How to Order Food in a Korean Restaurant: A Real Guide for First-Time Visitors
If you are visiting Korea for the first time, even entering a restaurant can feel a little unfamiliar. Sometimes the confusing part is not the food itself, but how ordering works.
In Korea, every restaurant can feel a little different. Some places have staff who come to your table right away. Some restaurants have a call button on the table. And some places ask you to order using a kiosk before you sit down.
Things like whether water is free, whether side dishes cost extra, or when you pay can feel confusing because restaurant culture is different in every country. For Korean people, these things are completely normal. But for first-time visitors, they can feel unfamiliar.
This guide explains how people actually order and eat in normal Korean restaurants.
1. Can You Sit Down Right Away?
It depends on the restaurant. In small local restaurants like soup places, kimbap restaurants, or noodle shops, people often just sit wherever there is an empty seat.
But if there is a staff member at the entrance, they will usually ask:
This simply means how many people are dining. You can answer:
- One person
- Two people
- Three people
Eating alone is very normal in Korea. Especially in places like kimbap shops, soup restaurants, noodle shops, snack food places, and seolleongtang restaurants.
However, Korean BBQ restaurants or large stew restaurants sometimes require at least two portions.
2. Is Water Free in Korean Restaurants?
Yes. In most Korean restaurants, water is free. You usually do not pay separately for water.
After you sit down, a staff member will usually bring water directly to your table. This is the most common setup in Korea.
Usually they also prepare:
- Cups
- Napkins
- Spoons
- Chopsticks
Some small restaurants may already have a water bottle or water container on the table. Self-service water stations do exist, but they are not the most common in regular restaurants.
3. How Do You Order?
There are usually three common ways.
(1) Staff Comes to Take Your Order
This is the most traditional way. You simply sit down and wait. Usually someone will come. If nobody comes, you can call them.
This is the normal way to call staff in Korea. It is not rude. Korean people use it all the time.
(2) Press the Table Bell
Many restaurants have a small button on the table. This button calls the staff. You do not need to feel awkward pressing it. Korean people use it often.
(3) Using a Kiosk
This is becoming very common, especially in fast food places, snack food restaurants, noodle shops, and cafes.
The usual process:
- Choose menu
- Pay
- Get receipt
- Wait for your number
When your number appears on the screen, you pick up your food.
4. Why Do Korean Restaurants Give Side Dishes?
When you order a main dish, small side dishes often come automatically. These are called Banchan (반찬).
Examples:
- Kimchi
- Bean sprouts
- Pickled radish
- Braised potatoes
- Cucumber salad
These are usually free. And in many restaurants, you can ask for more.
5. Where Are the Spoon and Chopsticks?
Many foreigners miss this. In Korea, spoons and chopsticks are often stored inside the table.
- Inside the side drawer
- Under the table
- Inside a utensil container
Take a quick look around. If you cannot find them, just ask.
6. When Do You Pay?
In Korea, most restaurants use post-payment. This means you eat first and pay later.
Usually you go to the counter after finishing. In many places, you do not even need to explain your table. The staff already knows.
Card payment is very common. Cash is also accepted.
7. Is It Okay to Eat Alone?
Yes. Completely normal. Eating alone is very common in Korea.
Especially during:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Quick dinner
During peak hours:
- 12 PM to 1 PM
- 6 PM to 8 PM
Popular restaurants may have long lines. If you are short on time, it is often easier to try another nearby restaurant.
8. What Time Do Korean Restaurants Usually Close?
Most regular rice-based restaurants usually close around:
- 8 PM to 9 PM
Examples:
- Soup restaurants
- Kimbap places
- Noodle shops
- Rice meal restaurants
- Seolleongtang restaurants
On the other hand, places like bars, Korean BBQ, chicken restaurants, and drinking places often stay open much later. Sometimes until midnight, 2 AM, or even 4 AM.
9. Small Korean Restaurant Culture Tips
- You can eat side dishes first.
- Koreans use both spoons and chopsticks.
- Saying “Jeogiyo!” is normal.
- Sharing food is common.
- Lunch can feel fast-paced.
At first, Korean restaurants may feel unfamiliar. But after one or two meals, most people get used to it quickly. Korean restaurants are usually fast, practical, and quite friendly to foreigners.
