South Korea
South KoreaAt restaurants
What arrives unasked, what costs extra, and how the bill works.
Do you tip in South Korea?
No. Tipping is not a Korean custom and staff do not expect it. Where a charge exists, it is printed on the bill as a service charge.
Can I eat vegetarian or vegan here?
Yes, with care. The tourism board publishes guidance for it, but anchovy and beef stock turn up in dishes that read as vegetable.
Are the side dishes free, and can you ask for more?
Banchan is part of the setting, not a course you ordered, and asking for a top-up is normal. Anything you leave cannot legally be reused — which is why portions start small.
Do I eat rice with the spoon or the chopsticks?
The spoon. It is the one thing Seoul’s etiquette guide says outright about which tool does what. Two rules come with it — do not leave either utensil standing upright in the rice, and do not start before the eldest person at the table has. Fingers stay off the food, with one exception worth knowing.