Korea is truly a country of food.
Compared to the size of the country, Korea has an amazing variety of dishes.
If you come to Korea, you should definitely try many different kinds of food. No question about it. I will write a separate post later about why Korean cuisine has developed in such a diverse way.
But first, today let’s learn how to order food at a restaurant in Korea.
This is the beginner level.
Excuse me / Over here Use this when you want to call a staff member at a restaurant.
Korean: 여기요 It literally means “here,” but in Korean restaurants, it is commonly used to get a staff member’s attention.
Dictionary Pronunciation: Yeo-gi-yo
Easy Pronunciation: Yuh-gee-O
Excuse me / Over here Use this when you want to call a staff member at a restaurant.
Korean: 사장님 The literal meaning is “owner” or “boss,” but Koreans often use it in restaurants, especially smaller local places. Even if the staff member is not actually the owner, people may still call them this.
Dictionary Pronunciation: Sa-jang-nim
Easy Pronunciation: Sa-jang-nim
How much is this?
Korean: 이건 얼마예요?
Dictionary Pronunciation: E-geon eol-ma-ye-yo?
Easy Pronunciation: ee-gun all-my-O?
I’ll have this one, please.
Korean: 이거 하나 주세요. Use this when ordering while pointing at something on the menu.
Dictionary Pronunciation: I-geo ha-na ju-se-yo
Easy Pronunciation: ee-guh ha-na ju-say O
I’d like to pay.
Korean: 계산할게요.
Dictionary Pronunciation: Gye-san-hal-ge-yo
Easy Pronunciation: Kay-san hal-gay-O
What do you recommend?
Korean: 뭐가 맛있어요? Literal meaning: “Which one is delicious?”
Dictionary Pronunciation: Mwo-ga ma-sit-seo-yo
Easy Pronunciation: muh-gah ma-she-soy-O?
For the basics, this is enough to get started.
But of course, there may be times when you want to order more than one dish, so it is good to learn just a little more.
If you want to order three different dishes, one of each, you can simply add a little more to the phrase from the third card.
이거 하나, 이거 하나, 이거 하나 주세요.
I’ll have this one, this one, this one, please.
You can say this while pointing at each item one by one.
Easy, right?
These days, many restaurants in Korea use kiosks.
You may order while standing at a kiosk and then sit down, or you may order from a small tablet or machine at your table.
Most of these machines have a button that lets you view the menu in English.
But if you visit a place without a kiosk or ordering machine, try ordering in Korean!
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