Exploring Korean cuisine is greatly enhanced by understanding the concept of ‘Jecheol’ (제철), meaning ‘in season’. Eating seasonal food is a significant part of Korean food culture, believed to be healthier and more delicious. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for asking about and ordering seasonal dishes, helping you enjoy the freshest and most authentic flavors during your visit or culinary adventures.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 계절 음식 추천해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gye-jeol eum-sik chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend seasonal food.
Basic Questions for Recommendations
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Expression: 지금 뭐가 제철이에요?
Pronunciation: ji-geum mwo-ga je-cheol-i-e-yo?
Meaning: What’s in season now? -
Expression: 요즘 맛있는 음식이 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: yo-jeum mat-it-neun eum-sik-i mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What food is delicious these days? -
Expression: 이 계절에 꼭 먹어야 할 음식이 있나요?
Pronunciation: i gye-jeol-e kkok meok-eo-ya hal eum-sik-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there any food I must eat this season? -
Expression: 여기서 가장 인기 있는 계절 메뉴가 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo ga-jang in-gi it-neun gye-jeol me-nyu-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What’s the most popular seasonal menu item here? -
Expression: 봄 제철 음식 추천 좀 해주세요.
Pronunciation: bom je-cheol eum-sik chu-cheon jom hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend some spring seasonal food. -
Expression: 여름 제철 음식 추천 좀 해주세요.
Pronunciation: yeo-reum je-cheol eum-sik chu-cheon jom hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend some summer seasonal food. -
Expression: 가을 제철 음식 추천 좀 해주세요.
Pronunciation: ga-eul je-cheol eum-sik chu-cheon jom hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend some autumn seasonal food. -
Expression: 겨울 제철 음식 추천 좀 해주세요.
Pronunciation: gyeo-ul je-cheol eum-sik chu-cheon jom hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend some winter seasonal food. -
Expression: 이 식당의 특별한 계절 메뉴가 있나요?
Pronunciation: i sik-dang-ui teuk-byeol-han gye-jeol me-nyu-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: Does this restaurant have a special seasonal menu? -
Expression: 어떤 계절 음식이 가장 신선해요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon gye-jeol eum-sik-i ga-jang sin-seon-hae-yo?
Meaning: Which seasonal food is the freshest? -
Expression: 현지인들이 즐겨 먹는 계절 음식이 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: hyeon-ji-in-deul-i jeul-gyeo meok-neun gye-jeol eum-sik-i mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What seasonal food do locals enjoy eating? -
Expression: 해산물 중에 제철인 게 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: hae-san-mul jung-e je-cheol-in ge mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: Among seafood, what is in season?
Expressing Your Preferences
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Expression: 저는 해산물을 좋아해요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun hae-san-mul-eul jo-a-hae-yo.
Meaning: I like seafood. -
Expression: 저는 고기를 못 먹어요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun go-gi-reul mot meok-eo-yo.
Meaning: I can’t eat meat. -
Expression: 매운 음식은 잘 못 먹어요.
Pronunciation: mae-un eum-sik-eun jal mot meok-eo-yo.
Meaning: I can’t handle spicy food well. -
Expression: 안 매운 걸로 추천해 주세요.
Pronunciation: an mae-un geol-lo chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend something not spicy. -
Expression: 견과류 알레르기가 있어요.
Pronunciation: gyeon-gwa-ryu al-le-reu-gi-ga it-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have a nut allergy. -
Expression: 따뜻한 국물 요리가 좋아요.
Pronunciation: tta-tteut-han guk-mul yo-ri-ga jo-a-yo.
Meaning: I prefer warm soup dishes. -
Expression: 신선한 채소 요리를 먹고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: sin-seon-han chae-so yo-ri-reul meok-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to eat dishes with fresh vegetables. -
Expression: 가볍게 먹을 수 있는 계절 음식이 있을까요?
Pronunciation: ga-byeop-ge meok-eul su it-neun gye-jeol eum-sik-i it-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is there any light seasonal food I can eat? -
Expression: 이 지역 특산물로 만든 계절 음식을 먹어보고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: i ji-yeok teuk-san-mul-ro man-deun gye-jeol eum-sik-eul meok-eo-bo-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to try seasonal food made with local specialties from this region. -
Expression: 생선 요리 좋아하세요?
Pronunciation: saeng-seon yo-ri jo-a-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you like fish dishes? (Asking someone else, useful if dining together) -
Expression: 저는 향이 강한 음식은 별로 안 좋아해요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun hyang-i gang-han eum-sik-eun byeol-lo an jo-a-hae-yo.
Meaning: I don’t particularly like food with strong scents/flavors.
Responding to Recommendations
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Expression: 좋아요, 그걸로 주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-a-yo, geu-geol-lo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Okay, I’ll have that one. -
Expression: 맛있겠네요! 그걸로 할게요.
Pronunciation: mat-it-get-ne-yo! geu-geol-lo hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: That sounds delicious! I’ll go with that one. -
Expression: 네, 좋은 추천이네요.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-eun chu-cheon-i-ne-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s a good recommendation. -
Expression: 다른 추천은 없나요?
Pronunciation: da-reun chu-cheon-eun eop-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you have any other recommendations? -
Expression: 그건 제가 별로 안 좋아해요.
Pronunciation: geu-geon je-ga byeol-lo an jo-a-hae-yo.
Meaning: I don’t really like that one. -
Expression: 조금 더 생각해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum deo saeng-gak-hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll think about it a little more. -
Expression: 추천 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: chu-cheon gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for the recommendation. -
Expression: 그 음식은 어떻게 먹는 건가요?
Pronunciation: geu eum-sik-eun eo-tteo-ke meok-neun geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: How do you eat that dish? -
Expression: 사진 좀 볼 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: sa-jin jom bol su it-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I see a picture? -
Expression: 혹시 덜 맵게 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si deol maep-ge ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to make it less spicy, by any chance? -
Expression: 양이 많은 편인가요?
Pronunciation: yang-i man-eun pyeon-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is the portion size large?
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding ‘Jecheol’ (제철) is key to appreciating Korean food. Koreans believe that eating food when it’s naturally in season provides the best taste and nutritional value. This philosophy influences daily meals, restaurant menus, and even home cooking.
Different regions in Korea often have their own seasonal specialties based on local produce and seafood. Traveling through Korea offers opportunities to taste unique seasonal dishes specific to each area.
Seasonal eating is also linked to traditional health concepts. For example, cooling foods like ‘Naengmyeon’ (냉면 – cold buckwheat noodles) are popular in summer, while warming foods like ‘Gimjang Kimchi’ (김장 김치 – kimchi made in late autumn for winter) and hot stews are favored in winter.
Don’t be surprised if restaurant staff enthusiastically recommend seasonal dishes. It’s considered good service to guide customers towards the freshest and best-tasting options available at that time of year.
Common seasonal examples include strawberries and shepherd’s purse (냉이 – naeng-i) in spring, watermelon and cold noodles in summer, persimmons and blue crabs (꽃게 – kkot-ge) in autumn, and tangerines and oysters (굴 – gul) in winter.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) is at a Korean restaurant in autumn and asks the server (B) for a seasonal recommendation.
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Expression: A: 저기요, 메뉴 좀 추천해 주시겠어요? 특히 가을 제철 음식이 궁금해요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, me-nyu jom chu-cheon-hae ju-si-get-eo-yo? teuk-hi ga-eul je-cheol eum-sik-i gung-geum-hae-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me, could you recommend something from the menu? I’m especially curious about autumn seasonal food. -
Expression: B: 네, 손님. 가을에는 저희 꽃게탕이 아주 인기가 많습니다. 지금 꽃게가 살이 꽉 차서 맛있어요.
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. ga-eul-e-neun jeo-hui kkot-ge-tang-i a-ju in-gi-ga man-seum-ni-da. ji-geum kkot-ge-ga sal-i kkwak cha-seo mat-it-eo-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, customer. In autumn, our blue crab stew (Kkotgetang) is very popular. The blue crabs are plump and delicious right now. -
Expression: A: 아, 꽃게탕이요. 맛있겠네요. 혹시 많이 매운가요? 제가 매운 걸 잘 못 먹어서요.
Pronunciation: a, kkot-ge-tang-i-yo. mat-it-get-ne-yo. hok-si ma-ni mae-un-ga-yo? je-ga mae-un geol jal mot meok-eo-seo-yo.
Meaning: A: Oh, blue crab stew. That sounds delicious. Is it very spicy, by any chance? I can’t handle spicy food well. -
Expression: B: 약간 칼칼한 편인데, 원하시면 덜 맵게 조리해 드릴 수 있습니다. 아니면 대하 소금구이도 가을 별미입니다.
Pronunciation: yak-gan kal-kal-han pyeon-in-de, won-ha-si-myeon deol maep-ge jo-ri-hae deu-ril su it-seum-ni-da. a-ni-myeon dae-ha so-geum-gu-i-do ga-eul byeol-mi-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: It’s a little bit spicy, but if you’d like, we can cook it less spicy for you. Alternatively, salt-grilled large prawns (Daeha Sogeumgui) are also an autumn specialty. -
Expression: A: 아, 그럼 꽃게탕 덜 맵게 하나 주세요. 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: a, geu-reom kkot-ge-tang deol maep-ge ha-na ju-se-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: A: Ah, then please give me one blue crab stew, less spicy. Thank you! -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 맛있게 준비해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. mat-it-ge jun-bi-hae deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, understood. We will prepare it deliciously for you.
Practice Tips
Now you have the phrases to ask for seasonal recommendations in Korean! The best way to master these is through practice~ Try visiting a Korean restaurant and asking “지금 뭐가 제철이에요?” (ji-geum mwo-ga je-cheol-i-e-yo?). Don’t be afraid to use the phrases you learned!
You can also practice by watching Korean food shows (‘mukbang’ or cooking programs) and listening for mentions of seasonal ingredients. Try repeating the phrases aloud. Remember, asking for recommendations is a great way to discover hidden culinary gems and connect with the local culture! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Good luck!)
