I'm convinced Squid Game Season 2's breakthrough star Kang Ha-neul's latest K-drama is a must-watch

Netflix's record-breaking series Squid Game Season 2 gave South Korean actor Kang Ha-neul international recognition with his character Dae-ho (Player 388). An ex-marine, Ha-neul's portrayal made him a fan favorite character and fans can't wait to see him in the show's final season.

If you enjoyed watching Ha-neul in Squid Game Season 2, you should surely check out his recent K-drama Tastefully Yours, streaming on Netflix now. The show premieres weekly episodes and is already a hit among audiences.

His transformation into a rich conglomerate for this latest K-drama was impressive. The show follows a unique love story between a wealthy restaurant owner and a small chef running her one-table restaurant.

Here's why Squid Game Season 2's star Kang Ha-neul's new K-drama is a must-watch.

Squid Game Season 2's star Kang Ha-neul's new role took me by surprise

While I have followed some of Ha-neul's K-dramas in the past like When the Camellia Blooms and The Heirs, his role in Squid Game Season 2 was a revelation. He has played both dorky and intense characters in the past but the way he portrayed Dae-ho in Netflix's breakthrough show was commendable.

There was never a dull moment in the show with Dae-ho, especially his heartbreaking ending, in which he could not reach the ammo for the players in time. But Ha-neul in Tastefully Yours is a revelation that contrasts with his Squid Game Season 2 character.

Gone is the playfulness of Dae-ho as in his latest K-drama, Ha-neul plays Han Beom-woo, the chaebol (conglomerate) of Hansang, the biggest restaurant chain in South Korea. Beom-woo is entitled and determined to attain the last Diamant star (Korean version of the Michigan star) for his restaurant.

He is not only rich and extremely privileged but also uses his power to buy out small and independent restaurants, obtaining the rights to their signature recipes in the process. He then orders his chefs to replicate the recipe, and voila! It belongs to his restaurant now.

Tastefully Yours is a new take on chaebol romance

Chaebol romances are nothing new for K-dramas; in fact, they are overdone to an extent. A rich CEO falls in love with a submissive and shy girl and they live happily ever after. I dismissed Tastefully Yours as another Chaebol romance until I gave it a try.

While Beom-woo is a typical K-drama chaebol, Go Min-si's Mo Yeon-joo is like a breath of fresh air. She is not your typical helpless Korean female lead who will obediently comply with the rich CEO's demands.

When Beom-woo eyes her single-table restaurant in the small town of Jeonju, he is determined to buy her out and obtain the rights for her signature truffle dish. However, she makes him run for his money when it comes to her values as a chef.

Not only is Yeon-joo passionate about cooking in Tastefully Yours, but she also thinks that big restaurant chains like Beom-woo's lack the personal touch that food and the culinary world need.

This fresh take on the female lead sets Tastefully Yours apart from other K-dramas and I am surely invested in seeing how this unique love story takes flight.

Tastefully Yours is a masterclass in culinary culture

With such enriching characters and their extraordinary love story, Tastefully Yours is set against the beautiful backdrop of Jeonju, which is enough to watch the K-drama. It is an ode to culinary culture, molded with bold aromas and heartwarming dishes. Even while you can't taste the flavours, they look so enticing and appealing to the eyes that just the visuals are enough.

When Beom-woo asks Yeon-joo to recreate her signature dish for him, she first makes him toil for the ingredients, even takes him on a hike to pluck the best quality truffle mushrooms. A sequence where you will see glimpses of Ha-neul's Squid Game Season 2 character, Beom-woo starts to learn the importance of procuring your own ingredients.

While both the characters have a relationship with food, it is very different and the small town of Jeonju is where their cultures start to melt. I am even sure that the simplicity of this small town and the richness of cultures it offers will eventually transform Beom-woo from an arrogant brat to a heartwarming person.

The beautiful visuals and the quiet life of Jeonju will surely make your heart flutter and your soul warm.

You can stream Tastefully Yours and Squid Game Season 2 on Netflix now.