'Queen of Taste' Kim Nam-joo on Dieting: "I Let It Slide, then Go Hardcore for a Month"

By  Kang Sun-ae  | Sep 11, 2025

'Queen of Taste' Kim Nam-joo on Dieting: "I Let It Slide, then Go Hardcore for a Month"
Kim Nam-jooKim Nam-joo ― the “Queen of Taste” ― opened up about her no-nonsense approach to dieting.

During filming for episode 16 of the SBS Life series “Queen of Taste: Kim Nam-joo,” the star finally embarked on the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) tour she’d been craving.

She hopped between her go-to spots, sampling everything from pan-style tteokbokki to made-to-order versions and serving up candid reviews. Along the way ― plus bites of fried snacks and gimbap ― she laughed, “I have so much respect for mukbang YouTubers,” admitting the gig is tougher than it looks. “My pants are still way too snug,” she joked, cracking everyone up.

While digging into the tteokbokki, Kim also got real about dieting. “I’ve tried it every which way. People say it’s easier if you manage a little at a time instead of waiting until the last minute ― but that doesn’t work for me,” she said. “I basically let myself be, then go all-in for a month ― sometimes even just a week. That suits me better.”

She added with a laugh, “You can’t eat clean and sit up straight your whole life. I want to eat the ‘bad’ stuff sometimes, too.”

Episode 16 ― which also features Kim taking a cooking class with culinary expert Hong Shin-ae ― airs Thursday at 8:40 p.m. on SBS Life. A video with the same title will also drop on Kim’s YouTube channel at 11:45 a.m. that day.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)