
We all know that Zhao Lusi has a knack for sweet romance dramas especially with the success of The Romance of Tiger and Rose earlier this year. Dating in the Kitchen 我喜欢你 pairs the 21-year-old actress with actor Lin Yushen who’s 18 years older.
Dating in the Kitchen Synopsis
The story follows Gu Sheng Nan, an assistant chef at the Zijing Hotel with a passion for cooking. She was in a secret relationship with the head chef until she gets her heart broken after catching him cheating.

With the breakup and the threat of Sheng Nan losing her dream job looming over her head due to the hotel’s impending acquisition, things get much worse when she mistakenly vandalizes Lu Jin’s car without realizing that he is her soon-to-be-boss. Luckily, Sheng Nan’s manager persuades Lu Jin to give the hotel establishment a chance by making every chef cook a dish for him. Sheng Nan’s special concoction stands out and Lu Jin decides to continue operations as long as the mystery chef (Sheng Nan) keeps cooking for him.

There are so many older man-younger woman pairings and combining food with romance hardly sounds original. Nonetheless, all the trailers so far has been teasing so much chemistry between the two leads. Zhao Lusi brings her lovable self as the sassy young chef. The much-older Lin Yushen stole the scene as Yang Xiao in the 2019 remake of Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber. In hindsight, his manly charisma seems perfect for the role of the domineering CEO and actually makes sense age wise. Frankly, I’m looking forward to see how love finds its way and turns the picky boss into a loyal boyfriend. Praying that the drama is as good as it looks.

Dating in the Kitchen premieres tonight, September 15, on Tencent WeTV! This 24-episode drama is an adaptation of the novel Finally I Get You 终于等到你 written by Lan Bai Se. It was also adapted into the 2017 movie This Is Not What I Expected 喜欢你 starring Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhou Dongyu. The rest of the cast includes Zhang Xiaoqian, Yu Xinhe, Fingal Fu Jia, Wu Yaheng, Li Qian, and Yu Xiang.
Source: 1
Sunny
Gross. Hard pass to these huge age gap dramas.
Hui
He doesn’t look ugly so I don’t mind. I didn’t mind the Zhong Dongyu and Takeshi either, he still look hot.
The ones that grossed me was Li Yitong and Li Honghai. Ni Ni and Zhang Zhen as well, he does not look that handsome to me.
neen
Zhou Dongyu and Takeshei’s chemistry was horrible. I could hardly get past the first half. I can see the chemistry with this new one though…
Yooi
Couldn’t even finish 1st episode. Sooo typical of zhao lusi’s drama. She needs to broaden her acting field.. and the male lead, he’s handsome but his make up.. ugh.. his thick eyebrows , emm… a distraction.
Ep 1 was so dull.
ZLS is a hit or a miss for me.
Maybe her next drama.
Trinity
I’ve watched the 1st 5 eps and loving it. The chemistry and sexual tension between the leads is sizzling and both actors are doing an excellent job. Lusi has always been good at comedy and quirky roles though so I’m not surprised she is doing a good job.
I don’t mind age gaps (in dramas or real life) as long as the older person isn’t slimy and creepy, which he isn’t in this. They are both of age so I’m perfectly fine with the age gap 🙂
Though the synopsis above says she was in a secret relationship with the head chef but that isn’t in the drama. Unless it hasn’t mentioned any of that yet, but there didn’t seem to be anything even hinted about her being in a relationship with anyone so far.