How to Order Food in Korea

Use polite Korean phrases to order at a restaurant or kiosk, ask about portions and spice, and pay for your meal.

From the door to the bill

What you need	What to say	Meaning
A table for two	두 명이요.(Du myeongiyo.)	Two people, please.
Show a menu item	이거 하나 주세요.(Igeo hana juseyo.)	One of these, please.
Check the heat	많이 매워요?(Mani maewoyo?)	Is it very spicy?
Ask if it can be milder	덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있어요?(Deol maepge hae jusil su isseoyo?)	Could you make it less spicy?
Order more	이거 하나 더 주세요.(Igeo hana deo juseyo.)	One more of these, please.
Pay	계산할게요.(Gyesanhalgeyo.)	I’d like to pay.

A short restaurant conversation

Guest 두 명이요. 비빔밥 하나랑 불고기 하나 주세요. (Du myeongiyo. Bibimbap hanarang bulgogi hana juseyo.)
Two people. One bibimbap and one bulgogi, please.

Staff 네, 알겠습니다. (Ne, algesseumnida.)
Sure, got it.

Guest 물 좀 주세요. (Mul jom juseyo.)
Could we have some water, please?

How to use a Korean restaurant kiosk

If there is a language button, look for it before choosing dine-in or takeout. If the screen is in Korean, these labels can help:

언어 (eoneo) — Language
매장 (maejang) — Eat in
포장 (pojang) — Takeout
장바구니 (jangbaguni) — Cart
결제 (gyeolje) — Payment
주문번호 (jumun beonho) — Order number
영수증 (yeongsujeung) — Receipt

Choose dine-in or takeout, then select the dish. Check the quantity and any add-ons before confirming.
Review the cart before paying. If a card is declined or the instructions are unclear, ask a staff member before trying again.
Keep the receipt or note the order number. Watch for your number on a screen or listen for it at the pickup counter. The pickup process varies by restaurant.

키오스크 사용 좀 도와주실 수 있어요? (Kioseukeu sayong jom dowajusil su isseoyo?)
Could you help me use the kiosk?

여기서 먹고 갈게요. (Yeogiseo meokgo galgeyo.)
I’ll eat here.

포장해 주세요. (Pojanghae juseyo.)
Takeout, please.

When the menu or the bill is unclear

Check what comes with your dish

If the menu shows a set and a single item, point at the one you want. At a shared grill or hot pot, the menu may list a price per serving. Ask before ordering if you are unsure what the price covers.

이거 일 인분 가격이에요? (Igeo il inbun gagyeogieyo?)
Is this the price for one serving?

밥도 같이 나와요? (Bapdo gachi nawayo?)
Does it come with rice?

Ask about an ingredient

Point to the dish and ask 이거에 돼지고기 들어가요? (Igeoe dwaejigogi deureogayo?) (“Does this contain pork?”). You can replace 돼지고기 (dwaejigogi) with the ingredient you need to ask about.

Pay before you leave

At a sit-down restaurant, look for the register or ask where to pay. If you want to pay separately, ask before anyone taps a card.

어디서 계산해요? (Eodiseo gyesanhaeyo?)
Where do I pay?

따로 계산할 수 있어요? (Ttaro gyesanhal su isseoyo?)
Can we pay separately?

Water and utensils

If you see 셀프 (selpeu) by a water station or utensil tray, help yourself. If you don’t see a station, ask 물 어디에 있어요? (Mul eodie isseoyo?) (“Where is the water?”).