You have found a Korean restaurant that looks inviting. The food smells wonderful, but the menu is entirely in Korean. There are no pictures, the staff may not speak English, and you are not sure whether to order at the table or at the counter.
Fortunately, you do not need to speak fluent Korean to enjoy a meal in South Korea. A few short phrases, a little preparation, and an understanding of how different restaurants take orders can make the experience much easier.
This guide walks you through the process, from entering a restaurant to paying for your meal. It also includes Korean phrases you can show directly to restaurant staff when speaking feels difficult.
1. Before You Order: Understand the Restaurant
Not every restaurant in Korea works the same way. Some have servers who take orders at your table. Others ask you to order at a counter, use a touchscreen kiosk, or select food through a tablet at your seat.
Before sitting down, take a moment to look around. Is there a counter with a menu above it? Are customers using a machine near the entrance? Are people seated and waiting for a server?
These small clues can help you understand what to do next.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A server approaching your table | Check the menu and order with the server. |
| A counter with a cashier | Look for ordering or payment instructions at the counter. |
| A touchscreen kiosk | Check whether it offers a language option before ordering. |
| A tablet on your table | Browse the menu and review your selections before submitting. |
If you are unsure whether you can sit down, ask:
여기 앉아도 돼요?
Yeogi anjado dwaeyo?
Meaning: May I sit here?
Some restaurants have minimum orders, particularly for shared dishes or barbecue. If you are dining alone, check whether the menu has a minimum quantity or ask before ordering.
2. How to Order Food Without Speaking Korean
There is no need to memorize an entire Korean conversation. You can complete a simple order with three steps.
Step 1: Choose a dish
Look for menu pictures, English descriptions, or recognizable Korean dish names. If the menu is text-only, a translation app can help you identify the options, although automatic translations are not always reliable.
Common dishes you might recognize include:
- 비빔밥 (Bibimbap): Rice mixed with vegetables and other toppings, often served with chili paste.
- 불고기 (Bulgogi): Marinated meat, commonly beef, cooked in a savory-sweet style.
- 김치찌개 (Kimchi jjigae): A stew made with kimchi and other ingredients, which may include pork or seafood.
- 된장찌개 (Doenjang jjigae): A soybean-paste stew that may contain vegetables, tofu, seafood, or meat-based broth.
Dish names alone do not tell you every ingredient. Recipes vary between restaurants, so always check if you have dietary restrictions.
Step 2: Point and ask for one
Point to the menu item and say:
이거 하나 주세요.
Igeo hana juseyo.
One of these, please.
For two servings of the same item, say “이거 두 개 주세요” (Igeo du gae juseyo), meaning “Two of these, please.”
You can also show the number with your fingers while pointing to the dish. This is particularly useful in a noisy restaurant.
Step 3: Confirm your order
Before the server leaves or before you confirm a kiosk order, check the dish, quantity, and total price. Pay attention to extra options such as portion size, toppings, or spice level.
If something is unclear, it is better to ask than to guess.
3. Seven Useful Korean Restaurant Phrases
These seven phrases cover many everyday situations. The pronunciation guides are approximations for English speakers, not exact representations of Korean sounds.
| Korean | Pronunciation | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요. | Annyeonghaseyo | Hello. |
| 이거 하나 주세요. | Igeo hana juseyo | One of these, please. |
| 저기요. | Jeogiyo | Excuse me. (To get attention) |
| 물 좀 주세요. | Mul jom juseyo | Some water, please. |
| 안 맵게 해 주세요. | An maepge hae juseyo | Please make it not spicy. |
| 계산해 주세요. | Gyesanhae juseyo | The bill, please. |
| 감사합니다. | Gamsahamnida | Thank you. |
You do not need perfect pronunciation. Speaking slowly, pointing to the correct item, and showing the written Korean can make communication clearer.
One important detail: asking for food to be made less spicy does not mean the restaurant can always change the recipe. Some dishes use pre-prepared sauces or broths.
4. What If the Restaurant Uses a Kiosk?
Self-service ordering machines are used in some Korean restaurants, particularly casual dining establishments. A kiosk may feel unfamiliar at first, but the basic process is usually straightforward.
- Look for an English or language-selection option, if available.
- Choose whether you are eating at the restaurant or taking food away, if the machine asks.
- Select your dish and review any available options.
- Check the quantity and total price.
- Complete payment using an accepted method.
- Follow the displayed instructions for receiving your order.
Not every kiosk offers English, and some may not accept every international payment card. Do not assume that all machines have the same layout or payment options.
If you cannot complete an order, you can show a staff member this sentence:
주문하는 것 좀 도와주시겠어요?
Jumunhaneun geot jom dowajusigesseoyo?
Could you please help me order?
If a kiosk asks you to enter a Korean phone number or offers a payment method you cannot use, ask whether ordering at the counter is possible. That option may not be available everywhere.
5. Small Details That Can Surprise First-Time Visitors
Side dishes may arrive automatically
At many traditional Korean restaurants, your meal comes with small side dishes called banchan (반찬). These may include kimchi, seasoned vegetables, or other accompaniments.
Refills are commonly available without an extra charge at many restaurants, but you should check the restaurant's policy rather than assume every dish or refill is free. Some places have a self-service area.
Water and utensils may be self-service
Look around your table before asking for utensils. Some restaurants keep spoons, chopsticks, and napkins in a drawer attached to the table.
Water may already be provided, or you may need to get it from a designated self-service station.
There may be a call button
Some restaurants have a small button on the table to call a server. If you see one, use it when you need assistance. Otherwise, a polite “저기요” (Jeogiyo) can help get someone's attention.
You usually do not need to tip
Tipping is generally not expected in Korean restaurants. You normally pay the amount shown on the bill or payment screen without adding a separate gratuity.
Payment may happen at a different place
Some restaurants collect payment at the counter after your meal. Others require payment before food is prepared, particularly when using a kiosk.
Watch how the restaurant operates and check any payment instructions instead of assuming that a server will bring a bill to your table.
6. A Simple Korean Restaurant Conversation
Here is an example of how a short conversation might go when ordering bibimbap. It is an illustrative dialogue, not a transcript from a particular restaurant.
STAFF
어서 오세요.
Welcome!
YOU
안녕하세요. 비빔밥 하나 주세요.
Hello. One bibimbap, please.
STAFF
네, 알겠습니다.
Okay, understood.
YOU
감사합니다.
Thank you.
Notice how little Korean you actually need. If you cannot remember the name of the dish, pointing and saying “이거 하나 주세요” works in many simple ordering situations.
7. Dietary Restrictions: Do Not Rely on Menu Names Alone
If you have a food allergy, vegetarian requirements, or other important dietary restrictions, take extra care. Korean soups and stews may contain meat or seafood-based broth even when the dish looks mostly vegetable-based.
Translation apps and short phrases can help communicate your needs, but they cannot confirm ingredients, cross-contact risks, or whether a restaurant can safely accommodate a restriction.
Prepare a written explanation of the ingredients you must avoid, ideally reviewed by a proficient Korean speaker. Show it to staff before ordering and ask them to confirm with the kitchen.
Important for food allergies
If staff cannot confirm whether a dish contains an allergen or whether cross-contact can be avoided, do not assume the dish is safe. Choose another option or restaurant that can provide reliable information.
8. Quick Korean Restaurant Cheat Sheet
Save this section on your phone or keep the article open while you are dining. You can show the Korean text directly to staff.
MINT · KOREAN RESTAURANT QUICK GUIDE
ONE OF THESE, PLEASE
이거 하나 주세요.
EXCUSE ME
저기요.
SOME WATER, PLEASE
물 좀 주세요.
PLEASE HELP ME ORDER
주문하는 것 좀 도와주시겠어요?
THE BILL, PLEASE
계산해 주세요.
You can get through many restaurant visits with just one phrase and a clear gesture. The goal is not to speak perfect Korean. It is to communicate what you need, check that your order is correct, and enjoy your meal.
With a little familiarity, an unfamiliar menu becomes less intimidating, and eating out becomes another enjoyable part of discovering Korea.
Sources and further reading
General dining customs and food information were checked against the Korea Tourism Organization's official visitor resources. Restaurant practices may differ by establishment.
Information reviewed: October 24, 2026.