The Top Mistakes Foreigners Make at Korean Restaurants
Annyeonghaseyo, food lovers! You’ve successfully navigated the subway, mastered the Annyeonghaseyo bow, and you’re ready for the best part of life in Korea: the food. It’s glorious, spicy, and often comes with a whole set of unwritten social rules.
As your Korean insider, I’ve watched countless foreigners accidentally commit culinary crimes that make servers sigh and friends cringe. Don’t worry! It’s all due to cultural difference, not malice. To help you blend in and maximize your dining experience, here are the most common (and hilarious) mistakes that foreigners make the most at Korean restaurants.
1. The Chopstick Conundrum (The No-No’s)
We love that you’re using chopsticks, but there are two major sins you need to avoid when handling them.
Stabbing the Rice: Never stick your chopsticks vertically into your rice bowl. This practice is strongly associated with ancestral rites and funerals, specifically placing incense in a bowl of rice for the deceased. It will definitely earn you a confused stare and maybe a gentle scolding from a friend.
The Spoon/Chopstick Hybrid: You’ve got two hands, so use them! It’s common practice to use your spoon for rice and soup, and your chopsticks for everything else (side dishes, meat, noodles). Trying to use one or the other for everything just looks awkward and inefficient.
2. Mismanaging the Banchan (The Side Dish Etiquette)
Banchan (반찬) are those glorious, complimentary little side dishes (kimchi, pickled radishes, seasoned sprouts) that cover your table. They are one of the best parts of Korean dining, but they come with a few rules.
Thinking It’s an Appetizer: Banchan are meant to be eaten throughout the entire meal, mixed in with your rice and main dish. Don’t devour them all in the first five minutes!
Asking to Pay for Refills: Unless you are at a very high-end or specialized restaurant, refills are almost always free. It’s built into the cost of the meal. If your little plate of kimchi is empty, just politely ask for Jom deo ju-se-yo (좀 더 주세요, “Please give me a little more”)—and be amazed when they bring you a fresh batch at no charge.
3. The Money and Service Mix-Up
In many Western countries, you rely on the server for everything, and you leave a tip to show appreciation. Not here.
Tipping: Do not leave a tip. Tipping is not customary in Korean culture and often confuses or even offends servers who might think you forgot your money. Service is considered part of the employment duty.
Waving Down the Server: We don’t signal across the room like you might in a busy diner. Look for the small buzzer on the edge of the table (often attached to the wall or the table edge). Pressing this is the efficient, polite way to call your server over for refills, extra orders, or the bill. Waving your hands often feels impolite.
4. Failing the Sharing Test (Individualism vs. Group)
Korean dining is communal, which can be a shock for solo travelers or those used to ordering separate dishes.
Ordering Separate Soups: If you order a large soup (Jjigae, 찌개) or stew, it is absolutely meant to be shared. Do not scoop the main portion out of the central pot into your personal rice bowl or small empty bowl. You eat it directly from the main pot. Putting it into your mouth and double-dipping is fine—it’s communal eating!
Pouring Etiquette: When pouring beer or soju, never pour your own glass. Always pour for others, and allow others to pour for you. When receiving a drink from an elder, hold your glass with two hands as a sign of respect. This isn’t just a rule; it’s a necessary social ritual.
Master these four points, and you’ll not only eat well but also receive nods of approval from your Korean friends. Enjoy the feast!