Korean phrases for restaurants and cafés

The short answerStart with the Korean text on screen, point to the exact menu item and say one short phrase ending in -요. Use pronunciation only as backup, verify quantities and charges before sending the order, and never treat a translated allergy sentence as proof that a dish is safe.

What matters

The phrases use polite -요 style that is broadly suitable for service interactions without sounding excessively formal.
The pronunciation is an approximate reading aid for English speakers, not a replacement for listening to a Korean speaker or the National Institute of Korean Language audio.
Pointing to the exact menu line, option or quantity reduces ambiguity more effectively than a long machine-translated conversation.
저기요 is a normal way to request attention where there is no call bell, but a table bell or the venue's ordering channel should be used first.
포장 can mean takeaway or packing leftovers, but the exact dish and venue determine whether it is allowed.
안 맵게 or 빼주세요 may be impossible when sauce, stock or a premixed recipe is already prepared.
An allergy or religious-diet phrase communicates a requirement; it does not verify ingredients, shared oil, utensils or cross-contact.
Payment may happen at the counter, table, kiosk or in advance, and split payment is not guaranteed.

How to use the phrase lines

Each line follows Korean — easy pronunciation — practical English meaning. Show the Korean text first, point to the relevant item and speak slowly once. The easy pronunciation is deliberately approximate; Korean sound changes and individual speech make a perfect English-letter transcription impossible.

Use one request at a time and wait for confirmation. A short phrase plus a menu photo, quantity and gesture is usually clearer than combining several requirements into one translation. Keep personal and payment details off a public translation screen.

주세요 — ju-se-yo — please give me / please do this.
돼요? — dwae-yo? — is it possible / is it accepted?
있어요? — i-sseo-yo? — is there / do you have?
안 돼요 — an dwae-yo — it is not possible / it does not work.

Enter, wait and confirm a reservation

State the party size before asking about a table. If a waitlist uses a Korean phone number or sends a text, ask whether a foreign number works and whether you can remain nearby instead. Joining a list is not the same as a confirmed reservation.

Show the booking name and exact time rather than relying on pronunciation alone. Confirm whether every guest must be present and how long the venue holds a late table.

두 명이에요 — du myeong-ieyo — Two people.
혼자예요 — honja-yeyo — Just one person.
예약했어요 — ye-yak-hae-sseo-yo — I have a reservation.
예약 안 했어요 — ye-yak an hae-sseo-yo — I do not have a reservation.
기다려야 해요? — gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo? — Do we need to wait?
얼마나 기다려야 해요? — eol-ma-na gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo? — How long is the wait?
외국 전화번호도 돼요? — oe-guk jeon-hwa-beon-ho-do dwae-yo? — Does a foreign phone number work?
제 차례가 되면 알려주세요 — je cha-rye-ga doe-myeon al-lyeo-ju-se-yo — Please tell me when it is my turn.

Place a short, complete order

Say that you are ready, point to the exact menu item and state the quantity. Confirm whether the displayed amount is one serving, one dish or a set and whether a minimum order applies before staff begin cooking.

A request for the most popular item returns a preference, not a guarantee that the dish fits the traveler's spice, diet, budget or portion needs. Add the one constraint that matters most.

주문할게요 — ju-mun-hal-ge-yo — We are ready to order.
이거 하나 주세요 — i-geo ha-na ju-se-yo — One of this, please.
이거 두 개 주세요 — i-geo du gae ju-se-yo — Two of these, please.
이게 뭐예요? — i-ge mwo-ye-yo? — What is this?
가장 인기 있는 메뉴가 뭐예요? — ga-jang in-gi it-neun me-nyu-ga mwo-ye-yo? — What is the most popular menu?
1인분이에요? — il-in-bun-ieyo? — Is this one serving?
몇 인분부터 주문할 수 있어요? — myeot in-bun-bu-teo ju-mun-hal su i-sseo-yo? — What is the minimum number of servings?
이 메뉴는 몇 명이 먹을 수 있어요? — i me-nyu-neun myeot myeong-i meo-geul su i-sseo-yo? — How many people does this serve?

Ask about spice, ingredients and changes

Ask before ordering because a premixed sauce, broth or marinated ingredient may not be changeable. 안 맵게 means a request for no heat, while 덜 맵게 asks for less heat; neither proves that all chili or spicy ingredients have been removed.

Point to the ingredient you mean and have staff confirm the actual recipe. Removing a visible garnish does not remove an ingredient from stock, sauce, marinade or shared equipment.

안 맵게 해주세요 — an maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo — Please make it not spicy.
덜 맵게 해주세요 — deol maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo — Please make it less spicy.
많이 매워요? — ma-ni mae-wo-yo? — Is it very spicy?
소스는 따로 주세요 — so-seu-neun tta-ro ju-se-yo — Sauce on the side, please.
이건 빼주세요 — i-geon ppae-ju-se-yo — Please leave this out.
추가할 수 있어요? — chu-ga-hal su i-sseo-yo? — Can I add this?
돼지고기가 들어가요? — dwae-ji-go-gi-ga deu-reo-ga-yo? — Does this contain pork?
육수에도 고기가 들어가요? — yuk-su-e-do go-gi-ga deu-reo-ga-yo? — Is there meat in the broth too?

Treat allergy and dietary phrases as a safety check

For an allergy, name the exact ingredient and state whether a small amount or shared equipment matters. Show the message before ordering and ask staff to take it to the kitchen. If staff cannot verify the recipe or cross-contact, do not order the dish.

Vegetarian, vegan, pork-free, halal suitability and allergy control are separate questions. Follow the dedicated dietary guide and the traveler's clinician-approved emergency plan; a phrase card and translation app are not medical clearance.

저는 땅콩 알레르기가 있어요 — jeo-neun ttang-kong al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo — I have a peanut allergy.
조금만 들어가도 먹을 수 없어요 — jo-geum-man deu-reo-ga-do meo-geul su eop-seo-yo — I cannot eat it even if only a little is included.
같은 기름이나 조리도구를 사용해요? — ga-teun gi-reum-i-na jo-ri-do-gu-reul sa-yong-hae-yo? — Do you use the same oil or utensils?
이 재료를 완전히 뺄 수 있어요? — i jae-ryo-reul wan-jeon-hi ppael su i-sseo-yo? — Can this ingredient be removed completely?
확인할 수 없으면 주문하지 않을게요 — hwa-gin-hal su eop-seu-myeon ju-mun-ha-ji a-neul-ge-yo — If it cannot be verified, I will not order.
채식 메뉴가 있어요? — chae-sik me-nyu-ga i-sseo-yo? — Do you have a vegetarian menu?
돼지고기와 술이 들어가지 않은 메뉴가 있어요? — dwae-ji-go-gi-wa su-ri deu-reo-ga-ji a-neun me-nyu-ga i-sseo-yo? — Is there a menu item without pork or alcohol?
심한 증상이 있으면 119에 전화해 주세요 — sim-han jeung-sang-i i-sseu-myeon il-il-gu-e jeon-hwa-hae ju-se-yo — If there are severe symptoms, please call 119.

Order at a café

Say dine-in or takeaway first, then temperature, size, drink and any permitted change. Café size names, one-drink-per-person rules, seating times, laptop restrictions and takeaway packaging vary, so read the current sign instead of assuming a chain-wide rule.

Decaf does not necessarily mean zero caffeine. Plant-based milk does not prove vegan preparation, allergy safety or separation from dairy equipment; ask about the exact product and shared tools when that distinction matters.

여기서 먹고 갈게요 — yeo-gi-seo meok-go gal-ge-yo — I will have it here.
포장해 주세요 — po-jang-hae ju-se-yo — To go, please.
따뜻한 걸로 주세요 — tta-tteu-tan geol-lo ju-se-yo — Hot, please.
차가운 걸로 주세요 — cha-ga-un geol-lo ju-se-yo — Iced, please.
디카페인으로 바꿀 수 있어요? — di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro ba-kkul su i-sseo-yo? — Can you make it decaf?
우유를 두유로 바꿀 수 있어요? — u-yu-reul du-yu-ro ba-kkul su i-sseo-yo? — Can you change the milk to soy milk?
시럽은 빼주세요 — si-reo-beun ppae-ju-se-yo — No syrup, please.
얼음 적게 넣어주세요 — eo-reum jeok-ge neo-eo-ju-se-yo — Please use less ice.
빨대 하나 주세요 — ppal-dae ha-na ju-se-yo — One straw, please.

Ask for help during the meal

Use the table call bell once when one is installed. Otherwise 저기요 is a normal polite attention-getter; say it at a reasonable volume and wait rather than snapping fingers, shouting repeatedly or using a guessed family title such as 아줌마 or 이모.

Check the self-service station before asking for water, utensils, tissues or a refill. Basic side dishes are often refillable, but rice, premium sides and add-ons can cost extra.

저기요 — jeo-gi-yo — Excuse me.
물 좀 주세요 — mul jom ju-se-yo — Some water, please.
앞접시 주세요 — ap-jeop-si ju-se-yo — Small sharing plates, please.
젓가락 하나 더 주세요 — jeot-ga-rak ha-na deo ju-se-yo — One more pair of chopsticks, please.
휴지 어디 있어요? — hyu-ji eo-di i-sseo-yo? — Where are the tissues?
반찬 더 받을 수 있어요? — ban-chan deo ba-deul su i-sseo-yo? — Can we get more side dishes?
이건 주문한 메뉴가 아니에요 — i-geon ju-mun-han me-nyu-ga a-ni-e-yo — This is not what we ordered.
아직 안 나온 메뉴가 있어요 — a-jik an na-on me-nyu-ga i-sseo-yo — One dish has not arrived yet.
포장할 수 있어요? — po-jang-hal su i-sseo-yo? — Can this be packed to go?

Recover from a kiosk or ordering-screen problem

Choose English before filling the cart and review required options, quantities and additions. If the machine requires a Korean phone number, local login or unsupported payment, ask for staffed help rather than entering invented information or repeating the order through another channel.

Keep the order number and receipt until every item is received. Confirm whether the screen calls a number, staff bring the order to the table or the customer collects it at a counter.

영어 메뉴가 있어요? — yeong-eo me-nyu-ga i-sseo-yo? — Is there an English menu?
카드가 안 돼요 — ka-deu-ga an dwae-yo — The card is not working.
외국 카드도 돼요? — oe-guk ka-deu-do dwae-yo? — Do foreign cards work?
주문을 도와주실 수 있어요? — ju-mun-eul do-wa-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo? — Can you help me order?
주문 번호가 어디에 나와요? — ju-mun beon-ho-ga eo-di-e na-wa-yo? — Where is the order number shown?
여기서 받아요? — yeo-gi-seo ba-da-yo? — Do I collect it here?
자리로 가져다줘요? — ja-ri-ro ga-jyeo-da-jwo-yo? — Is it brought to the table?

Pay and check the receipt

Payment can happen at the front counter, table, kiosk or before the meal. Ask where to pay and bring the table number or receipt. Do not leave a card unattended on the table unless staff clearly operate table payment.

Check quantities and additions before tapping or inserting the card. Separate payment depends on the venue and terminal; a foreign card or mobile wallet can fail even when ordinary Korean cards are accepted. Tipping is not customary, so pay the displayed total unless a charge is clearly disclosed.

계산할게요 — gye-san-hal-ge-yo — I would like to pay.
어디에서 계산해요? — eo-di-e-seo gye-san-hae-yo? — Where do I pay?
따로 계산할 수 있어요? — tta-ro gye-san-hal su i-sseo-yo? — Can we pay separately?
같이 계산할게요 — ga-chi gye-san-hal-ge-yo — We will pay together.
카드 돼요? — ka-deu dwae-yo? — Do you take cards?
현금만 돼요? — hyeon-geum-man dwae-yo? — Is it cash only?
영수증 주세요 — yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo — Receipt, please.
이 금액이 맞아요? — i geu-mae-gi ma-ja-yo? — Is this amount correct?
이건 무슨 비용이에요? — i-geon mu-seun bi-yong-i-e-yo? — What is this charge?

Save two show-the-screen cards

For a severe restriction, replace the bracketed ingredient before travel and have a competent Korean speaker or qualified translation service verify the final wording for that specific need. Show it before ordering: 저는 [재료] 알레르기가 있습니다. 조금만 들어가거나 같은 조리도구를 사용해도 먹을 수 없습니다. 안전하게 확인할 수 없으면 주문하지 않겠습니다.

For price and quantity, show: 이 메뉴의 가격은 1인분 기준인가요? 최소 주문 수량과 추가 비용을 알려주세요. The first asks whether the price is for one serving; the second asks for the minimum quantity and additional charges. Keep both cards offline and use large, high-contrast text rather than handing an unlocked phone to a stranger.

Replace [재료] with the exact ingredient in Korean.
Do not combine several allergies into an ambiguous abbreviation.
Call 119 for a medical emergency; do not keep negotiating with the restaurant.
Audio can be added later only after a verified native-speaker recording.

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Official sources to re-check

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