Most Korean restaurants, cafés and convenience stores run on about 40 short sentences. This free tool gives you those sentences in Korean, with romanization and English, sorted by situation. Tap Show staff to put a phrase full-screen on your phone, or Listen to hear how it sounds.
How to use: Pick a situation, or search in English. Phrases with a dashed border are what staff will say to you, so you know what is coming. Tap Add on the lines you need, then save your own card as an image before you go out. It works offline once it is in your photos.
My phrase card
Tap “Add” on any phrase to build your own card. Save it as an image and keep it in your phone’s photos for when you’re offline.
감사합니다!
5 things Koreans do at restaurants that nobody tells you
1. You call staff out loud
Waiting quietly for eye contact can mean waiting a long time. Koreans raise a hand and say 저기요! (jeogiyo, “excuse me”) or press the call button on the table. It is normal and not rude.
2. You pay at the counter
In most casual places, nobody brings the bill to your table. Take the bill holder (or just walk up), say 계산할게요 (gyesanhalgeyo, “I’d like to pay”) at the counter by the door, and you are done. No tipping.
3. Water and side dishes are often self-service
A sign reading 물은 셀프 (mureun selpeu) means “water is self-serve.” Side dish refills are free, and many places have a self-serve bar near the kitchen.
4. Scissors are a normal table tool
Staff cut BBQ meat, cold noodles and big kimchi leaves with kitchen scissors right at the table. If you need a pair, ask for 가위 주세요 (gawi juseyo).
5. The meal often ends with fried rice
At dakgalbi, BBQ and stew restaurants, Koreans finish by asking for rice fried in the leftover sauce: 볶음밥 돼요? (bokkeumbap dwaeyo). It usually costs about ₩2,000 to ₩3,000 per portion and it is often the best part of the meal.
Pair it with our other free tools
- Korean allergy and diet card: a full card explaining your allergies and diet in polite Korean.
- Naver Map booking guide: book tables and join waiting lists without a Korean phone number.
- Korea food budget calculator: a daily food budget in your own currency.
- Korean restaurant etiquette: the full list of table manners.
FAQ
Do I need to speak Korean to eat in Korea?
No. Pointing at the menu and saying 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo, “this one, please”) gets you through most meals. Many places also have photo menus or ordering tablets with an English option.
Is the Listen button accurate?
It uses the Korean voice built into your phone or browser, so quality depends on your device. iPhones and most Android phones have a clear Korean voice. If you hear an English accent, your device has no Korean voice installed, so use Show staff instead.
Are these phrases polite enough?
Yes. Every line uses the polite -요 (-yo) form that Koreans use with staff and strangers. It is the right level for restaurants, cafés and shops.