TASTY HANGUL · RESTAURANT BASICS
Walk in · Call staff · Eat banchan · Pay at the counter
Quick Help: How to Eat at a Korean Restaurant
- Calling staff: “Jeogiyo~” or press the call bell on your table
- Ordering: Point at the menu and say “Igeo hana juseyo” (This one, please)
- Spoons & water: Check the table drawer or box! Water might be self-serve.
- Side dishes: Basic banchan are usually free, and refills mostly are too
- Paying: Head to the counter after your meal (unless you prepaid)
- Tipping: Not needed!
Hey, Sikgu!
Wondering what “Sikgu” means? Find out here →
You walk into a restaurant in Korea and… nobody comes. You sit there holding the menu. Still nobody. And when you’re done? No check either. Don’t worry, this is how to eat at a Korean restaurant!
At a lot of Korean restaurants, you call the staff over yourself to order, and when you’re done, you walk up to the counter to pay. It feels weird at first, but once you get it, it’s honestly SO convenient!
I’m a real Korean who eats out in Korea every single day, and I’ll walk you through it all, from the door in to the door out!
01 Tell Them How Many
When you walk in, the staff might ask, “Myeot bun-iseyo?” (몇 분이세요?). That means “How many people?”
YOU MAY HEAR
몇 분이세요?
Myeot bun-iseyo?
How many people?
Didn’t catch a word? No worries! You’ve got the universal language: body language. Just hold up your fingers to show how many of you there are. Easy, right? ^^
02 Grab a Seat
Some places let you sit anywhere, and some will show you to a table. Take a quick look to see if someone’s coming to seat you.
If you’re a big group or the place is packed, they might need a moment to set up a table, so hang tight.
Oh, and if you see a shoe rack next to a raised floor seating area? Shoes off before you step up!
Photo: Syced / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
03 Where Are the Spoons and Water?
Waiting for someone to bring your spoon? Don’t!
Check the drawer on the side of the table, or the box sitting on top. Your spoons, chopsticks, and napkins are hiding in there.
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sometimes the staff will bring water, but if you see “물은 셀프” (Water is self-serve), go grab it yourself.
04 Ordering: “Jeogiyo!”
Picked what you want? Time to call someone over!
① Call Out
SAY THIS
저기요~
Jeogiyo~
Excuse me~
Or: “Yeogiyo~” (여기요, Over here~), “Sajangnim~” (사장님, Boss~)
In Korea, calling out to the staff like this is totally normal. It’s NOT rude at all!
Ah! Here’s a little insider tip from a Korean:
Some people call the staff “Imonim~” (이모님). It literally means “Auntie” (your mom’s sister), but in restaurants, people use it as a warm, friendly way to call someone.
That said, it doesn’t fit everyone. When in doubt, “Jeogiyo~” is always the safest choice.
On the flip side, “Ajumma” (아줌마, middle-aged lady) can sound rude, so better to skip that one!
② Press the Call Bell
See a little button on your table? Press it, and someone will come right over.
Can’t read the menu?
Just point at the menu and say:
SAY THIS
이거 하나 주세요.
Igeo hana juseyo.
This one, please.
Want two? “Igeo du gae juseyo.” (이거 두 개 주세요, Two of these, please.)
Know just this one line, and ordering gets SO much easier!
Heads up: some dishes, especially at Korean BBQ places, need a minimum order of 2 servings. More on that in our Solo Dining Guide (coming soon)!
For places with kiosks or tablet ordering, check out our Kiosk Guide (coming soon).
05 Here Come the Banchan!!!
Right after you order, something magical happens!
Little plates you NEVER ordered start landing on your table one after another….
Don’t panic. These are banchan (반찬), Korean side dishes!
Basic banchan are usually free, and lots of places will refill them too.
Found one you love?
SAY THIS
이거 더 주세요.
Igeo deo juseyo.
More of this, please.
But if you see the words “반찬 셀프” (Side dishes: self-serve), you’ll need to grab them yourself.
Wait, what’s “셀프” (selpeu)?
It’s the English word “self”! In Korea, it’s short for “self-service,” and it basically means “Do it yourself!”
English words that got a Korean makeover like this are called Konglish. LOL
So now, if you can just read “셀프,” you’ll know exactly what to do!
LET’S READ HANGUL
셀프 selpeu · self
| 셀 sel ㅅ+ㅔ+ㄹ | 프 peu ㅍ+ㅡ |
셀 = ㅅ(s) + ㅔ(e) + ㄹ(l) → sel
프 = ㅍ(p) + ㅡ(eu) → peu
셀프 = sel-peu = self!
Wait, “self” is one syllable in English. So why two in Korean?
Korean has no “f” sound, so it swaps in the closest one, ㅍ(p). And since that sound can’t sit at the end of a syllable, Korean adds ㅡ(eu) to make it a whole new letter block.
That’s how self became 셀프 (sel-peu)!
Learn this one rule, and you can read 커피 (keopi, coffee) and 피자 (pija, pizza) too ^^
Oh! And only take as much banchan as you’ll actually eat.
Photo: stuart spivack / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
06 Korean Signs You’ll See at Restaurants
| Hangul | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 셀프 | selpeu | Self-serve |
| 물은 셀프 | mureun selpeu | Water is self-serve |
| 호출 | hochul | Call staff |
| 계산 | gyesan | Pay here |
| 선불 | seonbul | Pay first |
| 영업 중 | yeongeop jung | Open now |
| 브레이크 타임 | beureikeu taim | Break time |
Seriously, remember “Break Time”!
Lots of Korean restaurants close for a bit between lunch and dinner. Check the hours posted at the entrance so you don’t show up to a locked door.
07 All Done? Head to the Counter!
Enjoyed your meal? Time to pay!
At most regular Korean restaurants, you pay at the counter after you eat.
SAY THIS
계산해 주세요.
Gyesanhae juseyo.
Check, please.
The staff will pull up what you ordered. If there’s an order slip on your table, bring it with you.
Already paid upfront? Then you’re all set, no need to pay again!
Most places take cards, but some don’t accept foreign cards, so it’s smart to carry a backup card or a little cash.
And here’s the big one: in Korea, you generally don’t tip!
08 One Last Line on Your Way Out!
As you leave, try saying this:
SAY THIS
잘 먹었습니다!
Jal meogeotseumnida!
I ate well!
It’s a thank-you that means “I ate well!”
Trust me, it’ll make the owner’s day ^^
So, how about it?
Now you can order, eat, and pay at a Korean restaurant like a pro, right?
Next time, I’ll bring you a fun Banchan Story (coming soon).
Let’s keep eating our way through Korea with Tasty Hangul, Sikgu!