🍜 How to Order Food in Korean: At a Restaurant

If you’re traveling to Korea or eating at a Korean restaurant abroad, knowing how to order food in Korean is a must-have skill. 🇰🇷🍽️

In this guide, you'll learn the most useful Korean phrases for ordering food, calling the waiter, asking for recommendations, and paying the bill — all in a polite and beginner-friendly way.

🧑‍🍳 Step 1: Getting the Server’s Attention

Koreans don’t usually say “Excuse me” — they call out directly or press a bell.

Common Ways:

저기요! (jeogiyo) → Excuse me! (most polite)
이모! (imo) → Auntie! (used in small restaurants with older women)
"Do not call anyone 이모(imo). It recommended for older people or those who have gotten along a little bit
벨🔔 → Many tables have a call button — press it!

📖 Step 2: Asking for the Menu

메뉴 주세요. (menyu juseyo) → Please give me the menu.
추천해 주세요. (chucheonhae juseyo) → Please recommend something.

💡 Add “이 집에서 뭐가 맛있어요?” → What’s good here?

🥘 Step 3: Ordering Food

Key Pattern:

[Dish] + 주세요. → Please give me [dish].

Examples:

불고기 주세요. → Bulgogi, please.
김치찌개 하나 주세요. → One kimchi stew, please.
비빔밥 두 개 주세요. → Two bibimbap, please.

🔢 Counting Dishes:

하나 (1), 둘 (2), 셋 (3), 넷 (4) + 개 (counter for food items)
예: 삼겹살 세 개 주세요. (Three orders of pork belly, please.)

🙋‍♀️ Want to be extra polite?
→ [Dish] 좀 부탁드릴게요. = A more humble and softer tone.

🧂 Step 4: Making Requests

Korean Phrase	Meaning
물 주세요.	Water, please.
더 주세요.	Please give me more.
덜 맵게 해 주세요.	Please make it less spicy.
젓가락 좀 주세요.	Chopsticks, please.
포장해 주세요.	Please pack it to go.

💵 Step 5: Asking for the Bill

계산서 주세요. (gyesanseo juseyo) → The bill, please.
카드 돼요? (kadeu dwaeyo?) → Do you accept cards?

🎁 Optional:

잘 먹었습니다! → Said after finishing the meal to show gratitude (means "I ate well").

🗣️ Real Conversation Example

👤 손님: 저기요! 메뉴 주세요.
👩‍🍳 종업원: 네, 여기 있습니다.
👤 손님: 김치찌개 하나랑 공기밥 하나 주세요.
👩‍🍳 종업원: 네, 잠시만요.
👤 손님: 물도 주세요.
👤 (After eating): 계산서 주세요.
👤 (Leaving): 잘 먹었습니다!

🎯 Practice Tips

Memorize 주세요, 하나/둘/셋 with your favorite Korean dishes.
Practice role-playing with a partner or teacher.
Watch Korean mukbangs or restaurant scenes and mimic the expressions.
Visit a Korean restaurant and try ordering in Korean — even just one line!

👩‍🏫 Want to Practice Ordering Naturally?

I can help you sound more confident and natural when ordering at a Korean restaurant — whether you’re visiting Korea or learning for fun.

👉 Book a Korean conversation lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/ko/teacher/7916559

Let’s practice restaurant Korean together over virtual "meals"! 🍜💬