Hungry in Korea? Let’s make sure you can order confidently. In this post, you’ll learn the most useful phrases for restaurants and cafes, how to make polite requests with -주세요, how to count dishes and drinks, and what to expect culturally when you eat out.

First steps: Getting attention and asking for the menu

In Korean, you don’t usually say “waiter.” Just use a polite attention-getter:

• 저기요. = Excuse me.
• 메뉴(좀) 주세요. = Please give me the menu.

Ordering: the core request pattern -주세요

Use Noun + 주세요 or Verb + -아/어 주세요 to make polite requests.

저기요, 물 주세요.

Saying what you want

You can use -고 싶어요 (I want to…) for talking about your wishes, and -(으)ㄹ게요 when you announce what you will do now (friendly intention).

Counting dishes and drinks: native numbers + counters

Korean uses native numbers with counters for items.

• 하나(1), 둘(2), 셋(3), 넷(4), 다섯(5)
• 개: general items/dishes. 예) 불고기 두 개 주세요.
• 잔: cups/glasses. 예) 물 두 잔 주세요.
• 병: bottles. 예) 콜라 한 병 주세요.

In casual speech, 하나 → 한, 둘 → 두, 셋 → 세, 넷 → 네 before counters.

Taste, spice, and takeout

Useful modifiers:

• 맵다 (spicy) → 덜 맵게 해 주세요 (Please make it less spicy).
• 추천하다 (to recommend) → 추천해 주세요 (Please recommend).
• 포장해 주세요 (Please make it to go).

김치찌개 맵게 해 주세요.

Mini-dialogue practice

Let’s build a simple restaurant flow. Read the lines, then put them in the right order.

Useful restaurant vocabulary

Here are must-know words you’ll hear and use.

Polite present tense: -어요/아요

Most verbs you use in restaurants will be in the polite present, ending in -어요 or -아요 depending on vowel harmony.

• 먹다 → 먹어요 (to eat)
• 마시다 → 마셔요 (to drink)
• 주문하다 → 주문해요 (to order)
• 추천하다 → 추천해요 (to recommend)
• 계산하다 → 계산해요 (to pay)

저기요, 이거 하나요. → 저기요, 이거 하나 주세요. Add -주세요 to make a polite request. 물 두 개 주세요. → 물 두 잔 주세요. Use the correct counter: 잔 for cups/glasses.

Culture notes: What to expect

• Calling staff: Say 저기요. In small, family-run places, you might hear people say 이모 (auntie) or 사장님 (owner), but 저기요 is safest.
• Water and side dishes: 물 (water) is often self-serve or free. 반찬 (side dishes) usually come free and can often be refilled. Ask: 반찬 더 주세요.
• Payment: Some restaurants take payment at the counter. Ask: 어디에서 계산해요? (Where do I pay?) You can also say 계산할게요 when you’re ready.
• Spice levels: If you don’t want it too spicy, say 덜 맵게 해 주세요. To ask if it’s spicy: 매워요? (Is it spicy?)
• Pointing at the menu: It’s normal to point and say 이거 주세요 (This one, please). Add 하나/둘, etc., for quantity.

Wrap-up: your ordering checklist

• Get attention: 저기요.
• Ask for the menu: 메뉴(좀) 주세요.
• Order: [Dish] 하나/두 개 주세요. Drinks: [Drink] 한/두 잔 주세요.
• Ask for less spice: 덜 맵게 해 주세요.
• Ask for a recommendation: 뭐가 맛있어요? 추천해 주세요.
• Takeout: 포장해 주세요.
• Pay: 계산할게요.

Practice a short script before you go out, and you’ll sound polite and confident. 다음에 식당에 가서 꼭 써 보세요! (Next time you go to a restaurant, be sure to use these!)