[Situational Korean : Role-Play] Level 1: Korean Restaurant Conversation Practice

Knowing how to speak at a restaurant is not enough to have a full conversation.

You also need to understand what the staff might say to you.

So this time, I will show you a simple restaurant conversation in order, like a short role-play script.

Honestly, if you clearly look like a foreigner, people in Korea may speak to you in English.

But for this post, let’s try having the conversation in Korean.

When You Enter the Restaurant

• Staff: 어서오세요. 몇 분이세요?
  English: Welcome. How many people?
  Pronunciation: uh-suh-oh-seh-yo. myut-boo-nee-seh-yo?

• Me: 두 명이요.
  English: Two people.
  Pronunciation: doo-myung-ee-yo.

• Staff: 편하신 자리에 앉으시면 돼요.
  English: You can sit wherever you feel comfortable.
  Pronunciation: pyun-ha-shin ja-ree–eh an-jeu-shee-myun day-yo.
  (In this case, you can choose any seat you like.)

or

• Staff: 자리 안내해드릴게요.
  English: I will show you to your seat.
  Pronunciation: ja-ree an-neh-heh-deu-ril-geh-yo.
  (In this case, the staff will guide you to your seat.)

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When You Order

• Me: 여기요, 사장님~
  English: Excuse me.
  Pronunciation: Yuh-gee-O, Sa-jang-nim

• Staff: 네, 주문 도와드릴게요.
  English: Yes, I’ll help you with your order.
  Pronunciation: neh, joo-moon doh-wah-deu-ril-geh-yo.

• Me: 이거 하나, 이거 하나 주세요.
  English: I’ll have this one and this one, please.
  Pronunciation: ee-guh ha-na, ee-guh ha-na, ju-say O.

• Staff: 김치찌개 하나, 비빔밥 하나요?
  English: One kimchi stew and one bibimbap?
  Pronunciation: kim-chee-jji-geh ha-na, bee-beem-bap ha-na-yo?

• Me: 네.
  English: Yes.
  Pronunciation: neh.

• Staff: 네, 알겠습니다.
  English: Okay, got it.
  Pronunciation: neh, al-get-seum-nee-da.

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When the Food Comes Out

• Staff: 주문하신 김치찌개, 비빔밥 나왔습니다.
  English: Here are the kimchi stew and bibimbap you ordered.
  Pronunciation: joo-moon-ha-shin kim-chee-jji-geh, bee-beem-bap na-wat-seum-nee-da.

• Me: 감사합니다.
  English: Thank you.
  Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-nee-da.

• Staff: 맛있게 드세요.
  English: Enjoy your meal.
  Pronunciation: ma-shee-geh deu-seh-yo.

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When You Pay

• Me: 계산할게요.
  English: I’d like to pay.
  Pronunciation: Kay-san hal-gay-O.

• Staff: 네, 김치찌개 하나, 비빔밥 하나 하셔서 이만 삼천 원입니다.
  English: Okay, one kimchi stew and one bibimbap. That will be 23,000 won.
  Pronunciation: neh, kim-chee-jji-geh ha-na, bee-beem-bap ha-na ha-shuh-suh ee-man sam-chun won-im-nee-da.

• Me: 카드로 할게요.
  English: I’ll pay by card.
  Pronunciation: ka-deu-ro hal-gay-yo.

• Staff: 여기에 카드 꽂아주세요.
  English: Please insert your card here.
  Pronunciation: yuh-gee-eh ka-deu kko-ja-joo-seh-yo.

(During payment)

• Staff: 영수증 필요하세요?
  English: Do you need a receipt?
  Pronunciation: yung-soo-jeung pee-ryo-ha-seh-yo?

• Me: 아니요, 괜찮아요.
  English: No, it’s okay.
  Pronunciation: ah-nee-yo, gwaen-cha-na-yo.

• Staff: 네, 카드 뽑아주세요. 감사합니다.
  English: Okay, please remove your card. Thank you.
  Pronunciation: neh, ka-deu ppo-ba-joo-seh-yo. gam-sa-ham-nee-da.

• Me: 잘 먹었습니다.
  English: Thank you for the meal.
  Pronunciation: jal muh-gut-seum-nee-da.

Most restaurant conversations in Korea will follow a similar flow.

Even if you only understand a few simple words, you can usually figure out what is happening from the situation.

[Situational Korean] Level 0: How to Order Food in Korea

[Korean Culture] Why Do Koreans Talk About Food So Much?