Available on Netflix
📺 Aired Aug 23-Sep 28, 2025
✨ Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (폭군의 셰프), also known as The Tyrant’s Chef, serves up a sizzling mix of history, fantasy, and romance. Based on Park Kook-jae’s novel Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef, this Studio Dragon production whisks viewers into a Joseon-era palace where food is more dangerous than politics.
When perfectionist chef Yeon Ji Yeong (Im Yoon-ah), at the height of her modern culinary career, suddenly time-travels into the royal kitchen, she’s tasked with cooking for none other than the feared tyrant King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-Min). Known for his razor-sharp palate and even sharper temper, the King rules not only his nation but also every terrified taste tester in his court.
Armed with French techniques, modern creativity, and sheer grit, Ji Yeong must navigate palace intrigue, survival-by-cooking, and an unlikely spark with the very man everyone else fears. Will her dishes win over a king whose trust no one holds—or will her fate be sealed by the cut of a royal knife?
🌸🌸🌸 + ½ 🌸 Rating: 3.5/5 Cherry Blossoms
First Impressions
At first glance, this drama had everything I love — a fiery female lead, time travel, royal tension, and lots (and lots) of food. The setup promised a delicious mix of historical fantasy and romantic comedy. But as the episodes went on, things started to feel… a little undercooked. The flavors were there, but not quite balanced. Still, it had its fun moments — and some seriously pretty leads to keep me watching.
🚨 Spoiler Alert! 🚨
I liked the drama overall, but a lot of it felt like a joke — serious scenes that suddenly turned into slapstick, with cooks fighting sword-wielding guards using spoons and ladles! 😂 And that ending twist — the whole cooking crew being look-alikes from the Joseon era to modern day. Totally unrealistic.
Overall Thoughts
It started off strong but lost its spark halfway through. I wanted more heat — romance wise. By the second cook-off, I was zoning out. 😅
Also, waiting for new episodes killed my momentum. I ended up watching another drama while waiting… and, well, I wasn’t exactly rushing back to this one.
What I Liked
- In the first episode, I loved how the male lead didn’t believe in ghosts (gwinyeo) but totally thought the female lead was one when they met.
- The science behind her cooking was fascinating — she looked like a real pro (especially knowing she trained three months for this role!).
- Some of her modern slang flying over the Joseon cooks’ heads was hilarious, even if it got repetitive.
- I wish they used more of the inventor character Jang Chun Saeng — his inventions when fighting made things more exciting.
- The beginning had me cracking up when she mouthed off to the king, not realizing she’d time-traveled. Queen energy. 👑
- I also liked that the king and Consort Kang were based on real historical figures from the Joseon dynasty — it added a nice touch of authenticity to the story. 🌸
Food for Thought
- In Episode 1, she says she’s a black belt in Taekwondo… yet screams every time someone swings at her. Girl, what happened to your training? 😭
- Some of the food reaction scenes were way over the top — annoying but also kind of funny. 😂
- Still not sure how he time-traveled. Was it from that missing page? That’s my only theory.
- The whole Mangunrok book situation confused me — Jeonha made it, but she already had it in the present? Time loop much?
- The first modern-day cooking competition dragged, and I honestly started multitasking during Episode 1. Once she traveled back in time, I had to rewind to figure out what was going on.
- I wanted more clarity about her body — was she in a coma in the future, or did she swap bodies like in Mr. Queen? When she woke up in the hospital, it felt unresolved, and I also wondered how long she had been out.
- What even happened to Gillgum and the soldier sidekick? We deserved closure!
Cultural Tidbits
During a solar eclipse (gusikrye), a ceremony was held to appease the heavens, as the phenomenon was believed to be divine punishment for the king’s misdeeds—a warning that both his virtue and the stability of the state were in danger.
The dance performed by Lee Chae Min is Cheoyongmu, a traditional Korean court mask dance based on the legend of Cheoyong, the Dragon King’s son who drove away a smallpox demon through song and dance. Performed by five dancers in colorful robes and masks, it symbolizes the five elements and is meant to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.
Ending Thoughts
Okay… I’m still confused why the Grand Prince Je San didn’t just make himself king. Instead, he crowned Grand Prince Jin Myeong — even though he was mad about not being king in the first place?! Make it make sense!
Jeonha somehow time-traveled from the 1500s into the future, found her (somehow, magically?), and honestly, at this point, I just stopped asking questions. 🤦🏻♀️ Also, dang, Lee Chae Min looked so good in that all-black suit. 🔥
Final Verdict
I liked this drama, but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone new to K-dramas — unless they’re foodies or fans of the leads. Still, I’d totally rewatch it.
If I could rewrite the ending:
- The female lead would become queen.
- The inventor helps take down Grand Prince Jean.
- Everyone lives happily ever after — and maybe finds a portal back to the future.
So many questions left unanswered, but overall, this drama seems meant for people who enjoy light romance with a side of Joseon politics and culinary chaos.
Photos and video courtesy of Netflix
