I’m going to Korea next month all by myself. Is it very difficult to find restaurants where I can eat alone? What do I have to pay attention to? Do I have to ask the waiters every time if they accept 1 person? I’d like to get some tips please :)

Question

eoneo · Answer

식당 종류에 따라서 다를 수 있지만, 대체적으로는 상관 없어요.
제가 약 10년 전쯤 한국에 처음 돌아갔을 때 고깃집(bbq place)과 일반 식사류가 나오는 식당을 혼자 간 적이 있었는데, 혼자라고 말씀드리니 처음에 잠깐 의아하게 생각하기는 했지만 그뿐이고 아무런 상관은 없었어요. 고깃집은 보통 가족 단위나 단체로 식사하기 때문에 그런 것이고, 다른 한 곳은 city centre의 office district 근처였는데 저녁에 어린 학생이 혼자서 식사하러 왔다니까 보기 드문 경우여서 그랬을 거예요. 저 때도 그랬고 그 전에 한국 살 때도 그랬고, 테이블 많은 큰 식당, 단체 손님 단위로 받는 식당 등이 아닌 이상 혼자서 식사하는 데에 큰 무리는 없을 거예요. 분식집이나 국밥집 같은 곳은 원래 혼자 가는 것이 더 흔하고요.

그 밖에는 다른 분들이 언급해 주셨고,
의무적·자발적 상관 없이 팁 문화라는 것이 없으므로 메뉴판에 나와있는 음식 금액만 생각하시면 돼요.

p.s.
조심해야 할 것이나 꼭 그래야 하는 건 아니지만 개인적으로 waiter보단 server가 더 자연스럽게 들린다고 생각합니다. Political correctness 이런 건 전혀 아니고 그냥 한국어로 '웨이터'라고 하면 서양식 식당 waiter가 떠오르고 일반 식당에서 주문받고 음식 가져다 주는 사람을 한국에서는 서빙하는 사람, 서빙하는 분, 서빙 직원 등등으로 부르기 때문에 server가 matching translation으로 들려서 그렇습니다.

p.p.s.
간 건 고깃집이지만 먹은 메뉴는 탕이었어요

okssttaarrtt · Answer

and also what is different in Korea to Germany, after meal we don't pay at the table, when you finished your meal, you go to the cashier? kind of.. you can see where ppl pay..😄

hWalthy · Answer

As mentioned above, it's not rare at all for Koreans to go to restaurants alone. No one will care when they see a foreigner or anyone eating alone in a restaurant. Many Koreans and foreigners travel in Korea by themselves.

Some things that would be good to know about restaurants in Korea.

Smoking is strictly prohibited in all indoor places in Korea. (I think it's the same in Germany.)

Oftentimes, food is served unbelievably quickly, like, within 5~10 minutes sometimes.

Not all, but many big enough restaurants in Korea have a call bell on tables so that customers call a waiter in an easier way. So, if you're ready to order your food and you haven't seen your waiter walk by for awhile, press the button.

In Korea, it's not rude to raise your hand to call a waiter. This is a very common way to call a waiter in restaurants without call bells.

Some Korean restaurants may have only floor seating.

You can ask for banchan refill.

Alwayslang · Answer

혼자 먹는 거 흔해요. 고깃집, 뷔페도 혼자 가는 사람도 있고요.
탕이나 찌개가 기본 2인분부터 나오는 식당은 혼자 가서 시켜도 2인분 가격을 내야되겠지만요. 이런 메뉴는 양이 많아요. 근데 1인용 메뉴 파는 식당이 널려서 걱정 안 해도 됨.

dsutnjn · Answer

You can eat alone in most restaurants in Korea. It's pretty common for Koreans to go to a restaurant alone. 
You don't need to ask if one person is allowed. Most of the time, a waiter/waitress will ask first "몇 분이세요? (How many people?) to get you a table.
There are not many differences between the restaurants in Korea and the restaurants in Germany. Some differences would be, banchan(side dishes) can be refilled and water is always free in Korea.

I can't think of anything particular that you need to pay attention.
If you want to try spicy food, ask how spicy it is. Some Korean food like 불닭 and 낙지볶음 can be very spicy to foreigners and some Koreans as well.

I’m going to Korea next month all by myself. Is it very difficult to find restaurants where I can eat alone? What do I have to pay attention to? Do I have to ask the waiters every time if they accept 1 person? I’d like to get some tips please :) See a translation

and also what is different in Korea to Germany, after meal we don't pay at the table, when you finished your meal, you go to the cashier? kind of.. you can see where ppl pay..😄

I’m going to Korea next month all by myself. Is it very difficult to find restaurants where I can eat alone? What do I have to pay attention to? Do I have to ask the waiters every time if they accept 1 person? I’d like to get some tips please :)