Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Review: A Recipe for Love

Title: Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

Episodes: 12

Genre: Fantasy, History, Romance, Comedy, Drama

Main Cast: Im Yoon-ah, Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa

Streaming Platforms: Netflix

Image Credit: About Netflix

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What happens when a warm meal brings two lonely hearts together? Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a cozy fantasy romance that blends the warmth of home-cooked meals with the charm of royal life. It’s a story that stirs both the heart and the appetite, where love grows between a humble chef and a mysterious royal figure. Each episode feels like a comforting dish, perfectly seasoned with humor, longing, and heart-fluttering moments. 

“Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” is a South Korean television series aired on tvN from August 23, 2025, to September 28, 2025. Written by fGRD and directed by Jang Tae-yoo, this historical fantasy romance series is available to watch on Netflix. 

Plot Summary 

Yeon Ji-yeong, a French cuisine chef from South Korea, is appointed as head chef at a Michelin restaurant after winning the biggest French cooking competition. On her return flight to South Korea, she time slips to the Joseon Dynasty on the day of a solar eclipse through a historical cookbook that her father had asked her to bring with her. 

Upon arriving in the Joseon period, she unexpectedly clashes with King Yi Heon, known as the finest gourmet and the cruelest tyrant in Joseon's history, and ends up on his bad side. Yi Heon is a young and charismatic king filled with anger against corrupt officials and people responsible for his mother's tragic death. 

Yi Heon drags Ji-yeong to the palace and puts her in prison along with her one and only friend, palace-maid Seo Gil-geum. To survive the temperamental King's torture and find her way back to her time period, Ji-yeong uses her modern culinary skills to cook dishes that will win the King's trust. 

Upon acknowledging Ji-yeong's cooking skills, Yi Heon appoints her as chief royal cook at the palace kitchen. Kang Mok-ju, Yi Heon's concubine, becomes jealous of Ji-yeong, who is favored by the King, and plots to bring her down. 

Ji-yeong demonstrates her skills and earns the admiration of Grand Queen Dowager Inju, as well as the members of the Royal kitchen: Bong-shik, Man-soo, Gae-duk, and Mak-jin. As time goes by, Yi Heon and Ji-yeong grow closer, blossoming a beautiful romance within the palace. 

Prince Je Seon, a royal family member and Yi Heon's Uncle, who has eyes on the throne, tries to get rid of Ji-yeong, who supports the King, when a cooking competition is held between Joseon and Chinese cooks. 

Despite many obstacles, Ji-yeong wins the contest with the help of the King, Gong-gil, a jester with many secrets, and Im Song-jae, the King's loyal subject and childhood friend. When his small schemes fail, Prince Je Seon gathers his powerful allies, including Mok-ju, and plots against the King to dethrone him. 

As the palace turns into chaos, Yi Heon and Ji-yeong struggle to survive and fight against the time.

My Thoughts 

The show follows the love story of a modern-day chef who time-travels to the Joseon period and meets a tyrannical king. The series explores the historical plot of palace politics, but each scheme is defeated by appetizing royal dishes created through the fusion of modern cooking techniques and traditional ingredients. 

The cinematography captures the mouth-watering delicacies that excite the taste buds and win the heart. The historical setting justifies the passionate royal romance, which is complemented by the fantasy theme of the show. 

Performance-wise, every actor poured their best into it, creating the most unforgettable characters. So I must say the casting of the show is a chef's kiss! I would specifically love to praise the performance given by Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min. 

The chemistry between Ji-yeong and Yi Heon was SO good!! Also, I loved the strong bond shared between royal kitchen members, Gil-geum and Ji-yeong. The action scenes played by Yi Heon and Gong-gil are excellently crafted and executed. 

I can't seem to pick out any specific scene as a favorite, but every time Ji-yeong names a dish and Yi Heon somehow tries to pronounce that name, it will just crack you up. Not to mention the song and dance by Ji-yeong after getting drunk in the royal kitchen. It was hilarious! 

The show perfectly blended the variety of genres like fantasy, time-travel, history, romance, comedy, drama, and action. This fast-paced series, packed with entertainment, remained engaging until the very end. The visually appealing dishes showcased in each episode were the icing on the cake to capture your attention. 

One thing I was disappointed about was the rushed ending of the show; everything was crammed into the last episode. I mean, it would have been better if some more episodes were added to the show, to wrap things up in a proper way, rather than leaving the audience with unanswered questions. 

While the concept of time travel and palace politics is not new, this show promises a thrilling and entertaining experience, all while keeping the narrative concise. The show concluded on a happy note, but it is also inclined towards an open ending, leaving room for a second season. 

If you enjoy heartwarming stories with a hint of fantasy and food that looks too good to be true, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty will leave you smiling and craving more. It’s a sweet reminder that sometimes, love, just like a perfect meal, takes time, care, and a touch of magic. 

Have you watched Bon Appétit, Your Majesty? What’s your thought on the ending? Share your favorite scenes below. Additionally, feel free to leave your topic suggestions or any feedback in the comments section.

Do you enjoy watching historical romance dramas? Read my review of Hwarang.

My Rating: 7.5/10 

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