It is directed by Fung Kai, with advisor Zhou You (周游).
The slogan for Unique Flavor is Good, Interesting, True (好味、趣味、真情味).
Cast
The casts are classified according to the families they belong to in the drama.
Chens (Chef Wan's Traditional Flavours)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
No cast
Chen Qinghai
Father of Chen Wanzong Grandfather of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Most senior among the Top Five Chef Killed by Liu Mingfeng
He did not appear at all.
Liao Jun
Chen Wanzong
Nicknamed as 'Wan' Known as Chef Wan Father of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Foster father of Liu Shengjie Son of Chen Qinghai
He appeared in all the episodes. The signboard of Chef Wan's Traditional Flavours was removed in episode 32 and remounted in episode 286.
Di Ying
Lin Xiuhong
Wife of Chen Wanzong Mother of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Foster Mother of Liu Shengjie Friend of Cai Qiumin and Yang Huimei
She appeared in all the episodes.
Xie Lijin
Chen Shengfen
Youngest daughter of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Has a troll but cheerful personality Had a crush first on Zhou Qiang, then Yang Zhiyuan, and then Gao Shoushan
She appeared in episodes 1-240 and later episode 286.
Lius (Tai Mei Enterprise)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Shi Feng
Liu Mingfeng
Second in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Father of Liu Wenhua and Liu Wenqin Godfather of Liu Chongren Grandfather of Liu Shengjie and Liu Junying Foster grandfather of Chen Huiwen Had a grudge with Chen Qinghai
He appeared in all the episodes.
Xu Guiying
Zhao Jingyue
Mother of Liu Wenqin Grandmother of Liu Shengjie and Liu Junying Wife of Liu Mingfeng Foster grandmother of Chen Huiwen Childhood friend of Wang Yixiong
She appeared in all the episodes.
Josh Huo
Liu Wenqin
Son of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Father of Liu Shengjie
He appeared in episode 1. He witnessed Yang Huimei plunged into the sea. He killed himself in episode 1 by doing so.
Ann Lee (before plastic surgery) Gail Lin (after plastic surgery)
Yang Huimei Auntie Hao
Nicknamed 'Hao' Wife of Liu Wenqin Mother of Liu Shengjie Foster mother of Chen Huiwen Mother-in-law of Chen Huiwen Daughter-in-law of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Younger sister of Yang Tiansong Aunt of Yang Zhiyuan Friend of Lin Xiuhong and Cai Qiumin
The version before plastic surgery appeared in episode 1 falling off a cliff. Saved by Zhou Yong and went for plastic surgery. The version after plastic surgery appeared in episodes 40-286.
Husband of Chen Huiwen Adopted son of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Grandson of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Son of Liu Wenqin and Yang Huimei Identity once swapped with Chen Huiwen Only successor of the "Top Five Chef" Leader of the new Top Five Chef He married Huiwen in episode 186.
He appeared in all the episodes. He married Huiwen in episode 186.
Chou You-ting
Chen Huiwen Liu Huiwen
Also known as 'Wang-wang' (when she lost her memory) Wife of Liu Shengjie Granddaughter of Chen Qinghai Daughter of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Elder sister of Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Adopted granddaughter of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Adopted daughter of Liu Wenqin, Yang Huimei, Liu Chongren and Xu Mingzhu Adoptive niece of Qiu Yonghe and Liu Wenhua Adoptive cousin of Liu Junying Adoptive niece of Yang Tiansong Granddaughter-in-law of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Daughter-in-law of Liu Wenqin and Yang Huimei Friend of Sun Qiaoqiao Identity once swapped with Liu Shengjie
She appeared in all the episodes. She married Shengjie in episode 186.
Daughter of Liu Mingfeng Wife of Qiu Yonghe Elder sister of Wenqin Mother of Liu Junying Once owed a huge gambling debt at the illegal gambling house owned by Hong Kunlong
She appeared in all the episodes.
Lin Youxing
Liu Junying
Son of Liu Wenhua and Qiu Yonghe Grandson of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Once had a crush on Chen Huiwen Husband of Liao Shujuan
He appeared in episodes 20-240.
Fang Bing
Liao Shujuan
Nicknamed as 'Juan' Taken care of by Zhou Qiang and his sister after her grandmother died Second daughter of Liao Jinsheng Wife of Liu Junying
She appeared in episodes 88-240.
Liaos (King of Soups)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Li Yufen
Auntie Man
Nicknamed as 'Man' Known as 'Auntie Man' Mother of Liao Jinsheng Raised granddaughter Liao Shujuan
She appeared in episodes 88-115. She then died.
Xia Jingting
Liao Jinsheng
Third in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Son of Auntie Man Father of Liao Shujun and Liao Shujuan Ex-husband of Zhang Suru Specialises in soups and likes to gamble
He appeared in episodes 94-286.
Tina Yan
Liao Shujun
Nicknamed as 'Vicky' First daughter of Liao Jinsheng Elder sister of Liao Shujuan Bargirl background; Later worked at Tai Mei
She appeared in episodes 116-214.
Zhous (Otsu-mi-ya)
Otsu-mi-ya is a Japanese restaurant in the drama with the name in Chinese characters/Kanji "乙味屋". It is pronounced as おつみや(otsu-mi-ya) in Japanese and Yǐ wèi wū in Mandarin. The Japanese pronunciation was never mentioned in the drama.
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
No cast
Zhou Yong
Nicknamed as 'Yong' Fourth in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Father of Zhou Qiang and Zhou Jiayu Saved Yang Huimei who fell off a cliff
He did not appear at all.
Scott Wang
Zhou Qiang
Nicknamed as 'Qiang' Known as Chef Qiang Husband of Li Yafang Head Chef of the Japanese Restaurant Otsu-mi-ya Son of Zhou Yong
He appeared in episodes 32-286.
Joanne Lian
Li Yafang
Daughter of Li Shunxing and Cai Qiumin Once had a crush on Shengjie Later married to Zhou Qiang
She appeared in all the episodes
Elsie Ye
Zhou Jiayu
Younger sister of Zhou Qiang Cheerful personality Girlfriend of Yang Zhiyuan
She appeared in episodes 42-214. After a bidding competition with Yang Zhiyuan, they became a pair of quarrelsome lovers.
Lis (Chang Shun Tea House)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Wang Hao
Li Shunxing
Boss of Chang Shun Tea House Sworn brother of Chen Wanzong
He appeared in all the episodes.
Lin Peijun
Cai Qiumin
Lady boss of Chang Shun Tea House Shrewd, plan carefully and a little petty Friends of Lin Xiuhong and Yang Huimei
She appeared in all the episodes.
He Yidong
Li Jintang
Son of Li Shunxing and Cai Qiumin Sticks with Chen Shengchang Boyfriend of Sun Qiaoqiao
He appeared in all the episodes.
Hongs (Jiu Long House Cuisine Group)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Pang Xianglin
Hong Kunlong
Also known as 'Managing Director Hong' Triad leader Dotes on Xiaolin Holds Jiu Long House Cuisine Group
He appeared in all the episodes.
Wang Zhonghuang
Lai Jinfa
Known as Chef Jinfa Counsin of Hong Kunlong Head Chef of Jiu Long House
He appeared in all the episodes.
Zhaos
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Jiang Guobin
Zhao Dachuan
Nicknamed 'Asthmatic Chuan' Police officer Elder brother of Zhao Wuzhong Later helped Wanzong's family Later fell in love with Wang Ting
He appeared in all the episodes.
Yang Shiwei
Zhao Wuzhong
One of Hong Kunlong's men Younger brother of Zhao Dachuan Paralysed by Chen Shengchang
He appeared in episodes 1-55.
Yangs (Yang Guang Rice)
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Li Tao
Yang Tiansong
Husband of Zhang Suru Elder brother of Yang Huimei Boss of Yang Guang Rice Father of Yang Zhiyuan
He appeared in episodes 116-214 and later episodes 222-240.
Chen Yi
Zhang Suru
Wife of Tiansong Ex-wife of Liao Jinsheng Stepmother of Yang Zhiyuan
She appeared in episodes 116-214 and later episodes 222-240.
Yi Zheng
Yang Zhiyuan
Son of Tiansong Disciple of Sato Boyfriend of Zhou Jiayu
Disciple of Wang Yixiong Father of Ryusuke Domoto and Norika Domoto
He appeared in episodes 228-286.
Jiang Hong-En
Ryusuke Domoto
Elder brother of Norika The Japanese Huiwen met coincidentally when she lost her memory Superior of Yang Zhiyuan Son of Tetsuya Domoto Had a crush on Wang-wang/Huiwen but gave up knowing she was the fiancee of Shengjie
He appeared in episodes 159-187, and later episodes 250-286.
Boss of First Hotel Prison officer during Wang Yixiong's imprisonment Uncle of Zhang Xiaoping
He appeared in episodes 241-286.
Others
Cast
Role
Character / Relationship / Career
Episodes appeared / Status
Chen Liqin
Sun Qiaoqiao
Assistant and friend of Chen Huiwen Girlfriend of Li Jintang
She appeared in all the episodes.
Huang Yuxin
Sakurako
Friend and personal bodyguard of Wang Ting
She appeared in episodes 215-286. She was mistaken as the daughter of Liu Chongren and his wife. Wang Yixiong didn't want to reveal Wang Ting's identity as their daughter. Thus he switched their hairs. She was later adopted as their goddaughter.
Yang Shaowen
Wu Jianhong
Assistant of Tai Mei Enterprise Assists Yonghe to seize the company
He appeared in episodes 1-240.
Huang Youxi
Huang Siwen
One of Hong Kunlong's men
He appeared in episodes 1-55.
Gao Mingwei
Uncle Fu
In charge of Hong Kunlong's owned illegal gambling house
Gourmet who awarded Otsu-mi-ya three-star rating Friend of Zhou Yong
He appeared in episodes 48-55.
Xu Cuixue
Xiao-xia
Manager of Chef Wan's Beef Noodles
She appeared in episodes 180-240.
Lin Yicheng
Xiao-wei
Younger brother of Xiao-xia
He appeared in episodes 127-138.
Li Fei
Ken
Ken Personal assistant of Ryusuke
He appeared in episodes 161-199.
Liang Younan
Ye Jinfeng
Nicknamed as 'Feng' Known as 'Auntie Feng' Once had a crush on Wanzong Left after being misunderstood by Wanzong Ex-wife of Tetsuya Domoto; later divorced
She appeared in episodes 182-286.
Zhang Hong
Peipei
Likes Zhiyuan Originally assistant of Jinfeng Actually the biological daughter of Ye Jinfeng born in Japan Identity later revealed Father unknown
She appeared in episodes 182-221.
Si Fang
A-bu-la
An assistant of Luo Ping on the surface In actuality, sent by Wang Yixiong to monitor Luoping's men in the Wagyu business
He appeared in episodes 215-221.
Chen Guoqing
Xiao-chen
One of Wang Yixiong's men
He appeared in episodes 241-285.
You Yaoguang
Yang Jiawen
Requires wild black eel as a supplement for Yuhua Got involved with Liu Shengjie due to this
He appeared in episodes 262-273.
Lin Yuqing
Yuhua
Wife of Jiawen Final-stage cancer patient
She appeared in episodes 262-273.
You Shun'an
Shun
Childhood friend of Tian Ying Likes Tian Ying
He appeared in episodes 281-286.
Taiwan broadcast
As of June 2011[update], the show airs in Taiwan, country of origin of the drama every weeknight at prime time (20:00) with episodes which have ranged in length from 135 to 150 minutes including commercial advertisements. The producers received funding from the Government Information Office to produce the series in high definition.
International broadcast
Singapore
Due to local broadcast laws prohibiting radio or television broadcasts in Chinese dialects the show was dubbed into Mandarin when it aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 thus making it the first channel to broadcast the show in Mandarin. It was the third Taiwan drama to broadcast the show in Singapore.
Vietnam
The Vietnamese dub "Thiên hạ đệ nhất vị" was broadcast on Vinh Long Television Station Channel (THVL) (Vietnamese: Truyền Hình Vĩnh Long) and is streamable on YouTube. The show was aired on Vietface TV from 1pm-2:30pm (PT), however, it was fully aired as it was replaced with Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann. The show is also currently airing on E Channel.
Malaysia
The drama is broadcasting now in 8TV in original Hokkien language under the English title Unique Flavor for two episodes with one hour each from Monday to Friday, at 11:30 MST and 14:00 MST with a 30 minutes break of its Midday Mandarin News at 12:30 MST.[1]
