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Korean food reality shows for foodies


Korean food reality shows for foodies

Looking for a break from the intense drama and complicated plots of K-dramas? Immerse yourself in the world of Korean food reality and variety shows for a refreshing change. These shows, which range from cooking competitions to travel and mukbang (food shows) offer an appealing mix of entertainment and culinary discoveries.

The concept of mukbangwhere hosts consume large amounts of food while interacting with viewers, has become a global phenomenon and has further fueled the Hallyu wave. Korean cooking shows are not a new trend in the South Korean entertainment industry. They are a staple, attracting both local and international audiences with their unique blend of food, fun and famous personalities.

What makes these shows so compelling? They often feature popular South Korean celebrities, actors and K-pop idols bringing their charm and humor to the screen. The themes are varied and exciting, from traveling the world to showcase the appeal of Korean cuisine to thrilling cooking competitions where recipes compete for supremacy. Some shows even require celebrities to survive in remote areas where they must hunt and cook their own food. We know it’s scary – but that’s what makes it so exciting!

Whether you want to discover new recipes, watch celebrities enjoy delicious meals, or just experience the joy of food through the screen, there’s a South Korean cooking show for you. These shows promise laughter, excitement, and a healthy appetite for more. Here are the best Korean cooking and variety shows that every foodie should put on their binge-watch list!

The best Korean food reality shows like Jinny’s Kitchen every gourmet should check it out

Stars top recipe at Fun-Staurant is a cross between a talk show, reality TV and cooking competition. Imagine this: popular celebrities enter the kitchen and compete to create the most tantalizing dish based on a unique theme. Their culinary creations are then judged by a panel of discerning celebrity chefs. The winning recipes not only get bragging rights, but are also available online so viewers can enjoy the magic at home. With a charismatic regular cast and world-class chefs who bring humor and expertise in equal measure, this show promises to be a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Unlike the usual drama and competition reality shows about food, Jinny’s Kitchen offers a communal and fun experience. Debuting in 2023, the show features well-known Korean celebrities preparing South Korean street food for international guests, combining taste with entertainment. In the first season, stars such as Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-jun, Choi Woo-shik, and BTS’ V ran a restaurant in beautiful Bacalar, Mexico. Now, in the second season, the setting shifts to Iceland, where the team, assisted by new intern Go Min-si, continues to serve Korean dishes such as oxtail gomtang and bibimbap. The show highlights the cast’s warm camaraderie and introduces viewers to the diversity of Korean cuisine.

In Street food fightersChef Baek Jong-won, a revered culinary master from South Korea, embarks on an epic global feast. A passport to the world’s most tantalizing street food, this show takes viewers to bustling markets in China, night bazaars in Taiwan, the aromatic food stalls of the United States, Mexico, Italy, and even our own streets of Penang. Each episode is a sensory adventure, with Chef Baek’s genuine reactions and insightful storytelling turning every bite into an educational experience. mukbang Experience. For those who crave a mix of culinary diversity and cultural stories, this show promises a delicious journey around the globe.

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Delicious rendezvous

This show also features chef Baek Jong-won. It originally aimed to boost sales of underused ingredients by demonstrating their delicious potential through creative recipes. The cast started by selling their dishes at rest stops to popularize these ingredients. They later moved on to selling the products through live home shopping channels and were so successful that the items were often sold out.

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Let’s have dinner together

In this food-themed reality show, the hosts and guests embark on a culinary journey: they must convince a local family to invite them to dinner. As they stroll through the neighborhood, share anecdotes, and snap photos, they also discover hidden gems and cultural tidbits. If they can’t snag an invitation, they try to have dinner with someone at a supermarket. Otherwise, they face the ultimate challenge of skipping dinner. This show is a mix of culinary adventures and cultural discoveries, perfect for those who love both gourmet experiences and travel stories.

Curious what’s in celebrities’ fridges? This show reveals the contents of their fridges, from forgotten leftovers to expired food. Famous chefs then take on the challenge of creating world-class meals using everything they find and some pantry staples. The results are impressive and even Gordon Ramsay makes a guest appearance as a rival chef in one of the episodes.

If you are a fan of Jinny’s KitchenThen Youn’s Kitchen is a must. Think about Jinny’s Kitchen as a spirited spin-off in which Lee Seo-jin rises from a humble manager to the proud owner of his own restaurant. In Youn’s Kitchena charismatic cast travels to exotic locations to open a pop-up restaurant for a few days. The first season puts bulgogi front and center, offering delicious dishes like bulgogi rice, bulgogi noodles and bulgogi burgers. Season two puts the culinary focus on bibimbap, offering tantalizing variations like bulgogi bibimbap, spicy pork bibimbap and vegetable bibimbap. And like any thriving kitchen, the menu evolves based on customer demand and ingredient availability, promising a fresh and exciting culinary adventure every time.

Yes, we know – another show with the ever-charming Baek Jong-won! Although he is not a traditional chef, he has become a beloved culinary icon and has built a restaurant empire with over a thousand branches across South Korea. Paik’s spirit is a must-watch for anyone who admires Baek Jong-won’s infectious enthusiasm for food (seriously, who wouldn’t after watching several episodes? Delicious rendezvous?) and has a penchant for alcoholic beverages. Of course, no cooking show would be complete without delicious dishes, and this one puts the spotlight on hearty Korean bar snacks – or should we say, the ultimate bar dishes that pair perfectly with a good drink.

Kang’s Kitchenanother spin-off from the pen of the famous producer Na Young-seok, brings the culinary adventure back to South Korea. Unlike Youn’s Kitchenin which the cast masters the challenges of running a restaurant abroad, Kang’s Kitchen keeps the culinary action anchored in South Korea – with the crew of the variety show New journey to the Westand adds a healthy dose of comedy to the mix. Over the course of three seasons, viewers are treated to the cast’s culinary evolution as they master increasingly complicated dishes and even venture into the realm of desserts. The first season is particularly endearing as it captures the cast’s nightly ritual of tenderizing meat for their signature tonkatsu, ensuring it’s irresistibly tender for guests the next day.

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The Backpacker Cook

The Backpacker Cook is another popular Korean reality show that takes culinary adventures to a whole new level. Starring Baek Jong-won (yes, that chef is everywhere) and a rotating cast of celebrities, the show takes them to different locations where they are challenged to prepare delicious dishes for the locals. The twist? They must rely on a limited arsenal of kitchen tools. This impromptu cooking journey will not only test their culinary skills, but also challenge their ingenuity and teamwork, promising a feast of creativity and flavors in each episode.

Coffee lovers is a heartwarming Korean reality show that puts a unique twist on the culinary genre. The show features an all-star cast including Yoo Yeon-seok, Choi Ji-woo, Son Ho-jun, and Yang Se-jong, and also features special guest appearances from K-pop sensations such as EXO’s Sehun, TVXQ’s Yunho, and actor Nam Joo-hyuk, to name a few.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of a tangerine farm on Jeju Island, the series follows these popular celebrities as they embark on the charming adventure of opening and running a cafe. What makes Coffee lovers What makes it special is its noble mission: all profits from the cafe are generously donated to charity. This feel-good show not only serves delicious food and coffee, but also sprinkles in a generous helping of goodwill and community spirit.

Hero image: Courtesy of Youn’s Kitchen/Apple TV; Feature image: Courtesy of Jinny’s Kitchen/tvN/IMDb


Note:

The information in this article is correct as of the date of publication.

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