Love on the Menu: What to Know About Hani and Ha Seok-jin's New KBS2 Romance
Two exes, one shared history of falling-apart families, and a restaurant where they're forced to work through both. That's the setup for Love on the Menu, KBS2's next Friday-Saturday drama, and it's arriving with a specific kind of anticipation: Hani, better known to a lot of international fans as one-fifth of EXID before her acting career took off, headlining opposite Ha Seok-jin, a veteran actor whose range has made him a reliable pick for family melodrama. As of this writing, the show hasn't aired a single episode yet — so consider this the primer to have ready before it does.
| Network | KBS2 |
| Premiere date | July 25, 2026, 8 p.m. KST |
| Status as of this writing | Not yet aired — premiere is upcoming |
| Lead cast | Ha Seok-jin, Hani (Ahn Hee-yeon), Jin Kyung, Mi-ram |
| Director / Writer | Hong Seok-goo / Lee Kyung-hee |
| Genre | Family melodrama / romance |
The Premise: Exes, a Broken Family, and a Restaurant
Love on the Menu centers on Kim Moo-jin (Ha Seok-jin), the owner and head chef of a successful Italian restaurant who — on paper — has everything: money, talent, looks. Han Gyu-rim (Hani) is his opposite number in almost every material way. She runs a side-dish shop and works multiple part-time jobs to hold her family together after their comfortable life collapsed, sacrificing whatever personal ambitions she once had along the way. The two were a couple once, eight years before the show picks up, and the drama follows what happens when that history resurfaces — not as a clean second-chance romance, but as two people forced to reckon with two families' worth of old wounds while falling for each other again.
Why This Casting Pairing Is a Bigger Deal Than It Looks
Ha Seok-jin has quietly become one of Korean television's most dependable leads in exactly this kind of role — heavier, family-centered dramas that ask an actor to carry grief and warmth in the same scene. Hani's casting is the more interesting story for international fans specifically, because it puts a former K-pop idol back in a lead dramatic role after her group, EXID, largely wound down group promotions. For viewers who came to Hani through music first, Love on the Menu is a chance to track how far her acting career has come since her earlier drama work. It's also a reminder of how permeable the line between K-pop and K-drama casting has become — an idol-turned-actress landing a KBS2 primetime lead isn't a novelty anymore, it's a fairly normal career path.
What the Teasers Have Revealed So Far
Pre-release teaser content has focused heavily on the "fractured family" angle rather than pure romance. Promotional material has shown Ha Seok-jin's character alongside Jin Kyung and Mi-ram as a family working through old damage, and separate teasers built around Hani's character leaning on Kim Moo-jin amid her own family's struggles. That framing suggests Love on the Menu is positioning itself closer to a full-cast healing drama than a straightforward will-they-won't-they, which tracks with writer Lee Kyung-hee and director Hong Seok-goo's prior work in the genre.
Where It Fits Among This Summer's New Premieres
Love on the Menu is one of several dramas hitting Korean networks in the same tight window this July, alongside titles like Dream to You and My Idol, My Debut — if you want the fuller picture of what's airing when, Hallyu101's July 2026 new drama watchlist tracks the month's full lineup. And if slow-burn reunion romances are your thing generally, it's worth comparing notes with our review of Love in Sync, another 2026 rom-com built around a couple finding their way back to each other under complicated circumstances.
FAQ
Has Love on the Menu aired yet?
No — as of this writing, it premieres July 25, 2026 on KBS2. This article is a pre-air guide, not a review.
How many episodes will Love on the Menu have?
Official episode counts had not been widely confirmed in English-language coverage ahead of the premiere; check KBS2's official schedule closer to broadcast for the finalized run.
Is this Hani's first lead drama role?
No, Hani has taken on acting roles before, but Love on the Menu represents one of her higher-profile leads to date, opposite an established veteran actor in Ha Seok-jin.
Where can international viewers stream Love on the Menu?
International streaming details had not been confirmed in the pre-premiere coverage available; KBS dramas are frequently picked up by regional streaming platforms shortly after their domestic broadcast, so check major K-drama streaming services closer to or after the premiere date.
Related Reading
- Dream to You: Hwang In-yeop and Hyeri's 15-Years-Later Reunion Rom-Com
- My Idol, My Debut: THE BOYZ's Q Stars in K-Drama's Time-Slip Idol-Trainee Story
- 100 Days of Lies: Kim You-jung and GOT7's Jinyoung Lead a Colonial-Era Spy Romance
Written by the Hallyu101 editorial team ahead of Love on the Menu's July 25, 2026 premiere, based on official teaser materials and Korean entertainment press coverage. This is a pre-air guide, not a review.
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