Korean Banchan Explained: Are Side Dishes Free and How to Ask for More
In most Korean restaurants, banchan (the small side dishes) come free with your meal and you can ask for refills at no charge. Staff usually will not bring refills on their own, so you ask. I run Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu (Eonju branch) in Yeoksam, Seoul. This is general information, and each restaurant sets its own policy. What is banchan? Banchan are the small shared dishes that arrive with the main dish: kimchi, seasoned vegetables, pickles and so on. They are meant to be shared across the table, and everyone gets their own bowl of rice. They are part of the meal price, not an extra order. Refills: how to ask Free refills usually cover side dishes, water and sometimes rice. They do not cover the main dish, which you order again as an extra portion. Many restaurants have a call button on the table. If not, say yeogi-yo (여기요) and point at the empty plate with deo ju-se-yo (더 주세요): "more, please". Yeogi-yo (여기요): get a server's attention Kimchi deo ju-se-yo (...