🍲 Reading Korean Menus in Detail – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

Reading Korean Menus in Detail | Intermediate Korean (TOPIK 3–4)

ν•œκ΅­ 양념과 ν”„λΌμ΄λ“œ μΉ˜ν‚¨


Have you ever opened a Korean menu and felt overwhelmed by the unfamiliar words and cooking terms?


 This lesson will guide you through reading Korean menus in detail, from food categories to cooking methods, so you can confidently order your favorite dishes in Korea.


πŸ“š Table of Contents



🍱 Menu Categories You Should Know

  • ν•œμ‹ (Han-sik) – Traditional Korean cuisine
  • 뢄식 (Bun-sik) – Light meals/snack foods (tteokbokki, gimbap)
  • ꡬ이 (Gui) – Grilled dishes (samgyeopsal, galbi)
  • 찌개 (Jjigae) – Stews (kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae)
  • 탕 (Tang) – Soups (samgyetang, gomtang)
  • 볢음 (Bokkeum) – Stir-fried dishes (kimchi bokkeum, dakbokkeum)
  • 전골 (Jeongol) – Hot pot dishes (haemul jeongol)

πŸ’‘ Note: Menus often separate dishes into these categories. Knowing them helps you navigate Korean dining culture like a local.



πŸ”₯ Common Cooking Methods

  • ꡬ이 (grilled) – κ³ λ“±μ–΄ ꡬ이 (grilled mackerel)
  • 찜 (steamed/braised) – κ°ˆλΉ„μ°œ (braised short ribs)
  • νŠ€κΉ€ (fried) – μƒˆμš°νŠ€κΉ€ (fried shrimp)
  • 볢음 (stir-fried) – μ˜€μ§•μ–΄ 볢음 (stir-fried squid)
  • λ‚˜λ¬Ό (seasoned greens) – μ‹œκΈˆμΉ˜ λ‚˜λ¬Ό (seasoned spinach)

Tip: These cooking method words are often combined with main ingredients (e.g., “μ˜€μ§•μ–΄ 볢음” = stir-fried squid). Recognizing them makes menus easier to decode.



πŸ“ Useful Phrases for Ordering

  • μΆ”μ²œ 메뉴가 λ­μ˜ˆμš”? – What do you recommend?
  • 이거 λ§΅λ‚˜μš”? – Is this spicy?
  • κ³ κΈ° λΉΌκ³  λ§Œλ“€ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”? – Can you make it without meat?
  • 포μž₯λΌμš”? – Can I get it to-go?
  • 두 λͺ…μ΄μ—μš”. 메뉴 μΆ”μ²œν•΄ μ£Όμ„Έμš”. – We are two people. Please recommend a dish.

πŸ’‘ Note: Polite endings like “-μš”” make your requests sound friendly and respectful in restaurants.



πŸ’¬ Example Menu Items

  • λΉ„λΉ”λ°₯ – Bibimbap – Mixed rice with vegetables and gochujang
  • 뢈고기 – Bulgogi – Marinated grilled beef
  • κΉ€μΉ˜μ „ – Kimchi Jeon – Kimchi pancake
  • 삼계탕 – Samgyetang – Ginseng chicken soup

🧩 Quick Check: Which of these dishes would you choose for a cold winter day? Why?



πŸ—£ Practice Dialogue

A: λ©”λ‰΄μ—μ„œ μΆ”μ²œ μš”λ¦¬κ°€ λ­μ˜ˆμš”? What is the recommended dish on the menu?

B: λΆˆκ³ κΈ°κ°€ 인기가 λ§Žμ•„μš”. λ‹¬μ½€ν•˜κ³  λΆ€λ“œλŸ¬μ›Œμš”. Bulgogi is very popular. It’s sweet and tender.

A: 맡지 μ•Šμ•„μš”? Is it not spicy?

B: λ„€, 거의 맡지 μ•Šμ•„μš”. 아이듀도 잘 λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”. No, it’s hardly spicy. Even children enjoy it.

🧩 Quick Check: Can you change this dialogue to ask about vegetarian dishes instead of bulgogi?



🌏 Did You Know?

Did you know? Many Korean restaurants display **plastic food models** or photos of dishes outside their doors. This tradition helps customers visually choose their meal—especially helpful for foreigners learning Korean menus!



πŸ“¦ Final Thoughts

Reading Korean menus confidently means you’ll enjoy dining experiences more fully. As you study food categories and cooking methods, try visiting local markets or street food vendors to practice identifying dishes in real-life settings.

Hopefully, this guide motivates you to explore more Korean food and confidently talk about your choices. Keep coming back for more practical lessons tailored for your journey!



πŸ”— Related Posts

πŸŽ“ Want to practice reading Korean menus with real-life examples?
Book a 1:1 Korean class on italki and gain confidence for dining out in Korea.


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  • πŸ’¬ Leave a comment: Which Korean dish would you like to try first?

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