Korean phrases / Ordering Food and Coffee in Korean

Ordering Food and Coffee in Korean

Most of what you say in a Korean café or restaurant is built on one ending: 주세요 (juseyo), "please give me". Put a thing in front of it and you have an order: 물 주세요, water please; 이거 주세요, this one please.

The phrases below follow a meal from the door to the bill. Staff questions are included too, because recognizing what you are asked is half the job.

Voice:

Getting a table

In casual restaurants you usually seat yourself unless someone greets you at the door.

  • 몇 분이세요?

    myeot buniseyo?

    How many people? (asked by staff)

    Answer with a native Korean number and 명: 한 명, 두 명, 세 명.

  • 두 명이요

    du myeongiyo

    Two people

  • 여기 앉아도 돼요?

    yeogi anjado dwaeyo?

    May I sit here?

  • 메뉴판 주세요

    menyupan juseyo

    The menu, please

    Many places use a tablet or a QR code on the table instead.

  • 저기요!

    jeogiyo!

    Excuse me! (to call staff)

    Calling out is normal and polite in Korea. Some tables have a call button instead.

Ordering

  • 이거 주세요

    igeo juseyo

    This one, please

    Point at the menu while you say it. It works everywhere.

  • 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요

    aiseu amerikano han jan juseyo

    One iced americano, please

    잔 is the counter for cups and glasses: 두 잔, 세 잔.

  • 따뜻한 걸로 주세요

    ttatteutan geollo juseyo

    A hot one, please

  • 추천해 주세요

    chucheonhae juseyo

    What do you recommend?

  • 이거 매워요?

    igeo maewoyo?

    Is this spicy?

  • 덜 맵게 해 주세요

    deol maepge hae juseyo

    Less spicy, please

    Not every kitchen can change a dish, but asking is common.

  • 고기 빼 주세요

    gogi ppae juseyo

    No meat, please

    빼 주세요 means "leave it out". Swap the word: 오이 빼 주세요, no cucumber.

  • 여기서 먹을게요

    yeogiseo meogeulgeyo

    For here

  • 포장해 주세요

    pojanghae juseyo

    To go, please

During the meal and paying

In most Korean restaurants you pay at the counter by the door, not at the table, and there is no tipping.

  • 물 좀 주세요

    mul jom juseyo

    Some water, please

    Water is free, but often self-service: look for a sign saying 셀프.

  • 반찬 더 주세요

    banchan deo juseyo

    More side dishes, please

    Refills of the small side dishes are usually free.

  • 계산해 주세요

    gyesanhae juseyo

    The bill, please

  • 카드 돼요?

    kadeu dwaeyo?

    Do you take cards?

  • 따로 계산할게요

    ttaro gyesanhalgeyo

    We will pay separately

  • 영수증 주세요

    yeongsujeung juseyo

    A receipt, please

Example conversation: At a café counter

A customer orders a coffee and a slice of cake to take away. Staff is voiced by Naeun and customer by Jinhee.

  1. Staff

    어서 오세요. 주문하시겠어요?

    eoseo oseyo. jumunhasigesseoyo?

    Welcome. Are you ready to order?

  2. Customer

    아이스 아메리카노 한 잔이랑 치즈케이크 하나 주세요.

    aiseu amerikano han janirang chijeukeikeu hana juseyo.

    One iced americano and a cheesecake, please.

  3. Staff

    드시고 가세요?

    deusigo gaseyo?

    Is that for here?

  4. Customer

    아니요, 포장해 주세요.

    aniyo, pojanghae juseyo.

    No, to go, please.

  5. Staff

    네, 칠천오백 원입니다.

    ne, chilcheonobaek wonimnida.

    Okay, that is 7,500 won.

  6. Customer

    카드 돼요?

    kadeu dwaeyo?

    Can I pay by card?

  7. Staff

    네, 여기 꽂아 주세요.

    ne, yeogi kkoja juseyo.

    Yes, please insert it here.

More everyday Korean

The romanization follows the Revised Romanization of Korean, which spells words rather than showing every sound change. The recordings are synthesized voices speaking standard Seoul Korean. For how sounds change between syllables, see how to pronounce Korean names.