Q&A: Dining Out

So, you’re in Korea and being in a new country the first thing you want to do is dig into some of the mouthwatering local cuisine. Or… you live in Korea and you just want to go out to eat without going through a round of charades first. In Korea, especially Seoul, you will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of places which carry english menus or have staff who know enough English to help you out. Nonetheless, this is not always the case and it will just make things easier on you and your food server if you use Korean, you are in Korea after all. Here’s a lil’ help to get you through a Korean dining experience.

• Q: 몇 분이세요? (myut bun-ee-seh-yo)
  • How many are there in your party?
• A: 세 명이에요. (seh myeong-ee-eh-yo)
  • There are three people.
    • *You can replace the underlined part with any number.

• Q: 뭐 드릴까요? (mwuh duh-ril-gga-yo)
  • What would you like?
• 주문하시겄어요? (joo-mun-ha-she-ges-suh-yo)
  • Are you ready to order?
• A: 네, 삐빔밥 주세요. (neh bi-bim-bap joo-seh-yo)
  • Yes, I’ll have Bibimbap.
    • *You can replace the underlined part with any menu item.
• 불고기 2인분 주세요. (bool-go-gi ee-in-boon joo-seh-yo)
  • Two orders of bulgogi, please.
    • *Use the underlined phrase when you want to order two of the same dish.
• 불고기하고 된장찌개 주세요. (bool-go-gee-ha-go dwen-jang-jji-ge joo-seh-yo)
  • Bulgogi and Doenjangjjigae, please.
    • *Use the underlined phrase when you want to order more than one item.

• 더 필요하신 거 있으세요? (duh pil-yo-ha-shin guh is-seu-seh-yo)
  • Do you need anything else?
• 괜찮습니다. (gwen-chan-seub-ni-da)
  • I’m fine, thank you.

• 여기요. (yeo-gi-yo)
  •   Excuse me.
    • *Use this phrase she you need to get the attention of your waiter.

• 전는 벅숭에 알레르기가 있습니다. (jeo-nun bok-sung-a al-le-reu-gi-ga its-seum-ni-da)
  • I have an allergy to peaches.
    • *Replace the underlined word with whatever you are allergic to.
• 저는 채식주의자입니다. (jeo-nun chae-shik-ju-ui-ja-imb-ni-da)
  • I’m a vegetarian.
• 저는 희를 못 먹습니다. (jeo-nun hoe-reul mot meok-seub-ni-da)
  • I can’t eat raw fish.
• 양파는 빼 주세요. (yang-pa-nun ppeh ju-seh-yo)
  • Please hold the onions.
    • *Replace the underlined word with whatever you don’t want in your food.
• 맵지 읺게 해 주세요. (maep-ji ahn-gae hae ju-seh-yo)
  • Please make it not spicy.