Korean for Food Preferences: How to Say 'No Onions, Please' and 'Extra Sauce'
Learn to request food modifications in Korean, focusing on preferences like no onions or extra sauce, with polite phrases and cultural tips.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When ordering food in Korea, being able to customize your dish to your taste is a valuable skill. Whether you dislike onions or want extra sauce, knowing how to express these preferences politely in Korean ensures a smoother dining experience. This lesson teaches you elementary-level phrases to make such requests, using the polite -아/어 주세요 pattern. You'll learn to say 'No onions, please' and 'Extra sauce, please,' along with related vocabulary and cultural nuances. By the end, you'll be able to modify your order confidently in restaurants or when ordering delivery.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask for no onions in a dish.
- request extra sauce for my food.
- understand and respond to a server's questions about modifications.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
양파 빼 주세요.
Please leave out the onions.
yangpa ppae juseyo
Use this when you want a dish without onions. It's polite and direct.
소스 더 주세요.
Please give me more sauce.
soseu deo juseyo
Use this to ask for extra sauce. '더' means 'more'.
양파는 안 넣어 주세요.
Please don't put in onions.
yangpa-neun an neo-eo juseyo
A slightly more explicit way to say 'no onions', using the negative '안'.
소스는 따로 주세요.
Please give the sauce on the side.
soseu-neun ttaro juseyo
Use this when you want sauce separately, not on the food.
이거 양파 빼고 주세요.
Please give me this without onions.
igeo yangpa ppaego juseyo
Point to the menu item and say this to specify which dish.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern for requests is 'Noun + 빼 주세요' (please leave out Noun) or 'Noun + 더 주세요' (please give more Noun). For example, '양파 빼 주세요' (please leave out onions) and '소스 더 주세요' (please give more sauce). You can replace the noun with other ingredients: '고수 빼 주세요' (please leave out cilantro), '치즈 더 주세요' (please give more cheese). To be more explicit, use '안 넣어 주세요' (please don't put in). These patterns are polite and suitable for most situations.
When to use it
Use these phrases when ordering at a restaurant, food court, or for delivery. They are appropriate for both casual and formal settings, as the -아/어 주세요 ending is polite. For example, when the server takes your order, you can say '양파 빼 주세요' after mentioning your dish. If you want extra sauce, say '소스 더 주세요'. If you're unsure, you can ask '양파 빼도 돼요?' (Can you leave out onions?) to check if modifications are possible. In fast-paced environments, a simple '양파 빼주세요' with a smile works well.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
주문하시겠어요?
Would you like to order?jumunhasigesseoyo?네, 불고기 하나 주세요. 그리고 양파 빼 주세요.
Yes, one bulgogi please. And please leave out the onions.ne, bulgogi hana juseyo. geurigo yangpa ppae juseyo.네, 양파 빼드릴게요. 소스는 어떻게 해드릴까요?
Okay, I'll leave out the onions. How would you like the sauce?ne, yangpa ppaedeurilgeyo. soseu-neun eotteoke haedeurilkkayo?소스 더 주세요.
Please give me more sauce.soseu deo juseyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean restaurants, it's common to customize dishes, but some establishments may have fixed recipes. Using polite request forms like -아/어 주세요 shows respect. Tipping is not customary, so a polite request is sufficient. If you're at a traditional restaurant, modifications might be limited; it's okay to ask, but be prepared for a 'no'. Also, when ordering for a group, specify whose dish needs modification to avoid confusion.
One thing to watch for
Using '양파 없어요' (There are no onions) to mean 'No onions, please'.
Try this instead: This literally states that onions don't exist, which is confusing. Instead, use '양파 빼 주세요' (Please leave out onions) to make a request. For example, '양파 빼 주세요' is clear and polite.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask for no cucumbers in your salad?
Show a sample answer
오이 빼 주세요.
This uses the pattern 'Noun + 빼 주세요' with '오이' (cucumber). It's polite and direct. You could also say '오이는 안 넣어 주세요' for emphasis.
2What phrase would you use to ask for extra cheese on your pizza?
Show a sample answer
치즈 더 주세요.
This follows 'Noun + 더 주세요' with '치즈' (cheese). It's a straightforward way to request more. Alternatively, '치즈 추가해 주세요' (Please add cheese) is also correct.
3If you want sauce on the side, what would you say?
Show a sample answer
소스는 따로 주세요.
This uses '따로' meaning 'separately'. It's a common request. You could also say '소스 따로 주세요' without the topic marker '는'.
To modify your food order in Korean, use 'Noun + 빼 주세요' for omissions and 'Noun + 더 주세요' for extras. Always speak politely with -아/어 주세요, and don't hesitate to ask for what you want.
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