
How to Navigate a Korean BBQ Restaurant
Enjoying Korean BBQ is a must-do experience in Korea, but navigating the ordering process and etiquette can seem daunting at first. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural tips to help you confidently order, eat, and enjoy your meal at a Korean BBQ restaurant (고깃집 – go-git-jip).
Table Of Content
Core Action
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Expression: 고기 굽다
Pronunciation: go-gi gup-da
Meaning: To grill meat (This is the central activity of Korean BBQ)
Entering and Getting Seated
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Expression: 안녕하세요.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
Meaning: Hello. (Standard greeting when entering) -
Expression: 두 명/세 명/네 명 왔어요.
Pronunciation: du myeong / se myeong / ne myeong wat-sseo-yo
Meaning: Two/three/four people have arrived. (Stating your party size) -
Expression: 자리 있어요?
Pronunciation: ja-ri it-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Are there seats available? / Do you have a table? -
Expression: 몇 분이세요?
Pronunciation: myeot bun-i-se-yo?
Meaning: How many people are in your party? (Staff might ask this) -
Expression: 창가 자리 있어요?
Pronunciation: chang-ga ja-ri it-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Is there a window seat available? -
Expression: 안쪽 자리 괜찮아요.
Pronunciation: an-jjok ja-ri gwaen-chan-a-yo
Meaning: An inside seat is fine. -
Expression: 이쪽으로 앉으세요.
Pronunciation: i-jjok-eu-ro an-jeu-se-yo
Meaning: Please sit this way. (Staff guiding you) -
Expression: 메뉴판 주세요.
Pronunciation: me-nyu-pan ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me the menu. -
Expression: 여기 앉아도 돼요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi an-ja-do dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can I sit here?
Ordering Meat and Sides
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Expression: 주문할게요.
Pronunciation: ju-mun-hal-ge-yo
Meaning: I’d like to order. / We’re ready to order. -
Expression: 삼겹살 이 인분 주세요.
Pronunciation: sam-gyeop-sal i in-bun ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us two servings of pork belly (samgyeopsal). -
Expression: 갈비 일 인분 주세요.
Pronunciation: gal-bi il in-bun ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one serving of ribs (galbi). -
Expression: 뭐가 제일 맛있어요? / 뭐가 제일 잘 나가요?
Pronunciation: mwo-ga je-il ma-sit-sseo-yo? / mwo-ga je-il jal na-ga-yo?
Meaning: What’s the most delicious? / What’s the most popular? -
Expression: 추천해 주세요.
Pronunciation: chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please recommend something. -
Expression: 이거 하나랑 이거 하나 주세요.
Pronunciation: i-geo ha-na-rang i-geo ha-na ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one of this and one of this. (Pointing at the menu) -
Expression: 공깃밥 두 개 주세요.
Pronunciation: gong-git-bap du gae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us two bowls of rice. -
Expression: 된장찌개 하나 주세요.
Pronunciation: doen-jang-jji-gae ha-na ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one soybean paste stew. -
Expression: 계란찜 하나 주세요.
Pronunciation: gye-ran-jjim ha-na ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one steamed egg casserole. -
Expression: 맥주 한 병 주세요.
Pronunciation: maek-ju han byeong ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one bottle of beer. -
Expression: 소주 한 병 주세요.
Pronunciation: so-ju han byeong ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us one bottle of soju. -
Expression: 음료수 뭐 있어요?
Pronunciation: eum-nyo-su mwo it-sseo-yo?
Meaning: What soft drinks do you have?
During the Meal
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Expression: 저기요! / 여기요!
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo! / yeo-gi-yo!
Meaning: Excuse me! (To get the staff’s attention) -
Expression: 반찬 좀 더 주세요.
Pronunciation: ban-chan jom deo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us some more side dishes. -
Expression: 김치 좀 더 주세요.
Pronunciation: gim-chi jom deo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us some more kimchi. -
Expression: 상추 좀 더 주세요.
Pronunciation: sang-chu jom deo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us some more lettuce (for wraps). -
Expression: 물 좀 주세요.
Pronunciation: mul jom ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us some water. -
Expression: 불판 갈아 주세요.
Pronunciation: bul-pan gal-a ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please change the grill plate. -
Expression: 가위 좀 주세요.
Pronunciation: ga-wi jom ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us scissors (for cutting meat). -
Expression: 집게 좀 주세요.
Pronunciation: jip-ge jom ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us tongs. -
Expression: 이거 어떻게 먹어요?
Pronunciation: i-geo eo-tteo-ke meo-geo-yo?
Meaning: How do you eat this? -
Expression: 앞접시 하나 더 주세요.
Pronunciation: ap-jeop-si ha-na deo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me one more small plate. -
Expression: 이거 추가 주문할게요.
Pronunciation: i-geo chu-ga ju-mun-hal-ge-yo
Meaning: I’d like to order more of this. -
Expression: 불 좀 줄여 주세요.
Pronunciation: bul jom jul-yeo ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please turn down the heat/flame.
Paying the Bill
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Expression: 계산해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gye-san-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give us the bill. / Check, please. -
Expression: 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is it? -
Expression: 카드 돼요?
Pronunciation: ka-deu dwae-yo?
Meaning: Do you accept credit cards? -
Expression: 따로 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: tta-ro gye-san-hal-ge-yo
Meaning: We’ll pay separately. -
Expression: 같이 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: ga-chi gye-san-hal-ge-yo
Meaning: We’ll pay together. -
Expression: 영수증 주세요.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me the receipt. -
Expression: 잘 먹었습니다.
Pronunciation: jal meo-geot-sseum-ni-da
Meaning: Thank you for the meal. (Said when leaving) -
Expression: 여기서 계산해요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo gye-san-hae-yo?
Meaning: Do we pay here? -
Expression: 포장해 주세요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please pack it to go. (If there are leftovers)
Korean Culture Notes
Staff Assistance: Don’t be surprised if the restaurant staff helps you grill the meat, especially thicker cuts like pork belly (삼겹살 – sam-gyeop-sal). They often know the best way to cook it and will cut it into bite-sized pieces for you. You can try grilling yourself, but often they will step in to assist.
Refillable Side Dishes (반찬 – Banchan): The small side dishes served with your meal are usually free and refillable. Don’t hesitate to ask for more of your favorites using “[Side dish name] 좀 더 주세요” ([Side dish name] jom deo ju-se-yo).
Making Wraps (쌈 – Ssam): A popular way to eat Korean BBQ is by making a wrap (쌈 – ssam). Place a piece of lettuce or perilla leaf in your palm, add a piece of grilled meat, some dipping sauce (쌈장 – ssam-jang), maybe some grilled garlic or kimchi, and wrap it up to eat in one bite.
Ordering Rice/Noodles Later: Koreans often eat rice (밥 – bap) or noodles (냉면 – naeng-myeon, cold noodles) towards the end of the meal, after finishing most of the meat, rather than alongside it from the beginning. Feel free to order these whenever you prefer, though.
Using the Call Button: Many Korean restaurants, including BBQ places, have a call button (벨 – bel) on the table. Press this button instead of shouting “저기요” (jeo-gi-yo) to summon the staff.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends (Mina and Chris) are at a Korean BBQ restaurant ordering food.
Roles: A: Mina (Customer), B: Server (종업원 – jong-eop-won)
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Expression: A: 저기요! 주문할게요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo! ju-mun-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me! We’d like to order. -
Expression: B: 네, 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ne, ju-mun-ha-si-get-sseo-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, what would you like to order? -
Expression: A: 삼겹살 이 인분이랑 된장찌개 하나 주세요. 그리고 맥주 한 병 주세요.
Pronunciation: sam-gyeop-sal i in-bun-i-rang doen-jang-jji-gae ha-na ju-se-yo. geu-ri-go maek-ju han byeong ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Please give us two servings of pork belly and one soybean paste stew. And one bottle of beer, please. -
Expression: B: 네, 삼겹살 이 인분, 된장찌개 하나, 맥주 한 병 맞으시죠?
Pronunciation: ne, sam-gyeop-sal i in-bun, doen-jang-jji-gae ha-na, maek-ju han byeong mat-eu-si-jyo?
Meaning: B: Okay, two servings of pork belly, one soybean paste stew, and one bottle of beer, is that correct? -
Expression: A: 네, 맞아요. 아, 그리고 상추 좀 많이 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, mat-a-yo. a, geu-ri-go sang-chu jom man-i ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes, that’s right. Oh, and please give us lots of lettuce. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 금방 준비해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-sseum-ni-da. geum-bang jun-bi-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, understood. We’ll prepare it for you right away.
Practice Tips
Korean BBQ is a fantastic and delicious social experience! Don’t be afraid to use these phrases next time you visit a 고깃집 (go-git-jip)~ The best way to learn is by trying, and most staff will appreciate your effort to speak Korean! Practice ordering different types of meat and asking for refills. Most importantly, have fun grilling and eating! 맛있게 드세요! (ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo! – Enjoy your meal!)