Ordering Food in Korea Without Korean
At a kiosk, use the language button; for an all-Korean menu, camera translation turns it into something you can read. If a kiosk has no usable language option, catch a staff member’s eye - they will usually step in. For dishes and dining etiquette, use the separate Korean food guide.
Self-order kiosks
Touchscreen kiosks have taken over fast food, cafés, and a lot of casual spots. It feels daunting the first time, then never again. Most have a language button in a corner - tap it for English, Japanese, or Chinese - and from there you pick your items, choose eat-in or takeaway, and pay by card or cash on the machine. It prints a number, and you wait for it to be called or buzzed.
Not every kiosk has your language, and a few take card only. If one stumps you, staff will almost always step in if you catch their eye.
- Find the language buttonUsually a corner of the screen - English, 日本語, or 中文.
- Pick your orderTap items, then choose eat-in or takeaway.
- Pay on the machineTap or insert your card, or feed in cash where accepted.
- Take your numberWait for it to be called or for the buzzer to go off.
Translation apps that actually help
A translation app turns an all-Korean menu from a wall into a list you can read. Point your camera at the menu and it overlays the English live - good enough to spot what you want. For speaking, type or say a sentence and show the screen to the server. Papago handles Korean especially well; Google Translate does the same job. Grab one from the essential apps list and download the Korean pack for offline use.
- Use the camera mode for menus and signs - it translates in place as you point.
- Download the offline Korean pack so it still works with patchy signal.
Sitting down at a restaurant
Table service here runs on a different rhythm. Look for the call button on the table - press it and someone comes, which spares you the business of trying to catch an eye across a busy room. Water is self-serve, from a dispenser or a jug already on the table. The banchan, those little side dishes nobody ordered, are free, and you can ask for more. Then you pay at the counter on the way out. Not at the table, which catches a lot of people mid-stand.
Some places skip the paper menu entirely for a tablet you order from yourself, and those usually have a language toggle tucked in a corner. If you are still deciding what to put on it, the food and café guide is the better place to start - the tablet will not help you there.
- Look for the call button on the table before trying to flag someone down.
- Banchan and water are free - refills are normal, just ask or help yourself.
A handful of phrases
You do not need Korean, but a few words go a long way and are always met warmly. These are the ones that earn their keep at a meal.
| English | Korean (say or show) | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) | Walking in |
| This one, please | 이거 주세요 (i-geo ju-se-yo) | Pointing at the menu |
| Thank you | 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) | Anytime |
| Not spicy, please | 안 맵게 해주세요 (an maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo) | Ordering |
| The bill, please | 계산해주세요 (gye-san-hae-ju-se-yo) | Finishing up |
Quick answers
Can I get by in Korea without speaking Korean?
How do the ordering kiosks work?
How do I call the server in a restaurant?
By Hyouk Seo · Last updated: 2026-08-19