How to Eat Like a Local in Korea

You can enjoy Korean food without knowing any of the customs, but a few small habits make the whole thing feel natural instead of confusing. None of this is hard, and locals are forgiving of visitors. Here's what's worth knowing before you sit down.

Meals are shared

A Korean table is usually communal. Main dishes go in the middle and everyone eats from them, often with rice and soup served individually. So instead of one plate each, a group orders a few dishes to share. If you're two people at a barbecue place, you might order two kinds of meat for the table rather than a portion per person.

Banchan are free, and they refill

Every meal comes with banchan, the little side dishes like kimchi, seasoned vegetables and pickles. They're included in the price, and in most restaurants you can ask for more at no charge. Don't be shy about a refill of the ones you like, but take what you'll actually eat.

Chopsticks, spoon and rice

Koreans use a spoon for rice and soup and metal chopsticks for everything else. Lift your rice bowl off the table and it can look a little off here, since the bowl usually stays down and you bring the spoon to it. One thing to avoid: never stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, because that resembles a funeral offering.

At the grill

At a barbecue restaurant, someone at the table tends the meat, and staff often help. Kitchen scissors to cut the meat are normal, not rude. Once a piece is cooked, wrap it in a lettuce or perilla leaf (this is called ssam) with rice, a dab of sauce and a sliver of garlic, and eat it in one bite.

Drinking etiquette

If you drink, a few gestures carry real meaning. Pour for others rather than for yourself, and when someone older pours for you, receive the glass with two hands. It's also polite to turn slightly away from an elder when you take a drink. These small courtesies land well and are easy to pick up.

No tipping

Korea doesn't have a tipping culture. The price on the menu is what you pay, and leaving extra cash can cause more confusion than gratitude. You usually pay at the counter on the way out rather than at the table.

A couple of things to skip

Blowing your nose at the table is frowned on, so step away if you need to. And wait for the oldest person to start eating before you dig in at a more formal meal. Get these small things right and you'll blend in quickly. For what to actually order, see our guide on what to order as a first-timer, and for the wider customs, our traditions and etiquette section.