How to Order Food in Korea: Restaurant Phrases, Apps, and Delivery Guide

Order Food in Korea: Complete Guide

Order food in Korea with confidence. Learning to order food in Korea makes dining much easier. Eating out should be enjoyable, not stressful. This guide covers everything from understanding Korean menus. For more food guides, see our Korean food guide to navigating delivery apps, with the exact phrases and steps you need. Once you know how to order food in Korea, you’ll feel confident anywhere.

Order Food in Korea: Restaurant Basics

Entering a Restaurant

What to expect:

1. Enter and wait: Staff will say “어서오세요” (Welcome)
2. Indicate party size: Hold up fingers or say number
3. Be seated: Staff guides you or you seat yourself
4. Receive menu: Sometimes on table, sometimes brought to you

Types of seating:

• 테이블석 (table seats): Regular chairs and tables
• 좌식 (floor seating): Sit on cushions, remove shoes at entrance

Understanding Korean Menus

Menu sections:

• 주메뉴/메인 (main dishes)
• 사이드 (sides)
• 음료 (drinks)
• 주류 (alcohol)

Common menu terms:

Calling for Service

Methods:

• Call button: Press button on table (most restaurants have these)
• Voice: Say “저기요” (excuse me) loudly—this is normal and not rude
• Hand wave: Raise hand and make eye contact

Note: Servers don’t check on you periodically like in Western restaurants. You call when you need something.

Order Food in Korea: Essential Phrases

Basic Ordering

Numbers for Ordering

Dietary Requests

During the Meal

Order Food in Korea: Paying the Bill

How to Pay

Call for check:

• Say “계산이요” (check please)
• Or go directly to counter/register (common at many restaurants)

Payment methods:

• Card: “카드로 할게요” (I’ll pay by card)
• Cash: “현금이요” (Cash)
• Mobile payment: Samsung Pay, Kakao Pay widely accepted

Important notes:

• No tipping: Never expected in Korea
• Bill splitting: Not common—usually one person pays or split equally later
• Dutch pay: “더치페이” is understood but not traditional

Receipt

• 영수증 주세요: Receipt please (if needed)
• 영수증 필요없어요: No receipt needed

Order Food in Korea: Restaurant Types

Korean BBQ (고기집)

How to order:

1. Choose meat type and amount (usually minimum 2 servings per meat type)
2. Staff brings raw meat and side dishes
3. Grill yourself or staff grills for you (depends on restaurant)
4. Lettuce wraps, sauces, and banchan come automatically

Common meats:

Extra items often charged:

• Egg roll (계란말이): ₩5,000-8,000
• Cheese: ₩2,000-3,000
• Fried rice (볶음밥): ₩2,000-3,000

Fried Chicken (치킨집)

Ordering:

1. Choose flavor: 후라이드 (fried), 양념 (seasoned), 반반 (half and half)
2. Choose size: 한마리 (whole), 반마리 (half)
3. Add drinks: Beer is traditional pairing (치맥 = chicken + beer)

Common types:

• 후라이드: Original fried
• 양념: Sweet and spicy sauce
• 간장: Soy garlic
• 뿌링클: Cheese powder
• 순살: Boneless

Kimbap/Bunsik (분식점)

What to expect:

• Casual counter-service style
• Quick meals, affordable
• Menu on wall or laminated sheets

Popular orders:

• 김밥 (kimbap): ₩2,500-4,500
• 라면 (ramyeon): ₩4,000-6,000
• 떡볶이 (tteokbokki): ₩4,000-6,000
• 순대 (sundae – blood sausage): ₩5,000-7,000

Order Food in Korea: Delivery Apps

Major Delivery Apps

Setting Up Delivery Apps

Requirements:

• Korean phone number
• Korean address
• Payment method (card or Kakao Pay)

Steps:

1. Download app from app store
2. Register with phone number (receive verification code)
3. Enter delivery address
4. Link payment method

Language tip: Apps are primarily in Korean. Use Google Translate camera to read menus, or look for restaurants with photos.

How to Order on Baemin

1. Open app and confirm address
2. Browse categories or search
3. Select restaurant
4. Add items to cart (장바구니)
5. Check order and add notes if needed
6. Select payment method
7. Confirm order
8. Track delivery in real-time

Useful settings:

• 일회용품 안 받기: No disposable utensils
• 요청사항: Special requests
• 문 앞에 놔주세요: Leave at door

Delivery Fees and Minimums

• Delivery fee: ₩0-5,000 (depends on distance and restaurant)
• Minimum order: Usually ₩10,000-15,000
• Tip: Not expected, but some apps have tipping option

Order Food in Korea: Kiosk Guide

Where You’ll Find Kiosks

• Fast food chains (McDonald’s, Burger King, Lotteria)
• Coffee shops
• Many Korean restaurants
• Food courts

Using a Kiosk (Step-by-Step)

1. Language: Press flag icon for English (if available)
2. Order type: 매장 (for here) or 포장/테이크아웃 (takeout)
3. Browse menu: Touch categories and items
4. Customize: Select options (size, extras, etc.)
5. Add to cart: Touch 담기 or cart button
6. Pay: Card or cash (insert card or bills)
7. Get receipt: Shows order number
8. Wait: Number called when ready

Common kiosk terms:

• 추가: Add
• 선택: Select
• 결제: Payment
• 취소: Cancel
• 완료: Complete

Order Food in Korea: Convenience Stores

Hot Food

• Counter items: Point and say “이거 주세요”
• Ramyeon station: Buy ramyeon, cook at hot water station
• Microwaving: Staff will heat items, or use in-store microwave

Phrase: “데워주세요” (Please heat this up)

What to Try

• 삼각김밥 (triangle kimbap): ₩1,200-1,800
• 도시락 (lunchbox): ₩3,500-6,000
• 컵라면 (cup noodles): ₩1,000-2,500
• 호빵/만두 (steamed buns/dumplings): ₩1,500-3,000

Order Food in Korea: Traditional Markets

How to Order at Markets

Prepared food stalls:

1. Point at what you want
2. Say “이거” (this) and amount
3. Pay (usually cash preferred)
4. Eat at standing tables or take away

Sit-down market restaurants:

1. Find empty seat
2. Look at what others are eating
3. Point or name your order
4. Pay when finished

Bargaining

• For food: Not common, prices are set
• For groceries/goods: Possible, especially for large purchases
• Polite approach: “좀 깎아주세요” (Please give a discount)

Order Food in Korea: Troubleshooting

Common Problems

Wrong order:

• “이거 안 시켰어요” (I didn’t order this)
• “주문이 잘못됐어요” (The order is wrong)

Missing item:

• “___ 안 왔어요” (___ didn’t come)

Can’t read menu:

• Use Papago or Google Translate camera
• Point at other tables’ food
• Ask “추천 메뉴 있어요?” (Do you have a recommendation?)

Too spicy:

• Order rice: “밥 주세요”
• Ask for milk: “우유 있어요?”

Ordering food in Korea becomes second nature quickly. Start with pointing and simple phrases, and gradually add vocabulary as you get comfortable. Korean restaurant staff are generally patient and helpful with foreigners—a smile and effort go a long way.

For more about Korean food culture, explore Korean cuisine on Wikipedia.

Related Guides

• Korean Food Guide: What Makes It Unique
• Korean BBQ Guide for First-Timers
• Korean Soups and Stews Guide
• Korea Delivery Services Guide
• Essential Korea Apps