Restaurant in Korean
If you like to try different kinds of food and enjoy Asian food in particular, you’ll have a wonderful time in Korea. Perhaps you’re dining out with Korean family or friends closer to home. Either way - imagine the satisfaction of being able to order in a restaurant in Korean.
Are you vegetarian? Need more rice? Ready for the bill? No problem!
This Rocket Korean lesson will teach you the basics so you can get the most out of your experience, and impress your companions! Listen to the audio and practice saying these Korean words and phrases aloud. When you’re ready, why not try them out on the staff at a local Korean restaurant?
Resources for further reading:
Did You Know?
Korea has its own dining etiquette, which may seem unique to Westerners. For example, it is perfectly acceptable and even considered appreciative of the meal to make slurping sounds when eating. On the other hand, beware of sticking your chopsticks upright into the rice – as this is considered a sign of death!
You can eat well in Korea on any budget. Street stalls sell freshly made cheap ganshik (snacks); small family-run restaurants offer full meals and side dishes, called banchan for just a few dollars.
Well, I’m starving! Bae gopayo! Can you recommend a good restaurant?
Pronunciation help for inside a restaurant in Korean...
Here are some common types of eating and drinking establishments in South Korea.
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Korean pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
음식점
eumsikjeom
restaurant
레스토랑
Reseutorang
Restaurants serving Koreanized Western-style food
한식점
Hanshik jum
Restaurants specializing in Korean-style food.
중국 음식점
Joongook eumshikjum
Chinese restaurants, popular in Korea and cheap
분식집
Boonshik jip
Fast-food restaurants, reasonably priced for young people
다방
dabang
Café-style shops where coffee, tea, and soft drinks are served
술집
sooljip
Bars or drinking houses
바
pbah
Bar where drinks and snacks are served
맥주집
maekjoo jip
Beer hall. Some offer live entertainment.
In traditional Korean restaurants you may find low tables and bangsuk (a floor cushion). You may want to make sure your socks don’t have any holes, as you’re required to remove your shoes in these restaurants!
When you’re ready to order, call for the waiter or waitress by saying Yugiyo.
여기요!
Yugiyo!
Waiter! / Waitress!
The waiter or waitress will attend you politely and may ask one of the following questions…
주문하시겠습니까?
Joomoon hashigetseumnikga?
Would you like to order?
뭐가 좋을까요?
Maw ga joeulkgayo?
What would you like?
뭐 드시고 싶으세요?
Maw deushigo shipeuseyo?
What would you like to eat?
Sometimes all they may ask is…
네, 좋아요.
Ne, jowayo.
Yes, please.
You could answer by saying one of these phrases…
이거 주세요.
Eeguh jooseyo.
I'll have this.
Or, if you’re unsure what a certain dish is, you can ask…
이게 뭐에요?
Eege mawyeyo?
What is this?
이게 뭔지 말해 주실래요?
Eege mawnji malhae jooshilaeyo?
Can you tell me what this is?
Not sure what you feel like eating? Just ask the waiter what he recommends…
세트 메뉴 있어요?
Seteu menyoo itsuyo?
Do you have a set menu?
오늘 추천 메뉴는 뭐에요?
Oneul choochun menyoo neun mawyeyo?
What is the dish of the day?
이집 제일 잘하는 요리가 뭐에요?
Eejip jeil jalhaneun yoriga mawyeyo?
What is the specialty of the house?
The majority of restaurants don’t indicate vegetarian food but there are always some dishes for vegetarians on the menu. Don’t hesitate to ask!
전 채식주의자에요.
Jun chaeshik jooeuija yeyo.
I am a vegetarian.
전 고기를 안 먹어요.
Jun gogi reul an muguyo.
I don't eat meat.
채식메뉴 있어요?
Chaeshik menyoo itsuyo?
Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
어느 음식이 고기 안 들어간건가요?
Uneu eumshik ee gogi an deurugan gungayo?
Which dishes have no meat?
kimchi
Side dish made of pickled, preserved vegetables. Hot and spicy.
namool
Side dish made of seasoned vegetables (fresh/dried), herbs, and roots.
Saengsun gooey
Dishes of seasoned broiled fish
mandoo
Dumplings made of meat, vegetables and soybean curd
SOUP
Soup is always part of a traditional Korean meal. It can be served as a main dish, or if a small portion of light soup, it is served simultaneously with the rest of the dishes.
삼계탕
samgyetang
Ginseng chicken soup
야채죽
yachaegook
Vegetable soup
미역국
meeyukgook
Seaweed soup
된장국
Dwenjang-gook
Soybean paste soup
RICE
Bap (rice) is served separately in an individual bowl. Korean bap is slightly sticky, and is the most important part of the meal. Koreans add various ingredients to it like barley, millet, peas and beans.
비빔밥
Bibim bap
Rice topped with parboiled fern bracken, bluebell root, soybean sprouts, spinach, and fried egg, mixed with red pepper sauce.
팥밥
Pat bap
Rice with red-beans
콩나물 밥
Kongnamool bap
Rice cooked with bean sprouts
MEAT
It is not easy to find vegetarian choices in Korea – as its food culture is based primarily on meat dishes. Here’s a list of the most common types of meat:
소고기
sogogi
beef
소세지
sawseji
sausages
염통
yumtong
kidneys
닭고기
dakgogi
chicken
오리고기
origogi
duck
간
gan
liver
햄
haem
ham
스테이크
seuteikeu
steak
돼지고기
dwaeji gogi
pork
베이컨
beikon
bacon
불고기
Boolgogi
Barbecued beef dishes
갈비찜
Galbi tjim
Beef-rib stew
닭찜
Dak tjim
Chicken stewed with vegetables and soy sauce.
In order to get the dish you want simply say…
[...] 로 할게요.
[…] ro halaeyo.
I'll have…
[...] 주세요.
[…] jooseyo.
I'd like a(n)…
Once you’ve finished your meal you‘ll need to ask for the bill…
계산서 주세요.
Gyesansuh jooseyo.
The bill, please.
A service charge of 10% is normally added to the restaurant bill. Tipping is optional but appreciated. Lastly, if your meal was satisfying, you may want to thank the waiter or waitress.
아주 잘 먹었어요.
Ajoo jal mugutsuyo.
That was a very good meal.
That’s all for this lesson, enjoy your next Korean meal!
Here are a few recommended Korean lessonsto try next!
- There's lots of wonderful sights in Korea. Let's talk about sightseeing in Korean.
- All about the parts of the body in Korean.
- This lesson is all about using a computer in Korean.
Anyoung hee gaseyo!
Sujung Lee: Rocket Korean
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