Learning a few Korean dining phrases changes your whole restaurant experience. You do not need perfect grammar. You just need the right words at the right moment. In my experience, a handful of simple phrases will carry you through almost any meal.
Walking In and Getting Seated
Walking into a Korean restaurant feels different from other places. Staff often shout a greeting the moment you walk in. You do not need to greet them back. Honestly, nobody minds either way. When I worked part-time, I greeted customers too. I never felt bad when people just walked past me.
Personally, I do not stop to bow at the entrance. I just say how many people are in my group. Something like 두 명이요 (du-myeong-i-yo — two people, please). Then the staff shows me to a table. Fast and simple.
How to Call the Staff
First, you need a menu. Most Korean restaurants keep menus on the table already. If not, just ask 메뉴판 주세요 (me-nyu-pan ju-se-yo — please give me a menu).
When you need a staff member, you have options. Textbooks teach 저기요 (jeo-gi-yo — excuse me). It works, but I rarely use it myself. I usually call out 사장님 (sa-jang-nim — boss) or 이모 (i-mo — auntie). These feel warmer and more natural to me. 이모 sounds odd in English, but it is very common in casual places.
In a fancy restaurant, you can relax. There is almost always a buzzer anyway. And the staff pay close attention to every table. So just raise your hand or catch their eye. Someone will come right away. Personally, I feel shouting suits a quiet, fancy place less — but that is just how I see it.
Ordering Your Food
When you are ready to order, keep it simple. Point at the menu and say 이거 주세요 (i-geo ju-se-yo — this one, please). Ordering several things? Just point and repeat 이거, 이거, 이거 (i-geo, i-geo, i-geo — this, this, this). Then add 주세요 once at the end. You do not need to say 주세요 every single time.
If you know the dish name, say it directly. For example, 찌개 하나요 (jji-gae ha-na-yo — one stew, please). Personally, I think pointing plus a few words gets the job done every time.
Using the Table Buzzer
Many Korean restaurants have a buzzer on the table. You press it to call staff. This is very normal and not rude at all. When you press it, your table number shows up for the staff. So they know exactly where to go.
If nobody comes, just press it again. I do this all the time. At a bar, after a few drinks, I might press it until someone shows up. Younger Koreans might disagree, but I find buzzers easier than calling across the room.
Greetings at the Table
When the food arrives, a simple 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da — thank you) is enough. You will hear 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meok-ge-sseum-ni-da — I will eat well) in textbooks. But I mostly say this at home, not at a restaurant I pay for. When I pay for my own meal, 감사합니다 is all I use.
잘 먹겠습니다 fits best when someone treats you. Eating with others changes things too. Koreans often say 맛있게 드세요 (ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo — enjoy your meal) to elders. To younger people, they might say 많이 먹어 (ma-ni meo-geo — eat a lot). This is my personal experience. Other Koreans may see it differently.
Paying the Bill
Paying also has its own phrase. You say 계산해 주세요 (gye-san-hae ju-se-yo — please give me the bill). In Korea, you usually pay at the counter, not at the table. Table payment is rare here.
When you finish, walk to the counter and wait. If no one is there, call out 사장님. Some places now have QR code payment too. On your way out, it is nice to say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meo-geo-sseum-ni-da — I ate well, thank you). Knowing this small detail saves a lot of awkward waiting.
Key Korean Dining Phrases
저기요 (jeo-gi-yo — Excuse me (to get staff attention))
Excuse me, can I order now?
저기요, 지금 주문해도 될까요?
이거 주세요 (i-geo ju-se-yo — This one, please (used when pointing at the menu))
I will have this one, please.
이거 주세요.
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meok-ge-sseum-ni-da — I will eat well (said before starting a meal))
Thank you for the food — I will eat well.
잘 먹겠습니다.
계산해 주세요 (gye-san-hae ju-se-yo — Please give me the bill)
We are ready to pay. Please give us the bill.
저희 다 먹었어요. 계산해 주세요.
메뉴판 주세요 (me-nyu-pan ju-se-yo — Please give me a menu)
Could I have the menu, please?
메뉴판 주세요.
These Korean dining phrases are all you need to feel comfortable eating out. Start with one or two and add more over time. Korean staff are forgiving with foreigners, so do not stress about being perfect.
Written by a native Korean speaker born in Seoul in 1985. This is my personal experience. Other Koreans may see things differently.
