Bon Appetit Your Majesty Episode 12 Review: A Feast of Love and Betrayal

The curtain falls on Bon Appetit Your Majesty with a finale that mixes political intrigue, personal sacrifice and long-awaited romance. Yi Heon faces betrayal from those closest to him, while Ji-young fights to hold onto their bond across time. The ending may not be flawless, but it offers a heartfelt resolution that leaves fans both relieved and emotional.

Bon Appetit Your Majesty Episode 12 has a runtime of around 60 minutes.

This new Korean drama has 12 episodes, and one episode will be released every Saturday and Sunday.

Bon Appetit Your Majesty Episode 12 Recap

The grand finale of Bon Appetit Your Majesty wastes no time in diving straight into betrayal and high drama. Prince Jesan seizes the moment to manipulate Consort Kang, convincing her to put Jin-myeong on Yi Heon’s throne. With this move, he clears the path for his own ambitions while pushing Yi Heon further into isolation. At the same time, Gong-gil manages to rescue Ji-young and rushes towards the Salgoji Forest, determined to find and protect the king.

As the Urimwi forces launch an attack at the North Gate, Yi Heon finally comes face to face with Jesan and Consort Kang. The meeting is thick with tension as years of hidden schemes and quiet betrayals come to light. In a deceptively calm exchange over drinks, Yi Heon reveals his awareness of their plot and warns Jesan to rule wisely with Jin-myeong, insisting that only then will he accept his dethronement with dignity. For a brief moment, it almost feels as though compromise might be possible, but the storm beneath the surface refuses to settle.

Imprisoned soon after, Yi Heon receives his Mangunrok, the treasured book that has long tied his fate to Ji-young. He writes her a heartfelt message, holding on to the fragile hope that she may one day read it and return to him. This note, of course, is the very same that transported Ji-young to Joseon in the first episode, bringing the story full circle. Yi Heon’s punishment deepens when he is exiled from the palace. On his way out, he briefly catches sight of Ji-young, but the chance of reunion is cut short as the guards quickly intervene. Later, he narrowly escapes execution when loyal soldiers step in, a reminder of how precarious his life has become.

From this point, the drama escalates with rapid intensity. Jesan and Yi Heon’s rivalry reaches a breaking point. Gong-gil, fuelled by grief and rage over his sister’s suffering, strikes down Consort Kang in a decisive moment of vengeance. Jesan, however, makes a final, desperate move. He kidnaps Ji-young, drawing Yi Heon into one last confrontation. The two men engage in a brutal duel, with Ji-young caught between them. In a devastating twist, she steps in to protect Yi Heon and is struck by Jesan’s sword.

Yi Heon’s anguish is overwhelming as he cradles Ji-young, but his fury soon takes hold. In the heat of the moment, he delivers the fatal blow to Jesan, finally putting an end to his cousin’s treachery. The consequences, however, are heartbreaking. Ji-young slips into unconsciousness, and when she wakes, she finds herself back in her own time. The Joseon world she once knew is gone, along with Yi Heon.

As she recovers, Ji-young reunites with her father, a scene that provides some comfort after her ordeal. Yet, her heart remains with Yi Heon. She searches for any trace of him online but finds nothing. Even as she recites the words of the Mangunrok, Yi Heon does not appear. It feels as though their love story has reached its tragic end.

Life slowly begins to move forward. A month later, Ji-young starts a new job at a hotel restaurant. To her surprise, she recognises her new colleagues as the reincarnated chefs from Joseon, their faces instantly familiar. The sense of continuity is bittersweet, a reminder that the world she left behind still lingers in fragments. Even Song-jae appears as a guest at the hotel, offering his sharp critique of her cooking.

Just as it seems she must resign herself to memory, fate intervenes once more. Yi Heon himself suddenly arrives at the restaurant, stepping in to defend her. The shock and relief on Ji-young’s face speak louder than words. Overcome with emotion, she embraces him tightly, and the two share a passionate kiss. In the quiet that follows, Yi Heon fulfils the promise he once made. He cooks her bibimbap, a dish that symbolises both his love and his commitment.

When Ji-young asks how he managed to return, Yi Heon offers only a simple answer. It is a long story. What matters is not the explanation, but the fact that he is there, by her side. With that, Bon Appetit Your Majesty closes on a note of reunion and hope, reminding viewers that love, in the end, finds its way back.

Bon Appetit Your Majesty Episode 12 Review

The finale of Bon Appetit Your Majesty delivers plenty of twists, betrayals and sword fights, but its pacing feels uneven. Yi Heon’s downfall, exile and eventual reunion with Ji-young are loaded with emotion, yet the story sometimes rushes through moments that deserved more depth. Jesan’s schemes, Consort Kang’s brutal end, and Ji-young’s near-death climax pack intensity, but the hurried resolution risks undermining the weight of everything that came before.

Still, the closing stretch offers a rewarding emotional payoff. Ji-young’s return to her time, her bittersweet search for Yi Heon, and the eventual reunion through his promise of bibimbap provide a satisfying conclusion for those invested in their love story. While not perfect, the finale ties together the show’s themes of loyalty, sacrifice and food as a language of love, ending on a heartfelt note that lingers even after the credits roll.

Also read: Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Season 1 Review