Korean restaurants can feel intimidating at first: call bells on tables, side dishes appearing automatically, and menus that assume you know what everything is. Here's everything you need to get through a meal confidently.
Arriving and being seated
어서 오세요!: Welcome! (staff greet you with this)
몇 분이세요?: How many people? (literally "how many respected persons?")
두 명이요.: Two people. 혼자요.: Just me.
자리 있어요?: Is there a seat available? 예약했어요.: I have a reservation.
Ordering
Korean restaurants often have a call bell on the table. Press it when ready, or call out:
저기요! (jeogiyo): Excuse me! (calling a server)
주문할게요.: I'd like to order. / I'm ready to order.
이거 주세요.: This one, please. (pointing) ~하나 주세요.: One [item], please. (삼겹살 하나 주세요 = one samgyeopsal, please) ~두 개 주세요.: Two of these, please.
뭐가 맛있어요?: What's good here? / What do you recommend? 이 집 뭐가 유명해요?: What is this place famous for?
Dietary needs and spice level
매운 거 있어요?: Is it spicy? 안 매운 걸로 주세요.: Something not spicy, please. 덜 맵게 해 주세요.: Less spicy, please. 많이 맵게 해 주세요.: Extra spicy, please.
채식주의자예요.: I'm vegetarian. 고기 빼 주세요.: Please leave out the meat. 알레르기 있어요. ~에 알레르기 있어요.: I have an allergy. I'm allergic to ~.
During the meal
Side dishes (반찬, banchan) are free and refillable. To ask for more:
~더 주세요.: More [item], please. 김치 더 주세요.: More kimchi, please. 물 주세요.: Water, please. 냅킨 주세요.: Napkins, please. At Korean BBQ: 여기 불 좀 봐 주세요.: Could you check the fire here? (asking for help with the grill)
Paying
계산해 주세요.: Check, please. (press the bell first) 얼마예요?: How much is it? 카드 돼요?: Do you accept cards? 영수증 주세요.: Receipt, please. 따로따로 계산해 주세요.: Separate checks, please.
Reading a menu: essential food terms
| Korean | Pronunciation | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 비빔밥 | bibimbap | mixed rice bowl |
| 삼겹살 | samgyeopsal | grilled pork belly |
| 불고기 | bulgogi | marinated grilled beef |
| 김치찌개 | kimchi jjigae | kimchi stew |
| 된장찌개 | doenjang jjigae | fermented soybean paste stew |
| 냉면 | naengmyeon | cold noodles |
| 순두부찌개 | sundubu jjigae | soft tofu stew |
| 갈비 | galbi | short ribs |
| 칼국수 | kalguksu | knife-cut noodle soup |
| 만두 | mandu | dumplings |
| 잡채 | japchae | glass noodles with vegetables |
| 파전 | pajeon | scallion pancake |
| 막걸리 | makgeolli | rice wine |
| 소주 | soju | Korean distilled spirit |
| 맥주 | maekju | beer |
Useful reactions (after eating)
맛있어요!: It's delicious! 맛있었어요.: It was delicious. (past tense) 배불러요.: I'm full. 잘 먹었습니다.: Thank you for the meal. (said to staff: very polite and appreciated)
Knowing these phrases makes Korean restaurant visits genuinely enjoyable instead of stressful. The confidence you get from one successful ordering experience makes you want to try more. If you want to expand your food and travel vocabulary into full conversation ability, a structured Korean course has practical Korean built on real contexts like this. Not just textbook drills.