Sitting down and ordering
- Sit anywhere unless someone shows you to a table. In busy places, say how many you are with your fingers.
- Call the staff with the bell on the table (호출벨), or say 저기요! (jeogiyo, “excuse me”). Nobody will think it rude — it is how it works.
- Tablets and kiosks are common. Look for an English button (English / 영어); if there is none, our menu decoder helps.
- Order for the table. Stews, hot pots and BBQ are often shared, and many places sell them per serving (인분) with a two-serving minimum.
- Eating alone? Most places welcome solo diners (혼밥), but some BBQ and hot pot restaurants only take two or more.
Side dishes, water and cutlery
- Side dishes (banchan) are free and usually refillable. Some places have a self-service bar (셀프바) — take as much as you will eat.
- Water is often self-service from a dispenser or a bottle on the table, and it may be barley or corn tea.
- Spoons and chopsticks are often in a drawer or box at the side of the table, along with paper napkins.
- Rice is extra at BBQ and stew places: order a bowl of rice (공기밥) separately.
- Add-ons (사리) such as ramyeon noodles or rice cakes can be added to stews and hot pots.
Korean BBQ
- Staff often grill the first round and cut the meat with scissors. You can take over once they leave the tongs.
- Wrap the meat in lettuce or perilla leaves with garlic, ssamjang and kimchi, and eat it in one bite.
- Ask for a fresh grill plate when it gets burnt (불판 갈아 주세요).
- Many people finish with cold noodles (냉면), soybean paste stew or fried rice made on the grill.
Paying
- Pay at the counter on your way out — the bill often stays on your table or is linked to your table number.
- No tipping. Prices include everything.
- Cards are accepted almost everywhere. To split the bill, ask 따로 계산돼요? — busy places may prefer one payment.
- On the way out, say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida, “I ate well”). Staff love it.
Takeaway and delivery
Almost anything can be packed to go (포장). Delivery apps such as Baemin and Coupang Eats deliver nearly everything, but signing up usually needs a Korean phone number and payment card.