Point and Order! How to Get Korean Street Food Like a Pro
Hello! Welcome to [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever watched a K-drama and seen characters eating delicious-looking red rice cakes or fish cakes on a stick from a street stall? Your mouth starts watering, and you think, “I want to try that!” Well, today is your lucky day! We’re going to learn the most essential phrase you need to conquer the amazing world of Korean street food.
These days in Korea, street food is more popular than ever, thanks to social media and mukbang (eating shows). With the simple phrases you learn today, you’ll be able to confidently walk up to any food stall, point at what you want, and enjoy it, just like your favorite K-drama star!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the magic words that will unlock a world of flavor for you!
1. 이거 (This one)
- Korean Expression: 이거
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Igeo
- English Meaning: This / This one
- Detailed Explanation: This is your best friend when you don’t know the name of a food. Just point and say 이거 (igeo)! It’s an informal, conversational way of saying ‘이것’ (igeot), which means ‘this thing’. At a bustling street food stall, everyone uses 이거 (igeo).
2. 주세요 (Please give me)
- Korean Expression: 주세요
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Juseyo
- English Meaning: Please give me…
- Detailed Explanation: This is the polite and universal way to ask for something in Korea. You can attach it to the end of any noun you want. It comes from the verb ‘주다’ (juda), meaning ‘to give’, combined with the polite ending ‘-(으)세요’ (-euseyo). Use it in shops, restaurants, and of course, at food stalls!
3. 이거 주세요 (Please give me this one)
- Korean Expression: 이거 주세요!
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Igeo juseyo!
- English Meaning: Please give me this one!
- Detailed Explanation: Let’s combine them! This is the ultimate phrase for ordering. Point at the food you want and say 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) with a smile. It’s simple, polite, and gets the job done perfectly.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Even though it’s written as ‘ju-se-yo’, Koreans often say it quickly so it sounds more like [joo-say-yo]. Make sure the ‘세(se)’ sounds like the English word “say”. Practice saying it smoothly: ee-guh joo-say-yo.
4. 얼마예요? (How much is it?)
- Korean Expression: 얼마예요?
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Eolmayeyo?
- English Meaning: How much is it?
- Detailed Explanation: After you’ve ordered, you’ll need to know the price. 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) is the perfect way to ask. It’s polite and can be used in any situation where you need to ask for a price.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The first syllable ‘얼 (eol)’ has a 받침 (batchim, or final consonant) ‘ㄹ’. When ‘ㄹ’ is at the end of a syllable like this, it makes an ‘L’ sound. So, pronounce it like [eol-ma-ye-yo], not [eor-ma-ye-yo].
Example Dialogue
Imagine you’re in Myeongdong, a famous area for street food in Seoul. You see a stall selling delicious-looking Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).
- A (You): (Pointing at the tteokbokki) 와! 이거 주세요!
- Wa! Igeo juseyo!
- (Wow! Please give me this one!)
- B (Vendor): 네, 1인분이요?
- Ne, irinbuniyo?
- (Okay, one serving?)
- A (You): 네! 얼마예요?
- Ne! Eolmayeyo?
- (Yes! How much is it?)
- B (Vendor): 4,000원입니다.
- Sacheon-wonimnida.
- (It’s 4,000 won.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, eating street food is a huge part of daily life. In the hit K-drama Vincenzo, the main characters often share bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry) from a street stall. It’s seen as a simple, warm way to connect with someone.
Pro-Tip to Sound Like a Native:
While 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) is perfect, you might hear Koreans add a number. The native Korean word for “one” is 하나 (hana). If you want to order just one of something, you can say:
이거 하나 주세요. (Igeo hana juseyo.) – Please give me one of this.
Using 하나 (hana) will make you sound even more natural and is super easy to add! The Z-generation in Korea often posts pictures of their street food finds on Instagram with captions like “오늘의 붕어빵 🐟” (Today’s bungeo-ppang). Now you can join them!
Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned the most powerful phrases for enjoying Korean street food:
* 이거 (Igeo) – This one
* 주세요 (Juseyo) – Please give me
* 이거 주세요 (Igeo juseyo) – Please give me this one
* 얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) – How much is it?
Now you’re ready to hit the streets of Seoul!
Practice Quiz:
You see a vendor selling delicious-looking chicken skewers (닭꼬치 – dak-kkochi). How do you ask for one?
- 안녕하세요? (Annyeonghaseyo?)
- 이거 하나 주세요. (Igeo hana juseyo.)
- 감사합니다. (Gamsahamnida.)
The answer is 2!
Now it’s your turn! What’s the first Korean street food you want to try? Leave a comment below using the phrases you learned today! For example: “호떡 하나 주세요!” (Hotteok hana juseyo!)
