Heading to a cafe in Korea? Here are simple korean phrases with Hangeul, romaji, and examples to help you order coffee and snacks confidently.
Easy Korean phrases for a cafe ☕
Let’s keep this really simple and practical.
These are phrases you can use today in any Korean café.
I’ll give you:
- Hangul
- Pronunciation (romanization)
- Natural English meaning
- Small tips so you can learn korean in real life, not just from a book.
If some of this feels hard at first, that’s completely normal. You’re doing great just by showing up. 💛
1. Getting the staff’s attention & saying hello
1) “Hello” (to staff)
- 안녕하세요.
- annyeong-haseyo.
- “Hello.” / “Hi.” (polite)
Use this when you walk in or when you reach the counter.
2) “Excuse me” / “Over here, please”
- 저기요.
- jeo-gi-yo.
- Used to call a server/barista politely.
👉 Say this if you’re sitting and want to order or need help.
2. Basic ordering phrases
These are your core korean phrases for ordering. Learn these first.
1) “I’d like to order.”
- 주문할게요.
- ju-mun-hal-ge-yo.
- “I’ll order now.” / “I’d like to order.”
2) “One / two / three, please.”
- 한 잔 주세요. han jan ju-se-yo. – “One cup, please.”
- 두 잔 주세요. du jan ju-se-yo. – “Two cups, please.”
- 세 잔 주세요. se jan ju-se-yo. – “Three cups, please.”
3) “[Drink] one, please.” (Template)
[drink] + 한 잔 주세요.
[drink] han jan ju-se-yo.
Examples:
- 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.
a-i-seu a-me-ri-ka-no han jan ju-se-yo.
→ “One iced americano, please.” - 따뜻한 라떼 한 잔 주세요.
tta-tteu-tan ra-tte han jan ju-se-yo.
→ “One hot latte, please.”
If you learn this pattern, you’re already using very natural korean phrases that locals use every day.
3. Hot / iced / size / for here or to-go
3.1 Hot or iced
“Iced, please.”
- 아이스로 주세요.
- a-i-seu-ro ju-se-yo.
“Hot, please.”
- 따뜻하게 주세요.
- tta-tteu-ta-ge ju-se-yo.
You can just add these after your drink:
아메리카노 아이스로 주세요.
a-me-ri-ka-no a-i-seu-ro ju-se-yo.
→ “Americano, iced, please.”
3.2 Size
Not every café uses English sizes, but many do.
“Small size, please.”
- 스몰 사이즈로 주세요.
- seu-mol sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo.
“Medium size, please.”
- 미디엄 사이즈로 주세요.
- mi-di-eom sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo.
“Large size, please.”
- 라지 사이즈로 주세요.
- ra-ji sa-i-jeu-ro ju-se-yo.
In some cafés you can also say:
- 작은 거 / 중간 거 / 큰 거 (ja-geun geo / jung-gan geo / keun geo) – small / medium / large one
3.3 For here or to go
Staff will often ask:
- 드시고 가세요?
deu-si-go ga-se-yo?
→ “For here?”
or
- 포장해 드릴까요?
po-jang-hae deu-ril-kkayo?
→ “To go?”
You can answer:
“For here.”
- 먹고 갈게요.
- meok-go gal-ge-yo.
“To go, please.”
- 포장해 주세요.
- po-jang-hae ju-se-yo.
Or more casual:
- 테이크아웃 할게요.
tei-keu-a-ut hal-ge-yo.
→ “I’ll take it to go.”
These are really useful learn korean words to know because cafés ask this almost every time.
4. Customizing your drink (sweetness, ice, shots)
Here are some bonus korean phrases if you like to customize your drink.
1) “Not too sweet, please.”
- 너무 달지 않게 해 주세요.
- neo-mu dal-ji an-ke hae ju-se-yo.
2) “Less sweet, please.”
- 덜 달게 해 주세요.
- deol dal-ge hae ju-se-yo.
3) “Less ice, please.”
- 얼음 적게 넣어 주세요.
- eo-reum jeok-ge neo-eo ju-se-yo.
4) “No ice, please.”
- 얼음 빼 주세요.
- eo-reum ppae ju-se-yo.
5) “Extra shot, please.”
- 샷 추가해 주세요.
- syat chu-ga-hae ju-se-yo.
6) “Decaf, please.”
- 디카페인으로 해 주세요.
- di-ka-pe-in-eu-ro hae ju-se-yo.
You don’t have to memorize all of these at once. Pick one or two that match what you usually order and add more later. You can always come back to this list as you learn korean more.
5. Paying & receipts
5.1 Asking the price
“How much is it?”
- 얼마예요?
- eol-ma-ye-yo?
5.2 Paying
“I’ll pay by card.”
- 카드로 결제할게요.
- ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal-ge-yo.
“I’ll pay in cash.”
- 현금으로 할게요.
- hyeon-geum-eu-ro hal-ge-yo.
You’ll also hear people just say:
- 카드요. (ka-deu-yo.) – “Card.”
- 현금이요. (hyeon-geum-i-yo.) – “Cash.”
5.3 Receipt
“Receipt, please.”
- 영수증 주세요.
- yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo.
6. Simple compliments & thanks
Use these to sound friendly and natural.
“It’s delicious.”
- 맛있어요.
- ma-si-sseo-yo.
“Thank you.”
- 감사합니다.
- gam-sa-ham-ni-da. (more formal)
or
- 고마워요.
- go-ma-wo-yo. (polite, a bit softer)
Say one of these when you pick up your drink or when you leave. Small details like this help you really learn korean in real life.
7. Mini sample dialogues
Let’s put it all together. Try reading these out loud.
Dialogue 1 – Simple order
You:
안녕하세요. 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요.
annyeong-haseyo. aiseu amerika-no han jan ju-se-yo.
→ Hello. One iced americano, please.
Staff:
드시고 가세요, 포장이세요?
deu-si-go ga-se-yo, po-jang-i-se-yo?
→ For here or to go?
You:
포장해 주세요.
po-jang-hae ju-se-yo.
→ To go, please.
Dialogue 2 – Custom order & paying
You:
저기요, 따뜻한 라떼 하나, 너무 달지 않게 해 주세요.
jeo-gi-yo, tta-tteu-tan ra-tte ha-na, neo-mu dal-ji an-ke hae ju-se-yo.
→ Excuse me, one hot latte, not too sweet, please.
Staff:
네, 5,000원입니다.
ne, o-cheon-won-im-ni-da.
→ Sure, it’s 5,000 won.
You:
카드로 결제할게요. 영수증도 주세요.
ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal-ge-yo. yeong-su-jeung-do ju-se-yo.
→ I’ll pay by card. Receipt too, please.
Staff:
네, 감사합니다.
ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
You:
감사합니다.
gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
If you read these a few times, you’re already turning korean phrases into real speaking skills. That’s exactly how you learn korean words naturally.