Netflix is serving up a fantasy romantic-comedy with a unique twist this summer. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (formerly The Tyrant’s Chef) blends time travel, royal romance, and high-stakes cooking into an irresistible watch. Starring Girls’ Generation’s YoonA (Im Yoon-ah) and rising star Lee Chae Min, the series promises a food-themed love story that transcends time.
It marks YoonA’s first major K-drama lead role since King the Land and is directed by Jang Tae Yoo, the celebrated director behind My Love from the Star. Penned by screenwriter Lee Seo Yoon, this love-at-first-bite drama is adapted from Park Kook Jae’s popular web novel Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef.
It will begin airing in Korea and globally in a couple of weeks, so here’s what you need to know Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Release Date
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, led by YoonA and breakout star Lee Chae Min, will premiere on August 23, 2025, taking over the spot from Law and The City. South Korean audiences can watch it on tvN at 9:10 PM KST every Saturday and Sunday, while international viewers will have access via Netflix. The series will feature 12 episodes, each running about 70 minutes. The finale is set to air on September 28.
Plot Overview
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty centers on Yeon Ji Young (YoonA), a celebrated Michelin-starred French chef in modern-day Seoul. After winning a prestigious international cooking competition, she finds herself mysteriously transported 500 years into the past, landing in the royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty.
There, she encounters King Lee Heon (Lee Chae Min), a feared ruler with an exceptional sense of taste, infamous for condemning chefs whose dishes fall short.
Ji Young’s survival hinges on her ability to craft dishes unlike anything the court has seen. As she introduces modern techniques to traditional Joseon cuisine, she wins the heart of the tyrant king.
Cast and Characters
- YoonA as Yeon Ji Young – A lively yet resilient chef adapting to life in Joseon. Before this role, Yoona earned acclaim in dramas like The K2, The King in Love, Big Mouth, where she won Best Actress at the MBC Drama Awards, and the last one King the Land.
- Lee Chae Min as King Lee Heon – A refined but merciless king whose discerning palate leaves no room for mistakes. Chae Min rose to fame for his appearances in Crash Course in Romance, Hierarchy, and Crushology 101.
Supporting Cast
- Kang Han Na as Kang Mok Ju – The king’s long-standing concubine, cunning and determined to keep her hold on the throne. Kang is known for her roles in Frankly Speaking, My Roommate is a Gumiho, and Record of Youth.
- Choi Gwi Hwa as Prince Je Seon – A royal rival with plans to overthrow the throne. Choi received praise for her acting skills in the final two seasons of Squid Game.
- Seo Yi Sook as Queen Dowager – The palace’s most influential elder.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Trailer
Teasers for Bon Appétit, Your Majesty are already sizzling. One voiceover delivers chilling stakes: “Now, your survival is on the line.”
One teaser shows King Lee Heon cautioning Ji Young as she prepares dishes, “Should your cooking displease my palate, the sentence shall be death!”
Mark your calendar for August 23 as Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is likely going to be your next guilty pleasure.
