Korean for Beginners: Asking 'What Do You Recommend?' at a Restaurant
Learn to ask for recommendations in Korean, focusing on seeking advice rather than ordering. Master key phrases, patterns, and cultural tips for polite requests.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're at a Korean restaurant and unsure what to order, asking for a recommendation is a great way to discover new dishes and show openness. Unlike simply ordering, this requires phrases that seek advice. In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask 'What do you recommend?' and 'What's good here?' in Korean, using polite and natural expressions. We'll cover the core phrases, the grammar behind them, and how to respond to suggestions. By the end, you'll be able to confidently ask for recommendations and understand the answers, making your dining experience more enjoyable and interactive.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you recommend?' in Korean.
- ask 'What's good here?' in Korean.
- understand and respond to recommendations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
추천해 주세요.
Please recommend (something).
chucheonhae juseyo
A polite and direct way to ask for a recommendation. Use with staff at restaurants or shops.
뭐가 맛있어요?
What's delicious? / What's good here?
mwoga masisseoyo?
Casual but polite; literally 'What is delicious?' Commonly used to ask for popular dishes.
뭐 추천해 주실 수 있어요?
Could you recommend something?
mwo chucheonhae jusil su isseoyo?
More polite and indirect, using 'can you' form. Suitable for formal situations.
여기 뭐가 유명해요?
What is this place famous for?
yeogi mwoga yumyeonghaeyo?
Asks about the restaurant's specialty or popular dish.
제가 뭘 먹으면 좋을까요?
What should I eat?
jega mwol meogeumyeon joeulkkayo?
A softer, more thoughtful way to ask for a suggestion, implying you value their opinion.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The verb 추천하다 (chucheonhada) means 'to recommend'. To ask for a recommendation, you can use 추천해 주세요 (chucheonhae juseyo), which is a polite request form. Adding 주세요 (juseyo) makes it a request. For a more polite version, use 추천해 주실 수 있어요? (mwo chucheonhae jusil su isseoyo?), which means 'Could you recommend?'. Another pattern is 뭐가 맛있어요? (mwoga masisseoyo?), where 뭐가 (mwoga) means 'what' (subject) and 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) means 'is delicious'. This pattern is very common and easy to use.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are a customer at a restaurant, cafe, or even a store, and you want suggestions. They are appropriate in most situations, but the level of politeness can vary. 추천해 주세요 is safe and polite for most interactions. 뭐가 맛있어요? is slightly more casual but still polite; use it with staff who seem friendly. If you're in a very formal setting, like a high-end restaurant, use the more polite version. Also, when asking for recommendations, it's good to listen carefully to the response and maybe ask for clarification if needed.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
어서 오세요. 주문하시겠어요?
Welcome. Would you like to order?eoseo oseyo. jumunhasigesseoyo?네, 뭐가 맛있어요?
Yes, what's good here?ne, mwoga masisseoyo?불고기가 인기 있어요. 추천해 드릴까요?
Bulgogi is popular. Shall I recommend it?bulgogiga ingi isseoyo. chucheonhae deurilkkayo?네, 그럼 불고기 주세요.
Yes, then please give me bulgogi.ne, geureom bulgogi juseyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean dining culture, asking for recommendations is common and shows that you trust the staff's expertise. It's polite to accept suggestions or politely decline if you have dietary restrictions. Tipping is not customary in Korea, so no need to tip for recommendations. Also, when speaking to staff, using polite language (존댓말, jondaenmal) is expected, especially if you're not familiar with them.
One thing to watch for
Using '뭐가 맛있어?' (mwoga masisseo?) without the polite ending -요 (-yo) to a stranger.
Try this instead: Always add -요 (-yo) to make it polite: 뭐가 맛있어요? (mwoga masisseoyo?). The form without -요 is casual and used with close friends or children. Using it with staff can seem rude.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'What do you recommend?' politely to a restaurant server?
Show a sample answer
추천해 주세요. (chucheonhae juseyo.)
This is a direct and polite way to ask for a recommendation. It uses the polite request form -주세요. Other variations like 추천해 주실 수 있어요? are also correct and more polite.
2What does '여기 뭐가 유명해요?' mean?
Show a sample answer
What is this place famous for?
여기 (yeogi) means 'here', 뭐가 (mwoga) means 'what', and 유명해요 (yumyeonghaeyo) means 'is famous'. It's used to ask about the specialty of the establishment.
3If someone recommends a dish, how might you accept it?
Show a sample answer
네, 그럼 그거 주세요. (ne, geureom geugeo juseyo.)
This means 'Yes, then please give me that.' It's a polite way to accept the recommendation and place an order. You could also say '좋아요, 그걸로 할게요' (joayo, geugeollo halgeyo) meaning 'Okay, I'll go with that.'
To ask for recommendations in Korean, use 추천해 주세요 (chucheonhae juseyo) or 뭐가 맛있어요? (mwoga masisseoyo?). Remember to use polite language with staff, and listen carefully to their suggestions. Practice these phrases to make your dining experiences smoother and more enjoyable.
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