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How to Use a Korean Food Kiosk: Every Screen in Order
Level
A1
Type
Travel
Theme
Food
작성자
Y
작성시각
You're at a burger shop in Seoul. The kiosk opens with two Korean buttons, and neither one looks like the menu you expected.
Start by finding 매장 or 먹고 가기 for eating there, and 포장 or 가지고 가기 for takeout. After that, most food kiosks move through a familiar sequence: menu, options, cart, payment, and order number.
The wording and order vary by store, but the same core Korean keeps returning.
The screen may ask where you'll eat first
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
매장 | mae-jang | eat here / in-store |
먹고 가기 | meok-go ga-gi | eat here |
포장 | po-jang | takeout |
가지고 가기 | ga-ji-go ga-gi | take it to go |
If you're staying, tap 매장 or 먹고 가기. If you're leaving with the food, tap 포장 or 가지고 가기.
You may see the same question written as a full sentence:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
드시고 가세요? | deu-si-go ga-se-yo? | Are you eating here? |
포장하시겠어요? | po-jang-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo? | Would you like takeout? |
Those sentences are also useful at a staffed counter. A safe answer is simply 매장이요 or 포장이요.
Find the menu category you need
Categories usually appear across the top or down one side of the screen.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
추천 메뉴 | chu-cheon me-nyu | recommended menu |
인기 메뉴 | in-gi me-nyu | popular items |
신메뉴 | sin-me-nyu | new items |
세트 | se-teu | set / combo |
단품 | dan-pum | single item |
사이드 | sa-i-deu | side dishes |
음료 | eum-nyo | drinks |
The useful pair is 세트 and 단품. A 세트 includes the items shown as a combination. 단품 means the main item without the set.
Don't assume every 추천 or 인기 label is a button you must press. They may only mark a category or a promotional section.
The options screen wants a choice
After you select an item, a popup may ask about size, temperature, toppings, or sides.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
선택 | seon-taek | select |
필수 | pil-su | required |
변경 | byeon-gyeong | change |
추가 | chu-ga | add |
빼기 | ppae-gi | remove |
수량 | su-ryang | quantity |
필수 is the word to watch. If the kiosk won't move forward, look for a section marked 필수. You may have missed a required size, drink, or side.
At a café kiosk, you may also see:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
따뜻하게 | tta-tteu-ta-ge | hot |
차갑게 | cha-gap-ge | iced / cold |
샷 추가 | syat chu-ga | add a shot |
얼음 적게 | eo-reum jeok-ge | less ice |
Some machines use English words such as HOT and ICE instead. Read the action on the button, not only the product photo.
Check the cart before paying
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
장바구니 | jang-ba-gu-ni | cart |
주문하기 | ju-mun-ha-gi | place the order |
결제하기 | gyeol-je-ha-gi | pay |
주문 취소 | ju-mun chwi-so | cancel order |
삭제 | sak-je | delete |
이전 | i-jeon | previous / back |
처음으로 | cheo-eu-meu-ro | return to the beginning |
Check the quantity beside each item before tapping 결제하기. If you added the wrong item, look for 삭제 or 주문 취소. 이전 goes back one screen; 처음으로 returns to the beginning.
The exact buttons differ by kiosk. If you can't find a safe way back, don't keep confirming random popups. Ask a staff member for help.
Skip the membership question if you don't use the program
Before payment, the screen may ask about points or membership.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
포인트 적립 | po-in-teu jeok-rip | collect membership points |
적립하시겠어요? | jeok-rip-ha-si-ge-sseo-yo? | Would you like to collect points? |
휴대폰 번호 | hyu-dae-pon beon-ho | mobile phone number |
건너뛰기 | geon-neo-ttwi-gi | skip |
아니요 | a-ni-yo | no |
If you don't have that store's Korean membership account, tap 건너뛰기 or 아니요. This question isn't asking for a payment phone number.
Follow the payment instruction on this machine
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
결제 수단 | gyeol-je su-dan | payment method |
카드를 넣어 주세요 | ka-deu-reul neo-eo ju-se-yo | Please insert the card. |
카드를 빼 주세요 | ka-deu-reul ppae ju-se-yo | Please remove the card. |
결제 중 | gyeol-je jung | payment in progress |
결제 완료 | gyeol-je wal-lyo | payment complete |
결제 실패 | gyeol-je sil-pae | payment failed |
Card readers don't all work the same way. Follow the picture or instruction beside the reader, and wait for 결제 완료 before moving on.
If your payment fails, try once more after checking the card direction. If it fails again, take the card to the counter and say:
결제가 안 돼요. 도와주세요.
The payment isn't working. Please help me.
The payment isn't working. Please help me.
This describes the problem without guessing why the card failed.
Keep the receipt or remember the order number
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
주문번호 | ju-mun beon-ho | order number |
영수증 | yeong-su-jeung | receipt |
출력 | chul-lyeok | print |
호출 | ho-chul | call / number called |
준비 중 | jun-bi jung | being prepared |
준비 완료 | jun-bi wal-lyo | ready |
Your receipt may show a 주문번호. Match that number to the pickup screen or listen for it to be called. Some places give you a pager instead.
Don't leave the kiosk as soon as the payment goes through. Check whether it prints an order number, asks you to take a receipt, or directs you to a pickup area.
If the screen wins
Use one short sentence:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
이거 도와주세요. | i-geo do-wa ju-se-yo | Please help me with this. |
결제가 안 돼요. | gyeol-je-ga an dwae-yo | The payment isn't working. |
영어로 바꿀 수 있어요? | yeong-eo-ro ba-kkul su i-sseo-yo? | Can I change it to English? |
Point to the screen while you say it. You don't need to explain every step that went wrong.
Before your trip, practice recognizing this order: 매장 or 포장 → 메뉴 → 필수 options → 장바구니 → 결제 → 주문번호. Once you can spot those words, a kiosk becomes a series of small choices instead of one large wall of Korean.