Tipping in Korea: Restaurant Etiquette and Dining Guide

Do you need to tip at a restaurant in South Korea?

In most cases, the answer is simple:

No. Tipping is generally not required or expected in Korea.

At an ordinary Korean restaurant, you normally pay the amount shown on the menu or payment screen. You do not need to calculate an additional 10%, 15%, or 20% for the server.

However, Korea’s no-tipping culture does not mean restaurants provide no service. The service system is simply organized differently.

You may need to get your own water, refill side dishes at a self-service station, order through a tablet, press a call button when you need assistance, and pay at the front counter after eating.

Once you understand this system, Korean restaurant culture becomes much easier to navigate.

Quick Guide to Korean Restaurant Etiquette

Here are the most important points for first-time visitors:

• Tipping is generally not expected.
• The displayed menu price is normally the amount you pay.
• Basic side dishes are usually included with the meal.
• Water and side-dish refills may be self-service.
• A table call button is a normal way to contact the staff.
• Spoons and chopsticks may be stored in a drawer under the table.
• Many Korean dishes are designed to be shared.
• Customers often pay at the counter after eating.
• Some restaurants require a minimum order, especially for barbecue or shared dishes.
• Saying “Gamsahamnida” is a natural way to show appreciation.

The Korea Tourism Organization’s official dining guidance states that tipping is not required or expected in Korea. It also explains that additional water and ordinary side dishes generally do not cost extra and that self-service stations and unmanned ordering systems are increasingly common.

Do You Tip at Restaurants in Korea?

You generally do not need to tip at:

• Korean restaurants
• Casual cafés
• Fast-food restaurants
• Food courts
• Bars and pubs
• Delivery services
• Taxis
• Hair salons

This article focuses mainly on restaurants, but the broader principle is similar: tipping is not a standard part of most everyday service transactions in South Korea.

You may occasionally see:

• A tip jar at a tourist-oriented business
• An optional gratuity button in an app
• A tip prompt on a foreign payment system
• A service charge at an international hotel
• A private tour guide who accepts tips

These are exceptions rather than the general rule.

A visible tip option also does not necessarily mean that you are culturally expected to use it. Unless a charge was clearly disclosed as part of the price, you should normally treat tipping as voluntary.

Why Is Tipping Not Common in Korea?

There is no single explanation for Korea’s no-tipping culture. It is better understood as a combination of pricing expectations, service customs, and restaurant operating systems.

1. The Displayed Price Is Expected to Be the Final Price

The central rule is:

The menu price is normally the price you pay.

For example, when a menu says:

Kimchi jjigae — 10,000 won

A customer generally expects the final bill for that dish to be 10,000 won, not 10,000 won plus tax, a service charge, and a percentage-based tip.

Korean restaurant pricing rules generally require businesses to display a final price that includes applicable taxes and service charges. This helps explain why customers do not expect another compulsory percentage to be added after the meal. Public discussion about tipping in Korea also frequently refers to this final-price principle.

Special charges can still exist. Examples may include:

• Corkage fees
• Private-room charges
• Table-setting fees
• Reservation deposits
• Banquet charges
• Minimum-order requirements

These are not necessarily tips. They are separate business charges that should be communicated before payment.

2. Basic Restaurant Service Is Included in the Meal Price

In Korea, taking an order, bringing food, clearing plates, changing a grill plate, or providing more water is generally treated as part of the restaurant’s normal service.

Customers do not usually evaluate the service and then decide what percentage to add to the bill.

This is different from countries where servers may depend heavily on tips and customers are expected to calculate a gratuity based on service quality.

The Korean system is closer to:

The restaurant sets the price, and the customer pays the stated price.

This does not mean that every Korean restaurant has the same wage structure or working conditions. It simply means that tips are not normally treated as a required part of the customer’s payment.

3. Appreciation Is Usually Expressed Through Words and Manners

In Korea, a polite thank-you is a more familiar way to show appreciation than leaving cash on the table.

When leaving, you can say:

감사합니다.
Gamsahamnida.
Thank you.

You may also say:

잘 먹었습니다.
Jal meogeotseumnida.
Thank you for the meal.

The second expression literally means that you ate well. It is commonly used to thank the people who prepared or served the food.

A positive review, a return visit, or a direct compliment can also be a meaningful way to support a restaurant.

4. Korean Restaurants Often Combine Staff Service and Self-Service

Many Korean restaurants use a hybrid system.

Staff members may take your order and bring the main dishes, while customers handle smaller tasks themselves.

Depending on the restaurant, customers may need to:

• Get water
• Collect utensils
• Refill side dishes
• Bring sauces to the table
• Order through a kiosk
• Cook food at the table
• Return trays
• Pay at the front counter

This does not automatically indicate poor service. It is often the restaurant’s intended operating system.

The Korea Tourism Organization specifically notes that more Korean restaurants now use self-service water and side-dish stations or unmanned ordering machines.

Is Tipping Illegal in Korea?

A genuinely voluntary tip is not automatically illegal.

However, there is an important difference between a voluntary tip and an undisclosed mandatory charge.

Voluntary tip

Money that a customer freely chooses to give because they appreciated the service.

Service charge

A fee imposed by the business as part of the transaction.

Mandatory gratuity

An additional payment that customers are required to make, even when it is described as a tip.

A restaurant may establish special charges or conditions, but customers should be informed about them in advance. A business should not display one price and then unexpectedly demand an undisclosed compulsory tip at the end of the meal.

Therefore, it is more accurate to say:

Tipping itself is not generally illegal, but an undisclosed mandatory extra charge may conflict with final-price display requirements.

Are Koreans Starting to Tip More?

There have been occasional attempts to introduce tip jars, digital tip options, and app-based tipping features in Korea.

However, these attempts have often received negative public reactions.

A 2025 Korea Times report described tipping as still uncommon in Korea and cited a survey in which more than 61% of respondents opposed introducing tipping culture. The report also discussed public criticism of tip jars and app-based gratuity requests.

It is possible that individual businesses will continue experimenting with optional tips. However, as of July 2026, percentage-based tipping has not become a normal expectation at ordinary Korean restaurants.

Should You Leave Cash on the Table?

Usually, no.

Leaving coins or banknotes on the table may confuse the staff. They may think that:

• You forgot your money
• You left change behind accidentally
• The money belongs to another customer
• The table has not been fully cleared

A staff member may even follow you to return it.

The safest approach is:

1. Check the bill.
2. Pay the displayed amount.
3. Collect your card, receipt, and belongings.
4. Say “Gamsahamnida” when leaving.
5. Do not add a percentage-based tip.

When a business clearly has a voluntary tip jar, you may choose to use it. You should not feel obligated to do so.

What Are Korean Side Dishes?

Small Korean side dishes are called banchan.

In Korean:

반찬 — Banchan

Banchan is usually served in small shared dishes alongside rice, soup, stew, grilled meat, or another main dish.

Common examples include:

• Kimchi
• Seasoned bean sprouts
• Pickled radish
• Stir-fried fish cake
• Seasoned spinach
• Braised potatoes
• Seaweed
• Small salads
• Spicy cucumbers

At many Korean restaurants, basic banchan is included in the price of the main meal. You do not order and pay for every small plate separately.

Are Banchan Refills Free?

At many ordinary Korean restaurants, refills of basic banchan are provided without an additional charge. You may ask the staff or visit a self-service side-dish station. The Korea Tourism Organization also describes additional ordinary side dishes as generally available without extra cost.

However, this is not an unlimited guarantee for every food item at every restaurant.

A restaurant may charge for:

• Premium side dishes
• Egg dishes
• Meat-based side dishes
• Large specialty items
• Individually packaged food
• Additional soup or rice
• Items specifically marked as paid

Look for signs such as:

추가 유료
Chuga yuryo
Additional portions cost extra.

You can also ask:

이거 리필 무료예요?
Igeo ripil muryoyeyo?
Is this refill free?

Even when refills are free, take only what you expect to eat. Taking large quantities and leaving them uneaten creates unnecessary food waste and may be considered inconsiderate.

What Is a Korean Self-Service Bar?

A Korean restaurant may have an area labeled:

• 셀프
• 셀프바
• Self
• Self Bar
• Self-service corner

The English word “self” is commonly used in Korea as an abbreviation for self-service.

A self-service bar may provide:

• Water
• Cups
• Spoons
• Chopsticks
• Napkins
• Kimchi
• Pickled radish
• Lettuce
• Garlic
• Sauces
• Soup
• Additional side dishes

The exact selection depends on the restaurant.

Not everything at a self-service station is necessarily unlimited. Read nearby signs and take reasonable portions.

What Does “Water Is Self-Service” Mean?

You may see this sign:

물은 셀프입니다.
Mureun selpeuimnida.
Water is self-service.

This means customers are expected to get their own water instead of asking a server to bring it.

The water station may contain:

• A water dispenser
• A cold-water container
• A kettle
• Cups
• A pitcher for the table

Ordinary drinking water provided by the restaurant is generally free. Bottled mineral water, sparkling water, soft drinks, and alcohol may cost extra.

Self-service water is one of the most common restaurant systems that surprises first-time foreign visitors. It is not intended to be unfriendly. It simply reduces repeated trips between the kitchen and each table.

How Do You Order at a Korean Restaurant?

Korean restaurants use several different ordering systems.

1. Ordering From a Server

At a traditional table-service restaurant, a server will take your order.

However, staff members may not return frequently to ask whether you need anything. Customers are generally expected to call the server when assistance is needed.

You can say:

저기요.
Jeogiyo.
Excuse me.

You may also hear:

여기요.
Yeogiyo.
Over here, please.

“Jeogiyo” is usually a useful and polite way to get a server’s attention. Say it clearly without shouting aggressively.

2. Using a Table Call Button

Many Korean restaurants have a small call button attached to the table.

It may be labeled:

• 호출
• 호출벨
• 직원 호출
• Call
• Bell

Pressing this button is completely normal.

It does not mean you are being rude, impatient, or demanding. It is the restaurant’s intended communication system.

After pressing it, wait for a staff member to come to your table. Repeatedly pressing the button is unnecessary unless no one responds after a reasonable period.

3. Ordering With a Table Tablet

Some restaurants place a touchscreen tablet at each table.

You may be able to use it to:

• View the menu
• Select dishes
• Change quantities
• Add drinks
• Request side dishes
• Call a server
• Check your current order
• Pay at the table

An English-language option may be available, especially in major chains or tourist areas. Smaller restaurants may provide only Korean.

Before confirming, check whether the tablet automatically selected:

• A larger size
• Extra toppings
• A set menu
• Additional rice
• Alcohol
• Multiple servings

4. Ordering at a Kiosk

Kiosks are common at:

• Fast-food restaurants
• Food courts
• Cafeterias
• Noodle shops
• Burger restaurants
• Casual restaurant chains
• Highway rest areas
• Takeout-focused businesses

The usual process is:

1. Select a language, if available.
2. Choose your food.
3. Select any options or side dishes.
4. Pay by card or another supported method.
5. Take the receipt or order number.
6. Watch the pickup screen.
7. Collect the food when your number appears.

Some kiosks may not accept every foreign-issued card. When payment fails, ask whether you can order or pay at the counter.

Where Are the Spoons and Chopsticks?

Do not worry if there are no utensils on top of the table.

Many Korean restaurants store spoons, metal chopsticks, and napkins inside a small drawer under the tabletop.

Check:

• Under the front edge of the table
• Under the side of the table
• Inside a wooden utensil box
• At the self-service station
• Near the water dispenser

Korean meals commonly use both a spoon and chopsticks.

The spoon is often used for:

• Rice
• Soup
• Stew
• Porridge
• Soft foods

Chopsticks are often used for:

• Side dishes
• Meat
• Noodles
• Vegetables
• Fried foods

Avoid placing chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. This arrangement is associated with ancestral or memorial rites and is not appropriate for an ordinary meal.

Is It Normal to Share Food in Korea?

Yes. Many Korean dishes are designed to be shared.

Examples include:

• Korean barbecue
• Hot pot
• Large stews
• Braised meat
• Seafood dishes
• Fried chicken
• Savory pancakes
• Spicy stir-fried dishes

A large central dish may be shared while each person receives:

• An individual rice bowl
• A soup bowl
• A small plate
• Personal utensils

Use serving tongs, ladles, or shared chopsticks when they are provided.

Safe sharing habits include:

• Use tongs for raw meat.
• Do not eat directly with raw-meat tongs.
• Keep utensils that touched raw meat away from cooked food.
• Use a ladle for shared soup or stew when available.
• Do not return food from your plate to the shared dish.
• Do not take all of a popular item at once.

Dining customs vary among families, generations, and restaurants. Using the provided serving utensils is generally the safest option.

Korean Barbecue Etiquette

At a Korean barbecue restaurant, meat may be cooked by:

• A server
• One person in your group
• Everyone at the table

Watch what happens after the grill is prepared.

When a server begins placing, turning, and cutting the meat, it is usually best to let the server continue. At other restaurants, customers are expected to cook everything themselves.

Important points include:

Check the minimum order

Some barbecue restaurants require an initial order of two or more servings.

A menu may say:

2인분 이상 주문 가능
Orders must be for at least two servings.

This can apply even when only one person is dining.

Understand the serving size

Meat prices are often listed per serving, such as:

• 100 grams
• 150 grams
• 180 grams
• 200 grams

One serving does not always equal one person’s complete meal.

Use separate utensils for raw meat

Restaurants often provide special tongs and scissors.

Use the tongs for handling meat on the grill, especially while it is raw. Do not use them as personal eating utensils.

Ask for a new grill plate when needed

Staff may automatically replace a burnt grill plate. When they do not, you can ask:

불판 좀 갈아 주세요.
Bulpán jom gara juseyo.
Please change the grill plate.

Check whether vegetables are self-service

Lettuce, garlic, sauces, kimchi, or pickled radish may be available at a self-service bar.

Take small amounts first and return for more when needed.

Do You Need to Remove Your Shoes?

Most modern Korean restaurants use regular tables and chairs, so customers keep their shoes on.

Remove your shoes when:

• There is a raised floor area
• You enter a traditional private room
• Shoes are arranged near the entrance
• Shoe lockers are provided
• Slippers are provided
• A sign asks customers to remove their shoes

Never step onto a raised wooden or heated floor while wearing outdoor shoes.

Some traditional restaurants have recessed seating. You remove your shoes before entering, but your legs fit under the table in a space below the floor.

When uncertain, look at what other customers are doing.

Where Do You Pay?

At many casual Korean restaurants, customers pay at the front counter after eating.

The typical process is:

1. Finish the meal.
2. Check that you have all your belongings.
3. Go to the counter.
4. Tell the staff your table number if necessary.
5. Check the total amount.
6. Pay.
7. Collect your card and receipt.

Do not always expect a server to bring the bill to your table.

Table payment is more common at:

• Fine-dining restaurants
• Hotel restaurants
• Restaurants using payment tablets
• Some large chains

When uncertain, ask:

계산은 어디에서 해요?
Gyesaneun eodieseo haeyo?
Where do we pay?

Can You Split the Bill?

It depends on the restaurant and its payment system.

Some restaurants can divide the total between several cards. Others prefer one payment for the whole table.

You can ask:

나눠서 결제할 수 있어요?
Nanwoseo gyeoljehal su isseoyo?
Can we split the payment?

Among Korean friends, it is common for one person to pay the restaurant bill and for the others to transfer their shares electronically afterward.

Separate checks for every individual are therefore not always prepared automatically.

Why Does Food Sometimes Arrive in a Different Order?

Korean restaurants often prioritize speed and kitchen efficiency.

Dishes may arrive:

• Very soon after ordering
• In a different order from the menu
• At the same time
• Whenever each item is ready
• Before every side dish has arrived

For example, a soup may arrive before a grilled dish even when they were ordered together.

This usually does not mean that the staff forgot the intended course order. Many casual Korean meals are not organized into separate appetizer, main-course, and dessert stages.

If an item appears to be missing, you can ask:

이 메뉴 아직 안 나왔어요.
I menyu ajik an nawasseoyo.
This dish has not come out yet.

Why Are Plates Cleared So Quickly?

Staff may remove empty dishes while other people at the table are still eating.

This is often intended to:

• Make more room on a small table
• Remove empty side-dish plates
• Keep the table organized
• Prepare space for additional dishes

It is not always a signal that you must leave immediately.

However, at a very busy restaurant, table turnover may be important. Some cafés or restaurants also post a specific seating-time limit.

Check for signs near the entrance, counter, or table.

Is It Rude to Make Noise While Eating?

Many Korean restaurants are lively, especially barbecue restaurants, chicken restaurants, and pubs.

Ordinary conversation and restaurant noise are normal.

However, customers should avoid:

• Shouting across the room
• Playing videos without headphones
• Making long calls on speakerphone
• Allowing children to run near servers carrying hot food
• Disturbing nearby tables
• Blocking aisles with bags or strollers
• Remaining at a crowded table for a long time after finishing

Noodle slurping may be heard and is generally less sensitive than in some cultures, but deliberately making loud eating noises is not required.

Korean Restaurant Etiquette Checklist

Before entering:

• Check whether there is a waiting list.
• Check whether you should wait to be seated.
• Look for a kiosk or counter-order sign.
• Confirm any minimum-order requirement.

After sitting down:

• Look for a menu, tablet, or call button.
• Check the table drawer for utensils.
• Find out whether water is self-service.
• Check whether side dishes are refillable.

While eating:

• Use serving utensils when available.
• Keep raw-meat utensils separate.
• Take reasonable amounts from the self-service bar.
• Do not assume every additional item is free.
• Keep bags and strollers away from busy aisles.

When leaving:

• Check whether payment is at the counter.
• Pay the displayed bill.
• Do not worry about adding a tip.
• Take your receipt and belongings.
• Say “Gamsahamnida.”

Useful Korean Restaurant Phrases

Excuse me

저기요.
Jeogiyo.

Please give us some water

물 좀 주세요.
Mul jom juseyo.

Is the water self-service?

물은 셀프예요?
Mureun selpeuyeyo?

Please give us more side dishes

반찬 좀 더 주세요.
Banchan jom deo juseyo.

Is this refill free?

이거 리필 무료예요?
Igeo ripil muryoyeyo?

Please give us one more serving

1인분 더 주세요.
Il-inbun deo juseyo.

Please make it less spicy

덜 맵게 해 주세요.
Deol maepge hae juseyo.

Please change the grill plate

불판 좀 갈아 주세요.
Bulpán jom gara juseyo.

This dish has not arrived yet

이 메뉴 아직 안 나왔어요.
I menyu ajik an nawasseoyo.

Can we split the payment?

나눠서 결제할 수 있어요?
Nanwoseo gyeoljehal su isseoyo?

Where do we pay?

계산은 어디에서 해요?
Gyesaneun eodieseo haeyo?

We would like to pay

계산할게요.
Gyesanhalgeyo.

Thank you

감사합니다.
Gamsahamnida.

Thank you for the meal

잘 먹었습니다.
Jal meogeotseumnida.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tourists need to tip at restaurants in Korea?

No. Tourists and foreign residents are generally not expected to tip at ordinary Korean restaurants. Pay the amount displayed on the bill or payment screen. Official Korea Tourism Organization guidance also states that tipping is not required or expected.

Is a 10% or 20% restaurant tip expected in Korea?

No. There is no standard expectation to add 10%, 15%, or 20% to an ordinary Korean restaurant bill.

Is tipping considered rude in Korea?

It is not necessarily rude, but it can be unfamiliar or confusing. Staff may think that you accidentally left money behind. At an ordinary restaurant, a verbal thank-you is usually more natural.

Is tipping illegal in South Korea?

A voluntary tip is not automatically illegal. However, businesses are generally expected to communicate the final price, including applicable compulsory service charges. An undisclosed mandatory fee is different from a voluntary tip.

Does the Korean menu price include tax?

Restaurant menu prices are generally presented as the amount the customer is expected to pay, including applicable taxes and compulsory service charges. Separately disclosed charges, such as corkage or private-room fees, may still apply.

Are Korean side dishes always free?

Basic banchan is usually included with a Korean meal, and many restaurants provide free refills. However, premium dishes, rice, soup, meat, eggs, or items marked as paid may cost extra.

Is restaurant water free in Korea?

Ordinary drinking water is usually provided without charge, but customers may need to get it from a self-service station. Bottled or specialty water may cost extra.

Is self-service considered bad service?

Not necessarily. Self-service water, side-dish stations, kiosks, and tray-return areas are normal parts of many Korean restaurant systems.

How do I call a server in Korea?

Press the table call button when one is available. Otherwise, politely say “Jeogiyo.”

Should I wait for the bill at my table?

Not always. Many casual restaurants expect customers to pay at the front counter after eating.

Can I split a restaurant bill in Korea?

Sometimes. Ask the restaurant whether multiple card payments are possible. One person paying and receiving electronic transfers from the group is also common.

Do Korean cafés expect tips?

Generally, no. A café may display an optional tip jar or digital prompt, but percentage-based tipping is not a standard expectation.

Do Korean food delivery apps expect tips?

Generally, no. Some services or individual businesses may experiment with voluntary tip features, but tipping is not a universal requirement for food delivery in Korea.

Final Thoughts

The basic logic of Korean restaurant culture is straightforward:

Pay the displayed price, follow the restaurant’s service system, and do not worry about leaving a tip.

The absence of tipping does not mean there is no service. Service is simply divided differently among the staff, ordering technology, self-service stations, and customers.

Remember these five points:

1. Tipping is generally not expected.
2. Basic side dishes are usually included.
3. Water or refills may be self-service.
4. Call buttons and ordering tablets are normal.
5. Payment is often made at the front counter.

Once you understand these rules, eating at Korean restaurants becomes much more comfortable and predictable.

Last reviewed: July, 2026

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about common restaurant customs in South Korea. Individual restaurant policies may differ depending on the location, menu, business type, and service format.

Always check the posted menu, ordering screen, reservation terms, and in-store notices for specific information about prices, minimum orders, side-dish refills, corkage, private-room fees, or other charges.

Cultural practices may also change over time. This article is not legal advice, and it does not replace guidance from the restaurant, relevant authorities, or a qualified professional.