Ordering food is a fundamental skill for anyone visiting or living in Korea. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context to help you confidently order meals in various dining situations, from casual eateries to more formal restaurants. You’ll learn how to get the server’s attention, ask for recommendations, specify preferences, and handle payment.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
This is the most common phrase used to signal that you are ready to order.
- Expression: 주문할게요
Pronunciation: Jumunhalgeyo
Meaning: I’d like to order. / I will order now.
Basic Ordering Phrases
Use these fundamental expressions to navigate the initial stages of ordering food at a Korean restaurant.
- Expression: 저기요 / 여기요
Pronunciation: Jeogiyo / Yeogiyo
Meaning: Excuse me (to get staff’s attention) - Expression: 메뉴 주세요
Pronunciation: Menyu juseyo
Meaning: Please give me the menu. - Expression: 추천해 주세요
Pronunciation: Chucheonhae juseyo
Meaning: Please recommend something. - Expression: 뭐가 맛있어요?
Pronunciation: Mwoga masisseoyo?
Meaning: What’s delicious? / What’s good here? - Expression: 이거 주세요
Pronunciation: Igeo juseyo
Meaning: Please give me this (while pointing). - Expression: 김치찌개 하나 주세요
Pronunciation: Kimchi jjigae hana juseyo
Meaning: Please give me one Kimchi Jjigae. (Replace ‘Kimchi Jjigae’ and ‘hana’ (one) as needed) - Expression: 물 좀 주세요
Pronunciation: Mul jom juseyo
Meaning: Please give me some water. - Expression: 예약했어요
Pronunciation: Yeyakaesseoyo
Meaning: I have a reservation. - Expression: 몇 분이세요?
Pronunciation: Myeot buniseyo?
Meaning: How many people? (Staff might ask this) - Expression: 두 명이요
Pronunciation: Du myeongiyo
Meaning: Two people. (Answer to ‘몇 분이세요?’) - Expression: 포장해 주세요
Pronunciation: Pojanghae juseyo
Meaning: Please make it to-go / Please wrap it up. - Expression: 여기서 먹을 거예요
Pronunciation: Yeogiseo meogeul geoyeyo
Meaning: I’ll eat here. (For here)
Making Specific Requests
These phrases are useful for asking about ingredients, adjusting spice levels, or informing staff about dietary needs.
- Expression: 이거 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: Igeo mwoyeyo?
Meaning: What is this? - Expression: 이거 뭐가 들어가요?
Pronunciation: Igeo mwoga deureogayo?
Meaning: What ingredients are in this? - Expression: 맵지 않게 해 주세요
Pronunciation: Maepji anke hae juseyo
Meaning: Please make it not spicy. - Expression: 덜 맵게 해 주세요
Pronunciation: Deol maepge hae juseyo
Meaning: Please make it less spicy. - Expression: 고기 빼주세요
Pronunciation: Gogi ppaejuseyo
Meaning: Please remove the meat. - Expression: 땅콩 알레르기 있어요
Pronunciation: Ttangkong allereugi isseoyo
Meaning: I have a peanut allergy. - Expression: 채식 메뉴 있어요?
Pronunciation: Chaesik menyu isseoyo?
Meaning: Do you have vegetarian options? - Expression: 아이용 의자 있어요?
Pronunciation: Aiyong uija isseoyo?
Meaning: Do you have a high chair for a child? - Expression: 앞접시 좀 주세요
Pronunciation: Apjeopsi jom juseyo
Meaning: Please give us some small individual plates. - Expression: 소스 더 주세요
Pronunciation: Soseu deo juseyo
Meaning: Please give me more sauce. - Expression: 이거 하나 더 주세요
Pronunciation: Igeo hana deo juseyo
Meaning: Please give me one more of this. - Expression: 고수 빼주세요
Pronunciation: Gosu ppaejuseyo
Meaning: Please remove the cilantro.
During and After the Meal
Here are expressions commonly used during the meal or when you are ready to leave.
- Expression: 반찬 좀 더 주세요
Pronunciation: Banchan jom deo juseyo
Meaning: Please give us more side dishes. - Expression: 물 좀 더 주세요
Pronunciation: Mul jom deo juseyo
Meaning: Please give us some more water. - Expression: 냅킨 주세요
Pronunciation: Naepkin juseyo
Meaning: Please give me napkins. - Expression: 수저 좀 주세요
Pronunciation: Sujeo jom juseyo
Meaning: Please give me utensils (spoon and chopsticks). - Expression: 화장실 어디예요?
Pronunciation: Hwajangsil eodiyeyo?
Meaning: Where is the restroom? - Expression: 계산서 주세요 / 계산할게요
Pronunciation: Gyesanseo juseyo / Gyesanhalgeyo
Meaning: Please give me the bill / I’d like to pay. - Expression: 따로 계산할게요
Pronunciation: Ttaro gyesanhalgeyo
Meaning: We’ll pay separately. - Expression: 카드로 계산할게요
Pronunciation: Kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo
Meaning: I’ll pay by card. - Expression: 현금으로 계산할게요
Pronunciation: Hyeongeumeuro gyesanhalgeyo
Meaning: I’ll pay with cash. - Expression: 영수증 주세요
Pronunciation: Yeongsujeung juseyo
Meaning: Please give me the receipt. - Expression: 잘 먹었습니다
Pronunciation: Jal meogeotseumnida
Meaning: Thank you for the meal (literally “I ate well”).
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding these cultural points can enhance your dining experience in Korea.
- Calling Staff: Instead of waving aggressively, it’s common to press a call button often found on the table. If there’s no button, make eye contact and say “저기요” (Jeogiyo) or “여기요” (Yeogiyo) politely.
- Sharing Food: Many Korean dishes, especially main courses like stews (찌개) or grilled meats (고기), are meant to be shared amongst the table. Side dishes (반찬 – Banchan) are always shared and usually refillable for free – just ask!
- Water and Utensils: Water is typically self-service (셀프 – selpeu) in casual restaurants, often from a dispenser. Utensils (spoon and chopsticks – 수저 – sujeo) are usually found in a drawer on the side of the table or in a container on the table.
- Paying the Bill: In most Korean restaurants, you take the bill (or just walk up without one) to the counter near the entrance to pay, rather than paying at the table.
- Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Korea and is generally not expected. Excellent service is considered part of the standard dining experience.
Real Conversation Example
This conversation demonstrates how to order food in a typical Korean restaurant setting.
- Situation: A customer enters a Korean restaurant and orders food.
- Roles: A (Customer), B (Server)
- Expression: B: 어서 오세요. 몇 분이세요?
Pronunciation: Eoseo oseyo. Myeot buniseyo?
Meaning: Welcome. How many people? - Expression: A: 두 명이요. 자리 있어요?
Pronunciation: Du myeongiyo. Jari isseoyo?
Meaning: Two people. Do you have a table? - Expression: B: 네, 이쪽으로 앉으세요. 메뉴 여기 있습니다.
Pronunciation: Ne, ijjogeuro anjeuseyo. Menyu yeogi itseumnida.
Meaning: Yes, please sit this way. Here is the menu. - Expression: A: (After looking at the menu) 저기요! 주문할게요.
Pronunciation: Jeogiyo! Jumunhalgeyo.
Meaning: Excuse me! I’d like to order. - Expression: B: 네, 주문하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: Ne, jumunhasigesseoyo?
Meaning: Yes, what would you like to order? - Expression: A: 김치찌개 하나하고 비빔밥 하나 주세요. 비빔밥은 맵지 않게 해 주세요.
Pronunciation: Kimchi jjigae hanahago bibimbap hana juseyo. Bibimbabeun maepji anke hae juseyo.
Meaning: Please give us one Kimchi Jjigae and one Bibimbap. Please make the Bibimbap not spicy. - Expression: B: 네, 김치찌개 하나, 비빔밥 하나 맵지 않게 요. 더 필요하신 거 있으세요?
Pronunciation: Ne, kimchi jjigae hana, bibimbap hana maepji ankeyo. Deo piryohasin geo isseuseyo?
Meaning: Okay, one Kimchi Jjigae, one Bibimbap not spicy. Do you need anything else? - Expression: A: 아니요, 괜찮아요. 물 좀 주세요.
Pronunciation: Aniyo, gwaenchanayo. Mul jom juseyo.
Meaning: No, that’s okay. Please give us some water. - Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation: Ne, algesseumnida. Jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. Please wait a moment.
Practice Tips
The best way to master these phrases is through practice! Try role-playing ordering food with a friend or language partner~. When you visit a Korean restaurant, challenge yourself to use at least one or two new phrases from this list. Don’t be afraid to point at the menu (이거 주세요!) if you’re unsure. Most importantly, enjoy the delicious Korean food! 화이팅 (Hwaiting – You can do it)!
