Essential Korean Phrases for Restaurant Ordering in Seoul

Essential Korean Phrases for Restaurant Ordering in Seoul

After three years of eating my way through Seoul, I've learned that knowing just a handful of Korean phrases can transform your restaurant experience from awkward to actually enjoyable. Let me share what I've picked up—these phrases have genuinely saved me from ordering dishes I couldn't eat!

Before You Sit Down

When you walk into a restaurant, a server will greet you with "어서오세요" (eoseoseyo—"welcome"). Just smile and say "한 명입니다" (han myeongimnida—"it's for one person") or "두 명입니다" (du myeongimnida—"it's for two people"). They'll seat you immediately.

If it's busy, you might hear "몇 분이세요?" (myeot buniiseyo?—"how many people?"). Just hold up fingers—it works!

Reading the Menu & Asking Questions

Here's the real lifesaver: "이게 뭐예요?" (igae mwoyeyo?—"what is this?") Point at the menu item and ask. Koreans are incredibly patient with foreigners, and servers love explaining their food.

Other useful questions:

"맵나요?" (maepnayo?—"is it spicy?") — Essential if you can't handle gochugaru (고추가루—red chili powder)

"이거 알레르기 있어요?" (igeo allergi isseoyo?—"does this have allergens?") — Good for dietary restrictions

"가장 인기 있는 메뉴 뭐예요?" (gajang inki issneun menyu mwoyeyo?—"what's the most popular dish?")

Ordering Your Food

The basic phrase is "주문하겠습니다" (jumun hagegesseumnida—"I'll order"). Then point or say:

"이것 하나" (igeot hana—"one of this") — followed by the dish name

"이것 두 개" (igeot du gae—"two of this")

For example: "공기밥 이것 두 개 주세요" (gonggi bap igeot du gae juseyo—"two orders of rice, please")

Practical Restaurant Situations

At a Korean BBQ (고기구이—gogigui): Most places around 10,000-25,000 KRW per serving charge you for meat but include unlimited banchan (반찬—side dishes) and grilling. Just say "소고기 한 세트" (sogogi han set—"one beef set"), and they'll bring everything.

At a noodle shop (면요리—myeon yoli): These are cheap (5,000-8,000 KRW) and simple. Point at the picture menu or say the name: "우동 주세요" (udong juseyo—"udon, please").

Need napkins or water? Say "냅킨 주세요" (napkin juseyo—"napkins please") or "물 한 잔 주세요" (mul han jan juseyo—"one glass of water, please"). Water is always free.

When You're Done

When finished, say "계산서 주세요" (gyesan-seo juseyo—"the bill, please"). Most places in Seoul accept card payment—just ask "카드 돼요?" (kadeu dwae yo?—"card okay?").

My Real Recommendation

Download the Naver Map or Kakao Map apps—they show restaurant menus with photos and real customer reviews in English. When I'm nervous about ordering, I'll look up the restaurant first and screenshot menu items. Game-changer.

After 3 years, honestly? Your biggest ally is just pointing and smiling. Koreans appreciate effort over perfection!