How to Eat at Korean Restaurants: Ordering, Side Dishes, Water, Tipping, and Local Etiquette
How to Eat at Korean Restaurants: Ordering, Side Dishes, Water, and Local Etiquette Eating at local restaurants is one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling in Korea. Korea has so many delicious foods, such as bibimbap, Korean barbecue, kimchi stew, cold noodles, tteokbokki, and kalguksu. But if it is your first time visiting a Korean restaurant, you may feel a little confused at first. You might wonder: “How do I call the staff?” “Can I get water by myself?” “Are side dishes free?” “Is it okay to eat alone?” “How do I order from a kiosk?” “Do I need to tip?” Korean restaurants have many customs that may feel different from restaurants in other countries. Some things are very normal for Koreans, but they can be confusing for foreign travelers. In this guide, I will explain how to order food, how water and side dishes work, whether solo dining is okay, how to use kiosks, how to avoid spicy food, how to pay, how to choose a good restaurant, and basic restaurant etique...