Following the immense success of Bon Appétit, Majestad (Bon Appetite) on Netflix this year, the combination of drama, romance, and Korean gastronomy has once again proven to be a winning recipe. From high-end traditional cuisine to the struggles of a humble restaurant, cooking K-dramas not only offer us gripping stories but also a visual feast of dishes that will make you crave a trip to Seoul.
If you were left wanting more after devouring the culinary adventures at court, we have compiled a selection of the best-rated Korean dramas that feature cooking as their main ingredient. Get ready for a marathon that will whet your appetite!
List of K-Dramas Starring the Kitchen
Wok of Love (기름진 멜로) – The Wok Full of Passion
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Food
Year: 2018
Main Cast: Lee Jun Ho (from 2PM) as the chef Seo Poong, Jang Hyuk as Doo Chil Sung, and Jung Ryeo Won as Dan Sae Woo.
Why You Should Watch It: As you rightly remember, this drama is a recent classic of the genre. It tells the story of Seo Poong, a talented chef who goes from being a star of high-end Chinese cuisine at a luxury hotel to working at a humble, almost empty Chinese restaurant. There, he teams up with a former gangster and a fallen heiress (played by the excellent Jung Ryeo Won). The drama is fast-paced, funny, and the cooking scenes in the wok are pure adrenaline and flavor.
Feast of the Gods (신들의 만찬) – Tradition and Rivalry
Genre: Romance, Food, Melodrama
Year: 2012
Main Cast: Sung Yu Ri as Go Joon Young, Joo Sang Wook as Choi Jae Ha, and Seo Hyun Jin (in an early role) as the rival chef.
Why You Should Watch It: A favorite that focuses on the world of high-end traditional Korean cuisine. The story follows the intense rivalry between two young chefs, one of whom has an innate talent, as they both compete for control of the prestigious Arirang restaurant and the recognition as the successor to a master chef. It’s a drama with more depth and a strong focus on culinary heritage.
Pasta (파스타) – Romance in the Italian Kitchen
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Cooking
Main Cast: Gong Hyo Jin as Seo Yoo Kyung (the aspiring chef) and Lee Sun Kyun (from Parasite) as the brilliant but temperamental Chef Choi Hyun Wook.
Year: 2010
Why You Should Watch It: A precursor to the office romance genre… set in the kitchen! The story revolves around Seo Yoo Kyung, a young kitchen assistant who dreams of becoming an Italian chef at the exclusive restaurant La Sfera. Her life is turned upside down when the brilliant new chef, Choi Hyun Wook (a character with great charisma), insists on firing all the women in the kitchen. It’s a drama that perfectly balances the demanding environment of a professional kitchen with a sweet story of growth and love.
Oh My Ghost (Oh My Ghostess / 오 나의 귀신님) – Flavor with a Supernatural Twist
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Food
Year: 2015
Main Cast: Park Bo Young as the shy Na Bong Sun, Jo Jung Suk as the famous Chef Kang Sun Woo, and Kim Seul Gi as the ghost Shin Soon Ae.
Why You Should Watch It: Although it has a supernatural element (a shy kitchen assistant is possessed by a virgin ghost seeking a man to resolve her grudge), the kitchen and the figure of Chef Kang Sun Woo (the male lead) are central. It’s set in a successful restaurant and showcases the life of a famous chef and the internal dynamics of a culinary team, all seasoned with a critically well-received romance.
Let’s Eat (식샤를 합시다) – The Pleasure of Eating Alone
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Food
Year: 2013 (with two seasons)
Main Cast (Season 1): Yoon Doo Joon (from Highlight) as the food blogger Goo Dae Young, and Lee Soo Kyung as his neighbor and main lead.
Why You Should Watch It: The ultimate drama for food lovers! The protagonist, Goo Dae Young, is an insurance salesman and an acclaimed food blogger. The plot not only follows his life and romances, but also dedicates a large part of each episode to detailed and mouth-watering scenes where the characters enjoy Korean food. It’s a “mukbang drama” (eating on screen) that has spawned two additional seasons thanks to its immense popularity. This is the most recommended if you are looking for pure craving.
Chocolate (초콜릿) – Food Therapy
Genre: Drama, Romance, Medical, Food
Year: 2019
Main Cast: Yoon Kye Sang as the neurosurgeon Lee Kang, and Ha Ji Won as the chef Moon Cha Yeong.
Why You Should Watch It: This drama has a more melancholic and emotional tone. The protagonist is a neurosurgeon, and the female lead is a chef who becomes a cook at a hospice. Food (especially chocolate, which appears at key moments) is not just a dish, but a tool for emotional healing and a way to revive memories. It’s an option for those seeking a more mature drama, focusing on the comfort and healing power of food.
My Name is Kim Sam Soon (내 이름은 김삼순) – Baking and Self-Esteem
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Year: 2005
Main Cast: Kim Sun Ah as the pastry chef Kim Sam Soon and Hyun Bin (from Crash Landing on You) as the restaurant owner.
Why You Should Watch It: A classic that, although it focuses more on romance and personal growth, has baking as a fundamental pillar. Kim Sam Soon is a talented pastry chef who works at a high-end restaurant. Her delicious cakes and passion for baking are a reflection of her strong character and her fight against social prejudice. It is an iconic drama that launched the careers of many of its stars.
Bread, Love and Dreams (King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo / 제빵왕 김탁구) – The King of Baking
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Food
Year: 2010
Main Cast: Yoon Shi-yoon as Kim Tak-goo, Joo Won as Gu Ma-jun, Eugene, and Lee Young-ah.
Why You Should Watch It: This drama was a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. It tells the epic journey of Kim Tak-goo, a baker’s illegitimate son, as he fights against his half-brother to become the best baker in the country.
Check out Baker King Review
A Hundred Year Inheritance (백년의 유산) – The Noodle House Dynasty
Genre: Family, Melodrama, Food
Year: 2013
Main Cast: Eugene (también en My Name is Kim Sam-soon) as Min Chae Won, and Lee Jung Jin as Lee Se Yoon.
Why You Should Watch It: This long-running weekend series revolves around a modest but successful family-owned noodle factory, focusing on the drama, romance, and rivalry among the family members as they fight to preserve and inherit the century-old business.
The Extra Ingredient:
We cannot fail to mention Mr. Queen (2020), although its main plot is time travel. The protagonist is a modern chef who gets trapped in the body of a Queen during the Joseon era. His attempts to introduce modern cuisine and his techniques to the royal court result in some of the most hilarious and memorable cooking scenes in recent years.
We hope this list of K-dramas about cooking inspires our readers and offers them a feast of entertainment! And which of these dramatic dishes will you try first?
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