You don't need to speak Korean to eat well in Sokcho, but knowing a few phrases will dramatically improve your dining experience. Here are the ones you'll actually use.
Entering a Restaurant
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello! | 안녕하세요! | An-nyeong-ha-se-yo |
| Table for 2, please | 두 명이요 | Du myeong-i-yo |
| Do you have an English menu? | 영어 메뉴 있어요? | Yeong-eo me-nyu iss-eo-yo? |
Ordering
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| This one, please | 이거 주세요 | I-geo ju-se-yo |
| One of these, please | 이거 하나 주세요 | I-geo ha-na ju-se-yo |
| Two of these, please | 이거 두 개 주세요 | I-geo du gae ju-se-yo |
| What do you recommend? | 추천 메뉴 뭐예요? | Chu-cheon me-nyu mwo-ye-yo? |
| What's popular here? | 여기 뭐가 맛있어요? | Yeo-gi mwo-ga ma-shiss-eo-yo? |
The easiest ordering hack: point at what someone else is eating and say "저거 주세요" (jeo-geo ju-se-yo) — meaning "That one, please!" Koreans do this all the time and nobody will think it's rude.
During the Meal
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Water, please | 물 주세요 | Mul ju-se-yo |
| More rice, please | 밥 더 주세요 | Bap deo ju-se-yo |
| It's delicious! | 맛있어요! | Ma-shiss-eo-yo! |
| Not spicy, please | 안 맵게 해주세요 | An maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo |
| Is this spicy? | 이거 매워요? | I-geo mae-wo-yo? |
Paying
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Check, please | 계산이요 | Gye-san-i-yo |
| Can I pay by card? | 카드 돼요? | Ka-deu dwae-yo? |
| How much is this? | 이거 얼마예요? | I-geo eol-ma-ye-yo? |
Dietary Restrictions
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm vegetarian | 저는 채식주의자예요 | Jeo-neun chae-shik-ju-ui-ja-ye-yo |
| No meat, please | 고기 빼주세요 | Go-gi ppae-ju-se-yo |
| I have an allergy | 알레르기가 있어요 | Al-le-reu-gi-ga iss-eo-yo |
| No shellfish | 조개류 빼주세요 | Jo-gae-ryu ppae-ju-se-yo |
Pro Tips
The single most useful phrase in any Korean restaurant is "주세요" (ju-se-yo, meaning "please give me"). Point at anything and add ju-se-yo, and you're communicating effectively.
Also, don't be afraid to use translation apps. Many restaurant owners in Sokcho are used to helping foreign visitors and appreciate any effort to communicate in Korean, even imperfectly.
Remember: a smile and "감사합니다" (gam-sa-ham-ni-da, "thank you") goes a long way!