South Korea is a country where you will find food to be a rich part of the culture. From traditional Korean restaurants to aesthetic and cute cafes – you will find a variety of food joints in every street of Korea. Hence it is only natural to learn some common and important phrases which will help you have a better experience at any restaurant.
Having a conversation in Korea is a hurdle for some westerners. They are unable to converse especially to native Koreans, and it doesn’t help when the Koreans speak so fast.
How to be polite when talking in a restaurant or cafe in Korean language ?
Below is a list of some handy words and phrases to use when you’re at a Korean restaurant or cafe.
The Korean words used for restaurants.
No. | English Word | Korean Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Restaurant | 식당 | Shig dang |
2 | Restaurant | 음식점 | Eumsik jeom |
3 | Restaurants serving Koreanised Western-style food | 레스토랑 | Reseuto rang |
4 | Restaurants specializing in Korean-style food. | 한식집/한식당 | Hanshik jip/Hanshik dang |
5 | Fast-food restaurants ( reasonably priced for young people ) | 분식집 | Boonshik jip |
6 | Retro(70,80s) styled cafe | 다방 | Da bang |
7 | Bars/drinking houses | 술집 | Sul jip |
8 | Bar where drinks and snacks are served | 바 | Ba |
9 | Beer hall. (Some offer live entertainment) | 맥줏집 | Maekju jip |
In the Korean cooking culture, barbeque and spicy food is a great choice for entertaining events and getting together. Korean food is a lot more than just Kimchi and Bulgogi or Bibimbap. You can eat a different variety of foods in Korea depending on where you go. In this post, I'll show you some dishes that are available in Korean restaurants and cafes along with the useful phrases so that next time you go to a restaurant or cafe, you'll know which dish you want to order.
No. | English Word | Korean Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
10 | Stir-fry | 볶음 | Bo-kkeum |
11 | Scallion pancakes | 파전 | Pa-jeon |
12 | Kimchi pancakes | 김치전 | Kim-chi-jeon |
13 | Seafood and scallion pancake | s해물 파전 | Hae-mul pa-jeon |
14 | Seasoned soybean sprouts | 콩나물 | Kong-na-mul |
15 | Seasoned spinach | 시금치나물 | Si-geum-chi-na-mul |
16 | Seasoned boiled eggplant | 가지나물 | Ga-ji-na-mul |
17 | Pan-fried pancakes | 전 | Jeon |
18 | Cabbage kimchi | 배추김치 | Bae-chu-kim-chi |
19 | Chopped radish | 깍두기 | Kkak-du-gi |
20 | Whole radish kimchi | 총각김치 | Chong-gak-kim-chi |
21 | Cucumber kimchi | 오이김치 | Oi kimchi |
22 | Vegetables or wild greens | 나물 | Na-mul |
Soup (Sul) is a staple food in Korea. Korean has 7 basic flavors: sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter, pungent, and fragrant.
There are hundreds of kinds of Korean soups and they all taste different from one another! It's an interesting experience to have conversation at a Korean restaurant or cafe.
No. | English Word | Korean Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
23 | Ginseng chicken soup | 삼계탕 | Samgyetang |
24 | Vegetable soup | 야채죽 | Yachaejuk |
25 | Seaweed soup | 미역국 | Meeyukgook |
26 | Soybean paste soup | 된장국 | Dwenjang-gook |
27 | Bibimbap | 비빔밥 | Bibim bap |
28 | Rice with red-beans | 팥밥 | Pat bap |
29 | Rice cooked with bean sprouts | 콩나물 밥 | Kongnamul bap |
In Korea, meat dishes are popular and especially beef and chicken is very famous. Since it has the best taste and tenderness, It is an important part of the meal. You can find a list of popular meat dishes to order in Korean restaurants!
No. | English Word | Korean Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
30 | Beef | 소고기 | Sogogi |
31 | Sausage | 소시지 | Sosiji |
32 | Chicken | 닭고기 | Dakgogi |
33 | Ham | 햄 | Haem |
34 | steak | 스테이크 | seuteikeu |
35 | pork | 돼지고기 | dwaeji gogi |
36 | Bacon | 베이컨 | Beikeon |
37 | Barbecued beef dishes | 불고기 | Boolgogi |
38 | Beef-rib stew | 갈비찜 | Galbi-jjim |
39 | Chicken stewed with vegetables & soy sauce. | 닭찜 | Dak jjim |
Phrases to use while ordering food at a Korean restaurant.
No. | English Word | Korean Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|---|
40 | I made a reservation. | 예약 했어요. | Ye-yag haesseoyo |
41 | I did not make a reservation. | 예약 안했어요. | Ye-yag an-haesseoyo. |
42 | Please give me the menu. | 메뉴판 주세요 | Me-nyu-pan juseyo. |
43 | Please give an English menu. | 영어 메뉴를 주세요 | Yeongeo menyureul juseyo |
44 | Serve it yourself. | 셀프에요. | Sel-peu-e-yo |
45 | Water is for self service. | 물은 셀프입니다 | Mul-eun sel-peu-im-ni-da |
46 | Excuse me | 저기요 | Jeo-gi-yo |
47 | Madam/Sir, we will order now | 아주머니/아저씨 여기 주문이요 | A-ju-meo-ni/ a-jeo-ssi yeogi ju-mun-i-yo |
48 | What is today’s recommended menu? | 오늘 추천 메뉴는 뭐예요? | Oneul chucheon menyuneun mwoyeyo? |
49 | What would you recommend? | 어떤 것을 추천하세요? | Eoddeongeoseul chucheonhaseyo? |
50 | What is delicious here? | 여기 뭐가 맛있어요? | Yeogi mwoga masisseoyo? |
51 | Please recommend me the most delicious one. | 제일 맛있는 것 추전해 주세요. | Je-il mat-iss-neun geot chu-jeon-hae ju-seyo. |
52 | Please give me ______ | ____ 주세요. | ____ juseyo. |
53 | Please give me apron. | 앞치마 주세요 | Ap-chi-ma juseyo |
54 | Please give me spoon. | 숟가락 주세요. | Sud-ga-rak juseyo |
55 | Please give me chopsticks. | 젓가락 주세요 | Jeot-ga-rag juseyo |
56 | Please give me the side dishes | 반찬 주세요 | Ban-chan juseyo |
57 | Give me more. | (__) 좀 더 주세요. | (___) jom deo juseyo. |
58 | It's on me. | 내가 쏠게. | Naega ssol-ge. |
59 | Do you have ____? | ____ 있어요? | ______ iss-eo-yo? |
60 | What is not spicy here? | 안 매운게 뭐예요? | An mae-un-ge mwo-ye-yo? |
61 | Is this spicy? | 이거 매워요? | I-geo mae-wo-yo? |
62 | Where is the toilet? | 화장실이 어디에요? | Hwa-jang-shir-i eo-di-e-yo? |
63 | Please pack this for me. | 이거 포장해 주세요 | I-geo po-jang-hae ju-seyo. |
64 | Can i have a wet towel please. | 물수건 좀 주세요. | Mul-su-geon jom ju-seyo. |
65 | I will have one more of this please. | 이거 하나 더 주세요 | I-geo ha-na deo ju-seyo |
66 | The menu is written on the wall. | 메뉴 벽에 써 있어요. | Me-nyu byeog-e sseo iss-eo-yo |
67 | I want __ number of servings for this. | 이거 __ 인분 더 주세요. | I-geo ___ in-bun deo ju-seyo |
68 | I haven't decided yet. | 아직 결정 못했어요. | A-jig gyeol-jeong mot-haesseoyo. |
69 | Do you have anything without meat? | 고기 안 들어간 거 있어요? | Go-gi an deur-eo-gan geo iss-eo-yo? |
70 | Where is the billing counter? | 계산 어디서 해요? | Gye-san eo-di-seo hae-yo? |
71 | What do you put in this one? | 여기에 뭐뭐 들어가요? | Yeo-gi-ye mwo-mwo deur-eo-ga-yo? |
72 | Do you accept (credit) card here? | 여기 카드 돼요? | Yeo-gi ka-deu dwae-yo? |
73 | We will pay the bill separately. | 따로따로 계산할게요. | Dda-ro-dda-ro gye-san-hal-ge-yo |
74 | I can’t eat pork | 저는 돼지고기를 못 먹어요 | jeon dwaejigogireul mot meogeoyo |
75 | Could you make it without pork please? | 돼지고기 빼 주실 수 있으세요? | Dwae-ji-go-gi ppae ju-sil su iss-eu-se-yo? |
76 | Do you have any dishes without pork? | 돼지고기 없는 메뉴 있으세요? | Dwaejigogi eobneun menyu isseuseyo? |
77 | Please give me one of this in "medium/large/small". | 이거 "중/대/소"으로 하나 주세요. | I-geo "jung/dae/su"eu-ro ha-na ju-seyo. |
78 | Can I add a bowl of rice here? | 여기 밥 한 그릇 추가요 ? | Yeo-gi bap han geu-reut ju-gayo ? |
79 | Please give me the sauce separately. | 소스는 따로 주실 수 있으세요. | So-seu-neun dda-ro ju-sil su iss-eu-se-yo. |
80 | I’ll pay. | 제가 낼게요. | Jega naelgeyo. |
81 | Please halve the bill. | 반반해 주세요. | Banbanhae juseyo. |
82 | We’ll pay separately. | 계산서를 따로따로 할게요. | Gyesanseoreul ddaroddaro halgeyo. |
83 | Can you split the bill ? | 계산서 나누어 줄 수 있으세요 ? | Gyesanseo nanueo jul su isseuseyo ? |
84 | How long do I have to wait? | 얼마나 기다려야 돼요? | Eol-ma-na gi-da-ryeo-ya dwae-yo? |
85 | I'll have this and this. | 이거하고 이거 주세요. | Igeo-hago ju-seyo |
86 | I ate well, and i will come again. | 잘 먹었습니다, 또 올게요. | Jalmeo-geot-sseum-nida, ddo ol-ge-yo. |
87 | Thank you. | 감사합니다. | Gam-sa-ham-ni-da. |
See Also : 80 Korean travel words and phrases.
I believe how you say something is more important than what you are saying. If you learn this skill while you are in Korea, it should be how to order your foods in Korean. If you have no idea where to start, I recommend that you start with the basics such as ordering a simple lunch or dinner at restaurants.
This blog post is a summary of techniques to have conversation in Korean which can be helpful to have a Korean friend during your next visit to Korea if you want to order Korean dishes in Korean.
If you have any questions or suggestions, comment down below.
Thank you !!
