Korean Phrases for Cafes and Restaurants: A Complete Traveler’s Guide

Korean cafés and restaurants are known for their friendly service, clear systems, and well-organized ordering processes. This guide provides useful Korean phrases you can use during your trip, including greetings, ordering phrases, questions, polite expressions, and real conversations you may hear from staff.

All expressions are written in simple, polite Korean suitable for any situation.

1. Entering a Café or Restaurant

When entering, staff may greet you with:

• 어서 오세요. (eo-seo o-se-yo) – Welcome.
• 몇 분이세요? (myeot bun-i-se-yo?) – How many people?

You can respond with:

• 한 명이요. – One person.
• 두 명이요. – Two people.
• 세 명이요. – Three people.

If you need a table first:

• 자리 있어요? – Do you have a table?
• 창가 자리 있어요? – Do you have a window seat?
• 조용한 자리로 부탁해요. – A quiet seat, please.

2. Ordering at a Café

Common staff questions:

• 드실 건가요, 포장인가요? – For here or to go?
• 따뜻하게 드릴까요, 아이스로 드릴까요? – Hot or iced?
• 사이즈는 어떻게 드릴까요? – What size would you like?

Your replies:

• 먹고 갈게요. – For here.
• 포장할게요. – To go.
• 따뜻한 걸로 주세요. – Hot, please.
• 아이스로 주세요. – Iced, please.
• 라지로 주세요. – Large, please.

Ordering drinks and food:

• 아메리카노 하나 주세요. – One Americano, please.
• 카페라떼 두 잔 주세요. – Two lattes, please.
• 케이크 이거 주세요. – This cake, please.
• 설탕 적게 넣어 주세요. – Please use less sugar.
• 얼음 조금만 넣어 주세요. – Please add only a little ice.

If you need help:

• 추천해 주세요. – Please recommend something.
• 가장 인기 있는 메뉴는 뭐예요? – What is the most popular menu item?

3. Ordering at a Restaurant

Before ordering, staff may ask:

• 메뉴 보셨어요? – Did you look at the menu?
• 주문 도와드릴까요? – May I take your order?

Your ordering phrases:

• 이거 주세요. – This one, please.
• 이 메뉴 두 개 주세요. – Two of this menu, please.
• 덜 매운 걸로 주세요. – Please make it less spicy.
• 안 매운 메뉴 있어요? – Do you have non-spicy dishes?
• 고기 빼고 주세요. – Please remove the meat.
• 물 좀 주세요. – Water, please.

If you want to ask about ingredients:

• 이거 뭐가 들어 있어요? – What ingredients are in this?
• 해산물 들어 있어요? – Does this have seafood?
• 땅콩 있어요? – Does this contain peanuts?

4. During the Meal

Ways to call staff politely:

• 여기요. – Excuse me.
• 잠시만요. – One moment, please.

Requests during the meal:

• 물 더 주세요. – More water, please.
• 반찬 더 주세요. – More side dishes, please.
• 수저/포크 더 주세요. – More chopsticks/forks, please.

If something is missing:

• 이거 아직 안 나왔어요. – This hasn’t come out yet.
• 따뜻하게 데워 주세요. – Please heat this again.

5. Finishing the Meal

Useful expressions:

• 잘 먹었습니다. – Thank you for the meal.
• 정말 맛있었어요. – It was really delicious.

6. Payment at the Counter

What staff may ask:

• 카드로 하세요? 현금으로 하세요? – Card or cash?
• 포인트 적립하시겠어요? – Would you like to collect points? (You can answer no.)

Your responses:

• 카드로 할게요. – I’ll pay by card.
• 현금으로 할게요. – I’ll pay with cash.
• 영수증 주세요. – Receipt, please.
• 따로 계산할게요. – We’ll pay separately.
• 같이 계산할게요. – We’ll pay together.

7. Realistic Mini-Conversations (Examples)

Conversation 1: At a Café

Staff: 주문 도와드릴까요? (May I take your order?)
You: 아메리카노 하나 주세요. (One Americano, please.)
Staff: 따뜻한 거요, 아이스요? (Hot or iced?)
You: 아이스로 주세요. (Iced, please.)
Staff: 드시고 가세요? (For here?)
You: 네, 먹고 갈게요. (Yes, for here.)

Conversation 2: At a Restaurant

Staff: 주문하시겠어요? (Are you ready to order?)
You: 김치찌개 하나랑 불고기 하나 주세요. (One kimchi stew and one bulgogi, please.)
Staff: 매운 정도는 괜찮으세요? (Is the spiciness okay?)
You: 조금만 맵게 해 주세요. (Make it only a little spicy.)

Final Note

These expanded phrases cover most situations you will encounter in Korean cafés and restaurants. Even simple Korean words are appreciated, and staff are used to helping international travelers. Feel free to practice a few key phrases before your trip and use them with confidence.