🛍️ Order Like a Local: Essential Korean Phrases for 2025

By Certified Teacher Hoon | 20 Years of Teaching Experience in Seoul

Ever felt nervous standing at a busy Korean counter? Whether it's a trendy cafe in Seongsu or a traditional BBQ house in Myeongdong, the secret to a smooth order isn't just vocabulary—it's the Korean Ordering Flow. In this guide, I will break down the exact templates used by locals so you can order with 100% confidence.

Step-by-step guide to ordering food in Korea

1. The Golden Rule: The "One-Line" Template

The Sequence:

Greeting → Item(Qty) → Options (Size/Temp/Spice) → Special Requests → Ending

"안녕하세요. 아이스 아메리카노 라지 하나 주세요."

(Annyeonghaseyo. Ice amerikano laji hana juseyo.)

"Hi. One iced Americano, large, please."

2. Survival Phrases for Dietary Needs

Modern Korea is very accommodating to special dietary needs. However, the key is to state your preference at the start of the order.

🥑 Vegan / Vegetarian

비건 우유 있어요?
(Bigeon uyu isseoyo?)
Do you have vegan milk?

고기 빼고 주세요.
(Gogi bpaego juseyo.)
Please exclude the meat.

🕌 Halal Friendly

돼지고기 못 먹어요.
(Dwaejigogi mot meogeoyo.)
I can't eat pork.

알코올 없는 소스 있어요?
(Alko-ol eomneun soseu isseoyo?)
Is there a non-alcoholic sauce?

🌾 Gluten-Free

밀가루 안 들어간 메뉴?
(Milgaru an deureogan menyu?)
Any menu without flour?

간장 빼 주실 수 있나요?
(Ganjang bpae jusil su innayo?)
Can you remove the soy sauce?

3. Smooth Checkout & Payment

카드결제 돼요? (Kadeu gyeolje dwaeyo?) - Can I pay by card?
봉투 필요해요? (Bongtu piryohaeyo?) - Staff will ask: "Do you need a bag?" (Respond with "Ne" or "Aniyo").
현금영수증 해주세요. (Hyeongeum yeongsujeung haejuseyo.) - Essential if paying by cash to get a tax receipt.

💡 Teacher Hoon's Expert Pro-Tips

1. The "Duo" Combo: If you want less ice or less sugar, just say "덜 (Deol)".
(e.g., 덜 달게 - Less sweet / 덜 맵게 - Less spicy). This is the most "native" way to adjust taste.

2. The "Po-jang" Rule: If you want takeout, say "포장해 주세요" (Pojang haejuseyo) at the very beginning. This helps the staff choose the right packaging immediately.