🇰🇷 Essential Korean Phrases for Eating Out in Korea

Essential Korean Phrases for Eating Out in Korea

 

 simple and practical guide for ordering food in Korea like a pro!

🛎️ 1. Entering a Restaurant

When you walk into a restaurant, the staff may greet you with:
✅ 어서 오세요! (Eoseo oseyo!) → "Welcome!"

💬 Staff might ask:
🔹 "How many people?" → 몇 명이에요? (Myeot myeong-ieyo?)

✅ How to answer:
🗣️ "One person." → 한 명이에요. (Han myeong-ieyo.)
🗣️ "Two people." → 두 명이에요. (Du myeong-ieyo.)
🗣️ "Four people." → 네 명이에요. (Ne myeong-ieyo.)

💬 If you want an English menu:
👉 영어 메뉴 있어요? (Yeongeo menyu isseoyo?) → "Do you have an English menu?"

💬 If you want to sit somewhere specific:
👉 "Can I sit here?" → 여기 앉아도 돼요? (Yeogi anjado dwaeyo?)

💬 If you're ordering takeout:
👉 "Takeout, please." → 포장해 주세요. (Pojanghae juseyo.)

 

🍽️ 2. Ordering Food

Once you're ready to order, call the staff with:
✅ 저기요! (Jeogiyo!) → "Excuse me!" (Polite way to call the waiter.)

💬 If you’re pointing at the menu:
👉 이거 주세요. (Igeo juseyo.) → "I’d like this, please." (Super useful!)

💬 If you want to order a specific dish:
👉 불고기 하나 주세요. (Bulgogi hana juseyo.) → "One bulgogi, please."
👉 김치찌개 두 개 주세요. (Kimchi-jjigae du gae juseyo.) → "Two kimchi stews, please."

💬 If you want a recommendation:
👉 추천해 주세요. (Chucheonhae juseyo.) → "Please recommend something."

💬 If you have dietary restrictions:
👉 고기 빼고 해 주세요. (Gogi ppaego hae juseyo.) → "Please make it without meat."
👉 채식 메뉴 있어요? (Chaesik menyu isseoyo?) → "Do you have vegetarian options?"
👉 해산물 알레르기 있어요. (Haesanmul alleljeugi isseoyo.) → "I have a seafood allergy."

💬 If you don’t want spicy food:
👉 안 매운 걸로 주세요. (An maeun geollo juseyo.) → "Please make it not spicy."
👉 덜 맵게 해 주세요. (Deol maepge hae juseyo.) → "Can you make it less spicy?"

💬 If you want a drink:
👉 물 주세요. (Mul juseyo.) → "Water, please."
👉 맥주 한 병 주세요. (Maekju han byeong juseyo.) → "One bottle of beer, please."

 

🥢 3. During the Meal

💬 If you need more side dishes: (Side dishes are FREE in Korea!)
👉 반찬 더 주세요. (Banchan deo juseyo.) → "More side dishes, please."

💬 If you need more rice:
👉 밥 추가요. (Bap chugayo.) → "Extra rice, please."

💬 If you need utensils:
👉 수저 주세요. (Sujeo juseyo.) → "Spoon and chopsticks, please."
👉 포크 있어요? (Pokeu isseoyo?) → "Do you have a fork?"

💬 If something is missing:
👉 이거 안 나왔어요. (Igeo an nawatseoyo.) → "This hasn't come out yet."

💬 If you're in a BBQ restaurant:
👉 불판 좀 갈아 주세요. (Bulpan jom gara juseyo.) → "Can you change the grill, please?"

 

💰 4. Paying the Bill

Most Korean restaurants don’t bring the bill to the table. Pay at the counter!

💬 If you want the bill:
👉 계산서 주세요. (Gyesanseo juseyo.) → "Check, please."
👉 계산할게요. (Gyesanhalgeyo.) → "I'd like to pay now."

💬 If you want to pay separately:
👉 따로 계산할 수 있어요? (Ttaro gyesanhal su isseoyo?) → "Can we pay separately?"

💬 If you want to pay by card:
👉 카드 돼요? (Kadeu dwaeyo?) → "Do you accept cards?"

💬 If you're paying with cash:
👉 현금만 돼요? (Hyeongeumman dwaeyo?) → "Is it cash only?"

💬 After finishing your meal, say this to be polite!
👉 잘 먹었습니다! (Jal meogeotseumnida!) → "Thank you for the meal!" (A polite way to show appreciation.)

 

🚀 Bonus Tips!

🌟 No tipping in Korea! Service charge is included.
🌟 Many small restaurants only accept cash! Carry some Korean won just in case.
🌟 If you're not sure how to say something, just point at the menu and say "이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo)"!