Asian chef movies often feature various aspects of food – one of the most important things of human life. Sometimes the entire plot revolves around it, with each mouthful adding to the story’s flavor. While food-themed films and shows are made all over the world, we’ll focus on those made in Asia in this list. Give the films listed below a shot the next time you’re searching for some delectable Asian-flavored fare.
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Best Asian chef movies with Korean origin
1. Oh My Ghosts (2015, Korea)
This Korean cooking drama stars Park Bo Young as Na Bong Sun, an uncomfortable kitchen assistant who, after being possessed by a virgin spirit, constantly getting into trouble with her demanding boss Kang Sun Woo, played by Jo Jung Suk.
This drama, which is primarily shot in the kitchen, offers you a sense of the entire environment that occurs prior to being served a hot and wonderful meal. Chef Kang Sun Woo’s interpersonal interaction with his team, in which he buys them meals and teaches them a lot about culinary art, is one of the things that will keep you captivated. It’s impossible not to fall in love with all these sizzling pans bringing gorgeous dishes to life – especially the pasta sequences – but most importantly, Na Bong Sun’s unique ginger chicken porridge recipe is one meal you won’t forget since it not only warms tummies but also hearts.
2. Jewel in the Palace (2003, Korea)
This Asian chef movie, which was voted one of the top ten dramas of all time, exposed the globe to Korean traditional gastronomy in all of its varieties and left many viewers drooling over the enticing food display during the lengthy sageuk. The astounding and appealing feature of Korean royal court food is what appears to be an unlimited and diversified amount of side dishes such as japchae, pajeon, and saengchae, all of which embellish the royal banquet.
3. Wok of Love (2018, Korea)
If you enjoy Chinese cuisine, go no further for this Korean cooking drama will hook both your mind and stomach. Junho, from 2PM, plays Seo Poong, a two-time Michelin-starred chef. He used to operate an amazing Chinese restaurant, but due to a series of terrible occurrences, he has lost everything and now works at a humble neighborhood eatery.
Wok of Love has a dash of romance, a smidgeon of action, and a full Chinese menu to boot. Furthermore, Junho’s amazing wok handling skills must not be overlooked. This drama is essentially a 101 course in Korean cuisine, introducing you to a wide range of savory buns, noodle soups, and dumplings, with jjajangmyeon prominently featured. Take a look here for a reminder of all the delights that have been featured on the show!
4. How Are You Bread (2020, Korea)
A baking master and a TV program staff member are also featured in this online drama. Suho (EXO) plays Ha Do Woo, a talented baker who repeatedly turning down the offer of playwright Noh Mi Rae (Lee Se Young), who will go to any length to cast him in her new baking competition show.
The entire plot revolves around the mystery behind Do Woo’s magical and delicious bread, which not only grants wishes but also allows people to connect with their emotions, making Mi Rae even more determined to have the brilliant baker appear on her show. Watching Suho be thorough in his craft is surely the icing on the cake, on top of tantalizing your sweet craving with all the scrumptious bites featured in this Asian chef movie!
5. Sweet Munchies (2020, Korea)
Jung Il Woo plays Chef Park Jin Sung, Kang Ji Young plays Variety Show PD Kim Ah Jin, and Lee Hak Joo plays designer Kang Tae Wan in this romantic comedy. The love triangle that binds these three individuals is pretty intriguing, especially since this time the conflict is for a man.
Park Jin Sung owns a café where many people come to cure their hearts and forget about their worries thanks to his delectable cuisine. Watching exquisite goodies being served at this restaurant day after day will make your tummy grumble with each bite, especially tofu stew, fried chicken, and other dishes. Jung Il Woo’s inner chef shines through in his unique food preparation technique, and the fact that he personally assisted in the preparation adds to the relatability and intrigue.
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Best Asian chef movies with Japanese origin
6. Tampopo (1985, Japan)
“Tampopo” is a highly amusing film on the importance of pleasure in our lives, as well as a celebration of the art of cooking and movies. “Tampopo” remains one of the best Japanese food movies, with a wonderful cast and an imaginative script written by the filmmaker himself. It will undoubtedly be cherished by many generations of cinephiles to come. Just remember to be quiet in the theater and refrain from crinkling your food.
7. Complicity (2018, Japan)
The overall tone, style, and performance even justify some of Chakaura’s more sentimental moments, integrating them seamlessly with the severity of the subject and a measured approach. “Complicity” isn’t a brilliant picture, but it’s a nice and well-balanced one, with the ability to make you hungry for a bowl of soba and some genuine humanitarian emotion as a side effect.
8. Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (2011, Japan)
This Japanese food movie is the narrative of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi chef widely regarded as the best in the world. He owns Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat sushi-only restaurant in an inconveniently positioned Tokyo subway station. Despite its basic appearance, it is the only restaurant of its sort to receive a famous three-star Michelin Guide rating, and sushi fans from all over the world flock to Jiro’s sushi bar, contacting months in advance and paying top cash for a coveted seat.
9. Sweet Bean (Japan)
Sweet Bean is a film that centers on the Japanese pancake dorayaki. A considerable amount of sweetened azuki bean paste is sandwiched between two pancakes to make this delight.
Watch this heartwarming Japanese film about a dorayaki shop owner’s friendship with a 76-year-old woman who has a secret delicious red bean recipe. Sweet Bean illuminates the important morals associated in Japanese culinary tradition, such as patience, perseverance, and dedication, as he teaches her the basics of dorayaki preparation. This Japanese food movie not only teaches you how to make dorayaki in a rigorous but rewarding manner, but it also tugs at your heartstrings with its portrayal of the two main characters’ relationship.
10. Dead Sushi (2012, Japan)
While the picture has a lot of positive aspects, it also has several issues that are difficult to overcome. Fans of Iguchi’s prior films or the underground Japanese splatter scene are encouraged to avoid this one, while those who do not fit into either fan group are recommended to stay away.
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Best Asian chef movies from other Asian countries
11. Nasi Lemak 2.0 (Malaysia, 2011)
When it was released in 2011, a low-budget film by the iconic Malaysian filmmaker-rapper Namewee – you either love him or hate him for his scandals – made approximately seven times its about RM1 million budget at the local box office. This Asian food movie stars Adibah Noor, Afdlin Shauki, David Arumugam, Reshmonu, and Karen Kong, and follows Namewee as a struggling chef who is assisting Karen’s Xiao K in winning a cooking competition so that her father can save his famous Chinese restaurant.
12. Ramen Shop (2018, Singapore)
Chef Keisuke Takeda and Dr. Leslie Tay’s crucial counsel aid in the creation of a world where the kitchen triumphs, where food’s power is unleashed while its well-directed human components have no choice but to succumb to its enticing succulence. It’s impossible not to get swept away by the flavors surging through its soul; it feeds both the heart and the stomach. A fitting conclusion to the San Diego Asian Film Festival.
13. Dumplings (2004, Hong Kong)
The feature version of “Dumplings” added another sensual scene and allowed Aunt Mei and Mrs Li’s husband to communicate, but the major points and artistic worth of the film remained unchanged. In this way, I believe the short version has less to “envy” and is a fantastic title in its own right.
14. Chicken and Duck Talk (1988, Hong Kong)
The competition between an old-fashioned roast duck restaurant and a newly formed franchise operation across the street is the subject of “Chicken and Duck Talk.” This Asian chef movie, directed by Clifton Ko, was Hong Kong’s highest-grossing production of 1988. The principal part is played by comedian Michael Hui, who also produced and penned the script. His screenplay received numerous accolades, including the American Film Institute’s special prize. The film depicts the urban life in 1980s Hong Kong in a lighthearted style, and its box office success spawned a slew of sequels.
15. The Lunchbox (India)
Ila (Nimrat Kaur), a lonely housewife, seeks to spice up her stagnant marriage by making a special lunch for her neglected husband. Unfortunately, the package is misplaced and ends up in the hands of Saajan (Irrfan Khan), a grumpy widower. Ila adds a letter to the next day’s lunchbox, curious about her husband’s lack of response, and thus begins an unusual friendship in which Saajan and Ila can communicate about their pleasures and sorrows without ever meeting in person.
16. Salt N Pepper (2011, India)
In this Asian food movie, we meet two aspiring couples (one older and one younger), one grumpy cook, one incredible dessert (with a love history), several songs, and a plethora of delectable food, mostly home-cooked or from street cafes. It all starts with a misdialed call – when dubbing artist Maya (Shwetha Menon) calls an archeologist named Kalidasan to request a particular kind of dosa (Lal). After a rocky start (both have fiery personalities), the duo becomes closer and closer to one another. However, they only know each other through phone conversations… Following that will be a comedy of mishaps and misunderstandings, as well as foodporn pictures of Keralan cuisine that will make you want to bite the screen. The opening credits song is about food and features footage from various well-known Keralan eateries.
17. Ramji Londonwaley (2005, India)
When R. Madhavan plays a Brahmin chef living and working illegally in the United Kingdom, you don’t expect the tale to be full of delectable treats. But that’s exactly what this 2005 film does.
Ramji teaches us that Indian men can truly cook to please as a pleasant man who puts up the most delectable Indian cuisines to entice his love interest. And winning over the London audiences and food critics with a sugar-free halwa for diabetics? That was a stroke of brilliance, and it spurred many Indians to try to modernize their food.
18. Cheeni Kum (2007, India)
You could argue that this 2007 film is just a fantastic love tale, but we believe it’s all about the flavors. Amitabh Bachchan plays a chef who fails to impress Tabu with his Hyderabadi Zafrani Pulao, which marks the start of the film’s gastronomic journey.
You won’t find the absence of fine cuisine in any frame, from maa ke haath ka khana to a man cooking delicacies to establish his worth to a prospective father-in-law. And, above all, this is the only Hindi film to date that allows us a glimpse into a commercial kitchen run by an Indian man who reminds you of a talent on par with Marco Pierre White’s.
19. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012, India)
Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana could be the narrative of any Punjabi family who owns and operates a popular restaurant; it includes everything from a secret recipe that made the family’s business famous to the day-to-day operations of a restaurant maintained by an eccentric family.
We show how people can bond over a hot kadhai full of freshly cooked gravy as Omi Khurana tries to discover out the secret ingredient that makes his daarji’s chicken curry so dang tasty. It also demonstrates that generating exceptional and new recipes takes time and brilliance, both of which are difficult to duplicate.
20. English Vinglish (2012, India)
You could say that this cooking movies is about mastering the intricacies of a language, but there’s another perspective. Here’s a housewife who cooks delectable ladoos and is attempting to start her own business. Isn’t it how most Indian food businesses start out, even if they don’t have a lot of money?
Shashi’s small business appears to be gaining traction, and her culinary skills are the one thing that keeps her afloat even when her family disparages her (unintentionally). A French chef is one of the persons she naturally finds companionable in the United States. Is it possible for a story to be more about food?
Food is a big part of Asian culture, and it’s also a big part of Asian chef movies. That is, Asian films never fail to make our lips water with both traditional and international cuisine. We hope that the list above will tickle your taste buds and if you want more suggestions on food cartoon movies, just visit Thecookingmovie.com. Here we have all you need to be a food movies fanatic.