Café Korean gets you coffee. Restaurant Korean gets you dinner without pointing at the menu in silence for three minutes straight.
You don’t need fancy grammar. You need a short path: seat → order → ask for something → pay → thank.
This guide is for beginners in a normal sit-down place (and many casual spots). BBQ details and fancy hanjeongsik etiquette can wait.
The skeleton script
- Entrance / seating: 안녕하세요 · 두 명이요
- Ready to order: 주문할게요
- Order: [dish] 하나 주세요 / [dish] 두 개 주세요
- Needs: 물 주세요 · 반찬 더 주세요
- Bill: 계산해주세요
- Thanks: 감사합니다 · 잘 먹었습니다 (after eating)
If you memorize only three lines, take these:
두 명이요.
Table for two.
이걸로 주세요.
This one, please. (while pointing)
계산해주세요.
Please bring the check / let’s pay.
Pointing plus polite endings still counts as speaking Korean.
Getting a table
Staff may ask how many people:
몇 명이세요?
Answer with native numbers + 명:
- 한 명이요
- 두 명이요
- 세 명이요
- 네 명이요
Walk-in phrase you can offer first:
두 명이요.
Simple. Clear. Works.
Calling staff (politely)
In many places you’ll say:
저기요.
It’s the standard “excuse me” to get attention. You’re not being rude — you’re doing what locals do.
Avoid snapping fingers. Please.
Ordering dishes
Pattern A — name + please
김치찌개 하나 주세요.
One kimchi jjigae, please.
Pattern B — point + this
이걸로 주세요.
I’ll have this.
Pattern C — two items
이거 하나랑 저거 하나 주세요.
One of this and one of that.
Counters get messy (개, 인분, 그릇…). Beginners can survive with 하나 / 둘 plus pointing while you learn counters gradually.
Useful extras (high mileage)
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 물 주세요 | Water, please |
| 반찬 더 주세요 | More side dishes, please |
| 덜 맵게 해 주세요 | Less spicy, please |
| 젓가락 주세요 | Chopsticks, please |
| 수저 주세요 | Spoon & chopsticks set, please |
| 휴지 주세요 | Napkins/tissue, please |
| 포장해 주세요 | Takeout / pack it, please |
덜 맵게 해 주세요 has saved many tourists from accidental fire.
Paying
Common:
계산해주세요.
Also heard:
카드로 결제할게요.
I’ll pay by card.
따로 따로 계산해주세요.
Separate checks, please.
Not every restaurant loves split checks equally — still useful to know.
After the meal
잘 먹었습니다.
Literally close to “I ate well” — a standard polite closing after a meal.
Say it to people you ate with, and it also works as warm manners language in many settings. Pair with 감사합니다 to staff when you leave.
What not to stress about
- Perfect particle choice mid-order
- Reading every menu word (photos and pointing are normal)
- Sounding native
Staff have heard every accent under the sun. Clear and polite wins.
Café vs restaurant (quick split)
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Coffee, dessert café | café ordering phrases (잔) |
| Sit-down meal | this post (명이요, dishes, 계산) |
Same politeness. Different script.
Practice before you go
Read the skeleton script aloud twice. Then role-play once with a friend or voice memo:
Staff: 몇 명이세요?
You: 두 명이요.
You: 김치찌개 하나 주세요.
You: 물 주세요.
You: 계산해주세요.
You: 감사합니다.
Ten minutes at home. Much calmer at the table.
Ready Korean
Use Lesson / Quiz speaking for food units when you have them, and keep travel phrases for getting to the restaurant. Survival Korean is a toolkit — pull the right wrench.
Bottom line
Restaurant Korean is a loop: people count → order → small asks → bill → thanks.
Keep it polite, keep it short, point when needed. Dinner will still taste good.
Korean Particles 은/는 and 이/가 for Absolute Beginners