It may have all begun back in 2003 with Dae Jang Geum (Jewel In The Palace). We’re referring here to our obsession with seeing Korean cuisine on our TV screens, of course. That pivotal K-drama, starring Lee Young-ae alongside Ji Jin-hee, put Korean food on the global stage. There was just something special about seeing the most elaborate dishes being lovingly prepared by Seo Jang-geum (played by Lee). And while the show’s inspiring plot was emotionally captivating in its own right, it was the kitchen and dining scenes that cemented its status as an icon in the Korean entertainment scene.
Two decades on, the world still can’t get enough of Korean fare. We’ve all been there: You’re watching a drama or a variety show, and you see someone chomping down on tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) or gulping down some samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup). Suddenly, your mouth is watering, and you can’t think about anything else.
So it’s not surprising that, in 2025, we’re seeing a surge of food-themed Korean dramas—hey, we’re not complaining. Ahead, check out five K-dramas that place food at the front and centre of their plots. But don’t say we didn’t warn you, you might find yourself craving some samgyeopsal after this.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
The latest K-drama to take the world by storm is Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. Not just for its stellar cast—Yoona Lim, Lee Chae-min, and Kang Hanna are among the standouts—but also for its food-centric plotline. Lim’s character is a modern-day chef who somehow travels back in time and finds herself working under a demanding king. What do you get when you combine time travel, food and a love-hate relationship? A recipe for the ultimate binge-worthy series.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is now streaming on Netflix.
Tastefully Yours
If you haven’t caught Tastefully Yours yet, you’re missing out. One of 2025’s highest-rated Korean romantic comedies so far, the show stars Go Min-si and Kang Ha-neul as unlikely partners. Kang plays a spoiled heir to a large food-based conglomerate who is obsessed with the idea of fine dining, yet has no grasp of taste. On the other hand, Go, whom you might recognise from The Frog and Sweet Home, is a stubborn young chef who’s eager to prove herself in the culinary world. As they butt heads in the kitchen, we see their tumultuous dynamic bloom into an unlikely romance.
Tastefully Yours is available to stream on Netflix.
Mr. Queen
Since the days of Secret Garden (starring Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won), the Korean TV scene has loved body-switching stories. In Mr. Queen, though, the (literal) out-of-body experience happens when the Blue House’s head chef’s soul gets sent back in time, into the body of Queen Cheorin. In an effort to travel back to modern-day Seoul, the newly-crowned queen uses her cooking skills to charm the royal family. But, there’s more to this tale than meets the eye, especially when Queen Cheorin’s husband, the reigning monarch, discovers her secret. This humorous period K-drama stars Kim Jung-hyun, Shin Hye-sun and Yoon Sung-sik.
You can watch Mr. Queen on Netflix.
Let’s Eat
For people who thrive in solitude, a meal alone is quality time spent with themselves. In Let’s Eat, that’s how our four protagonists start, but soon enough, as they cross paths, the individuals begin to shed their hard outer shells. Instead, over a shared love for food, they begin to form very real, personal bonds with one another, even getting involved in each other’s lives. This slice-of-life K-drama, featuring Lee Soo-kyung and former B2ST memberYoon Doo-joon, may be more than 10 years old, but as we all know, food brings people together, often in the most unexpected ways.
Let’s Eat is available to stream on Apple TV+.
Itaewon Class
Anyone who has visited Seoul would know of Itaewon, Korea’s bustling party district. Bars, restaurants, speakeasies, the choices are endless. So how does a business survive? Well, in Itaewon Class, you get to see firsthand how ambitious ex-con Park Sae-ro-yi (played by heartthrob Park Seo-joon) keeps his new restaurant business surviving in Seoul’s busiest sector. When Sae-ro-yi isn’t keeping his restaurateur dreams afloat, he spends his time plotting revenge on a wealthy family who caused the death of his father. Acting opposite the Fight For My Way actor are Kim Da-mi, Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-young, making this drama a must-watch. If not for the stars, then, at least, for the sundubu-jjigae and jeyuk-bokkeum.
Stream Itaewon Class on Netflix.
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