10 Korean Restaurant Phrases for Tourists You’ll Recognize From K-Dramas

Just 10 Phrases Are Enough to Order Without a Menu

Restaurants are where travelers in Korea spend the most time, yet many still don’t have English menus. Here’s the bottom line first: memorize the 10 phrases below, and you can order, ask for more side dishes, request a doggy bag, and pay — all without opening a translation app. Here’s the interesting part: if you’ve watched K-dramas, you’ve already heard these lines. That one shout from a street food stall scene? You probably didn’t know exactly what it meant.

10 Korean Restaurant Phrases You Can Use Today

The table below is ranked by how often you’ll actually need each phrase. Speak slowly, with a slight upward lilt at the end — it sounds more natural that way.

Korean	Pronunciation	English Meaning	When to Use
여기요!	Yeogiyo!	Excuse me!	Calling a staff member
메뉴판 좀 주세요.	Menupan jom juseyo.	Could I get a menu, please?	Requesting a menu
이거 주세요.	Igeo juseyo.	I’ll have this, please.	Ordering by pointing
추천 메뉴가 뭐예요?	Chucheon menuga mwoyeyo?	What do you recommend?	Asking for recommendations
안 맵게 해주세요.	An maepge haejuseyo.	Please make it not spicy.	Adjusting spice level
반찬 더 주세요.	Banchan deo juseyo.	Could I get more side dishes?	Refilling side dishes
물 좀 주세요.	Mul jom juseyo.	Water, please.	Requesting water
포장 되나요?	Pojang doenayo?	Can I get this to go?	Asking about takeout
맛있어요!	Masisseoyo!	It’s delicious!	Thanking the staff
계산해 주세요.	Gyesanhae juseyo.	Check, please.	Asking for the bill

What to Say When Calling a Waiter in Korea

Korean restaurants rarely have staff circling tables to take orders. Raising your hand and calling out “여기요!” is the standard way to get attention. It can feel awkward at first, but Koreans use the exact same phrase. Saying it clearly and once, rather than muttering it quietly, actually gets you served faster.

How to Ask for Less Spicy Food in Korean

Many Korean dishes can be adjusted for spice level. A simple “안 맵게 해주세요” works for tteokbokki, stews, bibimbap, and most other dishes. That said, some menu items can’t be made completely mild — if staff respond with “조금은 매울 수 있어요” (it might still be a little spicy), that’s a normal and honest answer, not a refusal.

Korean Phrases From K-Drama Restaurant Scenes

Street food tents and small noodle shops show up constantly in K-dramas set in Korea. A character walking in and raising a hand to call the staff, ordering one more bottle of soju, asking for extra side dishes — these scenes appear in nearly every Korean drama at some point. They feel familiar because they’re an accurate reflection of how Koreans actually eat out. You don’t need to memorize drama dialogue word for word; once you experience the same situation yourself, you’ll understand exactly why those scenes always felt so natural.

In fact, many travelers remember a meal at a small neighborhood restaurant more fondly than a hotel breakfast. That difference rarely comes from the food itself — it comes from the experience of ordering and communicating directly. Learning a handful of phrases beforehand can change the entire quality of a trip.

The Easiest Way to Remember These Phrases

Don’t try to memorize all 10 at once. Group them by situation instead. Before walking into a restaurant, learn “여기요,” “메뉴판 좀 주세요,” and “이거 주세요.” During the meal, recall “반찬 더 주세요” and “안 맵게 해주세요” as needed. Save “계산해 주세요” for last, since it’s the phrase you’ll use most — get comfortable with it first.

Screenshotting the table above and saving it as your phone’s lock screen or a notes app entry makes it instantly accessible when you actually need it.

한국어	Pronunciation	English	中文	Español	हिन्दी
여기요!	Yeogiyo	Excuse me!	服务员!	¡Disculpe!	सुनिए!
메뉴판 좀 주세요.	Menupan jom juseyo.	Could I get a menu, please?	请给我菜单。	La carta, por favor.	मेन्यू दीजिए।
이거 주세요.	Igeo juseyo.	I’ll have this, please.	我要这个。	Quiero esto, por favor.	यह दीजिए।
추천 메뉴가 뭐예요?	Chucheon menuga mwoyeyo?	What do you recommend?	你推荐什么菜?	¿Qué me recomienda?	आप क्या सुझाव देंगे?
안 맵게 해주세요.	An maepge haejuseyo.	Please make it not spicy.	请不要辣。	Que no esté picante, por favor.	कृपया तीखा न बनाएं।
반찬 더 주세요.	Banchan deo juseyo.	Could I get more side dishes?	请再给我一些小菜。	Más acompañamientos, por favor.	और साइड डिश दीजिए।
물 좀 주세요.	Mul jom juseyo.	Water, please.	请给我水。	Agua, por favor.	पानी दीजिए।
포장 되나요?	Pojang doenayo?	Can I get this to go?	可以打包吗?	¿Puedo pedirlo para llevar?	क्या यह पैक हो सकता है?
맛있어요!	Masisseoyo!	It’s delicious!	很好吃!	¡Está delicioso!	बहुत स्वादिष्ट है!
계산해 주세요.	Gyesanhae juseyo.	Check, please.	买单。	La cuenta, por favor.	बिल दीजिए।