Korean BBQ is basically a religion here. I go at least twice a month, and yes, I know exactly how much meat a table of 4 needs. Let me share my wisdom.
Korean BBQ Basics
Before we talk phrases, know the system:
- Order at least 2 servings - Most places require minimum 2 portions per meat type
- Side dishes are FREE and unlimited - Just ask for refills
- Staff often grills for you - Especially at tourist areas
- Don’t flip the meat too much - One flip is enough
- Use scissors - Koreans cut meat with scissors. It’s normal.
Quick Overview
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 삼겹살 2인분 주세요 | samgyeopsal iinbun juseyo | 2 servings of pork belly please |
| 불판 좀 갈아주세요 | bulpan jom garajuseyo | Please change the grill |
| 반찬 더 주세요 | banchan deo juseyo | More side dishes please |
| 상추 더 주세요 | sangchu deo juseyo | More lettuce please |
| 공기밥 주세요 | gonggibap juseyo | Rice please |
| 여기요! | yeogiyo! | Excuse me! (to call staff) |
| 불 좀 줄여주세요 | bul jom juryeojuseyo | Please lower the heat |
| 고기 추가요 | gogi chugayo | More meat please |
1. 삼겹살 2인분 주세요 (samgyeopsal iinbun juseyo) - “2 servings of pork belly”
🎯 When to Use It
The ordering formula: [Meat type] + [Number]인분 + 주세요
인분 (inbun) = servings/portions
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
The golden ratio for 2 people: Start with 2인분 of one meat, see how hungry you are, then order more.
My husband and I usually do: 삼겹살 2인분 + 목살 1인분 + 공기밥 2. Perfect amount.
📝 Common Meats
| Korean | Romanization | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 삼겹살 | samgyeopsal | Pork belly |
| 목살 | moksal | Pork neck/collar |
| 항정살 | hangjeongsal | Pork jowl |
| 소갈비 | sogalbi | Beef short ribs |
| 차돌박이 | chadolbagi | Beef brisket |
| 양념갈비 | yangnyeomgalbi | Marinated ribs |
DO:
- Order at least 2인분 per meat type (1인분 often not allowed)
- Ask what’s popular: “뭐가 맛있어요?” (mwoga masisseoyo?)
DON’T:
- Order everything at once (meat comes fast and gets cold)
2. 불판 좀 갈아주세요 (bulpan jom garajuseyo) - “Please change the grill”
🎯 When to Use It
When the grill gets burnt and crusty. This happens fast, especially with fatty meats like samgyeopsal.
Don’t be shy - Koreans change the grill multiple times per meal. It’s expected.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
Some places give you a new grill automatically. Others… you wait until it’s a charcoal disaster. Just ask! No one’s judging.
I usually ask after finishing one type of meat before starting another.
📝 Grill-Related Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 불판 | bulpan | Grill plate |
| 불 | bul | Fire/heat |
| 새 불판 | sae bulpan | New grill |
| 타요! | tayo! | It’s burning! |
3. 반찬 더 주세요 (banchan deo juseyo) - “More side dishes please”
🎯 When to Use It
Side dishes (반찬) are FREE and UNLIMITED at Korean restaurants. Run out of kimchi? Just ask.
You can also ask for specific items: “김치 더 주세요” (gimchi deo juseyo)
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
I judge Korean BBQ places by their 반찬. Good samgyeopsal with sad banchan? Disappointing. Okay meat with amazing banchan? I’ll come back.
My must-haves: 김치, 파절이 (green onion salad), 쌈장, 마늘.
📝 Essential BBQ Side Dishes
| Korean | Romanization | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 김치 | gimchi | Kimchi |
| 쌈장 | ssamjang | Dipping paste |
| 마늘 | maneul | Garlic |
| 파절이 | pajeoori | Green onion salad |
| 깻잎 | kkaennip | Perilla leaves |
| 된장찌개 | doenjangjjigae | Soybean paste stew |
4. 상추 더 주세요 (sangchu deo juseyo) - “More lettuce please”
🎯 When to Use It
쌈 (ssam) = wrapping meat in lettuce/leaves. It’s THE Korean BBQ move. You’ll run out of lettuce fast.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
The perfect ssam:
- Lettuce leaf
- Add grilled meat
- Small piece of garlic
- Dab of ssamjang
- Bit of pajeori
- Stuff the whole thing in your mouth
Pro tip: Don’t take a bite. Commit to the whole thing. This is the way.
📝 Ssam Essentials
| Korean | Romanization | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 상추 | sangchu | Lettuce |
| 깻잎 | kkaennip | Perilla leaf |
| 쌈 | ssam | Wrap |
| 쌈장 | ssamjang | Wrap sauce |
| 쌈 싸서 먹다 | ssam ssaseo meokda | To eat wrapped in leaves |
5. 공기밥 주세요 (gonggibap juseyo) - “Rice please”
🎯 When to Use It
Rice usually costs extra at BBQ places (1,000-2,000 won per bowl). Order when you want to balance the meat with some carbs.
Alternative: Some places have 볶음밥 (bokkeumbap - fried rice) that staff makes on the grill with leftover bits. SO GOOD.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
The 볶음밥 at the end of the meal is the real dessert. The staff mixes rice with the leftover meat bits, egg, and kimchi on the grill. I dream about this.
Not all places offer it - ask “볶음밥 돼요?” (bokkeumbap dwaeyo?)
6. 여기요! (yeogiyo!) - “Excuse me!”
🎯 When to Use It
Korean restaurants don’t have the “wait for server to come” culture. You CALL them. Loudly.
여기요 literally means “here” - you’re saying “hey, over here!”
Some restaurants have buttons to call staff. Press it shamelessly.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
When I lived abroad, I kept awkwardly waiting for servers to notice me. In Korea? I yell “여기요!” across the restaurant without shame.
It’s not rude here. It’s expected.
📝 Calling Staff
| Korean | Romanization | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 여기요! | yeogiyo! | Standard call |
| 저기요! | jeogiyo! | Slightly more polite |
| 사장님! | sajangnim! | “Boss!” (small shops) |
| (press bell) | - | If available |
7. 불 좀 줄여주세요 (bul jom juryeojuseyo) - “Lower the heat please”
🎯 When to Use It
BBQ grills can get TOO hot, burning your meat before it’s cooked inside. Ask staff to adjust.
Opposite: 불 좀 높여주세요 (bul jom nopyeojuseyo) - “Please raise the heat”
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
I like my meat medium-well. My husband likes it basically raw (Korean style). We have grill wars every time.
The compromise: keep one side of the grill hot, one side cooler.
8. 고기 추가요 (gogi chugayo) - “More meat please”
🎯 When to Use It
Still hungry? Order more! Just say what you want + 추가요.
추가 (chuga) = additional
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
The danger zone: ordering too much too early. The meat keeps coming and you can’t stop eating and suddenly you’re lying on the floor like a beached whale.
Pace yourself. Order in rounds.
📝 Ordering More
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 추가요 | chugayo | Additional please |
| 하나 더 | hana deo | One more |
| 같은 거요 | gateun geoyo | Same thing |
| 메뉴판 주세요 | menyupan juseyo | Menu please |
Complete Korean BBQ Script
Here’s a full meal from start to finish:
Mid-meal:
End of meal:
🎯 Quick Review Quiz
1. How do you order 2 servings of pork belly?
- A) 삼겹살 두 개 주세요
- B) 삼겹살 2인분 주세요
- C) 삼겹살 이 주세요
2. What does “불판 갈아주세요” mean?
- A) Turn up the heat
- B) Change the grill
- C) Turn off the grill
3. How do you call a server?
- A) 안녕하세요!
- B) 여기요!
- C) 가주세요!
Check Answers
- B - 삼겹살 2인분 주세요 (2 servings of pork belly)
- B - Change the grill plate
- B - 여기요! (Excuse me!)
BBQ Etiquette Tips
- Youngest person pours drinks - for older people at the table
- Don’t pour your own drink - let others pour for you
- Use two hands - when receiving drinks from elders
- The last piece - Don’t take it without offering to others
- Scissors are normal - Don’t be weirded out
Related Posts
- Korean Food Reactions - How to express “this is amazing”
- Korean Cafe Ordering - For dessert after BBQ
Writing this made me hungry. Excuse me while I go order delivery samgyeopsal.