The story is set in 19th-century China during the Qing Dynasty, when the Emperor's power had weakened and the nation teetered on the brink of chaos. It also takes place in a fictional period known as "The Era of the Cooking Wars," an age in which elite chefs employing diverse culinary styles strove relentlessly to refine their skills and become the finest cook in all of China. In this country, insulting a high-ranking chef or treating cooking with disrespect could land someone in prison, and impersonating a top chef was considered equivalent to usurping authority. Chefs compete against one another to earn respect and even influence, but they also risk losing everything.
After the death of Mao's mother, Pai—known as the "Fairy of Cuisine"—Mao becomes a Super Chef in order to claim the title of Master Chef at his mother's restaurant. However, before taking her place as Master Chef, he continues traveling across China to learn more about the many cooking methods, hoping to become a legendary chef just like his mother. Along his journey, he encounters great friends and fierce rivals who seek to challenge him in the culinary arts.
