How to Order Food in Korean: Restaurant Phrases from Seating to Paying

In this lesson

What you will take away

• 01 Say your party size and ask for a table
• 02 Ask about dishes and order by quantity
• 03 Check spiciness and ingredients
• 04 Ask for refills, check orders, and pay

Key phrase

비빔밥 하나랑 김치찌개 하나 주세요.

▶ Listen

Use “~ 하나랑 ~ 하나 주세요” to order one of two different dishes. For a softer request, you can ask “~ 주실 수 있을까요?”.

01

Tell the staff how many people are dining

A staff member may ask “몇 분이세요?” (How many people?). Reply with “두 명이에요” (There are two of us). This is about people, not the number of dishes.

Some restaurants seat guests, while others let you choose a table. Ask “자리 있나요?” (Is a table available?) or “여기 앉아도 돼요?” (May I sit here?) when unsure.

Pattern

~명이에요 / 자리 있나요?

두 명이에요.

There are two of us.

자리 있나요?

Is a table available?

여기 앉아도 돼요?

May I sit here?

Staff

어서 오세요. 몇 분이세요?

Customer

두 명이에요.

Staff

이쪽으로 앉으세요.

02

Ask to see the menu and get recommendations

If you need a menu, “메뉴판 좀 볼 수 있을까요?” is a polite request. Adding “좀” softens your request without changing the basic meaning.

Try “이건 어떤 음식이에요?” to ask about a dish or “뭐가 제일 인기 있어요?” for a popular recommendation.

Pattern

~ 좀 볼 수 있을까요?

메뉴판 좀 볼 수 있을까요?

Could I see the menu, please?

이건 어떤 음식이에요?

What kind of dish is this?

뭐가 제일 인기 있어요?

What is the most popular dish?

Customer

메뉴판 좀 볼 수 있을까요?

Staff

네, 여기 있습니다.

Customer

뭐가 제일 인기 있어요?

Staff

비빔밥을 많이 주문하세요.

03

Place an order and add another dish

When you are ready, say “주문할게요.” To order one of each dish, say “비빔밥 하나랑 김치찌개 하나 주세요.”

For extra rice, “밥 한 공기 추가해 주세요” is useful. Extra dishes may cost money, so ask about the price if you are unsure.

Pattern

~ 하나랑 ~ 하나 주세요

주문할게요.

I am ready to order.

비빔밥 하나랑 김치찌개 하나 주세요.

One bibimbap and one kimchi stew, please.

밥 한 공기 추가해 주세요.

Please add one bowl of rice.

Customer

주문할게요. 비빔밥 하나랑 김치찌개 하나 주세요.

Staff

네, 다른 건 필요하세요?

Customer

아니요, 괜찮아요.

04

Check spice levels and ingredients

Ask “이거 많이 매워요?” to check how spicy a dish is. You can request “덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있나요?”, but not every kitchen can adjust the heat.

If you need to avoid an ingredient, ask specifically, for example “이 음식에 땅콩이 들어가나요?” If you have an allergy, ask staff to verify ingredients and preparation rather than relying on guesses.

Pattern

이거 많이 매워요? / ~ 들어가나요?

이거 많이 매워요?

Is this very spicy?

덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있나요?

Could you make it less spicy?

이 음식에 땅콩이 들어가나요?

Does this dish contain peanuts?

Customer

이거 많이 매워요?

Staff

조금 매운 편이에요.

Customer

덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있나요?

Staff

확인해 볼게요.

05

Ask politely for water and side dishes

“물 좀 더 주실 수 있나요?” and “반찬 조금 더 받을 수 있을까요?” are polite ways to request more water or side dishes.

Banchan refill policies and charges vary by restaurant. Do not assume refills are free; ask “반찬 추가는 얼마예요?” if needed.

Pattern

~ 좀 더 주실 수 있나요?

물 좀 더 주실 수 있나요?

Could I have some more water?

반찬 조금 더 받을 수 있을까요?

Could I have a little more banchan?

반찬 추가는 얼마예요?

How much is an extra serving of banchan?

Customer

물 좀 더 주실 수 있나요?

Staff

네, 가져다드릴게요.

Customer

반찬 조금 더 받을 수 있을까요?

Staff

네, 잠시만요.

06

Check on a delayed or incorrect order

If your dish has not arrived, say “주문한 음식이 아직 안 나왔어요.” Follow with “주문 확인 부탁드려요” to ask staff to check.

If the plate seems different from what you ordered, “이거 제가 주문한 음식이 아닌 것 같아요” communicates the problem without sounding accusatory.

Pattern

주문 확인 부탁드려요

주문한 음식이 아직 안 나왔어요.

The food I ordered has not arrived yet.

주문 확인 부탁드려요.

Could you check my order, please?

이거 제가 주문한 음식이 아닌 것 같아요.

I do not think this is what I ordered.

Customer

저기요, 주문한 음식이 아직 안 나왔어요.

Staff

죄송합니다. 확인해 드릴게요.

07

Pay and leave the restaurant

When you have finished, “계산할게요” signals that you would like to pay. Ask “카드로 결제할 수 있나요?” if you need to confirm card payment.

Request a receipt with “영수증 주세요.” “잘 먹었습니다. 감사합니다” is a warm way to thank the staff when leaving.

Pattern

계산할게요 / ~ 결제할 수 있나요?

계산할게요.

I would like to pay.

카드로 결제할 수 있나요?

Can I pay by card?

영수증 주세요.

A receipt, please.

Customer

계산할게요.

Staff

네, 카드로 하시겠어요?

Customer

네, 카드로 할게요. 영수증도 주세요.

08

6 Korean Restaurant Words

Practice these words with short Korean sentences you can actually use at a restaurant.

메뉴

menu

메뉴 좀 볼 수 있을까요?

Could I see the menu?

주문

order / ordering food

주문할게요.

I am ready to order.

맵다

to be spicy

이 음식 많이 매워요?

Is this dish very spicy?

물

water

물 좀 더 주실 수 있나요?

Could I have some more water?

반찬

side dish / banchan

반찬 조금 더 받을 수 있을까요?

Could I have a little more banchan?

계산

payment / to pay

계산할게요.

I would like to pay.

Culture tip

Seating, payment timing, and water or side-dish refill practices differ by restaurant in Korea. Some places seat guests; others let them choose. Check posted guidance and ask staff rather than assuming a refill is free or a card is accepted.

Common mistake

“두 명이에요” counts people; “두 개 주세요” counts items. “덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있나요?” is a request, not a guarantee that the recipe can be changed. Never guess about allergenic ingredients or free refills.

Mini quiz

1. Which phrase tells the staff that your party has two people?

1. 두 명이에요. 2. 두 개 주세요. 3. 두 시예요.

2. Which sentence asks whether a dish is spicy?

1. 이거 많이 매워요? 2. 영수증 주세요. 3. 자리 있나요?

3. What should you say when you are ready to pay?

1. 주문 확인 부탁드려요. 2. 메뉴판 좀 볼 수 있을까요? 3. 계산할게요.

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