Mastering Korean Restaurant Etiquette: Shoes, Tipping, Call Buttons, and Side Dish Manners
1. Transforming Confusion into Confidence at the Korean Table
The highlight of any trip to Korea is undoubtedly the food. However, more than the menu, it is the unique dining culture that often puzzles foreign visitors. Should you remove your shoes? How much tip should you leave? How do you call the server without being rude?
Korean dining etiquette is significantly different from Western norms. While a mistake might not get you kicked out, knowing a few key rules will make you a respected and welcomed guest. Here is your practical manual for Korean restaurant etiquette.
2. From Entrance to Table: Your First Steps
① Shoes Off or On?
While chair-and-table setups are now common, many traditional restaurants still feature floor seating (Jwasik).
How to Tell: If you see a shoe rack at the entrance or other guests in their socks, you must take off your shoes.
Pro Tip: Wear clean socks and shoes that are easy to slip on and off during your trip.
② Self-Service Utensils
In many Korean restaurants, servers don't bring utensils to your table.
The Treasure Hunt: Look at the side or under the table. There is usually a hidden drawer containing spoons, chopsticks, and napkins.
Etiquette: It is common for Koreans to place a napkin on the table and set their utensils on top of it for hygiene.
3. Ordering: The Magic of the Call Button
In Western cultures, you wait for your server. In Korea, you take the initiative.
The Call Button: Look for a small button on your table. Press it, and you'll hear a "Ding-dong" sound. A server will come to you immediately. No need to wait or awkwardly wave your hand.
No Button? Call out "Jeo-gi-yo!" (Excuse me) or "Yeo-gi-yo!" (Over here) while raising your hand slightly. This is perfectly polite in Korea.
4. Embracing the 'Banchan' (Side Dish) Culture
One of the best things about Korean dining is the array of free side dishes (Banchan) that come with your main meal.
Free Refills: Most side dishes are refillable for free. Simply point to the empty dish and say "Deo ju-se-yo" (More, please).
The Self Bar: If you see a sign saying "Additional side dishes are self-service," you should go to the buffet-style station and refill them yourself. Please take only what you can eat!
5. Payment and Tipping: "No Tips, Please"
This is where most Western travelers make a mistake.
No Tipping Culture: Tipping is not customary in Korea. Leaving money on the table might confuse the staff, who may think you forgot your change and chase you down the street to return it.
Pay at the Counter: Don’t ask for the check at the table. Take your bill to the counter near the entrance and pay there.
Dutch Pay: While splitting the bill is common among the younger generation, it is traditional for the eldest or the person who invited others to pay for the whole meal.
6. Other Essential Do's & Don'ts
Don't Lift Your Bowl: Unlike in China or Japan, it is considered polite to keep your rice bowl on the table while eating with a spoon.
Don't Stick Chopsticks into Rice: This resembles a funeral ritual and is considered very disrespectful and unlucky.
Respect the Elders: If dining with someone older, wait for them to lift their spoon first before you begin eating. This is the highest sign of respect in Korean food culture.
