The Tyrant’s Chef tops ratings in Korea and Netflix global charts. Im Yoon Ah and Lee Chae Min captivate with strong chemistry. A fantasy romance full of cooking and heartfelt moments.
tvN’s weekend drama The Tyrant’s Chef continues to captivate both local and international viewers with its unique blend of fantasy romance, time travel, and heartwarming yet tension filled culinary storytelling. Since its premiere on August 23, 2025, the series starring Im Yoon Ah and Lee Chae Min has grown into a cultural phenomenon: topping Gallup Korea’s TV popularity poll, leading Netflix’s global TOP10 TV (non English) ranking for two consecutive weeks, and hitting an impressive domestic rating of 15.8% by episode 10.
Produced by Studio Dragon, directed by Jang Tae Yoo, and written by fGRD, this 12 episode drama has managed to rival and even surpass long format hits like Vincenzo and Our Blues in tvN’s history.
©tVn | The Tyrant's Chef (Bon Appetit Your Majesty)
The Romance of Yeon Ji Young and the Tyrant King Moves Audiences
The story follows Yeon Ji Young (Im Yoon Ah), a three Michelin starred French chef who accidentally travels back to the Joseon Dynasty and meets Lee Heon (Lee Chae Min), a feared tyrant king with an extraordinary sense of taste. At first terrified by his cruelty, Ji Young slowly softens as the power of her cooking begins to melt the king’s cold exterior. Carefully prepared dishes, including a life changing colonel stew, open Lee Heon’s heart and draw the two closer into a bond filled with both tension and warmth.
One of the most talked about moments online is the final page of the ancient book Mangunrok, revealing a recipe and drawing of Ji Young’s bibimbap.
The heartfelt line, “If a meal made with affection could lift her spirits, I would gladly make bibimbap every morning,” went viral across social media, adding another layer of romance to their story.
Recent episodes showed their relationship deepening further. Lee Heon risked everything to save Ji Young when she was accused of poisoning Prince Jinmyeong. A key emotional moment came when Ji Young confessed,
The Tyrant's Chef (Bon Appetit Your Majesty)“Maybe it’s okay if I never return to my own time, my own world,” sparking endless fan speculation and hopes for a happy ending.
Global Success and Overflowing Praise for the Lead Actors
Beyond its captivating plot, the drama’s success is fueled by the cast’s remarkable performances. Im Yoon Ah won praise for her meticulous preparation to portray a professional chef: she trained with real chefs, mastered cooking techniques to avoid stunt doubles, and delivered convincing gestures and emotions in every scene. Meanwhile, Lee Chae Min captured hearts with his portrayal of a charismatic yet emotionally complex king. According to Sports Seoul, his popularity skyrocketed after this role. He reportedly received 30 new drama and film offers and became one of the most sought after talents in the industry.
Fans on X (Twitter) flooded the platform with love for the show:
“It was a wholesome drama. Probably the only one where I cared about every character as much as the leads. Stunning performances all around.”
“Unbelievable that she’s 11 years older than him. Their acting is amazing! Especially Lee Chaemin’s. Yoona’s performance changed my mind.”
“A masterpiece of its own.. the sweet chemistry and the cooking details are top notch. Truly deserved the best K drama 2025.”
“It’d be heartbreaking if he still ends up a tyrant. She’s ready to give up going back to the future.”
“I’m not ready to say goodbye. Their chemistry is unmatched.”
The show has also turned into a digital sensation. Clips of Ji Young’s signature dishes, from gochujang bibimbap to haute cuisine creations, have racked up hundreds of millions of views, with total video views surpassing 650 million. Hashtags like #BonAppetitYourMajesty trend every week, showcasing the drama’s massive global buzz.
The Tyrant’s Chef is now projected to climb as high as 18% or even 20% in national ratings, which would place it among the top five highest rated tvN dramas of all time. Despite having only 12 episodes, the series has become a new benchmark for how Korean productions can achieve global success while retaining intellectual property rights, without relying solely on the “Netflix Original” label.
With just two episodes left, audiences around the world are eagerly waiting to see whether Ji Young and Lee Heon’s love story ends happily and if the show will break another ratings record. One thing is clear: The Tyrant’s Chef has become a new symbol of Korean drama excellence, combining heartfelt storytelling, culinary artistry, historical fantasy, and universal romance that transcends cultures.
Sources: Edaily, Sports Korea, Star Today, Ize, TV Report, Daum, X (formerly twitter)
Though I doubt her stew could time-travel me to Joseon. Brilliant show!
The character development is truly masterful.
Even if it doesn’t cause time travel, it definitely brings everyone together. A perfect excuse for a family dinner and a drama marathon…