In the Netflix K-drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, the mouthwatering food is almost as compelling as the love story. For actor Lee Chae-min, who plays the tyrant king Lee Heon, one modern French dish stood out from the royal menu as his personal favorite during filming: the Beef Bourguignon.
The Dish That Stole the Scene
Beef Bourguignon is the dish Lee Chae-min named as his favorite from the show. This classic French stew was featured during a high-stakes cook-off between the Ming and Joseon dynasties. The rich, flavorful dish clearly made an impression not just on the king he played, but on the actor himself.
Lee Chae-min shared that while filming numerous eating scenes, there were times when he would only chew the food and not swallow to maintain continuity. However, the Beef Bourguignon was so delicious that he broke his own rule.
“However, the Beef Bourguignon was so tasty that I swallowed it greedily,” Lee admitted in an interview.
He also had kind words for the colorful macarons that featured in the drama, another sweet treat that won over the Ming envoy in the story. Despite not usually having a sweet tooth, Lee Chae-min found them so delicious that he took a few home after filming wrapped.
Behind the Scenes of the Royal Feast
The actor’s commitment to his role came with a physical cost. Lee Chae-min openly discussed that filming the many mukbang (eating broadcast) scenes led to a small weight gain. This was a particular challenge for the actor, as his role required him to appear shirtless in several scenes.
“I try to lose weight quickly two days before the scenes where I remove my top,” Lee explained, highlighting the constant balance he had to maintain between enjoying the on-set food and staying in shape for his character.
He described the situation as a bit regrettable but handled it with professionalism, committing to regular exercise and ab workouts to maintain his physique despite the delicious challenges.
A Drama Built Around Food
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a limited series that began streaming on Netflix in 2025. The story follows a modern chef named Yeon Ji-young, played by Lim Yoon-a of Girls’ Generation, who accidentally time-travels to the Joseon era. There, she must cook for the feared King Lee Heon, using her culinary skills to navigate royal politics and eventually win his heart.
Director Chang Tae-you emphasized that food is not just a prop in this series, but a central character. The production team consulted with culinary professors to research, plan, and design each dish featured in the drama. A dedicated sub-team focused solely on food styling and preparation, ensuring every dish looked as delicious on camera as it tasted in real life.
“The lead isn’t just a chef in name—food is at the heart of the story,” said Director Chang. “A king who changes through food, the relationship between cuisine and politics, between food and romance. This is a story born from the hands of a chef.”
Yoona spent three months at a cooking academy preparing for her role as a chef, learning basic knife skills and food preparation. Her dedication impressed both the director and her co-star, with Lee Chae-min noting, “She’s also really skilled at cooking—her movements were so precise that during the cooking scenes, she barely made any mistakes. It was impressive to watch.”
A Global Hit on Netflix
The drama has found international success, becoming Netflix’s second most popular non-English show worldwide during its third week of streaming. This limited series made it into the top 10 most-watched shows in 73 countries, captivating audiences with its unique blend of historical fiction, romantic comedy, and culinary artistry.
Each episode is structured around a specific signature dish created by the main character, with titles like “Course N° 1 Gochujang Butter Bibimbap” and “Course N° 8 Rice Wine Beef Bourguignon”—the episode featuring Lee Chae-min’s favorite dish.
The series also stars Kang Ha-na as King Lee Heon’s ambitious concubine who grows jealous of the attention he pays to the new chef. The drama is produced by Studio Dragon and is based on a web novel by Park Kuk-jae.
Also Read: How Yoona Trained with a Top Chef for Her Royal Role in ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’
