Walking into a Korean restaurant for the first time can feel like a crash course. This guide explains the banchan-plus-main structure of a Korean meal, what to order when you can't read the menu, and the basic phrases that get you through.
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South Korean money is the won, printed in four banknote denominations — 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000 won — featuring Joseon-era scholars and one queen. Four coin denominations (10, 50, 100, 500) round out everyday cash.
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Korean ginseng is commonly sold as an energy and wellness tonic, traditionally used to support stamina and recovery. This guide explains the different forms (fresh, white, red), how Koreans typically use them, and the vocabulary you'll see on product labels.
Walking into a Korean restaurant for the first time can feel like a crash course in a new mealtime structure. Unlike a Western restaurant where one plate is "your meal," a Korean meal arrives as a small central dish plus a spread of little side plates called 반찬 (banchan). This guide walks you through the structure, what to order if you can't read the menu, and the phrases that get you through the meal.
A standard Korean meal is built around three parts:
Plus a main — grilled meat, a rice bowl, a noodle dish, or a stew.
The banchan refill is the trick newcomers don't always notice. If your kimchi plate empties, you can ask for more at no charge.
Safe, universally-understood first orders at a casual Korean restaurant:
If you want something that "tastes like home cooking" — get 된장찌개. If you want a vibe — get bibimbap in a hot stone bowl (돌솥비빔밥).
Point at the menu and add one of these:
이거 주세요.igeo juseyo. (igeo juseyo) — "This one, please."물 좀 주세요.mul jom juseyo. (mul jom juseyo) — "Some water, please."맵지 않게 해주세요.maepji ange haejuseyo. (maepji anke haejuseyo) — "Please make it not spicy."
반찬 더 주세요.계산할게요.gyesanhalgeyo. (gyesanhalgeyo) — "I'll pay / the check, please."