Cici is a twelve-year-old immigrant trying to adjust to her new life in the United States. She possesses a unique culinary talent as a "supertaster" who can identify individual spices in complex blends. She decides to enter a local kids' cooking competition to win enough money to buy a plane ticket for her grandmother. She constantly feels torn between hiding her Taiwanese identity to fit in with American peers and honoring her family's traditions.

A-má is Cici's grandmother who stays behind in Taiwan because she lacks a green card. She represents the culinary and cultural foundation of Cici's life, passing down essential cooking techniques and a secret family spice blend. She maintains traditional expectations regarding academic success, believing that each generation should achieve more than the last.

Miranda is a wealthy, confident contestant whose family owns an Italian restaurant called Tutta Italia. She initially acts aggressively toward Cici during the cooking competition, attempting to control their team's culinary direction. She hides her true ambition of becoming a comic book artist, fearing her father's expectation that she will eventually run the family business.

Cici's father is a strict parent who moves his family to Seattle to provide them with better opportunities. He heavily prioritizes academic achievement over extracurricular activities, constantly pushing Cici to excel in school. He worries deeply about the racial bias his family faces as immigrants, believing they must work harder than their white peers to prove themselves.

Cici's mother is a hardworking immigrant attempting to help her daughter settle into an unfamiliar culture. She tries to bridge the cultural gap by purchasing American grocery items for school lunches, though she remains cautious about foreign customs like sleepovers. She quietly supports Cici's culinary interests by signing the cooking competition consent form.

Jenna is an American student who befriends Cici shortly after her arrival in Seattle. She shows an active interest in Cici's unique lunches and requests to trade food, acting as a friendly entry point into American school culture.

Emily is one of Cici's first friends in the United States and hosts the first weekend playdate Cici attends. She initially assumes Cici struggles with English but quickly corrects her behavior when informed otherwise.

Amy is Miranda's English nanny who provides care and transportation for the girls. As an immigrant herself who requires a green card, she shares a subtle commonality with Cici's family situation.

Miranda's father is the demanding owner of the Italian restaurant Tutta Italia. He fully expects his daughter to take over the family business and views outside competitors with deep suspicion.

Julia Child is a famous historical chef whom Cici discovers through library materials. Her television persona functions as a surrogate mentor for Cici, modeling how to handle kitchen failures with grace and confidence.

Mr. Bonze is a primary judge at the children's cooking competition. He provides critical feedback on the contestants' dishes, directly evaluating the techniques of the young chefs.