Korean Restaurant Culture & Essential Etiquette

In Korea, people often keep the rice bowl on the table instead of holding it in their hand. When eating with others, it feels natural to wait until the oldest person picks up their spoon or chopsticks first.

In many Korean restaurants you can simply sit down and staff will bring water and basic side dishes. Some places are self service for water or kimchi, so check the corner near the entrance for a water dispenser and side dish station. Basic side dishes are usually free to refill once or twice, but leaving a lot of food on the table can feel impolite, so it is better to take only what you can finish.

Some menus have dishes that can only be ordered for two people or expect each person to order at least one menu item. Soups and hot pots often have a minimum number of servings, so if you are eating alone it is easier to choose single dishes like kimbap, rice bowls or one person stew sets. It is totally fine to ask them to make it less spicy, so if you are worried about the spice level, mention it when you order.

In Korea it is common for everyone at the table to share side dishes from the same plates. Instead of stirring around in the soup pot with your chopsticks, it looks nicer if you use your spoon or chopsticks to put a small portion into your own bowl first. You do not need to eat in complete silence, just avoid very loud noises when chewing and enjoy your meal comfortably.

In many Korean restaurants you do not pay at the table. After eating you usually take the bill to the counter near the entrance and pay there. If you ate with friends it is fine to split the bill at the counter by paying separately with different cards or cash, and it is also common for one person to pay first and everyone else to send money later.