Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, where 100 chefs put everything on the line to showcase their cooking, has confirmed a second season following its grand finale. While you wait, we’ve put together a list of five cooking-themed dramas and films to enjoy. These picks are sure to make your mouth water and might even inspire you to whip up something delicious yourself. They also make the perfect mealtime companions.
Let’s Eat (2013~2018)
Let’s Eat is a drama that captures the everyday lives of single men and women living alone. Set in an officetel complex populated by single-person households, it explores their struggles, housekeeping tips, and neighborly interactions, all woven together with a “mukbang life” theme. Season 1 centers on Lee Soo Kyung (played by Lee Soo Kyung), a divorcée who feels awkward dining alone, and Goo Dae Young (Yoon Doo Joon), a sociable single living on his own. The show received praise for blending the everyday lives and romances of single-person households with a touch of thriller. Dae Young, who is also a food blogger, became popular for his diverse and mouth-watering mukbang scenes in each episode, making him the main character in Seasons 2 and 3. In Season 2, the story focuses on his reunion with Baek Soo Ji (Seo Hyun Jin), an old elementary school friend who becomes his neighbor. In Season 3, the plot follows Dae Young in his mid-30s, as he reconnects with Lee Ji Woo (Baek Ji Hee) after 12 years and reminisces over their memories and favorite foods from their twenties.
Wok Of Love (2018)
Wok of Love tells the love story of three individuals set in the kitchen of a local Chinese restaurant. It follows Seo Poong (Junho), a chef who falls from his prestigious position at a hotel’s Chinese restaurant to working at a small, nearly empty neighborhood eatery; Dan Sae Woo (Jung Ryeo Won), the bankrupt daughter of a once-wealthy family; and Doo Chil Sung (Jang Hyuk), a loan shark and the restaurant’s owner. The story portrays their love triangle and kitchen antics with humor and charm. Written by Seo Sook Hyang, who started the culinary drama trend with Pasta (2010), the show serves up a “love story hotter than the boiling oil in a searing wok.” The colorful array of Chinese dishes captivates viewers, while the bustling kitchen adds layers of excitement and fun.
Little Forest (2018)
Little Forest is a remake of the Japanese film of the same name, telling the story of Hye Won (Kim Tae Ri), who returns to her hometown to embrace the changing seasons after growing weary of city life. While working part-time at a convenience store and preparing for employment, Hye Won tries to satisfy her hunger with instant food, yet the more she eats, the more drained and empty she feels. After failing an exam, she goes back to the home she once shared with her mother and begins a self-sustaining life there. She prepares meals using homegrown produce and recipes filled with memories of her mother. Her hometown friends, Eun Sook (Jin Ki Joo) and Jae Ha (Ryu Jun Yeol), occasionally join her for meals. Through this journey, Hye Won heals her tired body and mind, while the simple, seasonal meals she prepares bring warmth and comfort to both her and the viewers’ hearts.
Recipe for Farewell (2022)
Our Season (2023)
Our Season tells the story of Bok Ja (Kim Hae Sook), who, three years after her death, receives a three-day leave from the afterlife to visit her daughter, Jin Joo (Shin Mina). Bok Ja is filled with anticipation, imagining that Jin Joo has become a university professor in the U.S. However, her excitement fades when she arrives to find Jin Joo running a small diner out of their old countryside home. Unable to ask her daughter directly why she chose this path, Bok Ja quietly observes Jin Joo’s life. The film unfolds with gentle grace, exploring the emotional distance that developed between mother and daughter and Jin Joo’s reconnection with memories of her mother through familiar recipes. Their story evokes heartfelt emotions that many can relate to, as the table filled with Jin Joo’s homemade kimchi stew, seaweed soup, and dumplings recalls the warmth and love of a mother’s cooking.
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Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
