Walking into a Korean restaurant for the first time and staring at a menu full of Korean characters — that moment can feel genuinely intimidating.
You don’t know what half the dishes are. You’re not sure if the staff speak English. You don’t want to accidentally order something you can’t eat, and you definitely don’t want to hold up the whole restaurant while you panic.
But here’s the thing: the ability to order food in Korea without speaking Korean is actually one of the easiest skills to pick up on your trip. The system is set up in a way that makes it surprisingly forgiving for first-time visitors — once you know what to look for.
Here’s everything you need to know before you sit down at your first Korean restaurant.
Why It’s Easier to Order Food in Korea Without Speaking Korean Than You Think
Korea’s restaurant culture has evolved in a way that actually works in your favor as a foreign visitor.
Photo menus are everywhere. Kiosks handle a huge portion of ordering — no conversation required at all. Call buttons on the table mean you never have to flag anyone down. And as Real Korea Guide’s 2026 guide to ordering food in Korea points out, most travelers adapt quickly once they try it once — and it stops feeling like a challenge and starts feeling like part of the experience.
The key is knowing which tools to use and in what situation. Let’s go through them one by one.
Method 1: Point at the Menu (The Classic Move)
This one sounds too simple, but it genuinely works in almost every restaurant in Korea.
Most Korean restaurants — especially local ones — have photo menus, either on the table, on the wall, or on a laminated card. You find the picture of what you want, point at it, hold up fingers to show the quantity, and nod. That’s the whole transaction.
This is the approach I’d always suggest to anyone visiting Korea for the first time. Don’t overthink it. Korean restaurant staff are completely used to foreign visitors doing this, and they’ll usually respond with a smile and a nod. No one is going to make you feel embarrassed for pointing.
If there’s no photo menu and everything is in Korean text only, open Papago or Google Translate, point your camera at the menu, and let the app translate it in real time. Works in seconds.
Method 2: Use the Kiosk (No Korean Required)
Here’s something that genuinely surprises first-time visitors to Korea: a huge number of restaurants — from fast food chains to sit-down Korean BBQ spots — use self-ordering kiosks instead of table service.
And this is actually great news for you.
Most kiosks have a language button right on the home screen — look for a small globe icon, a flag, or text that says “ENG.” Tap it and the whole interface switches to English. From there, you browse the menu with photos, tap what you want, pay by card, and wait for your number to be called.
My personal pick for stress-free ordering in Korea is always the kiosk when it’s available. No language barrier, no awkward back-and-forth, no pressure to decide quickly. Take your time, look at the photos, and tap away.
For a deeper dive into navigating kiosks specifically at Korean cafes, our How to Order at a Korean Cafe: A First-Timer’s Guide has a full step-by-step breakdown.
Method 3: Use the Table Call Button
This one surprises a lot of first-time visitors — and once you know about it, you’ll use it constantly.
In Korea, you don’t wait for a server to come to you. When you need something — more water, extra side dishes, the bill — you press a small call button usually located on the wall next to your table or sometimes on the table itself. Staff come to you immediately.
To get their attention verbally, just say 저기요 (jeogiyo) — it means “excuse me” and it’s completely normal and polite. One word, and it works every single time.
For more useful words like this that actually come up in real situations, our Essential Korean Phrases for First-Time Visitors covers the ones worth knowing before you land.
Method 4: Show Your Phone
When pointing and kiosks aren’t enough, your phone screen is your best friend.
A few situations where this saves the day:
Dietary restrictions or allergies
Type your restriction into a translation app and show the screen to the staff. Something like “I cannot eat spicy food” or “I am allergic to shellfish” in Korean on your screen communicates instantly what would take five minutes to explain otherwise.
Specific dish requests
Find a photo of what you want on Naver Map reviews or Google Images and show it. Staff recognize their own menu items immediately.
Asking for modifications
“Please make it less spicy” — 덜 맵게 해주세요 (deol maepge haejuseyo) — is one of the most useful sentences in Korea and worth having saved on your phone before you go.
Method 5: Learn Three Phrases That Cover Everything
You don’t need to speak Korean to order food in Korea without speaking Korean — but knowing three short phrases handles almost every situation you’ll encounter at a restaurant.
이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo) — “I’ll have this one, please”
Point at the menu item while saying this and you’re done. Works everywhere.
얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) — “How much is it?”
Useful when prices aren’t clearly displayed.
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) — “Thank you”
Say this when you receive your food, when you pay, and when you leave. It goes a long way.
Three phrases. That’s genuinely all you need to order food in Korea without speaking Korean at most restaurants.
Things to Know About How Korean Restaurants Actually Work
A few things about Korean restaurant culture that catch first-time visitors off guard:
Side dishes are free and refillable
When your food arrives, it usually comes with a spread of small side dishes — kimchi, pickled vegetables, seasoned spinach. These are included in the price and most can be refilled by pressing the call button and asking, or by pointing at the empty dish.
There’s a hidden drawer under the table
Many Korean restaurants store their cutlery, spoons, and napkins inside a small drawer built into the side of the table. If you don’t see utensils anywhere, check the drawer — it surprises almost every first-time visitor.
You pay at the counter, not at the table
In most Korean restaurants, when you’re finished eating you take your receipt to a counter near the exit and pay there. Nobody brings a bill to your table. When you’re ready to go, just get up and head to the front.
No tipping
Ever. Pay exactly what’s on the receipt and that’s the full transaction. Our Do You Tip in Korea? guide explains the full story behind why.
At Korean BBQ: A Special Case
Korean BBQ is its own experience with its own ordering rhythm — and it’s worth knowing before you go in blind.
You’ll usually order meat by portion (인분, inbun), and staff will often manage the grill for you. Pointing at the menu and holding up fingers for portions is perfectly normal. If you want to mix meats — which is honestly the best way to do it — just point at two different items and hold up how many portions of each.
For the complete guide to navigating your first Korean BBQ meal from start to finish, our How to Eat Korean BBQ: The First-Timer’s Complete Guide covers everything including what to order, how to wrap ssam, and what to drink.
At Street Food Stalls: Even Easier
Street food is probably the most beginner-friendly situation of all when it comes to ordering food in Korea without speaking Korean.
The food is usually displayed right in front of you. You point, you pay, you eat. Prices are on signs. Portions are handed over immediately. The whole interaction takes about twenty seconds.
Trust me on this — street food stalls are the perfect place to practice your pointing skills before you tackle a sit-down restaurant. Start there on your first day and you’ll feel confident everywhere else. Our Korean Street Food Guide: 15 Must-Try Foods for First-Time Visitors has all the best picks worth pointing at.
FAQ
Can I order food in Korea without speaking Korean?
Yes, easily. Most Korean restaurants have photo menus, self-ordering kiosks, and table call buttons that make ordering straightforward even without knowing any Korean. Pointing at photos and using a translation app covers almost every situation.
What is the most useful Korean phrase for ordering food?
“이거 주세요” (Igeo juseyo) — “I’ll have this one, please” — is the single most useful phrase for ordering food in Korea without speaking Korean. Point at the menu item while saying it and staff will understand immediately.
Do Korean restaurant kiosks have English?
Many do. Look for a language button, globe icon, or “ENG” text on the home screen of the kiosk. Tapping it switches the interface to English, with photos of menu items displayed so you can order without reading Korean at all.
How do I ask for less spicy food in Korea?
Show staff the phrase 덜 맵게 해주세요 (deol maepge haejuseyo) on your phone screen — it means “please make it less spicy.” Saving this in your notes app before you travel is one of the most practical things you can do as a first-time visitor.
Where do I pay at a Korean restaurant?
In most Korean restaurants, you pay at a counter near the exit when you’re finished — not at the table. Take your receipt to the cashier and pay there. Some restaurants have switched to kiosk payment as well, which the staff will indicate when you finish eating.