. The final battle, in particular, strains credibility: the outcome hinges on a small group—some of whom aren’t even soldiers but cooks—managing to defeat a force of rebels. This unlikely victory makes the climax feel far-fetched and less satisfying.

Food Battles and Fun: Vibrant kitchen showdowns light up the beginning, cleverly blending comedy and flirtation. However, the extended cooking competition in the middle draws energy away from the leads, sometimes stalling the romance.

Enduring Romance: The chemistry between the main couple is a standout throughout the series, giving the story genuine warmth even as the tone shifts. Still, the extended cooking competition in the middle sidelines their relationship, resulting in fewer romantic moments and leaving viewers wishing for more time with the leads together.

Unanswered Questions: The ending skips over critical plot points, most notably how King Yi Heon manages to travel to the modern world and reunite with Ji Yeong, or why Ji Yeong suddenly wakes up in a hospital after being last seen on a plane. The lack of explanation for their return is especially frustrating—after investing so much in their journey, viewers are left without a clear resolution. This missing closure undermines the emotional payoff of the story, making the entire experience feel incomplete.

METHOD:

Begin with Breezy Charm: Episodes 1–4 sparkle with humor, heart, and a breezy romantic air, setting high expectations with their light touch and engaging leads.

Stir in Palace Power Plays: As royal intrigue and the cooking tournament ramp up, the narrative slows and comedic flair fades, leaving less room for the couple’s dynamic.

Shift to Heavier Drama: The tone pivots sharply by episodes 11 and 12, delving into dark political conflict and emotional turbulence. These abrupt changes jar the viewing experience, highlighting the show’s unsettled identity.

Conclude in a Rush: The finale races to tie up its threads but leaves major leaps in logic—especially how the leads reunite—largely unexplained. Essential emotional beats are skipped, and the resolution feels convenient rather than well-earned. A steadier pace and more thoughtful finale could have given viewers the closure they deserved.

CAST HIGHLIGHTS:

Lim Yoon A shines in the comedic and lighthearted moments, bringing charm and timing to the series’ early episodes. However, her performance in the heavier emotional scenes doesn’t carry quite the same impact.

Lee Chae Min offers a nuanced take on a young king, balancing vulnerability and authority even as the script veers in different directions.

The supporting cast adapts well to the shifting moods, delivering memorable moments throughout.

NOTES & TIPS:

The series shifts boldly from light and witty beginnings to a tense, sometimes dark finish—expect an unpredictable ride.

Vivid CGI food remains a highlight, especially early on.

Romance sparkles when present, though it’s often pushed aside by palace intrigue and cooking competitions.

Several storylines and character arcs are left unresolved or hurried, which can be frustrating—especially when the show never explains how the leads return to the modern world. After investing so much in their journey, the lack of answers makes the ending feel incomplete.

The blend of comedy, political machinations, and drama is ambitious, but the fluctuating tone can be jarring.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is an entertaining drama that excels at weaving food into its story in creative, meaningful ways. The dynamic between the leads is genuinely compelling—their chemistry lights up every shared scene and consistently leaves you wanting more of their romance. The series stands out for how naturally it ties culinary themes to character growth and plot progression.

However, the show isn’t without frustrations. While the blend of comedy, palace schemes, and heartfelt moments keeps things engaging, the abrupt changes in tone can feel jarring. Most disappointing, though, is how the ending rushes past key explanations—especially the matter of how the leads return to their own time. After investing so much in their journey, it’s hard not to feel shortchanged by the lack of closure.

Despite these issues, if you’re looking for a drama that balances humor, intrigue, and romance, this one offers plenty to enjoy. With a steadier tone and a more complete resolution, it could have been truly exceptional.

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MY FAVORITE SHOW! DONT TRUST THE BAD REVIEWS!

I will make it short but I think this is my 2nd review of a drama. First of all, DONT TRUST THE REVIEWS HERE! If you depend on reviews here to watch a drama, stop watching dramas. THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE! It brought me back and many others from the slump! it's been years for me.

I finished the show yesterday, and here I came expecting very high ratings but huh??? what is with the hate forced comments?!!!! I was shocked! I truly believe you should give the show a try without depending on reviews and I am sure it won't disappoint. From the beginning to the final episode it did not disappoint AT ALL. The show made me love the actors and they were all memorable, loved the food and how to enjoy it. Also, it made fall in love with the fantasy and history themed dramas more!

Everything was so good, the story, the actors, their acting, the food, the comedy, the fantasy and historical aspect, the slow burn romance, the chemistry, the ending like overall it is a must watch! the only thing that disappointed me was the show ending too fast and I am attached right now. So please give it a try!!

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Modern Chef and Food in Joseon

First of all, I had very high hopes for this drama. Yoona was great, as chef royal chef Yeon Ji Yeong. She was believable and her acting was so good. The king,Yi Heon, played by Lee Chae Min, on the other hand, was clueless about everything around him, except his revenge and the chef royal chef. He would see his uncle doing bad things and did nothing until the very end of the drama. He yelled at Consort Kang, once, but let her misdeeds go unpunished. The king did not even know that half of the royal guards were changed out for his uncle's on guys. He wanted to kill his grandmother so badly. When it came to his royal chef, the king came on too strong right from the beginning. He had been involved with Consort Kang. Consort Kang and the king's uncle were also involved romantically. The king had such fits of rage and the bad guys knew how to push his buttons. The chef royal chef's sidekick Seo Gil Geum, played by Yoon Seo Ah, was a great character. She only had three days to learn her acting part after getting a call to act in this drama. She was fantastic. When it came down to it, the king killed this drama; he did show up in modern times, to Yeon Ji Yeong's delight, for she had fallen in love with him and missed him dearly. I watched this drama twice. The first time, I belived that the king and Consort Kang were married. I believed that the king was cheating on the consort and wanted to make Ueon Ji Yeong his concubine. I did some research and found out that the king had been married in the past, however, his wife died. I watched the drama again to see how much better it would be without the king being married. He still messed it up. I just did not like the king. I do not have plans to ever watch this drama again.

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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.

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WHEN DISHES CROSS WORLDS : EVERY BITE HOLDS A MEMORY

‧₊˚ ⋅ 𓐐𓎩 ‧₊˚ ⋅ Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, also known as Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef, is a historical time-travel K-drama adapted from the webtoon written by Park Kuk-jae. What makes Bon Appétit stand out is its unique focus on food; each dish carries meaning and reflects the main theme of the story. The mystery, romance, comedy, and royal family issues serve as subplots in the drama. Although the BAYM genre isn’t new to historical series , this one was refreshing and different because of its storytelling. I chose the title because it relates to how King Yi heon interpreted Chef ji yeong foods ‧₊˚ ⋅ 𓐐𓎩 ‧₊˚ ⋅

STORYLINE SUMMARY 🍝🥢♡ ༘*.ﾟ

Chef Yeon Ji Yeong is a french chef from the modern world with a cheerful and outgoing personality, who only has her dad but with her hard work she got first place in a cooking competition to become a top michelin chef on her way home , she reads a special book that was ordered by her dad and she is suddenly pulled back to joseon era there she met King Yi Heon, a feared tyrant known for his brilliant mind, sharp tongue, and ruthless standards. Trapped in a world she has never visited and a royal place with dangerous politics, she has to survive through cooking. She works hard to satisfy the king's exceptional tastes in the process, leading to other events unfolding and her getting the love of her life.

The first part of the drama introduces the main characters and establishes their roles. Ji Yeong wins a prestigious cooking contest, and her detailed explanation of each step in preparing the dishes combining culinary art with science made me eager to watch more. The cooking process was portrayed beautifully and kept me hooked. After the contest, Ji Yeong was returning home from Paris when she was suddenly transported back to the Joseon era after reading a mysterious book her father had asked her to retrieve. There, she encounters the tyrannical King of Joseon, and their first meeting is chaotic Ji Yeong, still in denial, refuses to believe she’s no longer in 2025. A series of unexpected events leads the two to fall from a cliff, marking the second major mystery of the drama. Before discovering the king’s true identity, Ji Yeong meets another person in the forest Gil Geum who quickly becomes her friend.

The two were taken along with the king, marking the beginning of their shared journey and Ji Yeong’s new experiences in Joseon. Overall, the first four episodes were excellent. We got to see Ji Yeong’s mastery in cooking, and once she arrived at the palace, everything changed for both her and the king. Ji Yeong recognized some of the villains and recalled parts of their past stories. She recognized Consort Kang and knew she was a troublemaker but didn’t yet understand her true intentions toward the king. However, she was unaware of the true main villain, which made the later events unfold in a different way.
The first half of the drama was enjoyable for me due to the dynamic between the leads and the ongoing palace schemes to dethrone the king's plans that shifted after Ji Yeong’s arrival and the involvement of Gong Gil, the jester. Ji Yeong had to prove her worth to remain in the palace and eventually earned her position as a royal chef.

The main plot of BAYM centers around food, and the early episodes make that clear. The king, despite his bad temper, has a refined and intelligent way of describing and appreciating food. Whenever Ji Yeong cooks, it soothes him, and over time, their interactions become warmer, revealing how her cooking touches both his heart and mind, not just his taste buds.
Even if BAYM had focused more on palace politics, it would still be fascinating to watch, as every scheme and ambition gradually shifted toward Ji Yeong, with many trying to use her as bait for their own gain.

The final part of the drama marked the downfall of Joseon, a complete bloodbath. It felt like the blood would spill out of my screen, and I couldn’t look away. Before the chaos, the truth about the king’s mother’s death was revealed while he danced for his grandmother, and from that moment, everything unraveled. King Yi Heon had every right to punish those behind her death, but since he never knew her true wish, his desire for revenge consumed him, turning him into the tyrant everyone feared. Ji Yeong was the only one who could calm him, and watching him struggle for peace while everything collapsed around him was deeply emotional. When the main villain struck, the palace descended into chaos again, bloody, heartbreaking, and painful to watch. Seeing my beloved side characters die so brutally left me shocked and devastated. Ji Yeong’s return to the modern world also happened , but when the king cried and begged for her to come back, I teared up and I smiled when the ripped page reappeared, because I knew it would bring him back to he that their promise and the book’s power was strong in their fate connection.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
The ending felt a bit rushed since the revolt took much of the runtime, and I wished for more, especially knowing the webtoon had lighter side stories. Still, I was satisfied not because it had a happy ending, but because most questions were answered. King Yi Heon kept his promises to Chef Ji Yeong; though he wasn’t the best ruler, he found peace and redemption in the end.

────୨ৎ────CHARACTERS/ ACTING ────୨ৎ────

Lee Chae Min As King Yi heon ♛ ⚔️𓆩❤︎𓆪

Lee Chae min embodied his role as King Yi heon in a phenomenal and natural way. His character King yi heon was not hard to understand for me because he was a tyrant king who got this name because of his rage and bad temper. The king wasn’t dumb or weak his choices were rooted in revenge, not ignorance. He acted on emotion more than reason, but that doesn’t make him powerless. He ruled with authority, even if that authority came at the cost of peace. He wasn’t a puppet king; people despised him, yet they couldn’t control him either. In my opinion, what made King Yi Heon not the best king was that he had no one to calm him or give him good advice until the female lead appeared. Her presence, though a little late, helped him realize his mistakes and fight for his younger brother to be surrounded by good people. How can a king rule when his consort, his best friend who also once betrayed him, and most of his subjects all manipulate him, pushing him toward rage and madness? His second biggest mistake was asking the royal cooks to compete against the Mings, which he later admitted, but that competition also showed how grounded Joseon was in its cuisine and the skill of its chefs.

Beyond being a king, he had a refined talent for describing and analyzing food, making him a true gourmet. I loved all his reactions. Lee Cha Min portrayed him brilliantly the comedy never felt forced, and considering he had only a month to prepare for the archery, horse riding, dance, and fight scenes, the directing supported him well. It’s not wrong to give credit when it’s due, I didn’t expect him to perform this well, but he surprised me. His subtle gazes at Chef Ji Yeong and the slow build of his feelings were natural. At first, he disliked her, but her food and presence softened him.

When he said he didn’t see her as a woman, it backfired as he began seeing her as one and that softened his heart but he still had his temper around others.
I don’t support killing, but he had the right to crash out during his grandmother's birthday because she was two faced, his mother’s death was unfair and brutal. Their bond was strong, she was the light in his life, and Ji Yeong later became that same light. Lee Cha Min embodied the king’s rage, sorrow, and love perfectly. King Yi Heon ruled because he was appointed to, but his revenge ruined his name. Still, he fought to secure a better future for his brother, even when fate led him to another world.

Lim Yoona As Chef Yeon Ji yeong 👩‍🍳🛎️♨️

Lim Yoona portrayed her character, Chef Yeon Ji Yeong, effortlessly. I liked her a lot because she was bubbly, friendly, and full of energy. I never saw her as a two-dimensional character just because her role stayed true to being a chef. As a chef, she wasn’t just cooking and serving food; each dish she made had meaning and purpose across all twelve episodes courses . Yeon Ji Yeong is a woman in her late twenties who had just won a competition that could make her a Michelin chef in modern Korea, suddenly found herself in the old Joseon era because of the king’s yearning. I liked that she refused to accept she was in another world at first it made her reactions realistic and valid.

Her character may seem simple but her skills are not simple and it’s not easy to please everyone, especially a king. She worked hard to prove her worth, even spending days in prison after giving her best. I initially thought she remembered everything about the king’s history, but she didn’t. She only knew about the consort’s schemes, not the main villain, which made sense if she did, she wouldn’t have let him take her pepper and use her as bait Yeon Ji Yeong’s food made a real impact. It changed people’s perspectives, even the villains couldn’t deny her skill.

Her dishes brought back memories for those who tasted the food, grandmother, the king, and even the Ming chef Kong Wen Li. Eating food is not only about satisfying one's hunger but how it nourishes the body,comforts the mind and connects people together and Yeon Ji Yeong captured that perfectly. She was also good with words, made friends easily, and was well known in the palace because of her cooking skills. I liked her ending, even though I wished it was longer. She had a lonely life except for her father, and it would have been nice to see more of her modern day adventures and the food designs she recreated that was inspired by the king's journal.

Yoona portrayed her role naturally, from taking food classes for three months to designing 95% of the dishes herself. She had no body double, and that effort showed in the drama. Her emotional and comedic scenes were natural to me and didn't come out forced . Some might say Ji Yeong didn’t love the king, but I saw her feelings as subtle and sincere. She cared deeply for him. It was sad knowing she had to leave one day so how could she be fully happy being in a relationship , yet she wished she could stay because of how much he loved her.

The supporting characters all played their roles well. I liked each of their portrayals. They fit perfectly as chefs, subjects, and even villains. The villains made me annoyed and rolled my eyes every time they appeared, which just shows how well they acted their parts. Out of all the characters, I related most to Gil Geum ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ . She reminded me of myself, shy at first but expressive once I’m comfortable. I loved her friendship with Yeon Ji Yeong and how determined she was to improve her cooking skills.

Short explanation on the romance between the king and chef ji yeong ﮩـﮩﮩ٨ـ🫀ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The romance between the King and Chef Yeon Ji Yeong in BAYM is more of a subplot, as the drama mainly focuses on its central theme. Their love didn’t feel sudden or based on infatuation; it flowed well through understanding and mutual respect between each character. Even within twelve episodes, their scenes together were not limited even though it's not lovey dovey , through conversations, trust, and support Yeon Ji Yeong changed the King, helping him become a different person , while she also saw beyond his flaws. Their interactions made me smile, their banter was fun, their bond genuine, and the book symbolized the promise that both kept to each other. Their hugs and kisses made me swoon, especially the hug scenes.

OST/ CINEMATOGRAPHY 🎵📹
The OST and cinematography were also well done. Although there weren’t many songs, I really liked the two main ones that played throughout the main scenes . The cinematography was chef’s kiss and well done . I also liked that the animations were made with CGI and not the use of AI. The production team is already known for their creative work even before AI became common.

FAV SCENES 👀✿˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚
★ The leads first meet
★ All gil geum and ji yeong scenes
★ The hug scenes between the leads
★ First cooking competition
★ Almost everything about the drama tbh
★ The dance scene with ji yeong and the king
★ All the food reactions and the leads scenes together

OVERALL IMPRESSION 🌟⚜(✽´ཫ`✽)

My overall impression of BAYM is simple: I ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT. Watching it felt like receiving a dish I didn’t order but was gifted and it tasted incredible. That’s exactly how the drama felt for me, which is why it took me a whole week to process and finally write this review (also, a bit busy and catching up on sleep whenever I could). It’s a drama I would normally gatekeep for myself, but for anyone reading this who hasn’t watched it yet, I say: just give it a try even if it’s long.

BAYM is straightforward and easy to follow. It feels refreshing and different, not a recycled storyline or a copy of Mr. Queen. I watched all 12 episodes and couldn’t find any real similarities beyond both involving chefs and time travel. The culinary aspect here was more in-depth, and I loved how the drama incorporated science into some of the food scenes. The chemistry between the leads was good and the director did well for their scenes.

Some scenes may seem silly at first, but they make sense in context. For example, I never knew chocolate could help with memory, but after seeing it in the drama, I researched it myself. This drama made me interact with so many people and brought me out of my second half of 2025 kdrama slump. I liked how much importance the drama placed on food, and watching Chef Ji-yeong improvise without modern ingredients was inspiring. The drama had me drooling nonstop, making me wish I could taste every single dish myself.

The drama has serious and unserious parts and funny scenes had me laughing out loud, overall, it’s a show I will rewatch and remember . Everyone involved clearly worked hard on this drama. I avoid calling a show “overhyped” because tastes vary, but I do wish TVN wouldn’t cut out important scenes because it's becoming frustrating. I might add more words to my review later because i have more to say.

FAV QUOTES 📜𝜗𝜚˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
“ They say act mute for three years and blind for another three “ - King Yi heon

“ When it comes to taste, you can only sense the five basic types, which are bitter, Sour sweet, spicy and salty,but aromas are countless and diverse - Chef Yeon ji yeong

“Don’t forget this,one who bears a sword with a grin will eventually be struck by it “ - King Yi Heon

“ Even if the sky falls in, there is always a way out we should stay strong “ - Gil Geum

Thanks For Reading my long review ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆💗⃝🌕 Goodbye my Suragan family -`♡´-

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Nice to watch if you’re bored, but not worth your full attention.

If you have some free time and nothing much to watch, you can try this drama little by little — maybe an episode at a time to pass your leisure moments.

When this drama was airing, everyone was talking about it — friends, social media, and K-drama fans everywhere. My friends kept asking, “Haven’t you watched it yet? It’s so beautiful! Everyone’s watching it!” They were so excited about it that I heard about it again and again. At that time, I was already watching two other dramas, so I told them, “Okay, okay, I’ll watch it later.”

As a big K-drama fan myself, surprisingly, I didn’t rush to start it. But after a few days, I gave it a try. The first three episodes were quite good — I even watched them all in one day. King Lee Heon and Ji-yeong’s characters were fun to watch. But after that, my interest slowly faded. It didn’t feel important or engaging anymore, though I decided I’d finish it someday.

Almost one and a half months later, I finally finished it — along with two or three other dramas. Honestly, it wasn’t as amazing as people said. It felt more like a cooking show than a story-driven drama. At last two episodes 10 and 11, I just let it play on my phone while doing house chores. And 12th episode finished it by watching 1.75× speed! It wasn’t boring, but it wasn’t something I was excited about either.

The only part I really liked was when Ji-yeong returned to the future and learned the story behind the book — that was interesting. But overall, most of it focused on cooking recipes rather than an emotional storyline.

Talking about the actors — Lee Chae Min did a great job, and Yoona was as solid as always in her rom-com roles. There wasn’t anything particularly special about the plot, but one good outcome is that this drama helped Lee Chae Min shine more as a rising rookie actor.

In the story, King Lee Heon falls in love with Ji-yeong because she reminds him of his mother — especially through her cooking, which brings back memories of the mother he deeply missed. But honestly, there wasn’t much reason that Ji-yeong to fall for the king herself, and the chemistry between them didn’t really stand out. It felt more like the king was just spending time with one of his court ladies or soon to be Queen like lady that chosen by the Queen mother.

As for the OST, it was okay — nice songs, but nothing memorable. I believe a good soundtrack shines when it connects deeply with the story and emotions of the moment, and that didn’t quite happen here.

Overall, if you’re looking for a meaningful K-drama to get hooked on or to lift your mood — this might not be the one. “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” is visually beautiful and trendy, but the story simply isn’t strong enough.

Still, credit where it’s due — Yoona and Lee Chae Min both performed well. The main problem lies in the weak script, not the acting.

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