Learn 60 essential Korean food vocabulary words to confidently order at Korean restaurants, navigate menus, and discuss Korean cuisine like a native speaker.
Korean food culture is rich, communal, and deeply tied to language. Whether you are visiting Seoul, dining at a Korean restaurant in your city, or watching a Korean drama, food vocabulary will come up constantly. Koreans express care through food — learning these words connects you to the culture at the deepest level.
Quick answer: The most useful Korean food words are dish names such as 비빔밥, 김치찌개 and 불고기, the side dishes called 반찬, basic ingredients like 밥 (cooked rice) and 고기 (meat), flavor words such as 맵다 (spicy) and 맛있다 (delicious), and restaurant phrases like 이거 주세요 (this one, please) and 계산서 주세요 (the bill, please).
| Korean | Romanization | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 비빔밥 | Bibimbap | Mixed rice bowl with vegetables and gochujang |
| 김치찌개 | Kimchi jjigae | Kimchi stew — Korea's comfort food |
| 된장찌개 | Doenjang jjigae | Fermented soybean paste stew |
| 삼겹살 | Samgyeopsal | Grilled pork belly (BBQ favorite) |
| 불고기 | Bulgogi | Marinated grilled beef |
| 냉면 | Naengmyeon | Cold buckwheat noodles |
| 떡볶이 | Tteokbokki | Spicy rice cakes (popular street food) |
| 순두부찌개 | Sundubu jjigae | Soft tofu stew |
| 갈비 | Galbi | Short ribs (grilled or braised) |
| 잡채 | Japchae | Glass noodles with vegetables |
| 삼계탕 | Samgyetang | Whole chicken soup with ginseng |
| 해물파전 | Haemul pajeon | Seafood scallion pancake |
| 김밥 | Gimbap | Rice rolls wrapped in seaweed |
| 라면 | Ramyeon | Instant noodles (Korean style) |
| 부대찌개 | Budae jjigae | Army stew with sausage and ramen |
Korean meals usually come with side dishes called 반찬 (banchan), and restaurants typically serve them at no extra charge:
| Korean | Romanization | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 김치 | Kimchi | Fermented spicy cabbage |
| 깍두기 | Kkakdugi | Cubed radish kimchi |
| 시금치 나물 | Sigeumchi namul | Seasoned spinach |
| 콩나물무침 | Kongnamul muchim | Seasoned soybean sprouts |
| 계란말이 | Gyeran mari | Korean rolled omelette |
| 잡채 | Japchae | Glass noodles (also served as side) |
| Korean | Romanization | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 물 | Mul | Water |
| 소주 | Soju | Korean distilled spirit |
| 막걸리 | Makgeolli | Traditional rice wine |
| 맥주 | Maekju | Beer |
| 식혜 | Sikhye | Sweet fermented rice drink |
| 수정과 | Sujeonggwa | Cinnamon ginger punch |
| 녹차 | Nokcha | Green tea |
| 유자차 | Yuja cha | Citron tea |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 고추장 | Gochujang | Red chili paste |
| 된장 | Doenjang | Fermented soybean paste |
| 간장 | Ganjang | Soy sauce |
| 참기름 | Chamgireum | Sesame oil |
| 마늘 | Maneul | Garlic |
| 생강 | Saenggang | Ginger |
| 파 | Pa | Green onion |
| 고춧가루 | Gochutgaru | Red pepper flakes |
| 쌀 | Ssal | Rice (uncooked) |
| 밥 | Bap | Rice (cooked) |
| 고기 | Gogi | Meat |
| 해산물 | Haesanmul | Seafood |
| 채소 | Chaeso | Vegetables |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 맵다 | Maepda | Spicy |
| 달다 | Dalda | Sweet |
| 짜다 | Jjada | Salty |
| 시다 | Sida | Sour |
| 쓰다 | Sseuda | Bitter |
| 고소하다 | Gosohada | Nutty / savory |
| 싱겁다 | Singgeopda | Bland |
| 맛있다 | Masitda | Delicious |
| 맛없다 | Madeopda | Not tasty |
Use these when you are out to eat:
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 주문할게요 | Jumunhalgeyo | I would like to order |
| 이거 주세요 | Igeo juseyo | I'll have this one |
| 조금 덜 맵게 해 주세요 | Jogeum deol maepge hae juseyo | Please make it less spicy |
| 계산서 주세요 | Gyesanseo juseyo | The bill, please |
| 포장해 주세요 | Pojanghaejuseyo | To go, please |
| 이게 뭐예요? | Ige mwoyeyo? | What is this? |
Here is how these words fit into a short, realistic visit to a Korean restaurant. To call the staff, say 여기요 (yeogiyo) or 저기요 (jeogiyo), both meaning "excuse me".
| Speaker | Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff | 어서 오세요. 몇 분이세요? | Eoseo oseyo. Myeot buniseyo? | Welcome. How many people? |
| You | 두 명이요. | Du myeongiyo. | Two people. |
| You | 여기요! 김치찌개 하나하고 비빔밥 하나 주세요. | Yeogiyo! Kimchi jjigae hanahago bibimbap hana juseyo. | Excuse me! One kimchi stew and one bibimbap, please. |
| You | 조금 덜 맵게 해 주세요. | Jogeum deol maepge hae juseyo. | Please make it less spicy. |
| Staff | 네, 알겠습니다. | Ne, algetseumnida. | Yes, certainly. |
| You | 반찬 좀 더 주세요. | Banchan jom deo juseyo. | Could we have a little more banchan, please? |
| You | 정말 맛있어요! | Jeongmal masisseoyo! | It's really delicious! |
| You | 계산해 주세요. | Gyesanhae juseyo. | I'd like to pay, please. |
Korean food is a window into the soul of the culture. Start exploring it one word at a time, and soon you will be ordering like a local!
Say 맛있어요 (masisseoyo), the polite form of 맛있다. The opposite, "it doesn't taste good", is 맛없어요 (madeopseoyo).
반찬 (banchan) are the small side dishes served with rice, such as kimchi, seasoned vegetables and rolled omelette. In restaurants they usually come with your main dish.
Point to the menu and say 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo, "this one, please"), or name the dish and the number: 비빔밥 하나 주세요 ("one bibimbap, please").
쌀 (ssal) is uncooked rice, the grain you buy. 밥 (bap) is cooked rice, and it is also used to mean "a meal", as in 밥 먹었어요? ("Have you eaten?").