Korean Food in Perfect Crown: IU’s K-Drama 2026
Perfect Crown, the must-watch new IU K-drama of 2026, is already captivating audiences across Korea and beyond! Also known as the 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife (21세기 대군부인), this MBC romantic comedy is set in a modern South Korea under a constitutional monarchy, where chaebol heiress Seong Hui-ju (IU) enters a contract marriage with Prince I-an (Byeon Woo-seok).
But beyond the palace politics and slow-burn romance, what I noticed most is the Korean food. From traditional royal snacks inside the palace to the totally relatable scene of stress-eating Korean fried chicken late at night, this K-drama is already delivering some seriously delicious food moments.
This post will be updated every week as new episodes air every Friday and Saturday on MBC! Bookmark this page and come back for more. Now, let’s take a closer look at all the Korean food that appears in Perfect Crown!
Perfect Crown Episode 1 – Every Korean Food & Drink
Lotus Root Tea (연근차)
When Seong Hui-ju is visibly frustrated, her secretary Do Hye-jeong offers her a calming cup of lotus root tea, known in Korean as yeongeun-cha or yeonnaemul-cha. To make it, lotus root is dried unpeeled, sliced into rounds, briefly blanched, then roasted in a dehydrator or pan. The dried lotus root is then steeped in boiling water.
Lotus root tea is known for its calming and soothing effects, helping to clear the blood, relieve fatigue, and ease an unsettled mind which is exactly why Do Hye-jeong chose this tea for the flustered Hui-ju in episode 1 of ’21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’.
Royal Snack Table (주안상) – Yakgwa & Hwajeon
When Prince I-an tells his aide Choi Hyeon to stop nagging and just eat, the snack table he presents features two classic Korean treats: yakgwa and hwajeon.
- Yakgwa is a traditional Korean confection made by mixing wheat flour with sesame oil, honey, and rice wine, deep-frying the dough, then soaking it in sweet syrup. It has a chewy, rich, and sweet flavor that is completely addictive. Enjoyed since the Goryeo Dynasty, yakgwa was considered a luxury treat, often served at ancestral rites and celebratory feasts. The yakgwa in the drama appears thick and beautifully flower-shaped, likely mo-yakgwa, a style originating from the Gaeseong region, known for its crispy exterior and moist, tender inside.
- Hwajeon is a traditional Korean pan-fried rice cake made by kneading glutinous rice flour into a dough, pan-frying it in oil, and topping it with seasonal edible flowers. In spring, azalea flowers are used; in autumn, chrysanthemums. It’s a dish that captures the beauty of each season on a plate, and has been enjoyed since the Goryeo Dynasty.
Puradak Gochu Mayo Chicken (고추마요 치킨)
After being denied an audience with the prince, a furious Seong Hui-ju sits down to eat her feelings and the chicken she’s eating is the Gochu Mayo from Korean fried chicken brand Puradak. This chicken combines a creamy, nutty mayonnaise sauce with the tangy kick of jalapeño, perfectly balancing the richness of the mayo so you just can’t stop eating it.
Don’t worry about the spice level. It’s mild enough for most people. The Gochu Mayo is one of Puradak’s signature menus and one of the most beloved Korean fried chickens in Korea. As of 2026, it’s priced at ₩21,900 for bone-in, with an additional ₩3,000 for boneless. If you’re visiting Korea, this is a chicken I wholeheartedly recommend.
New episodes of Perfect Crown air every Friday and Saturday on MBC and stream on Disney+, and this post will be updated every week with all the new Korean food moments. So bookmark this page and check back soon, you won’t want to miss a single dish!
Spotted a food we missed? Drop it in the comments below! 👇
