21 reviews
Liked it but...
- ninnishka_alex
- Jul 14, 2020
- Permalink
Okay KDrama but flawed.
I love the two male leads, most of the cast. The romance was lukewarm until the end when it was playful, but still not very believable. Jang Hyuk is already an established, great actor, but he wasn't used well. JunHo is even better in Rain or Shine and Confession; has a terrific future because he's super gifted. Enjoyed much of the series but found the writing erratic especially in the final episodes. Really tired of intrusive mother figures, and this one is a dolt. Good series, but not great.
- AJ_McAninch
- Sep 20, 2019
- Permalink
Not the dish of the day.
Surprisingly wonderful
First off I have to admit I'm a serious fangirl of Junho, but even though I'm slightly biased, this was a very good show with lots of twists, turns, drama, laughter, food and just plain good fun. My only criticism is that they suddenly forgot the horse for about 10 episodes (seriously one of the best characters) and a few differing dishes would have been nice, but all in all it was a great show and i'll totally recommend it, even if you're not a JH fangirl like me.
- chilligrrl
- Jan 12, 2020
- Permalink
Rated too low by most
Love always walks behind
An outstanding chef who is about to be married unfairly loses his job at a top hotel and falls in with a gangster who runs a wok restaurant opposite the hotel. They both have links with a rich young lady who too is about to be married and their separate lives will soon come together. A well acted drama with both the leads portraying a romance blossoming and plenty of wok cooking action.
- alaningle7
- Apr 12, 2021
- Permalink
Surprisingly good
It was very entertaining for me in all aspects. Started it only for Junho but came to like all the characters. It has FOOD,so much of it that I couldn't give it any less than an 8. Loved the success story too.
A damsel, chef and a gangster walk into a restaurant
Love. Love was the main ingredient in this beautiful dish of a tv show. The interwoven individual stories of the three main protagonists make you want the best for the characters. There is ample comedy, romance, thrill by the gangster, camaraderie, cuteness all around, naïveté and a lot of pure acting that makes you want to see how it ends. Since the show revolves around a restaurant, you will see beautiful dishes being made and served, which was a pleasant sight for me as an avid watcher of cooking shows. Overall it is a cute love story with unpredictable nuances and situations.
- alkacgupta
- Jul 25, 2022
- Permalink
Entertaining
Story: An uptight young cook displaced from his hotel job by the conspiring CEO, sets a new restaurant. A cheerful young girl whose family is suddenly penniless, works at his restaurant along with her family. The restaurant's good hearted owner who was a gangster in the past, flirts her and later helps the duo.
Some animal cutting/boiling scenes for the kitchen which may be disturbing to some.
Lovely Chinese-kind-of flute music throughout.
Genre: food, divorce, love triangle, revenge, contest/game, sneaky romance, love without breakup, happy ending, remarriage.
Watch for the girl...so beautiful and a delight to watch. The guy is good at the start and fell short of being handsome towards the end. The second guy is good and his mannerisms are memorable.
Some silly ideas towards the end episodes like a contest deciding the owner of the hotel, silly hand fights, family's opposition without much conviction, but tolerable. The lead couple's clean open conveying of love for each other, that remained pure and unhindered till the end was exactly the type that pleases me, so a big thumbs up from me. The girl's maturity in dealing with harsh behaviour at work and family friction- rare to see in kdrama.
It had my interest right from the start and i finished it nonstop and I will definitely watch it again. A 7+/-1 from me.
Some animal cutting/boiling scenes for the kitchen which may be disturbing to some.
Lovely Chinese-kind-of flute music throughout.
Genre: food, divorce, love triangle, revenge, contest/game, sneaky romance, love without breakup, happy ending, remarriage.
Watch for the girl...so beautiful and a delight to watch. The guy is good at the start and fell short of being handsome towards the end. The second guy is good and his mannerisms are memorable.
Some silly ideas towards the end episodes like a contest deciding the owner of the hotel, silly hand fights, family's opposition without much conviction, but tolerable. The lead couple's clean open conveying of love for each other, that remained pure and unhindered till the end was exactly the type that pleases me, so a big thumbs up from me. The girl's maturity in dealing with harsh behaviour at work and family friction- rare to see in kdrama.
It had my interest right from the start and i finished it nonstop and I will definitely watch it again. A 7+/-1 from me.
- rguddu_india
- May 14, 2021
- Permalink
Unrated for some reason
For one, the situational humor was fun. Second no overacting esp by the heroine. Third great actors. Fourth not tacky . Yet many underated it.
Watch it for the actors . For some fun.food techniques.
Watch it for the actors . For some fun.food techniques.
- ushagowri-60736
- Oct 11, 2021
- Permalink
Entertaining
Enjoyable even though the script doesn't have depth and sometimes doesn't make much sense. However just watch and be entertained and don't think too much. Then you will enjoy it as the cute lead actor and actress will make you smile and laugh and even teary eyed with their antics.
- jaclyn_cyf
- Jan 24, 2021
- Permalink
Delightful and sexy!
Serves up a delectable blend of romance, comedy, and mouthwatering food. Its charming storyline and endearing characters create an irresistible package that kept me thoroughly entertained. The dynamic between the main characters is brimming with chemistry, making their journey from rivalry to romance utterly captivating.
The drama's unique setting, a struggling restaurant, provides a refreshing backdrop for the unfolding love story. The comedic moments are well-timed, injecting levity into the narrative without overshadowing the emotional beats. The culinary theme adds an extra layer of enjoyment, as the characters' passion for cooking and the mouthwatering dishes they create become a feast for the senses.
This was a heartwarming journey that celebrates the power of resilience, friendship, and love. The stellar performances, witty dialogue, and delectable food scenes make it a standout in the world of kdramas. Whether you're a foodie, a romance enthusiast, or simply looking for an engaging and uplifting watch, this series offers a truly satisfying experience that will leave you hungry for more.
The drama's unique setting, a struggling restaurant, provides a refreshing backdrop for the unfolding love story. The comedic moments are well-timed, injecting levity into the narrative without overshadowing the emotional beats. The culinary theme adds an extra layer of enjoyment, as the characters' passion for cooking and the mouthwatering dishes they create become a feast for the senses.
This was a heartwarming journey that celebrates the power of resilience, friendship, and love. The stellar performances, witty dialogue, and delectable food scenes make it a standout in the world of kdramas. Whether you're a foodie, a romance enthusiast, or simply looking for an engaging and uplifting watch, this series offers a truly satisfying experience that will leave you hungry for more.
A Mostly Enjoyable Mish-mash of Good and Bad
This show had a number of great characters that are all well developed. Poong is a great main character played by the fabulous Lee Jun-Ho. He is a super talented actor, and while this role was a lot less heavy than the others I have seen him in, he brings his all to the table and it shows in his very well-rounded character. His chemistry with the FL was amazing, they had such a great journey of awkward to flirty to outright affectionate. It was a very organic and natural relationship that was enjoyable to see develop. Sae Woo was a lovely and likeable FL and I enjoyed watching her and Poong overcome the garbage previous relationships they were in.
As for the legendary Jang Hyuk, as in everything, he is a scene stealer. Jang Hyuk just has this certain "je ne sais quoi" factor that makes him utterly magnetizing. Two gripes I had with how his character was written - why the love triangle? It was unnecessary and didn't even help move the plot along, or even create drama, it just sort of existed. And second, why portray him as a chef in the posters?? Just weird.
The plot was actually really interesting and held my attention every episode. Was this a hang by the seat of your pants type of show? No, but you definitely feel invested in what will happen to our main characters. I felt like the restaurant business was portrayed fairly realistically, to the point where I was getting flashback's to the stress of being a waitress. I enjoyed the cooking scenes a lot, they were beautifully filmed and always made me hungry.
Now for what I disliked - the second half of the show is immensely better than the first. For the first half the writing and tone are all over the place for many episodes, with some weird quirky scenes with a horse who is in love with the FL? I feel like they tried really hard to make the FL into some weird, eccentric girl, but then about halfway they decided okay now she's just cute and normal. I really hated how this tone carried into some of the more serious scenes of the show, making them feel cheap and tacky instead of poignant. And lastly, the FL's mother is absolutely intolerable. Particularly in the second half of the show. I am shuddering just thinking about her annoying facial expressions and whiny tone.
Overall this was a decent watch, but I wouldn't re-watch and I don't know if I would recommend it, because you have to get through a LOT of episodes before this felt worthwhile.
As for the legendary Jang Hyuk, as in everything, he is a scene stealer. Jang Hyuk just has this certain "je ne sais quoi" factor that makes him utterly magnetizing. Two gripes I had with how his character was written - why the love triangle? It was unnecessary and didn't even help move the plot along, or even create drama, it just sort of existed. And second, why portray him as a chef in the posters?? Just weird.
The plot was actually really interesting and held my attention every episode. Was this a hang by the seat of your pants type of show? No, but you definitely feel invested in what will happen to our main characters. I felt like the restaurant business was portrayed fairly realistically, to the point where I was getting flashback's to the stress of being a waitress. I enjoyed the cooking scenes a lot, they were beautifully filmed and always made me hungry.
Now for what I disliked - the second half of the show is immensely better than the first. For the first half the writing and tone are all over the place for many episodes, with some weird quirky scenes with a horse who is in love with the FL? I feel like they tried really hard to make the FL into some weird, eccentric girl, but then about halfway they decided okay now she's just cute and normal. I really hated how this tone carried into some of the more serious scenes of the show, making them feel cheap and tacky instead of poignant. And lastly, the FL's mother is absolutely intolerable. Particularly in the second half of the show. I am shuddering just thinking about her annoying facial expressions and whiny tone.
Overall this was a decent watch, but I wouldn't re-watch and I don't know if I would recommend it, because you have to get through a LOT of episodes before this felt worthwhile.
- fake_moviestar
- Feb 10, 2021
- Permalink
Worth watching just for the cooking!
I really enjoyed this show. It's sometimes a bit convoluted and I think the plot could have done with some more work but wow, Lee Jun Ho is fabulous in this!! He really immerses himself in his roles!! Loved his work as a Chef!! It is wonderful to see all the wok ways!! Inspiring actually! It's enjoyable to watch and worth it!!
- sonia-95111
- Jan 6, 2022
- Permalink
Great leads, a lot of heart
There is no world in which I would not watch a drama, starring both Jang Hyuk, and Lee Junho. I was not disappointed. The opening scenes of Hyuk falling for the female lead are heart warming and left me hoping for his character's happiness for the entire series. He is a wonderful actor and I enjoyed every performance in this series.
This was the first time Lee Junho really impressed me with his acting. I had watched King the Land and enjoyed his performance but Gu Won seemed like a fairy tale character, as perfect as Lee Junho's cheekbones and eye smiles. Here I saw Lee Junho's ability to convey difficult emotions convincingly. I loved his portrayal of this fiery tempered ambitious but thwarted chef.
I also loved the teams in this series-the gangsters and the female leads family members and the chefs former colleagues.
I got pulled in in particular by the opening scenes of this great chef cooking delectable meals for his fiancé and team and finding them thrown in the bin with no appreciation. That got my sympathy for the chef fired up and after that I wanted nothing more than to see him succeed. Highly recommend this entertaining show. It has a lot of heart.
This was the first time Lee Junho really impressed me with his acting. I had watched King the Land and enjoyed his performance but Gu Won seemed like a fairy tale character, as perfect as Lee Junho's cheekbones and eye smiles. Here I saw Lee Junho's ability to convey difficult emotions convincingly. I loved his portrayal of this fiery tempered ambitious but thwarted chef.
I also loved the teams in this series-the gangsters and the female leads family members and the chefs former colleagues.
I got pulled in in particular by the opening scenes of this great chef cooking delectable meals for his fiancé and team and finding them thrown in the bin with no appreciation. That got my sympathy for the chef fired up and after that I wanted nothing more than to see him succeed. Highly recommend this entertaining show. It has a lot of heart.
- rubyferraday
- Jun 6, 2024
- Permalink
Get past the beginning and it improves a lot
Since I enjoy cooking, especially Chinese cooking, I was tempted to watch this and gave it a go. It tells the story of an ambitious young chef who has built up the reputation of a posh hotel's kitchen to an award winning standard and has gained a Michelin Star in the process. All is not well, however and he is ousted from his prestigious job by the unscrupulous management. He vows to take revenge and starts a small Chinese restaurant directly opposite the hotel with the aim of drawing their customers away. He is helped in this by a gangster and his henchmen, who at the beginning were annoying and unlikeable. Stick with it though - they improve. The cast are great and work well together, but the star of the show is Jung Ryeo-Won who is an absolute delight to watch as the love interest for the young chef. She is seriously cute and has a terrific flair for comedy too. Watch out too for Jang Hyuk as the gangster boss who is much deeper than he at first appears. Lee Jun-Ho plays the young chef and there is great chemistry between him and Jung Ryeo-Won. It is fascinating to watch a busy Chinese kitchen at work and to watch some of the dishes prepared. Well worth a watch in my opinion.
- grantham-15125
- Feb 4, 2024
- Permalink
Great chemistry but lazy writing
I really like the chemistry between the lead characters. If you want romance I can fully recommend it. They built it up nicely and it feels very credible.
However, there are obvious misses and lazy screenwriting and it is really a shame. Some characters just disappear like they were never in the show and the last episodes are a bit too cringe to watch. The mother is just insanely annoying and I can't understand how no one can say anything.
But the story is fun to start with and only in Korea you can make it work between a chef, a rich business daughter and a gangster.
So, most of all, I really liked the couple and their acting, the show got me inspired and I enjoyed the bromance so that's why it got an 8.
However, there are obvious misses and lazy screenwriting and it is really a shame. Some characters just disappear like they were never in the show and the last episodes are a bit too cringe to watch. The mother is just insanely annoying and I can't understand how no one can say anything.
But the story is fun to start with and only in Korea you can make it work between a chef, a rich business daughter and a gangster.
So, most of all, I really liked the couple and their acting, the show got me inspired and I enjoyed the bromance so that's why it got an 8.
- frida-halltorp
- Jan 12, 2023
- Permalink
Not Good Enough
Wok of love had only one thing going for it : food. That's it. The love story was boring, as the two characters had no chemistry and not reason to be together. The love triangle tried to spicen thing up a little, but in the end, it was a failure as well. I'm only rating this one with 3,5 stars out of 10 because of the performances that were nice and decent and because at some point, the revenge story was entertaining. Other than that, this one is a boring drama easily dropped. It didn't bring something new or at least manage to entertain as a whole. And it is a shame, because the premises of the story were promising.
- PennyReviews
- Jul 29, 2018
- Permalink
Too much screaming
Chef Poong most annoying main character. I hate drama with too much screaming. This drama may not suitable for individuals with depression. The chef screaming and emotions might trigger negativity. However, i love the heroin poker face character. She is beautiful and very soothing smile.
- rahayuabubakar
- Feb 24, 2019
- Permalink
Lovely leads chemistry, annoying side characters and writing
- unrivaledraj
- Mar 14, 2024
- Permalink
Some good parts but should have been shorter
- phd_travel
- Jul 19, 2023
- Permalink