Effectively communicating specific dietary requests is crucial in any restaurant setting. This guide focuses on the Korean expressions needed for a waiter to understand and handle a customer’s request for extra garlic in their dish, ensuring smooth service and customer satisfaction in Korean eateries.
Table Of Content
Core Concept: Extra Garlic
-
Expression: 마늘 많이
Pronunciation: ma-neul man-i
Meaning: Lots of garlic (This is the core idea the customer expresses) -
Expression: 마늘 추가
Pronunciation: ma-neul chu-ga
Meaning: Garlic addition / Extra garlic (Often used on menus or by staff)
Taking the Initial Order
-
Expression: 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to order? / Are you ready to order? -
Expression: 뭐 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: mwo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: What can I get for you? -
Expression: 어떤 걸로 하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon geol-lo ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Which one would you like? -
Expression: 식사 주문 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: sik-sa ju-mun do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I help you with your meal order? -
Expression: 메뉴 보셨어요?
Pronunciation: me-nyu bo-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Have you looked at the menu? -
Expression: 네, 주문 받아주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, ju-mun ba-da-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Yes, please take my order. (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 잠시만요, 고르고 있어요.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man-yo, go-reu-go i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Just a moment, I’m still choosing. (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 이 메뉴는 인기가 많아요.
Pronunciation: i me-nyu-neun in-gi-ga ma-na-yo.
Meaning: This menu item is very popular. -
Expression: 추천해 주실 메뉴가 있나요?
Pronunciation: chu-cheon-hae ju-sil me-nyu-ga in-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you have any menu recommendations? (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 음료는 뭘로 하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: eum-nyo-neun mwol-lo ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: What would you like for drinks?
Understanding the “Extra Garlic” Request
-
Expression: 마늘을 많이 넣어 달라고 하셨죠?
Pronunciation: ma-neu-reul man-i neo-eo dal-la-go ha-syeot-jyo?
Meaning: You asked for lots of garlic, correct? -
Expression: 네, 마늘 좀 많이 넣어 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, ma-neul jom man-i neo-eo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Yes, please put in a lot of garlic. (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 어느 정도 많이 넣어 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eo-neu jeong-do man-i neo-eo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: About how much extra garlic should I add? -
Expression: 혹시 다른 요청사항 있으신가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si da-reun yo-cheong-sa-hang i-sseu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Do you happen to have any other requests? -
Expression: 마늘 추가 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: ma-neul chu-ga ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to add extra garlic? (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 이 음식에 마늘이 원래 많이 들어가나요?
Pronunciation: i eum-si-ge ma-neu-ri won-rae man-i deu-reo-ga-na-yo?
Meaning: Does this dish originally contain a lot of garlic? (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 마늘을 더 넣어 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ma-neu-reul deo neo-eo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I put more garlic in for you? -
Expression: 네, 알겠습니다. 마늘 많이 넣어서 준비해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-ge-sseum-ni-da. ma-neul man-i neo-eo-seo jun-bi-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. I will prepare it with lots of garlic. -
Expression: 혹시 마늘 알레르기 있으신 분은 없으시죠?
Pronunciation: hok-si ma-neul al-le-reu-gi i-sseu-sin bu-neun eop-seu-si-jyo?
Meaning: Just checking, no one has a garlic allergy, right? -
Expression: 마늘 향을 좋아하시는군요.
Pronunciation: ma-neul hyang-eul jo-a-ha-si-neun-gun-yo.
Meaning: Ah, you like the aroma of garlic.
Responding to and Confirming the Request
-
Expression: 네, 마늘 많이 넣어 드릴 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, ma-neul man-i neo-eo deu-ril su i-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, we can add lots of garlic for you. -
Expression: 주방에 마늘 많이 넣어달라고 전달하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ju-bang-e ma-neul man-i neo-eo-dal-la-go jeon-dal-ha-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will tell the kitchen to add lots of garlic. -
Expression: 확인해 보겠습니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-hae bo-ge-sseum-ni-da. jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: I will check. Please wait a moment. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 이 메뉴는 마늘 양 조절이 어렵습니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, i me-nyu-neun ma-neul yang jo-jeo-ri eo-ryeop-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to adjust the amount of garlic for this menu item. -
Expression: 마늘 추가 시 추가 요금이 발생할 수 있습니다. 괜찮으신가요?
Pronunciation: ma-neul chu-ga si chu-ga yo-geu-mi bal-saeng-hal su i-sseum-ni-da. gwaen-cha-neu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: There might be an additional charge for extra garlic. Is that okay? -
Expression: 네, 괜찮아요. 추가해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, gwaen-cha-na-yo. chu-ga-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s fine. Please add it. (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 그럼 마늘 많이 넣어서 준비해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: geu-reom ma-neul man-i neo-eo-seo jun-bi-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Then, I will prepare it with lots of garlic. -
Expression: 주문 확인해 드리겠습니다. [메뉴 이름]에 마늘 많이 추가 맞으시죠?
Pronunciation: ju-mun hwa-gin-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da. [me-nyu i-reum]-e ma-neul man-i chu-ga ma-jeu-si-jyo?
Meaning: I’ll confirm your order. [Menu Item Name] with extra garlic, is that correct? -
Expression: 네, 맞아요.
Pronunciation: ne, ma-ja-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s correct. (Customer phrase) -
Expression: 맛있게 만들어 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ma-sit-ge man-deu-reo deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: We will make it delicious for you.
Korean Culture Notes
Garlic (마늘, ma-neul) is a fundamental ingredient in Korean cuisine, used generously in many dishes like kimchi, stews (jjigae), and grilled meats. Asking for extra garlic is generally understood and often accommodated, as Koreans appreciate its flavor.
While customization is common, especially in smaller or traditional restaurants, overly complex requests might sometimes be challenging depending on the dish’s preparation method. It’s always polite to ask (~ㄹ 수 있을까요?, ~l su i-sseul-kka-yo? – Is it possible to…?) rather than demand.
When making requests, using polite endings like -주세요 (-ju-se-yo, please do…) is essential. For example, 마늘 많이 넣어 주세요 (ma-neul man-i neo-eo ju-se-yo) is the standard polite way to ask for extra garlic.
Waitstaff will usually confirm special requests to ensure accuracy. Phrases like 확인해 드리겠습니다 (hwa-gin-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da – I will confirm for you) or directly repeating the request (마늘 많이 넣어 달라고 하셨죠? – ma-neul man-i neo-eo dal-la-go ha-syeot-jyo? – You asked for lots of garlic, right?) are common.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer is ordering food at a Korean restaurant and wants extra garlic in their Kimchi Jjigae.
Roles: A: Waiter (종업원, jong-eo-bwon), B: Customer (손님, son-nim)
-
Expression: A: 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Are you ready to order? -
Expression: B: 네, 김치찌개 하나 주세요. 그런데 혹시 마늘 좀 많이 넣어주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: ne, gim-chi-jji-gae ha-na ju-se-yo. geu-reon-de hok-si ma-neul jom man-i neo-eo-ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Yes, one Kimchi Jjigae, please. By the way, is it possible to put in extra garlic? -
Expression: A: 아, 김치찌개에 마늘 많이요? 네, 가능합니다. 주방에 요청해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: a, gim-chi-jji-gae-e ma-neul man-i-yo? ne, ga-neung-ham-ni-da. ju-bang-e yo-cheong-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Ah, lots of garlic in the Kimchi Jjigae? Yes, that’s possible. I’ll request it from the kitchen for you. -
Expression: B: 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: Thank you! -
Expression: A: 주문 확인하겠습니다. 김치찌개 하나, 마늘 많이 넣어서 준비해 드릴게요. 다른 필요하신 건 없으세요?
Pronunciation: ju-mun hwa-gin-ha-ge-sseum-ni-da. gim-chi-jji-gae ha-na, ma-neul man-i neo-eo-seo jun-bi-hae deu-ril-ge-yo. da-reun pi-ryo-ha-sin geon eop-seu-se-yo?
Meaning: I’ll confirm the order. One Kimchi Jjigae, prepared with lots of garlic. Is there anything else you need? -
Expression: B: 네, 그게 다예요.
Pronunciation: ne, geu-ge da-ye-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s all. -
Expression: A: 알겠습니다. 곧 준비해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: al-ge-sseum-ni-da. got jun-bi-hae deu-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Understood. We’ll prepare it for you shortly.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect~! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or language partner. One person can be the customer asking for extra garlic (마늘 많이 넣어 주세요! ma-neul man-i neo-eo ju-se-yo!), and the other can be the waiter confirming the request (네, 마늘 많이 넣어 드릴게요! ne, ma-neul man-i neo-eo deu-ril-ge-yo!). Pay attention to pronunciation and politeness levels. You can also try varying the request (e.g., less spicy, no onions). Good luck!
