Key takeaways
- The chemistry between Ha Seok-jin and Hani forms the emotional backbone of *Love on the Menu*, which centers on two ex-lovers reconnecting after eight years of separation and emotional distance.
- *Love on the Menu* arrives as the follow-up to *Recipe for Love* in KBS2’s coveted weekend drama slot, a scheduling choice that reflects broadcaster confidence in the project’s commercial and critical potential.
- Audiences can mark July 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM KST on their calendars for the premiere of *Love on the Menu*, with the drama set to air across KBS2’s weekend schedule following the conclusion of *Recipe for Love*.
Ha Seok-jin and EXID’s Hani are reuniting on screen for the first time in eight years as lead actors in KBS2’s upcoming family Romance drama *Love on the Menu*, set to premiere on July 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM KST. The drama marks Hani’s first television project since *Call It Love* and her debut leading role in a KBS weekend drama, positioning the series as a significant comeback vehicle for the former idol-turned-actress. Ha Seok-jin, riding momentum from his recent win on the survival game show *The Devil’s Plan* and his first English interview in 2024, brings renewed international visibility to the project.
A Reunion Eight Years in the Making
The chemistry between Ha Seok-jin and Hani forms the emotional backbone of *Love on the Menu*, which centers on two ex-lovers reconnecting after eight years of separation and emotional distance. Ha Seok-jin portrays Kim Moo Jin, a wealthy Italian restaurant chef whose refined culinary world collides with the humble, sacrifice-driven existence of Hani’s character, Han Gyu Rim, a woman who abandoned her own romantic dreams to prioritize family obligations. Their reunion becomes the catalyst for the drama’s exploration of healing, second chances, and the rediscovery of love amid unresolved pain.
The script reading event held in June 2026 generated early industry buzz, with media outlets noting the palpable chemistry between the leads and their nuanced understanding of their characters’ emotional arcs. Hani’s portrayal of Gyu Rim demonstrated a distinct approach to balancing the competing demands of love and family duty, while Ha Seok-jin brought gravitas to Moo Jin’s role as a man caught between his culinary ambitions and unfinished personal business. The supporting cast, including Park Yoo Na as Gyu Rim’s sister Han Gyu Young and Bae Jung Nam as Gyu Rim’s best friend Jo Heung Sik, rounded out the ensemble with strong performances that hinted at the complex family dynamics driving the narrative.
Strategic Positioning in KBS2’s Weekend Lineup
*Love on the Menu* arrives as the follow-up to *Recipe for Love* in KBS2’s coveted weekend drama slot, a scheduling choice that reflects broadcaster confidence in the project’s commercial and critical potential. Weekend dramas on KBS2 traditionally command significant viewership among family audiences, and the network’s decision to place *Love on the Menu* in this premium position signals expectations for strong ratings and sustained viewer engagement across its run. The drama’s predecessor, *Recipe for Love*, established a successful template for family-oriented storytelling, creating favorable conditions for *Love on the Menu* to build on that audience base.
Hani’s elevation to lead status in a KBS weekend drama represents a milestone in her post-idol career trajectory, marking her transition from supporting roles to headlining a major network production. Her previous television appearance in *Call It Love* demonstrated her capacity for emotionally complex dramatic work, but *Love on the Menu* provides her with the platform and narrative weight to anchor an entire series. This opportunity arrives at a strategic moment when KBS2 seeks to refresh its weekend lineup with fresh talent and compelling stories about generational conflict and emotional redemption.
Creative Leadership and Emotional Depth
Director Hong Seok Goo and writer Lee Kyung Hee bring established credentials in crafting emotionally layered family dramas to *Love on the Menu*, a pairing that signals the project’s commitment to thematic complexity and character-driven storytelling. Lee Kyung Hee’s previous work on *Call It Love*, Hani’s last dramatic vehicle, demonstrates familiarity with the actress’s range and strengths, potentially allowing for more nuanced character development in this new collaboration. The creative team’s track record suggests that *Love on the Menu* will prioritize psychological realism and intergenerational conflict alongside its central Romance.
The drama’s genre classification as a family romance emphasizes healing broken relationships and rediscovering the meaning of family, with romantic reconnection functioning as a secondary thread rather than the sole narrative driver. This thematic architecture distinguishes *Love on the Menu* from conventional romance dramas, positioning it instead within the tradition of Korean television narratives that examine how personal trauma and family obligation shape individual identity. The story’s focus on two characters navigating the consequences of their past choices creates space for nuanced exploration of sacrifice, regret, and the possibility of redemption.
Teaser Response and Audience Anticipation
KBS’s release of the first trailer and teaser in early July 2026 generated significant social media engagement, with viewers responding to the emotional intensity of the reunion scenes and the visual contrast between Moo Jin’s upscale culinary world and Gyu Rim’s more austere existence. The teaser material effectively communicated the drama’s central conflict—the collision between two people shaped by vastly different life experiences—while hinting at family secrets and hidden motivations that will drive plot development across the series’ run. Industry observers noted that the promotional materials successfully positioned *Love on the Menu* as a prestige project with substantial emotional stakes.
The poster campaign accompanying the teaser release featured Ha Seok-jin and Hani standing in proximity yet visually separated, a compositional choice that reinforced the emotional distance persisting between their characters despite their physical reunion. This visual language communicated to potential viewers that the drama would explore the painful complexity of reconnecting with someone from one’s past, rather than offering straightforward romantic resolution. The marketing strategy effectively signaled that *Love on the Menu* intended to challenge conventional expectations around second-chance romance narratives.
Ha Seok-jin’s Ascending International Profile
Ha Seok-jin’s recent activities, including his victory on *The Devil’s Plan* and his first English interview in 2024, have elevated his public visibility both domestically and internationally, adding cross-cultural appeal to *Love on the Menu* ahead of its premiere. His participation in the survival game show demonstrated his versatility as an entertainer and his ability to maintain composure under pressure, qualities that translate effectively to the intense emotional demands of his role as Moo Jin. The actor’s growing international recognition positions the drama to potentially attract viewers beyond traditional Korean drama audiences.
Key Dates and Viewing Landscape
Audiences can mark July 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM KST on their calendars for the premiere of *Love on the Menu*, with the drama set to air across KBS2’s weekend schedule following the conclusion of *Recipe for Love*. The timing places the series in prime position to capture the summer viewing audience and establish momentum heading into the latter half of 2026’s television season. Viewers interested in Ha Seok-jin and Hani’s on-screen chemistry and the creative vision of director Hong Seok Goo and writer Lee Kyung Hee will want to tune in from the premiere to experience the full narrative arc of these characters’ emotional journey.
*Love on the Menu* represents a convergence of rising talent, established creative leadership, and strategic network positioning, creating conditions for the drama to become a significant entry in KBS2’s catalog of family romance narratives. Ha Seok-jin and Hani’s reunion after eight years, paired with the thematic richness of a story about second chances and emotional healing, positions the series as essential viewing for audiences seeking character-driven drama with genuine emotional complexity.
