🇰🇷 KoreanA1–A2

Korean Restaurant and Café Phrases

This page focuses on the Korean you actually need in a restaurant or café in Korea. The phrases use polite everyday speech, because that is the safe default with staff and unfamiliar people. You will see how to ask for a table, request things naturally, check whether a dish contains something you cannot eat, and finish the meal smoothly at the counter.

Useful in real conversations

Essential Korean phrases

Arriving and getting a table

Phrases for asking for a seat, mentioning a reservation, and understanding the first reply from staff.

실례합니다, 두 명 자리 있나요?
Romanization: sillyehamnida, du myeong jari innayo?
Excuse me, do you have a table for two?
예약했어요.
Romanization: yeyakhaesseoyo.
I have a reservation.
창가 자리로 부탁드려요.
Romanization: changga jariro butakdeuryeoyo.
Could I have a table by the window?
십 분 정도 기다리시면 돼요.
Romanization: sip bun jeongdo gidarisimyeon dwaeyo.
Please wait about ten minutes.
이쪽으로 오세요.
Romanization: ijjogeuro oseyo.
Please come this way.

Ordering and asking for things

Useful phrases for ordering food and asking for small things at the table.

이거 하나 주세요.
Romanization: igeo hana juseyo.
I'll have this one, please.
추천해 주세요.
Romanization: chucheonhae juseyo.
Please recommend something.
물 좀 주세요.
Romanization: mul jom juseyo.
Could I have some water, please?
포크 주세요.
Romanization: pokeu juseyo.
A fork, please.
이거는 뭐예요?
Romanization: igeoneun mwoyeyo?
What is this?

Dietary needs and problems

Phrases for checking ingredients, stating a food restriction, and reporting a mistake with the dish.

고기 들어가나요?
Romanization: gogi deureoganayo?
Does this contain meat?
돼지고기 들어가요?
Romanization: dwaejigogi deureogayo?
Does this have pork in it?
저는 해산물을 못 먹어요.
Romanization: jeoneun haesanmureul mot meogeoyo.
I can't eat seafood.
견과류 알레르기가 있어요.
Romanization: Gyeongwaryu allereugiga isseoyo.
I have a nut allergy.
덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Romanization: deol maepge hae juseyo.
Please make it less spicy.
이거 잘못 나온 것 같아요.
Romanization: igeo jalmot naon geot gatayo.
I think this came out wrong.

Paying and leaving

Phrases for asking to pay, checking the payment method, and leaving politely after the meal.

계산할게요.
Romanization: gyesanhalgeyo.
I'll pay now.
카드 돼요?
Romanization: kadeu dwaeyo?
Can I pay by card?
영수증 주세요.
Romanization: yeongsujeung juseyo.
The receipt, please.
잘 먹었습니다.
Romanization: jal meogeotseumnida.
Thank you for the meal.
감사합니다, 맛있었어요.
Romanization: gamsahamnida, masisseosseoyo.
Thank you, it was delicious.

Example conversations

Getting a table and ordering

You arrive at a restaurant at lunchtime and want a table, then you ask for a recommendation and some water.

You
실례합니다, 두 명 자리 있나요?
sillyehamnida, du myeong jari innayo?
Excuse me, do you have a table for two?
Other person
네, 이쪽으로 오세요.
ne, ijjogeuro oseyo.
Yes, please come this way.
You
창가 자리로 부탁드려요.
changga jariro butakdeuryeoyo.
Could I have a table by the window?
Other person
네, 메뉴 보실까요?
ne, menyu bosilkkayo?
Sure, would you like to look at the menu?
You
추천해 주세요.
chucheonhae juseyo.
Please recommend something.
Other person
비빔밥이 괜찮아요. 물은 바로 가져다드릴게요.
bibimbapi gwaenchanayo. mureun baro gajyeodadeurilgeyo.
Bibimbap is a good choice. I'll bring water right away.

Checking ingredients, fixing a mistake, and paying

You have a reservation, need to check ingredients because of an allergy, discover a wrong dish, and then pay at the end.

Other person
어서 오세요. 예약하셨어요?
eoseo oseyo. yeyakhasyeosseoyo?
Welcome. Do you have a reservation?
You
예약했어요. 그런데 저는 해산물을 못 먹어요.
yeyakhaesseoyo. geureonde jeoneun haesanmureul mot meogeoyo.
I have a reservation. Also, I can't eat seafood.
Other person
네, 알겠습니다. 메뉴를 도와드릴게요.
ne, algesseumnida. menyureul dowadeurilgeyo.
Okay, I understand. I'll help you with the menu.
You
돼지고기 들어가요?
dwaejigogi deureogayo?
Does this have pork in it?
Other person
네, 조금 들어가요. 덜 맵게도 해드릴 수 있어요.
ne, jogeum deureogayo. deol maepgedo haedeuril su isseoyo.
Yes, it has a little in it. We can also make it less spicy.
You
이거 잘못 나온 것 같아요.
igeo jalmot naon geot gatayo.
I think this came out wrong.
Other person
죄송합니다. 바로 바꿔드릴게요.
joesonghamnida. baro bakkwodeurilgeyo.
Sorry. I'll replace it right away.
You
잘 먹었습니다. 계산할게요. 카드 돼요?
jal meogeotseumnida. gyesanhalgeyo. kadeu dwaeyo?
Thank you for the meal. I'll pay now. Can I pay by card?

A few things to know

polite by default

Use polite -요 forms with staff and unfamiliar people. Short request patterns like noun + 주세요 are very common, and staff will usually reply in short polite phrases as well.

grammar

Ingredient questions often use 들어가다

In phrases like "고기 들어가나요?" and "돼지고기 들어가요?", Korean uses 들어가다 to mean that an ingredient is included in the dish. In this food context, you can ask very directly because the menu is already understood from the situation.

usage

좀 softens a request

In "물 좀 주세요", 좀 is not about asking for a small amount of water. It softens the request, so it sounds gentler than a bare "물 주세요."

grammar

돼요? asks whether something is possible or allowed

In service speech, "카드 돼요?" means "Is card payment possible?" This pattern works for many practical checks, not just payment. Staff often answer with short forms like "돼요" or "안 돼요."

Keep building your everyday vocabulary

Korean Introductions: Essential PhrasesLearn how to greet someone, introduce yourself, exchange basic personal details, and close a first conversation naturally in Korean.How to Ask for Directions in KoreanLearn how to get someone’s attention, ask where a place is, follow simple directions, and ask someone to repeat or slow down in Korean.Korean Hotel and Accommodation PhrasesNatural Korean phrases for checking in at a hotel, asking about services, reporting room problems, and checking out.Essential Korean Shopping PhrasesLearn the Korean phrases you need to shop in Korea: ask where something is, check price, size, color, and stock, try clothes on, decide whether they fit, and handle payment, exchange, or refund.Korean Public Transport PhrasesA Korean phrasebook for finding the right bus or train, buying a ticket, checking fares and times, making transfers, and handling delays or missed stops in South Korea.

Put the phrases in context