How to Order Food in Korean: Restaurant Phrases & Pronunciation
Ordering in Korean is built around one workhorse verb — 주세요 (please give me) — and a handful of set phrases. Get those down and you can handle almost any restaurant. Here's what to say, how to adjust your order, and the small cultural notes that make it smooth.
Polite 존댓말 with the 요 ending
With restaurant staff, use polite speech (존댓말) — most of your phrases will end in 요. You don't need the very formal 습니다 form to order food; the 요 ending is friendly and correct. Casual 반말 would be rude with someone serving you.
Ordering
메뉴 좀 주세요.
Menyu jom juseyo.
The menu, please.
이거 주세요.
Igeo juseyo.
This one, please.
Point and say it — always works.
비빔밥 하나 주세요.
Bibimbap hana juseyo.
One bibimbap, please.
물 좀 주세요.
Mul jom juseyo.
Some water, please.
Adjusting your order
안 맵게 해 주세요.
An maepge hae juseyo.
Not spicy, please.
이거 매워요?
Igeo maewoyo?
Is this spicy?
리필 돼요?
Ripil dwaeyo?
Can I get a refill?
포장돼요?
Pojang dwaeyo?
Can I get it to go?
Paying & what you'll hear
몇 분이세요?
Myeot bunieseyo?
How many people? (they ask)
계산할게요.
Gyesanhalgeyo.
I'll pay / the check, please.
카드 돼요?
Kadeu dwaeyo?
Do you take card?
맛있게 드세요.
Masitge deuseyo.
Enjoy your meal. (they say)
Tips to sound natural
- Your formula is [item] + 하나/둘 (one/two) + 주세요. It covers almost everything.
- Call a server with 저기요 (jeogiyo) — it's normal and polite, not rude like "hey" would be in English.
- Side dishes (반찬, banchan) are free and usually refillable — just ask 더 주세요 (more, please).
- Say 잘 먹겠습니다 before you eat and 잘 먹었습니다 after — set phrases that show good manners.
Now practice it out loud
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