How to Eat at a Korean Restaurant (Banchan, the Call Button, and the Scissors)
One mental shift covers most of it: a Korean restaurant isn't somewhere you wait to be served. It's somewhere you call when you need something.
Partly personally verified — Daniel checked some of these in person
How we verify →·Updated Aug 2026·6 min read
One mental shift covers most of it: a Korean restaurant isn't somewhere you wait to be served. It's somewhere you call when you need something. A server not coming back to check on you isn't rude — that's just how it works.
Banchan
When you sit down, several small side dishes arrive. They're free, and refills are free — say ribil juseyo or deo juseyo ("more, please"). Take only what you'll eat, though; loading up and leaving it is bad form.
Water, cups, utensils
Usually self-serve. The water jug and cups are by the table or near a dispenser; the utensils are in a drawer in the table or in a metal case. Napkins too.
How to get attention
Casual restaurants have a call button on the table. If there isn't one, say jeogiyo or yeogiyo ("excuse me"). You don't need to raise a hand or catch anyone's eye — calling out is normal.
Grill restaurants
At some, staff do the initial grilling for you; at others it's self-serve from the start. Cutting the meat with scissors is standard, and usually a staff member does it. If the grill plate burns, you can ask for a new one. Grill restaurants often take orders for two portions minimum.
Shoes-off rooms
Restaurants with floor seating (ondol rooms) have a shoe cabinet at the entrance. Wear socks.
Shared dishes
Banchan is eaten communally, with your own chopsticks; stews are eaten from the shared pot with a shared spoon. If that bothers you, ask for apjeopsi — a small individual plate.
Paying
Most places don't take payment at the table — you pay at the counter by the door on your way out. Splitting the bill has become common, but one person paying and settling up later is still normal. There's no tipping — tipping isn't a thing here.
Eating alone
Gimbap places, snack spots, gukbap (soup-and-rice) restaurants, and baekban (home-style set meal) restaurants all welcome solo diners. Eating alone is completely normal. It's mainly grill restaurants and some stew places that have a two-person minimum.
A Note From Daniel — our real human editorThis is a slightly embarrassing thing to admit, but at busy hours some restaurants will turn away a solo diner — they'd rather give the table to a group. I think it's a regrettable habit. Going a little before or after the rush mostly makes it a non-issue.
Mina's TipThere are safe orders even if you can't read the menu — bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae, jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork), naengmyeon. If you don't do spicy, ask whether they can make it deolmaepge ("less spicy"). Where there's a picture menu, just point.
Banchan is free and refillable — take only what you'll eat. Water and utensils are self-serve. To get attention, use the call button or say jeogiyo. At grill restaurants a staff member cuts the meat with scissors; many have a two-person minimum. Floor-seating rooms are shoes-off. Banchan is shared, eaten with your own chopsticks (ask for apjeopsi for an individual plate). Pay at the counter on the way out — no tipping. Eating alone is normal at snack spots, gukbap, and baekban restaurants.
