Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Kdrama Review — A Fun and Flavorful Sageuk I Actually Enjoyed!
If you know me, you really know that I’m not a fan of historical K-dramas. In all my years as a K-drama fangirl, I think I’ve only watched three historical dramas — including this one (or at least that’s what I can remember 😂).
So why did I watch Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (폭군의 셰프)? Simple. It looked funny and interesting — not the usual heavy historical drama. Plus, I’m a huge Yoona fan, so of course, I had to watch it.
And honestly? I didn’t regret it one bit. It’s one of those K-dramas you watch purely for the vibes.
About the Bon Appetit, Your Majesty
Title: Bon Appetit, Your Majesty (폭군의 셰프)
Episodes: 12 episodes (about 1 hour and 20 minutes each episode)
Main Casts:
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| Photo from Osen |
Im Yoon-a as Yeon Ji-yeong
Lee Chae-min as Yi Heon
Kang Han-na as Kang Mok-ju
Choi Gwi-hwa as Prince Je Seon
Plot: A modern-day chef time-slips into the Joseon era and becomes the royal cook for a feared king — using her dishes to melt his heart while surviving deadly palace intrigues.
Things I like about this drama
Lee Chae-min Perfectly Suited the Role
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| Photo from tvN |
As we all know, Lee Chae-min wasn’t the original choice for the lead. The role was first offered to Park Sung-hoon, who dropped out due to controversy. But even with limited prep time, Lee Chae-min absolutely nailed it!
While watching, I even tried imagining Park Sung-hoon playing the character — and it would’ve had a completely different vibe. Lee Chae-min’s mix of charming innocence and intimidating presence fits Yi Heon so well. This role really feels like it was made for him.
Not to mention the part when he cried so much when Jiyeong was taken back.
You’ll Fall in Love with Food All Over Again
Although it’s a rom-com, this K-drama does a great job focusing on the food. Every meal looked mouth-watering, and it made me appreciate how hard it must’ve been to cook during Joseon times without modern tools.
I’m not the best at cooking (actually, I kinda suck at it 😅), but this drama made me want to try recreating those royal dishes!
The Perfect Mix of Comedy, Food, and Romance
I usually avoid sageuk dramas because I’m scared I’ll get bored — but this one kept me hooked until the end.
Even with the noticeable age gap between the leads, Yoona and Lee Chae-min pulled it off. Maybe it’s because Yoona can act younger and Lee Chae-min can easily act older. Their chemistry just works.
Jang Chun-saeng’s Scene — Absolutely Hilarious
One of my favorite moments is definitely Jang Chun-saeng’s fight scene. It happens during the rebellion led by Prince Je Seon, when chaos breaks out in the palace and even Ji-yeong is targeted.
Just when things look hopeless, Jang Chun-saeng arrives right on time — turning the deadly fight into a mix of tension and comedy. His timing, wit, and bravery made the scene both thrilling and hilarious, and honestly, I still laugh whenever I remember it!
A Happy Ending (Thank You, Writer-nim!)
It’s a happy ending! Yi Heon ends up in the present time. Unlike Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (which still hurts me to this day 💔), this one gave us the closure we needed.
Though I admit, the ending felt a bit rushed. Ji-yeong’s explanation about Yi Heon’s time travel was kind of hand-wavy. I wouldn’t mind it… but my film professors probably would.
What I Didn’t Like So Much
The Ming Dynasty Competition Felt Too Long
Don't get me wrong. I actually enjoyed that cooking competition. But for a 12-episode series, it took up too much time. I wish they expanded other storylines instead.
Because of that, the second lead syndrome was almost nonexistent. According to Lee Joo-ahn (who played Gong-gil), his character liked Ji-yeong, but many of those scenes were cut. Such a missed opportunity! As a certified fan of second-lead heartbreaks, I would’ve loved to see that dynamic.
The Mandarin Lines Felt a Bit Off
This became a mini-controversy when the drama aired. And honestly, I understand why. The actors’ Mandarin pronunciation wasn’t great, which made some scenes feel awkward.
Actor Kim Hyung-mook (who played Yu Kang) even shared that he thought it was just a cameo and only had two weeks to prepare — in full Mandarin! Still, I think he did well given the situation.
Overall Thoughts
This drama reminded me why I love watching K-dramas in the first place. Lately, I’ve been so busy that watching felt like a task instead of a hobby. But Bon Appétit, Your Majesty brought the fun back.
If you’re looking for something light, funny, romantic, and food-filled, this is the drama for you. It’s not one of those shows where you need to analyze every theory — just sit back and enjoy the ride.
It gave me the same cozy, heart-fluttering vibes as Lovely Runner and Extraordinary You. I’d totally rewatch it again.
I just wish I had time to visit their pop-up store in Seoul (I only managed to buy the keychain and bookmark online). Hopefully, I can visit their filming location soon — when both my schedule and wallet allow it!
