How to Order at a Korean Restaurant: Kiosks, Bells and Paying (2026)

1Step 1 — Work out how this place takes orders

Look at the entrance and the table before you sit down.

• A screen standing near the door means kiosk ordering. A sign may say 주문은 키오스크에서jumuneun kioseukeueseoOrder at the kiosk. You usually pay first, which is called 선불seonbulPay first.
• A tablet fixed to the table means you order there and usually pay at the counter at the end.
• No screen at all means a server takes your order. You pay after the meal, called 후불hubulPay later.

2Step 2 — Use a kiosk

Tap the screen to start. If you see "English" or a globe icon, tap it. Some screens show 언어eoneoLanguage instead. Many kiosks have no English, so the labels below help.

1. Start. Press 주문하기jumunhagiOrder.
2. Eat in or take away. Choose 매장maejangEat in or 포장pojangTakeaway. Some machines say 매장 식사 or 먹고 가기 for eating in.
3. Pick dishes. Tap a photo. A pop-up may offer 추가chugaAdd extra options such as extra cheese or noodles. Press 담기damgiAdd to order.
4. Check the order. Open 장바구니jangbaguniCart. Change 수량suryangQuantity with the + and − buttons. 취소chwisoCancel removes an item. 처음으로cheoeumeuroStart over clears everything.
5. Skip the points screen. If the machine asks for a phone number for 포인트 적립pointeu jeongnipCollect points, press 건너뛰기geonneottwigiSkip.
6. Pay. Press 결제하기gyeoljehagiPay, then 카드 결제kadeu gyeoljePay by card. Insert or tap your card as the screen shows. Some kiosks also offer 간편결제ganpyeon gyeoljeMobile payment. If you want to pay cash, look for 현금hyeongeumCash; many kiosks send cash payers to the counter.
7. Keep the receipt. Press 영수증 출력yeongsujeung chullyeokPrint receipt. It shows your 주문번호jumun beonhoOrder number.
8. Wait for your number. Watch the screen above the counter, or carry the 진동벨jindongbelVibrating pager if you were given one. Collect food at 픽업pigeopPick-up.

In fast-food places and food courts, return your tray to 퇴식구toesikguTray return when you finish.

3Step 3 — Use a table tablet

Tablets work like kiosks, but you keep adding dishes during the meal.

• 주문하기jumunhagiOrder sends the order to the kitchen.
• 주문내역jumun naeyeokOrder history shows what you have ordered so far.
• 직원호출jigwon hochulCall staff calls a server. Some tablets let you choose a reason, such as water or extra side dishes.

Most tablets do not take payment. You pay at the counter when you leave, with the table number or the receipt.

4Step 4 — Order from a server

Press the call button on the table, often marked 호출hochulCall. If there is no button, say 저기요jeogiyoExcuse me clearly toward the kitchen. Waiting quietly for eye contact rarely works.

Point at the menu and say 이거 주세요igeo juseyoThis one, please. Meat and stew menus are often priced per portion: 1인분irinbunOne serving. Some dishes are sold only for 2인분 이상i-inbun isangTwo servings or more, so check before you sit down if you are eating alone. Plain rice is often a separate item called 공기밥gonggibapBowl of rice.

To ask for food without chili, say 안 맵게 해 주세요an maepge hae juseyoNot spicy, please. Some dishes cannot be made mild because the sauce is prepared in advance.

5Step 5 — Get water, cutlery and side dishes

Korean meals come with several small side dishes, called 반찬banchanSide dishes, served with the main dish (VisitKorea). To ask for more, say 반찬 더 주세요banchan deo juseyoMore side dishes, please.

If nobody brings water, look for a sign saying 물은 셀프mureun selpeuWater is self-service. The water cooler and cups are usually near the entrance or a wall. A 셀프바selpeubaSelf-service bar may hold side dishes, sauces and aprons. Spoons and chopsticks are often in a drawer at the table edge or in a box on the table.