Walking into a restaurant in Korea can feel a little confusing at first. Should you wait to be seated or choose your own table? How do you call a server? Do you order at the table, through a touchscreen, or at a self-service kiosk?
There is no single ordering system used by every restaurant. Traditional local eateries may take orders at the table, while newer restaurants often use tablet menus, QR codes, or touchscreen kiosks. Fortunately, once you understand the basic routine, dining out in Korea is usually simple and convenient.
In most cases, you enter the restaurant, tell the staff how many people are in your group, choose your food, and pay at the counter after the meal. This guide walks you through the entire process, from getting a table to ordering side dishes and paying by card. You will also find a few practical Korean phrases that can make your meal much easier.

1. Entering a Restaurant and Getting a Table

Should You Wait to Be Seated?

The seating system varies from one restaurant to another. At some casual restaurants, you can simply walk in and choose an available table. At others, a staff member will show you where to sit.

Before taking a seat, look around the entrance for the following:

A waiting-list tablet or ticket machine
A sign asking guests to wait for assistance
A self-seating notice
A shoe rack for floor-seating areas
A sign stating that reservations are required

A staff member may greet you by asking, “Myeot bun-iseyo?” This means, “How many people are in your group?”

You can answer with one of these simple phrases:

Han myeong-ieyo. (한 명이에요.) — One person.
Du myeong-ieyo. (두 명이에요.) — Two people.
Se myeong-ieyo. (세 명이에요.) — Three people.
Ne myeong-ieyo. (네 명이에요.) — Four people.

Do not worry about perfect pronunciation. Holding up the correct number of fingers while speaking is usually enough to make yourself understood.

Joining a Restaurant Waiting List

Popular restaurants may use a touchscreen waiting system near the entrance. You may be asked to enter the number of guests and a mobile phone number before receiving a queue number.

Some waiting systems only accept Korean phone numbers. If you cannot complete the registration, ask a staff member for help.

Hanguk jeonhwabeonhoga eopseoyo. (한국 전화번호가 없어요.)
I do not have a Korean phone number.
Daegi deungnogeul dowajuseyo. (대기 등록을 도와주세요.)
Could you help me join the waiting list?
Jeonhwabeonho eopsi gidaril su isseoyo? (전화번호 없이 기다릴 수 있어요?)
Can I wait without a phone number?

Once you receive a queue number, stay reasonably close to the restaurant. If your number is called and you are not there, the staff may move on to the next group.

Learn More About Korean Food and Dining Culture

2. How to Order Your Food

Ordering Directly from a Server

Many Korean restaurants still use the traditional table-ordering system. After looking through the menu, press the call button on the table or politely get a server’s attention by saying “Yeogiyo.”

Useful phrases include:

Yeogiyo. (여기요.) — Excuse me.
Jumunhalgeyo. (주문할게요.) — We are ready to order.
Igeo hana juseyo. (이거 하나 주세요.) — One of this, please.
Igeo du gae juseyo. (이거 두 개 주세요.) — Two of these, please.
Chucheon menyuga mwoyeyo? (추천 메뉴가 뭐예요?) — What do you recommend?
Jeil ingi inneun menyuga mwoyeyo? (제일 인기 있는 메뉴가 뭐예요?) — What is the most popular dish?

If you cannot read or pronounce the name of a dish, simply point to the menu and say, “Igeo juseyo,” meaning, “This one, please.” Pointing to a menu photo and showing the quantity with your fingers also works well.

After taking your order, the server may repeat everything back to you. If the order is correct, you can say:

Ne, majayo. (네, 맞아요.) — Yes, that is correct.
Ne, isang-ieyo. (네, 이상이에요.) — Yes, that will be all.

Ordering from a Tablet at Your Table

Tabletop ordering tablets are increasingly common at Korean barbecue restaurants, pubs, cafés, and casual dining chains. They allow you to browse the menu and send your order directly to the kitchen.

The usual process is:

Select your preferred language, if available.
Choose a food or drink category.
Select the dish and quantity.
Choose any available add-ons or options.
Review the cart and confirm your order.

At many restaurants, the tablet is used only for ordering, and you still pay at the front counter after your meal. Other restaurants may allow or require payment directly through the tablet, so check the instructions on the screen.

If you accidentally order the wrong item, call a staff member immediately. Do not assume that pressing a cancellation button will automatically stop the order. Once the kitchen has started preparing the food, cancellation may no longer be possible.

Using a Self-Service Kiosk

Touchscreen kiosks are common at fast-food restaurants, snack shops, noodle restaurants, cafés, and food courts. At these places, you normally order and pay before sitting down.

A typical kiosk order works like this:

Choose dine-in or takeaway.
Select a language, if the option is available.
Choose your food and quantity.
Select any toppings, sides, or drinks.
Pay by card or mobile payment.
Collect your receipt and order number.
Wait for your number to appear on a screen or be called.

Some kiosks do not accept foreign-issued cards, even when the card works normally at staffed payment terminals. If your payment is declined, ask whether you can pay at the counter instead.

You can say:

I kadeuro gyeoljega an dwaeyo. (이 카드로 결제가 안 돼요.)
This card is not working.
Kaunteoeseo gyeoljehal su isseoyo? (카운터에서 결제할 수 있어요?)
Can I pay at the counter?

See More Practical Korean Restaurant Phrases

3. Portions, Menu Prices, and Side Dishes

Understanding “Servings” and Minimum Orders

On Korean menus, portions are often listed using the word inbun (인분), which means a serving for one person.

1 inbun — One serving
2 inbun — Two servings
3 inbun — Three servings

This is especially important at Korean barbecue restaurants and places serving dishes such as dakgalbi, hot pot, or shared stews. Some dishes require a minimum first order of two servings.

For example, two diners may not be able to order only one serving of pork belly. Even if you plan to order additional dishes, the restaurant may still require at least two servings of the main meat or shared dish.

Some restaurants also have a one dish per person policy. This means each adult guest is expected to order at least one main menu item. If someone in your group is not eating, has dietary restrictions, or is accompanying a child, it is best to check before ordering.

Useful questions include:

I menyuneun myeot inbun-ieyo? (이 메뉴는 몇 인분이에요?)
How many people does this serve?
Du myeongi meokgie chungbunhaeyo? (두 명이 먹기에 충분해요?)
Is this enough for two people?
Hana-man jumunhal su isseoyo? (하나만 주문할 수 있어요?)
Can we order just one?
Choeso jumuni myeot inbun-ieyo? (최소 주문이 몇 인분이에요?)
What is the minimum order?

Checking Menu Prices

Restaurant menu prices in Korea generally show the final amount customers are expected to pay. Taxes are not normally added separately at the register as they often are in some other countries.

However, certain items or services may carry an additional charge. These can include:

A table-setting fee at some barbecue restaurants
Rice, noodles, drinks, or alcoholic beverages
Extra meat or additional ingredients
Optional side dishes that are sold separately
A corkage fee for bringing outside alcohol
Reservation deposits or cancellation charges

If a price is unclear, ask before placing the order.

Ige choejong gagyeog-ieyo? (이게 최종 가격이에요?)
Is this the final price?
Chuga biyongi isseoyo? (추가 비용이 있어요?)
Is there an additional charge?

Water and Banchan

Many Korean meals come with small side dishes known as banchan. These may include kimchi, seasoned vegetables, pickles, or other small accompaniments.

Basic side dishes and drinking water are often provided at no extra charge. Depending on the restaurant, a server may bring them to your table, or you may need to collect them from a self-service station.

Look for signs such as:

Mul-eun self-imnida. (물은 셀프입니다.) — Water is self-service.
Banchan-eun self corner-reul iyonghae juseyo. (반찬은 셀프 코너를 이용해 주세요.) — Please use the self-service area for side dishes.

You can also ask:

Mul jom juseyo. (물 좀 주세요.) — Could we have some water?
Gimchi jogeum deo juseyo. (김치 조금 더 주세요.) — Could we have some more kimchi?
Banchan deo badeul su isseoyo? (반찬 더 받을 수 있어요?) — Can we get more side dishes?
Mul-eun self-yeyo? (물은 셀프예요?) — Is the water self-service?

Keep in mind that not every extra dish is free. Basic banchan may be refillable, but rice, steamed eggs, soup, meat, noodles, and specially ordered side dishes usually cost extra.

If you are using a self-service station, take only as much as you expect to eat. Leaving large amounts of food behind is generally considered wasteful.

Checking Ingredients and Food Allergies

Korean dishes may contain ingredients that are not immediately visible, including anchovy broth, seafood-based sauces, fermented shrimp, meat stock, or shared cooking oils.

If you have a serious allergy, follow a vegetarian diet, or avoid certain ingredients for religious reasons, do not rely only on the name or photograph of a dish. Ask the staff directly before ordering.

I eumsige dwaejigogiga deureogayo? (이 음식에 돼지고기가 들어가요?)
Does this contain pork?
Gogi eopsi mandeul su isseoyo? (고기 없이 만들 수 있어요?)
Can this be made without meat?
Myeolchi yuksuga deureogayo? (멸치 육수가 들어가요?)
Does this contain anchovy broth?
Ttangkong allergy-ga isseoyo. (땅콩 알레르기가 있어요.)
I have a peanut allergy.
I jaeryoreul ppae juseyo. (이 재료를 빼 주세요.)
Please leave out this ingredient.
Dareun eumsikgwa gateun gireumeul sayonghaeyo? (다른 음식과 같은 기름을 사용해요?)
Is it cooked in the same oil as other foods?

For severe allergies, prepare a clearly written Korean allergy card on your phone and show it to the staff. Some restaurants cannot change recipes or prevent cross-contact, so always confirm what is possible before placing your order.

4. Paying for Your Meal

Where Do You Pay?

At most casual Korean restaurants, customers pay at a register near the entrance after finishing their meal. You usually do not need to wait for a bill to be brought to the table.

Upscale restaurants and some Western-style dining venues may handle payment at the table, but paying at the front counter remains the most common system.

When you are ready to leave, walk to the register and say:

Gyesanhalgeyo. (계산할게요.) — I would like to pay.
Gyesanhae juseyo. (계산해 주세요.) — Could you calculate the bill?
Kadeuro halgeyo. (카드로 할게요.) — I will pay by card.
Hyeongeumeuro halgeyo. (현금으로 할게요.) — I will pay in cash.
Yeongsujeung juseyo. (영수증 주세요.) — Could I have a receipt?

If there is an order slip, table number card, or payment barcode on your table, bring it to the register. If there is nothing to carry, the cashier can usually find your order using your table number or location.

Paying by Card or Cash

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at restaurants throughout Korea, including for small purchases. In most urban areas, you can comfortably dine without relying heavily on cash.

That said, foreign-issued cards may occasionally be declined because of the card network, overseas-use settings, or the restaurant’s payment terminal. Small market stalls, street-food vendors, and some unattended shops may accept only cash or Korean mobile payment services.

It is sensible to carry:

At least one physical card enabled for international use
A backup card from a different provider
A small amount of Korean won
Your card PIN, in case the terminal requests it

If a card does not work, try one of these phrases:

I kadeuga an dwaeyo? (이 카드가 안 돼요?) — Is this card not accepted?
Dareun kadeuro gyeoljehalgeyo. (다른 카드로 결제할게요.) — I will use another card.
Hyeongeumeuro gyesanhalgeyo. (현금으로 계산할게요.) — I will pay in cash.
Kadeureul kkoaj-aya haeyo? (카드를 꽂아야 해요?) — Do I need to insert the card?

Can You Split the Bill?

Some Korean restaurants can split a bill between several cards, but the practice is not guaranteed everywhere. The restaurant’s payment system, staff availability, and how busy the restaurant is may affect whether separate payments are possible.

Ask before the cashier begins processing the payment:

Ttaro gyesanhal su isseoyo? (따로 계산할 수 있어요?) — Can we pay separately?
Du jang-euro nanwoseo gyeoljehae juseyo. (두 장으로 나눠서 결제해 주세요.) — Please split the payment between two cards.
Gakja gyesanhalgeyo. (각자 계산할게요.) — We would like to pay individually.
I geumaengman kadeuro gyeoljehae juseyo. (이 금액만 카드로 결제해 주세요.) — Please charge only this amount to the card.

During a busy lunch or dinner period, it may be easier for one person to pay the full amount and settle the balance with the rest of the group afterward.

Do You Need to Tip in Korea?

Tipping is not normally expected at everyday restaurants in Korea. In most cases, you simply pay the amount shown on the bill and leave without adding a gratuity.

Card terminals generally do not ask customers to select a tip percentage. Leaving cash on the table may even cause confusion, as staff might assume you accidentally forgot your money.

Unless a restaurant clearly states otherwise, there is no need to leave an additional tip.

Check Payment and Currency Information for Korea

5. What to Do When Something Goes Wrong

Your Food Has Not Arrived

Korean restaurants do not always serve every dish at the same time. Items with shorter cooking times may arrive first, while grilled meat, stews, or handmade dishes can take longer.

If you have been waiting for a long time, press the call button or ask a staff member to check your order.

Ajik eumsigi an nawasseoyo. (아직 음식이 안 나왔어요.)
Our food has not arrived yet.
Jumuni deureoganneunji hwaginhae juseyo. (주문이 들어갔는지 확인해 주세요.)
Could you check whether our order went through?
I menyuneun eonje nawayo? (이 메뉴는 언제 나와요?)
When will this dish be ready?

You Received the Wrong Dish

If a dish arrives that you did not order, tell the staff before eating it. Occasionally, a restaurant may provide a complimentary item, so it is better to check than to assume it was delivered by mistake.

Igeo jumunhaji anasseoyo. (이거 주문하지 않았어요.)
We did not order this.
Jega jumunhan menyuwa dallayo. (제가 주문한 메뉴와 달라요.)
This is different from what I ordered.
Jumun naeyeogeul hwaginhae juseyo. (주문 내역을 확인해 주세요.)
Could you check the order?

The Bill Is Higher Than Expected

If the total does not match what you expected, ask to review the itemized bill before paying.

Gyesan naeyeogeul hwaginhago sipeoyo. (계산 내역을 확인하고 싶어요.)
I would like to check the bill.
I menyuneun jumunhaji anasseoyo. (이 메뉴는 주문하지 않았어요.)
We did not order this item.
Chuga biyongi mueosingayo? (추가 비용이 무엇인가요?)
What is this additional charge?
Yeongsujeungeul boyeo juseyo. (영수증을 보여 주세요.)
Could you show me the receipt?

If you notice an error after paying, keep both the receipt and the card transaction record and ask the restaurant to review the payment. Travelers who need language assistance or help with a tourism-related complaint can also contact Korea’s official tourist information services.

Get Travel Assistance in Korea

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I order by pointing at the menu if I do not speak Korean?

Yes. Pointing to a dish or menu photo and saying “Igeo juseyo”, meaning “This one, please,” is perfectly acceptable. Show the quantity with your fingers to avoid misunderstandings.

Q2. Can I use a foreign-issued credit card at Korean restaurants?

International credit and debit cards are accepted at most regular restaurants. However, some self-service kiosks, small local businesses, market stalls, and unattended stores may not accept foreign cards. Carrying a backup card and a small amount of cash is recommended.

Q3. Are banchan refills free?

Refills of basic side dishes such as kimchi or seasoned vegetables are often free. However, this does not apply to every dish. Rice, soup, meat, noodles, steamed eggs, and specially ordered sides normally cost extra. When in doubt, ask the staff before ordering more.

Conclusion

Dining at a Korean restaurant becomes much easier once you understand the basic routine. Enter the restaurant, tell the staff how many people are in your group, choose your food, and order through a server, tablet, or kiosk. When you have finished eating, head to the front counter and pay by card or cash.

Three particularly useful phrases are “Yeogiyo” for getting a server’s attention, “Igeo juseyo” for ordering an item, and “Gyesanhalgeyo” when you are ready to pay. Even with limited Korean, these phrases and a little pointing will help you handle most dining situations.

Restaurant policies can still vary. Minimum order requirements, self-service rules, side-dish refills, and foreign-card acceptance are not identical everywhere. Take a moment to check the menu and signs, and ask the staff whenever something is unclear.

With a little preparation, ordering and paying at restaurants in Korea can be one of the easiest and most enjoyable parts of your trip.

행:Hang

How to Order and Pay at Restaurants in Korea: A Complete Guide