How to Order Food Delivery in Korea: A Complete Guide for Foreigners
How to Order Food Delivery in Korea: A Complete Guide for Foreigners
Ordering food delivery is one of the easiest ways to enjoy Korean food without leaving your hotel or apartment.
South Korea has a highly developed food delivery culture. You can order Korean fried chicken, pizza, burgers, noodles, rice dishes, Korean barbecue, desserts, coffee and many other foods directly to your accommodation.
For foreigners, however, ordering food delivery in Korea can initially feel complicated.
Most Korean delivery apps are designed primarily for Korean users, so menus, addresses and payment screens may not always be available in English.
The good news is that once you understand the basic process, ordering food delivery in Korea becomes surprisingly simple.
This guide explains how to order food delivery in Korea, which apps to use, how to enter your address, how to pay, how to order from a hotel and what to do if you do not speak Korean.
1. How Does Food Delivery Work in Korea?
The basic process is straightforward:
Choose a delivery app → Select a restaurant → Choose your food → Enter your address → Pay → Track your delivery
Most restaurants are connected to delivery platforms, so you do not usually need to call the restaurant directly.
After placing an order, the restaurant prepares the food and a delivery driver brings it to your location.
One major feature of Korean food delivery is the wide selection.
You can order everything from a simple convenience-store-style meal to restaurant-quality dishes.
Popular delivery categories include:
Korean fried chicken
Tteokbokki
Korean barbecue
Pizza
Chinese-Korean food
Japanese food
Burgers
Noodles
Rice bowls
Coffee
Desserts
Late-night meals
2. Which Food Delivery Apps Are Used in Korea?
The major food delivery platforms include:
Baemin (배달의민족)
Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠)
Yogiyo (요기요)
These platforms allow users to browse restaurants, compare menus, place orders and track deliveries.
The exact availability of restaurants, promotions and payment methods can vary depending on your location and the app.
For foreign visitors, the most important thing is not necessarily choosing one “best” app.
Instead, it is useful to check which platform works with your payment method and accommodation.
3. Baemin: One of Korea's Best-Known Delivery Apps
Baemin, short for Baedal Minjok (배달의민족), is one of Korea's best-known food delivery services.
The platform offers a large selection of restaurants and food categories.
You can browse:
Korean food
Fried chicken
Pizza
Chinese food
Japanese food
Desserts
Cafes
Convenience-store products
Baemin is particularly useful if you want to explore a large number of restaurants in your neighborhood.
However, foreigners may find the Korean-language interface challenging.
If you cannot read Korean, using a translation tool or browser translation can make the ordering process easier.
4. Coupang Eats
Coupang Eats is another major food delivery platform in Korea.
One advantage is its integration with the broader Coupang ecosystem.
Depending on the user's account and location, the app may offer different delivery options and promotions.
Coupang Eats can be a convenient option for people already familiar with Coupang.
However, international visitors should check whether they can create an account and use their preferred payment method.
5. Yogiyo
Yogiyo (요기요) is another major Korean food delivery platform.
It provides restaurant listings, menus, promotions and delivery services.
As with other Korean delivery apps, the availability of restaurants and delivery options depends on the user's location.
If one app does not show the restaurant you want, checking another platform can sometimes solve the problem.
6. Do You Need a Korean Phone Number?
This is one of the most important questions for foreign travelers.
A Korean phone number can make using Korean apps much easier because some services require phone-number verification.
Depending on the app and account type, you may encounter:
SMS verification
Korean identity verification
Local payment requirements
Korean-language registration screens
For a short-term tourist, this can be one of the biggest barriers to using local delivery apps.
If you plan to stay in Korea for several weeks or months, getting a Korean SIM or eSIM with a usable local number may make everyday services much easier.
7. What If You Don't Have a Korean Phone Number?
Don't worry.
You still have several options.
First, check whether the delivery app currently allows registration with your foreign phone number.
App policies can change, so this should be checked when you create your account.
Second, ask your hotel or accommodation whether they can help place an order.
Third, look for restaurants that accept direct online orders or other international-friendly payment methods.
Finally, some hotels may have their own food ordering procedures.
The important thing is that you should not assume every Korean delivery app works exactly like an international travel app.
8. How to Enter Your Korean Address
Address entry is one of the most confusing parts for foreigners.
Korean addresses may appear in several formats.
For example:
123 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
or a Korean address using the road-name system.
You may also need to enter additional information such as:
Building name
Apartment number
Building number
Floor
Room number
Delivery instructions
If you are staying at a hotel, use the hotel's official Korean address whenever possible.
You can ask the front desk:
“한국어 주소를 알려주세요.”
This means:
“Could you give me the Korean address?”
Copy and paste the address into the delivery app rather than typing it manually.
This reduces the risk of spelling mistakes.
9. Ordering Food to a Hotel
Ordering food to a hotel is very common in Korea.
However, there is one important thing to check.
Some hotels do not allow delivery drivers to go directly to guest rooms.
Instead, the driver may leave the food:
At the lobby
At the front entrance
At a designated delivery area
At a security desk
Before ordering, ask the hotel:
“배달 음식은 어디에서 받아요?”
This means:
“Where should I receive food delivery?”
If the hotel requires you to collect the order in the lobby, stay aware of your phone so you can go downstairs when the driver arrives.
10. Contact-Free Delivery
Korean food delivery commonly uses contact-free or “leave at the door” delivery.
You may see an option similar to:
문 앞에 놓아주세요
This means:
“Please leave it in front of the door.”
If you are staying in an apartment, this can be extremely convenient.
However, at hotels, you may need to use the lobby or designated delivery area instead.
11. Do You Need to Tip the Delivery Driver?
Generally, tipping is not a standard requirement in Korea.
Unlike the United States, where tipping can be an important part of restaurant and delivery culture, Korean food delivery typically does not require a traditional percentage-based tip.
The final price usually consists of the food cost plus applicable delivery charges and other fees.
Some apps may offer optional tipping features or special circumstances, so check the final payment screen before completing your order.
You should never feel that you need to calculate a 15–20% tip simply because you are ordering delivery in Korea.
12. Delivery Fees
Delivery fees vary depending on:
Restaurant
Distance
Delivery service
Time
Promotions
Order amount
Membership benefits
Some restaurants may offer free delivery above a minimum order amount.
Others may charge a separate delivery fee.
Always check the final payment screen before placing the order.
A restaurant that looks inexpensive at first may have additional delivery charges.
13. Minimum Order Amount
Some restaurants have a minimum order amount.
For example, a restaurant may require:
Minimum order: ₩15,000
If your food total is only ₩10,000, you may not be able to place the order.
This is particularly important if you are traveling alone.
If you only want a small meal, look for restaurants with a lower minimum order or restaurants offering single-person menu options.
14. Korean Delivery Menus Can Be Surprisingly Large
One of the fun parts of Korean food delivery is the variety.
A single restaurant may offer dozens of options.
For example, a fried chicken restaurant may have:
Original fried chicken
Spicy chicken
Soy sauce chicken
Garlic chicken
Cheese chicken
Half-and-half chicken
A Korean restaurant may offer:
Bibimbap
Bulgogi
Kimchi stew
Pork cutlet
Cold noodles
Dumplings
If you are unsure what a Korean menu item means, use a translation app.
Taking a screenshot and translating it can also be very helpful.
15. Useful Korean Delivery Words
Knowing a few Korean words can make ordering much easier.
배달
Delivery
포장
Takeout
주문
Order
배달비
Delivery fee
최소주문금액
Minimum order amount
리뷰
Review
메뉴
Menu
결제
Payment
문 앞
In front of the door
공동현관
Shared entrance
현관
Entrance
요청사항
Special requests
일회용 수저
Disposable utensils
These words appear frequently in Korean delivery apps.
16. How to Add Delivery Instructions
Many Korean delivery apps have a field called:
요청사항
This means special request or delivery instructions.
You can use it to explain where the driver should leave your food.
For example:
“호텔 로비에 놓아주세요.”
means:
“Please leave it in the hotel lobby.”
Or:
“문 앞에 놓아주세요.”
means:
“Please leave it in front of the door.”
If you are staying in an apartment, you may need to provide building and unit information.
17. What If the Driver Calls You?
Delivery drivers may call if they cannot find your location.
If you do not speak Korean, this can feel stressful.
One useful phrase is:
“잠시만요.”
It means:
“One moment, please.”
You can then use a translation app.
You can also send a message explaining:
“한국어를 잘 못해요.”
which means:
“I don't speak Korean well.”
If your delivery instructions are clear, many simple deliveries can be completed without a conversation.
18. Korean Fried Chicken Delivery
If you want to experience Korean food delivery culture, fried chicken is one of the best choices.
Korean fried chicken is famous for its crispy texture and wide variety of sauces.
Popular styles include:
Original crispy chicken
Sweet and spicy yangnyeom
Soy garlic
Honey
Cheese
Spicy chicken
Many restaurants sell half-and-half combinations, allowing you to choose two flavors in one order.
Add Korean beer if you are of legal drinking age and it is appropriate for your circumstances, or simply enjoy the chicken with soda or another drink.
19. Tteokbokki and Late-Night Food
Another popular delivery choice is tteokbokki (떡볶이).
It is a spicy Korean rice-cake dish that is often served with:
Fish cakes
Boiled eggs
Fried foods
Dumplings
Cheese
Korean delivery apps are particularly useful late at night because many restaurants continue accepting delivery orders after traditional restaurants have closed.
However, operating hours vary by restaurant and neighborhood.
20. Delivery Food for One Person
If you are traveling alone, ordering delivery can sometimes be difficult because of minimum order amounts.
Fortunately, many restaurants now offer:
Single-person meals
Lunch boxes
One-person set menus
Small portions
Rice bowls
Noodles
Search for terms such as:
1인분
which means one serving.
You can also search for:
1인 메뉴
meaning single-person menu.
This can make delivery much more affordable for solo travelers.
21. How Much Does Food Delivery Cost in Korea?
There is no single fixed price.
A simple meal might cost around ₩8,000–₩15,000, while a larger meal for two or more people can easily cost ₩20,000–₩40,000 or more.
Premium restaurants and large food orders can cost considerably more.
Delivery fees may be added separately.
Rather than focusing only on the menu price, check the final payment amount before confirming your order.
That is the most reliable way to know how much you will actually pay.
22. Can You Pay With a Foreign Credit Card?
This depends on the platform.
Some Korean delivery services are primarily designed for local users and may require Korean payment methods or account verification.
Foreign cards may work in some circumstances, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
If you are visiting Korea for a short trip, having another payment option can be useful.
Before placing an order, check whether the app accepts your card.
Do not wait until the final checkout screen to discover that your payment method is unavailable.
23. Delivery Apps vs Calling the Restaurant
Calling a restaurant directly is possible, but it can be difficult if you do not speak Korean.
Delivery apps are generally easier because you can:
See photos
Read menus
Compare prices
Check reviews
Track the order
Pay electronically
For foreigners, the biggest challenge is often the Korean-language interface.
Translation tools can make this much easier.
24. How to Order Without Speaking Korean
You do not need fluent Korean.
A simple strategy is:
1. Find the restaurant.
2. Translate the menu.
3. Select your food.
4. Copy your Korean address.
5. Add simple delivery instructions.
6. Confirm the final price.
7. Place the order.
For hotel guests, the most important information is usually the hotel name, Korean address and room or lobby delivery instructions.
25. A Practical Example
Imagine you are staying at a hotel in Seoul.
You want Korean fried chicken.
Your process could look like this:
Step 1: Open a delivery app.
Step 2: Search for 치킨.
Step 3: Choose a restaurant.
Step 4: Check the minimum order amount.
Step 5: Choose your chicken flavor.
Step 6: Enter your hotel's Korean address.
Step 7: Add:
“호텔 로비에서 받을게요.”
This means:
“I will receive it in the hotel lobby.”
Step 8: Check the food price and delivery fee.
Step 9: Complete payment.
Step 10: Wait for the delivery notification.
When the food arrives, go to the designated pickup area.
It really can be that simple.
26. Tips for a Better Delivery Experience
Before ordering, check these five things:
1. Restaurant reviews
Look at recent reviews rather than relying only on the overall rating.
2. Minimum order
Make sure your order meets the minimum amount.
3. Delivery fee
Check whether delivery is free or paid.
4. Address
Use the hotel's official Korean address.
5. Pickup location
Confirm whether the driver can come to your room.
These simple checks can prevent most common problems.
Korean Food Delivery Checklist for Foreigners
Before ordering:
☐ Download a delivery app
☐ Check whether your phone number works
☐ Confirm your payment method
☐ Get your Korean address
☐ Check the minimum order amount
☐ Check delivery fees
☐ Check restaurant reviews
☐ Confirm hotel delivery rules
When ordering:
☐ Select the restaurant
☐ Translate the menu if necessary
☐ Choose your food
☐ Add delivery instructions
☐ Double-check your address
☐ Check the final price
☐ Place the order
After ordering:
☐ Track the delivery
☐ Watch for calls or messages
☐ Go to the lobby if required
☐ Confirm you received the correct order
FAQ: Food Delivery in Korea
What is the best food delivery app in Korea?
Baemin, Coupang Eats and Yogiyo are among the major food delivery platforms. The best option depends on your location, available restaurants and payment method.
Can foreigners order food delivery in Korea?
Yes. Foreigners can order delivery, although some Korean apps may have restrictions involving phone-number verification or payment methods.
Can I order food delivery to a hotel?
Usually yes, but hotel policies vary. Some hotels require guests to collect delivery orders in the lobby or a designated area.
Do I need a Korean phone number?
Not always, but having a Korean phone number can make registration and verification easier for some services.
Do I need to tip delivery drivers?
Traditional tipping is generally not required in Korea. Check the app for any optional tip feature before payment.
Is Korean food delivery expensive?
Prices vary widely. A simple meal can be relatively affordable, but delivery fees and minimum order requirements should be included when calculating the total cost.
Can I pay with an international credit card?
It depends on the platform and payment system. International cards may not work everywhere, so having an alternative payment method is useful.
Can I order delivery without speaking Korean?
Yes. Translation apps, screenshots and simple Korean phrases can make the process much easier.
What Korean word should I search for fried chicken?
Search for 치킨.
What does 배달 mean?
배달 means delivery.
What does 포장 mean?
포장 usually means takeout or pickup rather than delivery.
Final Thoughts
Ordering food delivery in Korea can initially seem difficult for foreigners because many local apps are primarily designed for Korean users.
However, the actual process is quite simple once you understand the basics.
The three major platforms to know are Baemin, Coupang Eats and Yogiyo.
The most important things to prepare are a usable phone number, a payment method and your accommodation's Korean address.
If you are staying at a hotel, always check where delivery drivers are allowed to leave food.
And before you press the final payment button, check the minimum order amount, delivery fee and total price.
Once you get used to the system, Korean food delivery becomes one of the easiest ways to experience the country's food culture.
You can order crispy Korean fried chicken, spicy tteokbokki, noodles, rice dishes, coffee and desserts without leaving your hotel.
For travelers, it is not just a convenient service.
Korean food delivery is also a fun way to experience everyday Korean life.
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