Korean phrases for food, restaurants and drinking
Korean restaurants run on a few short phrases — and a few table manners that matter more than any of them.
To get a server’s attention, call out 저기요 or 여기요, or press the call button many tables have. Side dishes (반찬) are refilled for free, so 하나 더 주세요 (hana deo juseyo) and 이거 좀 더 주세요 (“a bit more of this, please”) are some of the most useful lines you can learn.
Food talk is full of set phrases. Before eating, people say 잘 먹겠습니다 — roughly “I will eat well”, a thank-you to whoever cooked or paid. After, 잘 먹었습니다. Saying 맛있어 (masisseo) to the owner on your way out is the nicest review you can give.
If spice is a worry, learn 매워 (maewo) and ask ahead: 덜 맵게 해 주세요 means “less spicy, please”, and 안 맵게 해 주세요 means not spicy at all. Not every kitchen can change a dish, but most will tell you which one is mild.
Drinking has its own etiquette. Pour for others rather than yourself, hold your glass with two hands when someone older pours for you, and turn your head slightly away when you drink in front of them. Toasts are 건배 (geonbae) or the shorter 짠. When it is time to go, 계산해 주세요 (gyesanhae juseyo) — though in many places you simply pay at the counter by the door. To split the bill, say 따로 계산해 주세요.
The 8 phrases on this page
Hear it in a real conversation
At a Korean barbecue restaurant. Press play on any line to hear it.
- A 여기요! 삼겹살 2인분 주세요.yeogiyo! samgyeopsal iinbun juseyo.Excuse me! Pork belly for two, please.
- B 네, 음료는요?ne, eumnyoneunyo?Sure. Anything to drink?
- A 콜라 하나요. 그리고 김치 좀 더 주세요.kolla hanayo. geurigo gimchi jom deo juseyo.One cola. And a bit more kimchi, please.
- B 괜찮으세요? 많이 맵죠?gwaenchaneuseyo? mani maepjyo?Are you okay? It's pretty spicy, isn't it?
- A 좀 매운데 진짜 맛있어요.jom maeunde jinjja masisseoyo.A little spicy, but really good.
- A 잘 먹었습니다! 계산해 주세요.jal meogeotseumnida! gyesanhae juseyo.That was great, thank you. The bill, please.
How to say “I am hungry” in Korean
배고파
baegopa
Literally: My stomach is empty.
You will use this one daily. Korean builds it from 배 (stomach) and 고프다 (to be empty).
Polite form
- 배고파요baegopayoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 배불러baebulleo= I am fullThe opposite - 배 plus 부르다.
- 출출해chulchulhae= I am a little peckishMildly hungry, snack level. Very natural.
In a sentence
- 배고파 죽겠어.baegopa jukgesseo.I am starving.
- 배불러서 더 못 먹겠어.baebulleoseo deo mot meokgesseo.I am too full to eat more.
How people answer
- 뭐 먹을래?mwo meogeullae?= What do you want to eat?The natural next line from a friend.
How to say “I am craving it” in Korean
이거 땡긴다
igeo ttaenginda
Literally: This pulls.
Slang, and very common. 땡기다 means to pull, so the food is doing the wanting — it is tugging at you. Use it for a specific thing you suddenly want to eat or drink.
Polite form
- 이거 땡겨요igeo ttaenggyeoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 이거 먹고 싶다igeo meokgo sipda= I want to eat thisThe plain, safe version. Correct everywhere, just less alive.
- 완전 땡겨wanjeon ttaenggyeo= I am totally craving it완전 makes it stronger. This is what you say staring at a photo of food.
In a sentence
- 갑자기 치킨이 땡긴다.gapjagi chikini ttaenginda.I am suddenly craving chicken.
- 오늘은 매운 게 땡겨요.oneureun maeun ge ttaenggyeoyo.I am craving something spicy today.
How to say “It is delicious” in Korean
맛있어
masisseo
Literally: It has taste.
The single most useful word to know at a Korean table. Say it out loud - the host is waiting for it.
Polite form
- 맛있어요masisseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 진짜 맛있다jinjja masitda= This is so goodWhat people actually blurt out mid-bite.
- 맛없어maseopseo= It is not goodThe opposite. Be careful who you say it to.
In a sentence
- 와, 진짜 맛있다!wa, jinjja masitda!Wow, this is really delicious!
- 이거 맛있어요?igeo masisseoyo?Is this good?
How people answer
- 그치? 여기 진짜 맛있어.geuchi? yeogi jinjja masisseo.= Right? This place is so good.그치? = right? Agreeing is the natural reply.
How to say “It's spicy” in Korean
매워
maewo
Literally: It's spicy.
You will need this within a day of landing. And 안 매워요? is what you ask before ordering, not after.
Polite form
- 매워요maewoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 안 매워요?an maewoyo?= Is it not spicy?Ask this BEFORE you order. 안 in front of a verb makes it negative.
- 덜 맵게 해 주세요deol maepge hae juseyo= Less spicy, pleaseSometimes possible, often not - many dishes come pre-made.
- 너무 매워요neomu maewoyo= It's too spicy너무 means too much.
In a sentence
- 이거 많이 매워요?igeo mani maewoyo?Is this very spicy?
- 매워서 물 좀 주세요.maewoseo mul jom juseyo.It's spicy, could I have some water.
How to say “One more, please” in Korean
하나 더 주세요
hana deo juseyo
Literally: Please give one more.
Side dishes in Korea are refilled free. This is the sentence that gets you more kimchi, and it surprises people that you do not pay for it.
Polite form
- 하나 더 주시겠어요?hana deo jusigesseoyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 반찬 더 주세요banchan deo juseyo= More side dishes, please반찬 is the small free dishes. Refills are normal and free.
- 여기요, 하나 더요yeogiyo, hana deoyo= Excuse me, one moreCalling across the room. Perfectly normal in a Korean restaurant.
In a sentence
- 김치 더 주세요.gimchi deo juseyo.More kimchi, please.
- 물 하나 더 주세요.mul hana deo juseyo.One more water, please.
How to say “Cheers” in Korean
건배
geonbae
Literally: Empty the cup.
Glasses up. The literal meaning is drain your glass, which tells you something about how it was originally meant.
Polite form
- 건배하시죠geonbaehasijyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 위하여wihayeo= To us / here's to itLiterally for the sake of. Older and more formal, common at company dinners.
- 짠jjan= ClinkThe sound of glasses meeting, used as the toast itself among friends.
- 원샷wonsyat= One shot / down itFrom the English. You are allowed to decline.
In a sentence
- 자, 건배!ja, geonbae!Alright, cheers!
- 우리 만남을 위하여!uri mannameul wihayeo!Here's to our meeting!
How to say “Check, please” in Korean
계산해 주세요
gyesanhae juseyo
Literally: Please do the calculation.
In most Korean restaurants you pay at the counter on the way out rather than at the table, so this is often said standing up.
Polite form
- 계산할게요gyesanhalgeyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 얼마예요?eolmayeyo?= How much is it?Often all you need at the counter.
- 따로 계산해 주세요ttaro gyesanhae juseyo= Separate bills, please따로 means separately. 같이 means together.
- 카드 돼요?kadeu dwaeyo?= Do you take card?Almost everywhere does, even market stalls.
In a sentence
- 저기요, 계산해 주세요.jeogiyo, gyesanhae juseyo.Excuse me, the check please.
- 따로 계산할게요.ttaro gyesanhalgeyo.We will pay separately.
How people answer
- 카드로 하시겠어요?kadeuro hasigesseoyo?= Will you pay by card?The question you will usually get back at the counter.
How to say “We are running out” in Korean
다 떨어졌다
da tteoreojyeotda
Literally: It has all fallen away.
Korean does not say the supply ran out. It says the thing fell. 떨어지다 is the same verb used for a falling leaf, and it is the normal way to say you are out of detergent, milk or cash.
Polite form
- 다 떨어졌어요da tteoreojyeosseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 거의 다 썼다geoui da sseotda= Almost goneLiterally almost all used. Use this while there is still a little left.
- 하나도 없어hanado eopseo= There is none at allFlat and final. 하나도 means not even one.
In a sentence
- 세제가 다 떨어졌어.sejega da tteoreojyeosseo.We are out of detergent.
- 휴지 거의 다 썼어요.hyuji geoui da sseosseoyo.We have almost run out of tissue.
Mistakes learners make
- Saying 맛있어 to the owner맛있어 is casual. To the owner or staff, 맛있어요 or 정말 맛있었어요 (“it was really good”).
- Pouring your own drink with older peopleLet someone pour for you and offer to pour for them. Filling your own glass at a group dinner can look a little lonely — or a little rude.
- Leaving a tipKorea does not have a tipping culture. Leaving cash on the table usually means someone will run after you to give it back.
- Standing chopsticks upright in riceIt looks like the incense at a memorial rite. Lay them across your bowl or on the table instead.
Practise these. Every phrase here is in the phrase quiz — five rounds, no sign-up. Not reading Hangul yet? Start with the alphabet in 20 minutes, and see the speech levels guide for when to use the polite forms.