Ordering in Korean

If you're new to Daegu, Korea, beware!  Most people here don't speak English.  You may find it challenging, if not impossible, to experience this City's distinctive Korean cuisine.

But with these quick Korean basics you can order with confidence, impress your friends, and gorge yourself on Korea's divine dining.

Numbers
One - 하나  (hah-nah)
Two - 둘 (dool)*
Three - 셋 (sayt)*
Four - 넷 (nayt)*
Five - 더섯 (duh-suht)
Six - 여섯 (yuh-suht)
Seven - 일곱 (ill-gope)
Eight - 여덜 (yuh-duhl)
Nine - 아홉 (ah-hope)
Ten - 열 (yuhl)
Eleven - 열하나 (yuhl-hah-nah)
-This number system is only for counting objects, people, hours, etc.
   (A second number system is used for money, bus and phone #s, dates, etc.)
*drop the last consonant when saying these numbers along with a noun
        (ex. "two bottles" = doo byung)
______________________________________________

Units
-To specify a number of people, objects, etc.
      -say a number followed by the unit

People - 명 (myung)
 -Upon entering a restaurant the greeter will ask how many in your party
   (ex. 3 of us = 세명 (say myung))

Objects - 개 (gay)
-Used when asking for servings, utensils, cups or anything of a specific number
    (ex.  4 orders of rice = 밥 네개 (bap nay gay))

Bottles - 병 (byung)
- A necessity for any Korean dining experience
   (ex. six bottles of beer = 맥주 여섯 병 (maek-ju yuh-suht byung))


________________________________


Other Essentials

Please - 주세요 (jew-say-yo)
- Literally means "give to me"
 -Use at the end of every request

More -더 (duh)
-Because side dishes are free and unlimited, why not ask for more?

-say something you want, followed by 더 (duh)  = for an unspecified amount "more" of it
      (ex. more kimchi, please = 김치 더 주세요   (kimchi duh jew-say-yo))

-say something you want, followed by the number+unit, followed by 더 =  for a specific amount more
      (ex. two more bottles of soju, please = 소주 두병 더 주세요   (so-ju doo-byung duh jew-say-yo))

This, please - 이거 주세요 (Ee-guh jew-say-yo)
 - Easily point to something on the menu to order
 - Or hold up a side dish and ask for more
    (ex. More of this, please = 이거 더 주세요 (Ee-guh duh jew-say-yo))

HEY, You there, get over here! - 저기요 (juh-gee-oh)
- Literally means "There."
- To get the waiter's attention, yell this as loud as possible
- Don't worry, it's completely acceptable

What's your most delicious food? - 뭐가 제일 맛있어요 (Mo-gah jay-ill* mah-shis-uh-yo)
- A useful question if you have no idea what to order.
- Usually restaurants specialize in a single dish, especially meat BBQ places
- If the waiter is confused, don't take it personally.  They may be new and not even know the answer.
* emphasize 제일

Take out, please - 포장해 주세요 (po-jang hay jew-say-yo)
-Use this for taking home leftovers, or ordering the entire dish to go.
-Depending on the type of restaurant, some don't allow this (BBQ), others do (prepared dishes)

Make a reservation, please - 예약해 주세요 (yay-yahk hay jew-say-yo)
- Have an important dinner at a busy place?  Try booking a table.
- After requesting you'll most likely need to answer two questions:
   1) How many spots ("몇분")? 
        (ex. four people = 네명 (nay-myung))
   2) What time ("몇시")?
        (ex. eight o'clock = 여덜시 (yuh-duhl she))

Remove the coals, please - 불빼 주세요 (bool bbae jew-say-yo)
- If things are getting too hot, or you're finished BBQing everything, ask this.
- Literally "take out the fire"

Change the grill, please - 불판 바꿔 주세요 (bool-pan ba-kwa jew-say-yo)
- If your BBQ grill cakes over with a charred crust, time to have it changed.
- Use this in the case of wired and removable grills.
- In the case of large permanent fixtures, ask to have it cleaned:
 불판닦아 주세요(bool-pan da-gga jew-say-yo)

Sauce separately, please - 소스 따로 주세요 (soh-seuh dda-lo jew-say-yo)
-If you're worried about soggy meat or extremely spicy sauce, ask to have it in a separate dish
-Only applies to some dishes of course, like 돈가스 (pork cutlets), 탕수육 (deep fried pork) or fried chicken.

Reheat it, please 데워주세요 (dae-wuh joosayyo)

Boneless - 뼈없는 / 순살(bbyuh-up-neun / soon-sal)
-Literally "doesn't have bones" and "pure meat," respectively.
-Each is strictly used for certain types of meat, such as 뼈없는 for chicken feet and 순살 for jjimdalk.

Spicy/Medium/Mild  Flavor - 
매운맛/보통맛/순한맛 (mae-oon mat/bo-tong mat/soon-han mat)


[For a better idea of what to order, check out the database of Korean meat types.]