FROM THE DOOR TO THE COUNTER
Four short conversations take you through a whole meal: getting a table, ordering, asking for less spice and paying on your way out. Hear each line, then say it yourself.
어서 오세요. 몇 분이세요?
Welcome. How many of you?
두 명이에요.
Two people.
이쪽으로 앉으세요.
Please sit over here.
Hold up your fingers as you answer. For one person, say 한 명이에요. — “Just one.”
여기요, 주문할게요.
Excuse me, we’d like to order.
이거 두 개 주세요.
Two of these, please.
네, 알겠습니다.
Certainly.
여기요 is the usual way to call staff to your table. Point to the dish on the menu as you say 이거, “this”.
덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Please make it less spicy.
네, 덜 맵게 해 드릴게요.
Sure, we’ll make it less spicy.
덜 means “less”. Some dishes are spicy in the base itself, so the kitchen may not be able to change them.
계산할게요.
I’d like to pay, please.
같이 계산하시겠어요?
Will you pay together?
네, 카드로 할게요.
Yes, by card.
In many Korean restaurants you pay at the counter by the door on your way out, not at the table.
MORE YOU CAN ASK
Water
물 주세요.
Water, please.
Side dishes
반찬 좀 더 주세요.
Could we have a few more side dishes, please?
Nothing spicy
안 매운 메뉴 있어요?
Do you have anything that isn’t spicy?
Separate bills
따로 계산할게요.
We’ll pay separately.
On your way out
잘 먹었습니다.
Thank you for the meal.
Written practice. The listening controls above play the four conversations. Side dishes are often refilled for free, and some places have a self-service corner instead.
YOUR TURN
Try each request aloud, then compare its meaning with one possible answer.
두 명이에요.
Two people.
여기요, 주문할게요.
Excuse me, we’d like to order.
덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Please make it less spicy.
잘 먹었습니다.
Thank you for the meal.
For an allergy, use the meal guide’s allergy expressions (opens in a new tab) before you order.
