How to Order Food in Korea When You Don’t Speak Korean
Ordering food in Korea can feel intimidating if you don’t speak Korean, especially when you walk into a small local restaurant and realize the menu is entirely in Korean.
The good news is that you do not need to speak Korean fluently to eat well in Korea. A few simple phrases, a translation app, and a basic understanding of how Korean restaurants work can take you a long way.
If this is your first trip, here’s how to order food in Korea with confidence—even when you barely speak a word of Korean.
Quick Summary: How to Order Food in Korea Without Speaking Korean
- Pointing at the menu is perfectly fine. You do not need to pronounce every dish correctly.
- Keep a translation app such as Papago on your phone for Korean-only menus.
- Look for an English option on kiosks and table-ordering tablets.
- Learn one especially useful phrase: “이거 주세요” (igeo juseyo) — “This one, please.”
If you’re still wondering what to eat, start with Best Korean Foods to Try on Your First Trip to Korea for beginner-friendly dishes worth looking for.
Is It Hard to Order Food in Korea Without Speaking Korean?
Usually, no.
In major tourist areas, you may find English menus, menu photos, touchscreen kiosks, or staff who can help with a basic order.
Smaller neighborhood restaurants are more likely to have Korean-only menus, but ordering can still be simple. In most cases, you only need to show what you want and indicate how many servings you would like.
You do not need to carry on a full conversation in Korean.
The Easiest Way to Order: Point and Say “This One, Please”
One of the most useful Korean phrases for travelers is:
이거 주세요 — igeo juseyo — “This one, please.”
Point to the item you want while saying it.
If you want one serving, you can also say:
이거 하나 주세요 — igeo hana juseyo — “One of this, please.”
If you want two, holding up two fingers while pointing at the menu often works just fine.
Do not worry too much about perfect pronunciation. Your gesture and the short phrase together usually make your meaning clear.
Local Pro Tip
If you’re nervous about your Korean pronunciation, don’t struggle through the entire name of a complicated dish.
Point to what you want and say “이거 주세요” (igeo juseyo).
Simple works surprisingly well.
Use Your Phone When You Need Help With the Menu
A translation app is especially useful when a menu has no English.
Camera translation lets you point your phone at Korean text instead of typing everything manually.
Papago is useful for translating Korean menus and short phrases, so it is worth installing before your trip. If you are preparing your phone for Korea, see 5 Best Apps for Traveling in Korea for other apps that can make your trip easier.
One exception: if you have a serious food allergy, do not rely on automatic translation alone. Ingredient questions need more care.
How to Order at a Korean Restaurant Step by Step
Every restaurant works a little differently, but this is a common pattern.
1. Enter and See Where to Sit
At some restaurants, a staff member will seat you. At more casual places, they may simply point to an available table.
If you are not sure, wait near the entrance for a moment and follow the staff’s direction.
2. Find the Ordering System
Depending on the restaurant, you might see:
- A printed menu
- A menu on the wall
- Photos of dishes
- A touchscreen kiosk near the entrance
- A tablet at your table
- A QR code menu
Some restaurants may also use a paper order sheet.
3. Choose Your Dish and Quantity
At Korean barbecue restaurants and some other places, food may be ordered by serving rather than as one individual plate.
If staff ask how many servings you want and you are unsure how to respond, showing the number with your fingers usually works.
4. Pay When You’re Finished
At many Korean restaurants, you pay at a counter near the entrance rather than waiting for the check at your table.
If you’re unsure what to do, watch what other customers do as they leave.
Useful Korean Phrases for Ordering Food
You do not need to memorize a long list of Korean phrases. These few can cover many common situations.
이거 주세요 — igeo juseyo
This one, please.
이거 하나 주세요 — igeo hana juseyo
One of this, please.
영어 메뉴 있어요? — yeongeo menyu isseoyo?
Do you have an English menu?
물 주세요 — mul juseyo
Water, please.
안 매운 거 있어요? — an maeun geo isseoyo?
Do you have something that isn’t spicy?
감사합니다 — gamsahamnida
Thank you.
Think of these phrases as useful backup tools, not a language test.
How Do Kiosks and Table-Ordering Tablets Work?
Touchscreen ordering is common in Korean restaurants, cafes, food courts, and fast-food locations.
Some places have a kiosk near the entrance, while others put an ordering tablet directly on the table.
Before starting, look for an English language option. If the system is only in Korean, camera translation can help with the basic choices.
Kiosks may ask you to pay before your food is prepared. If you receive a receipt or order number, keep it and watch the pickup screen for your number.
Korean Restaurant Customs That May Surprise Americans
Restaurant service in Korea can feel different from restaurant service in the United States.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization’s official VISITKOREA guide to Korean food, tipping is generally not expected in Korea. The guide also explains that self-service water or side dishes, unmanned ordering systems, call buttons, and utensil drawers are common restaurant features.
Look for a Call Button
Your server may not repeatedly stop by your table to ask whether you need anything.
Instead, look for a small button on the table. Pressing it when you need something is normal.
Check the Table for a Utensil Drawer
If you cannot find chopsticks, spoons, or napkins, check the side of the table.
Many Korean restaurant tables have a built-in drawer where they are stored.
Water and Side Dishes May Be Self-Service
Some restaurants bring everything to your table. Others have a self-service area for water or additional side dishes.
If you see one, you can usually help yourself.
You Usually Do Not Need to Tip
For American travelers, this may be one of the biggest differences.
At most ordinary restaurants in Korea, you simply pay the listed amount.
Local Pro Tip
If you finish eating, leave cash on the table as a tip, and walk out, don’t be surprised if a staff member calls after you—or even follows you outside.
They may genuinely think you accidentally left your money behind.
At most everyday restaurants in Korea, there is no need to leave extra cash on the table.
What If You Have Food Allergies or Dietary Restrictions?
This is one situation where you should be much more careful.
Korean cooking uses a wide range of seasonings, sauces, broths, fermented ingredients, seafood products, and flavor bases. An ingredient may be present in a broth or sauce even when you cannot see it in the finished dish.
If you have a serious food allergy, prepare a clear explanation of your allergy in Korean before your trip and carry a printed copy with you.
Show it to the restaurant staff and ask them to confirm whether the dish contains the ingredient.
Do not assume that something is vegetarian simply because you cannot see meat. Soups, stews, sauces, kimchi, and side dishes can contain meat or seafood-based ingredients.
If you normally carry allergy medication or an epinephrine auto-injector, keep your usual medication with you and follow the medical instructions you have already been given.
If restaurant staff cannot confidently confirm the ingredients and your allergy is serious, choose something else.
Local Pro Tip
For a serious food allergy, I would not rely on memory, pronunciation, or a quick translation at the table.
Prepare a clearly written Korean allergy note before your trip and keep a paper copy in your bag. Korean food can use many different sauces, broths, and seasonings, so asking only about the visible ingredients may not be enough.
And if you become seriously ill after eating—especially if you have trouble breathing or signs of a severe allergic reaction—get medical help immediately rather than waiting to see if it passes. The emergency number in Korea is 119.
Common Restaurant Mistakes First-Time Visitors Should Avoid
Do not expect the server to check on you constantly.
Look for a call button if you need assistance.
Do not assume every side dish must be ordered separately.
Many Korean meals come with banchan automatically.
Do not expect service to work exactly like it does in the United States.
Paying at the counter, getting your own water, or ordering from a tablet can all be completely normal.
Do not let an unfamiliar restaurant setup stop you from trying local food.
Once you understand the basic system, many Korean restaurants are much easier to navigate than they first appear.
Final Advice: Don’t Let the Language Barrier Stop You From Eating Well
You do not need to speak Korean to enjoy Korean restaurants.
Remember “이거 주세요,” keep a translation app ready, and take a moment to see how the restaurant works before ordering.
After a few meals, the process will probably start to feel much more familiar.
If this is your first visit to Korea, First-Time Korea Travel Guide for Americans: What to Know Before You Go covers more everyday details that can help you feel prepared before you arrive.
Korea has an enormous range of food to explore. A language barrier does not have to stop you from enjoying it.