Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a 2025 historical-fantasy kdrama starring Lee Chae-Min and Im Yoon-ah, who play King Lee Heon and Yeon Ji-yeong, respectively.
I’ll be honest, I randomly stumbled upon this drama on Netflix, not thinking much of it, and wanting something light and easy to watch to get me out of my drama slump. And I’m glad I ended up with this show.
The plot encompasses time travel, romance and plenty of great shots of appetising foods. With 12 episodes, each around 80 minutes long, the show features an array of characters and an action-packed storyline.
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In this review, I’ll break down what works (and what didn’t), as well as more on the characters, plot and if you should watch Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.
What is Bon Appétit, Your Majesty about?
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty follows Yeon Ji-yeong, a French-trained culinary prodigy who has just won a prestigious cooking competition and been offered the position of head chef at a three-star Michelin restaurant.
On her flight home to share the good news, she carries with her an antique book she promised to give her father. When she opens the mysterious old cookbook mid-flight, Ji-yeong is suddenly transported back in time to the Joseon era.
Confused, Ji-yeong comes face-to-face with King Yi Heon, a ruler infamous as both a gourmet and a tyrant. The pair are immediately at loggerheads (Ji-yeon not knowing who he is and the king being appalled at her disrespectful behaviour), their tiff was quite funny.
But their initial annoyance with each other fades quickly after the king tastes Ji-yeong’s cooking.
Back at the palace, Yi Heon appoints her as the new royal chef. Though life in the palace seems to be going well, there are some evil plans also brewing amidst the tasty dishes.
Ji-yeong enjoys her new status in the palace, friendships and the luxuries that come with her role, yet she still longs for her home. Meanwhile, as Yi Heon’s once-frozen heart begins to thaw, an unexpected love starts to bloom.
Characters
Yeon Ji-yeong
Ji-yeong is such a likeable character – she’s funny, strong, independent, and exceptionally skilled at her craft. There were also many moments when she proved to be a wonderful friend to Seo Gil-geum (played by Yeon Seo-ah), supporting her as she pursued a better life in a world that marginalized women.
I loved seeing Ji-yeong’s growth over the episodes. She’s that unexpected female heroine who’s thrust into a complicated world filled with a corrupt political system and rigid social customs, and she’s the kind of woman you can’t help but root for.
Even during the trials and tribulations she faces, she cares more about those around her than she does about herself, which makes you wish for her success in everything she does, especially for her selfless acts. Ji-yeong is such a brilliant character.
King Yi Heon
Now on to King Yi Heon. He comes across as cold and hard-hearted, a complete contrast to Ji-yeong – and that’s exactly why their chemistry works.
As viewers, we get a glimpse into his life before he took the throne, especially the details about his family and his troubled childhood. We also see how he developed a love of food because each dish carries a story.
Through flashbacks, particularly those involving his mother, we witness the vindictive streak hidden beneath the tyrant’s exterior.
However, his mannerisms and facial expressions do become irritating at times. But once he lowers his guard, we finally get to see the softer, more vulnerable side to him. And hearing his inner thoughts really worked well when getting to know the character on a deeper level.
Supporting Cast
I think the good characters and the evil ones were portrayed really well in this drama. The villains were especially conniving and ruthless – namely Kang Han-na as Kang Mok-ju. We also had Choi Gwi-hwa as Prince Je-seon, and I was shocked at the lengths these characters went to in order to carry out their evil plans.
We had some true gems -brave and heartfelt people, including the King’s secretary and the cooking staff who worked alongside Ji-yeong. They were like one big happy family, supporting each other no matter what.
Plot and Pacing
In Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, each episode typically revolves around a new recipe that becomes the central focus.
Watching the show didn’t feel draggy at first; the opening episodes move along nicely. However, the middle episodes are a bit dull, though the series picks up again in the finale.
I really enjoyed the visuals. As a fan of period dramas, I loved being immersed in a carefully crafted Korean historical setting. The costumes and palace details were all fantastic.
The cooking scenes were also a highlight, with bright vegetables, sizzling pans, and vibrant colors.
What I Loved and What Didn’t
What worked
The main character – Ji-yeong is my favourite. She’s funny, hardworking, determined and has an overall great personality. Plus, I would love to taste any of her dishes.
Food: Like I mentioned there’s just so much appetising food shown in this series, but it’s not all Korean. You have Chinese and French cuisine too.
Visuals & tone: Another thing I loved was, the king’s inner monologues and reactions, like when he’s says “what-is-this-weird-sauce” after tasting a dish.
Romance: I loved the enemies-to-lovers arch in this and it really worked.
What could have been better:
By the final episodes, the pacing slows down a bit – but it did eventually pick up the pace in the last few episodes.
Some of the dramatic bits in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, especially around certain political betrayals or palace conspiracies – felt a bit over-the-top.
Also, a few subplots and supporting characters never feel fully developed, which was disappointing.
Overall Thoughts
I really did enjoy it overall. It was so much fun and the conclusion was just so heartwarming.
If you’re just getting into this type of historical drama, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is definitely a great starting point.