식당
Dining in practice:
what to expect
There are a couple of key differences between Korea and the west when it comes to dining out.
Firstly, dining is generally a communal experience – and it’s standard to order and share lots of dishes (think tapas, but Korean!) Secondly, the concept of service from a waiter or waitress is very different, as is gratuity (don’t tip!) Finally, dietary requirements require more pre-planning than they may do at home.
Your table layout
From left to right, you’ll usually find rice, soup, spoon, chopsticks (if you can’t find cutlery, it may be in a drawer under the table). Your small dishes with dips or sauces will go above the rice, with the kimchi usually close by. The shared side dishes will line up in the middle of the table (in arm’s reach) and the shared main will be in the centre.
If a restaurant’s busy, they might be in a hurry and just place things down where there’s space – that's perfectly normal, too.
It’s very rare to hear the phrase ‘please pass the...’ in Korea – because it’s 100% okay to reach over dishes to reach what you want. Mind your sleeves, and go for it!
Service and getting attention
Unlike in the west, Korean waiters wait for you to call them – rather than proactively checking if you need anything. You’ll do this using a button on the table. When you press it, you’ll hear a melodic ding-dong sound that’ll summon the staff directly to your table. When you’re ready to order, want to order more, or can’t find a fork, simply press the button and they’ll come.
If you’re in an older restaurant, or something very ’mom and pop’, there might not be a button and you’ll need to call out sa-jahng nim loudly (it’s not rude!) to get their attention. You may hear some Korean diners shout “joh-gi-yo!” which means “you there!” and is less polite.
Paying and tipping
In Korea, you don’t pay at the table in a restaurant. Head to the cash register or desk (usually near the door) to pay. Most places take card, aside from markets or very small, local restaurants. If there’s a bill on the table, bring it with you. If not, they’ll likely already have your information ready. If there’s no-one there, give them a moment to notice you or shout sa-jahng-nim to let them know you’re waiting.
Do not leave a tip – or risk offending! Korean restaurant employees earn minimum wage or more, and older Koreans see tips as an insult, implying they can’t earn enough on their own. To show gratitude for outstanding food, you can say jal muk-us-sum-ni-da, meaning ‘I ate well’.
