Day 4 – Food and Restaurant Phrases
Hello Korean learners! Today we’ll learn essential food vocabulary and useful phrases for ordering at Korean restaurants. Korean food culture is rich and diverse, so knowing these phrases will help you enjoy authentic Korean cuisine.
1. Basic Food Vocabulary
Common Korean Dishes:
- 김치 (김-치) [gimchi] = Kimchi (fermented cabbage)
- 불고기 (불-고-기) [bulgogi] = Marinated beef
- 비빔밥 (비-빔-밥) [bibimbap] = Mixed rice with vegetables
- 떡볶이 (떡-볶-이) [tteokbokki] = Spicy rice cakes
- 김밥 (김-밥) [gimbap] = Seaweed rice rolls
- 라면 (라-면) [ramyeon] = Instant noodles
- 삼겹살 (삼-겹-살) [samgyeopsal] = Grilled pork belly
Food Categories:
- 밥 (밥) [bap] = Rice
- 국 (국) [guk] = Soup
- 반찬 (반-찬) [banchan] = Side dishes
- 고기 (고-기) [gogi] = Meat
- 채소 (채-소) [chaeso] = Vegetables
- 과일 (과-일) [gwail] = Fruit
- 음료 (음-료) [eumryo] = Beverages
2. Useful Restaurant Phrases
Entering a Restaurant:
- 안녕하세요 (안-녕-하-세-요) [annyeonghaseyo] = Hello
- 몇 분이세요? (몇 분-이-세-요?) [myeot buniseyo?] = How many people?
- 두 명이에요 (두 명-이-에-요) [du myeongieyo] = Two people
Ordering Food:
- 메뉴 주세요 (메-뉴 주-세-요) [menyu juseyo] = Please give me a menu
- 이것 주세요 (이-것 주-세-요) [igeos juseyo] = I’ll have this, please
- 추천해 주세요 (추-천-해 주-세-요) [chucheonhae juseyo] = Please recommend something
During the Meal:
- 맵나요? (맵-나-요?) [maemnayo?] = Is it spicy?
- 물 주세요 (물 주-세-요) [mul juseyo] = Water, please
- 맛있어요! (맛-있-어-요!) [masisseoyo!] = It’s delicious!
Paying the Bill:
- 계산해 주세요 (계-산-해 주-세-요) [gyesanhae juseyo] = Please bring the bill
- 카드로 계산할게요 (카-드-로 계-산-할-게-요) [kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo] = I’ll pay by card
- 현금으로 계산할게요 (현-금-으-로 계-산-할-게-요) [hyeongeumeuro gyesanhalgeyo] = I’ll pay in cash
3. Sample Restaurant Conversation
Server: 안녕하세요. 몇 분이세요? (Hello. How many people?)
You: 두 명이에요. (Two people.)
(After being seated)
You: 메뉴 주세요. (Please give me a menu.)
Server: 네, 여기 있습니다. (Yes, here it is.)
(After looking at the menu)
You: 비빔밥 하나 주세요. (One bibimbap, please.)
Server: 네, 알겠습니다. (Yes, understood.)
(When the food arrives)
Server: 여기 비빔밥입니다. 맛있게 드세요. (Here is your bibimbap. Enjoy your meal.)
You: 감사합니다. (Thank you.)
(After eating)
You: 계산해 주세요. (Please bring the bill.)
Server: 네, 만 원입니다. (Yes, it's 10,000 won.)
You: 카드로 계산할게요. (I'll pay by card.)4. Eating Etiquette in Korea
- Wait for the eldest person at the table to start eating before you begin.
- It’s polite to say “잘 먹겠습니다” [jal meokgesseumnida] (I will eat well) before eating.
- After finishing, say “잘 먹었습니다” [jal meogeosseumnida] (I ate well) to show appreciation.
- In Korea, it’s considered polite to pour drinks for others rather than for yourself.
- Use both hands when giving or receiving something, especially from elders.
Practice Time!
Try role-playing a restaurant scenario with these phrases. Imagine you’re:
- Entering a Korean restaurant
- Ordering a dish you’ve learned today
- Asking for water
- Complimenting the food
- Asking for the bill
Tomorrow we’ll learn about Korean transportation vocabulary and how to navigate public transportation in Korea! Keep practicing your Korean food vocabulary!
