Level 1 · Unit 3 · Restaurants & Cafés · 6 min

Ordering

Get a server's attention and order food or drinks using the [noun] 주세요 pattern.

Getting attention: 여기요 / 저기요

In many countries, calling out to a waiter feels rude — in Korea, it's completely normal and expected. 여기요 ('over here') and 저기요 ('over there,' more like 'excuse me') are how you politely flag down staff at a restaurant, café, or store. Say it a bit louder than a whisper — nobody will think you're being pushy, that's just how service works here. Either word gets you noticed; 여기요 is the more common everyday choice.

여기요 yeogiyo excuse me! / over here!

Raise your hand slightly and say this to get a server's attention before ordering. Totally normal, not rude.

[noun] 주세요 — the ordering pattern

주세요 means 'please give me' and attaches right after any noun — no complicated grammar needed. Want water? 물 주세요. Want the menu? 메뉴 주세요. This one pattern lets you order almost anything in a restaurant or shop for the rest of Level 1.

메뉴 주세요 menyu juseyo Menu, please.

Ask for this the moment you sit down if there's no menu on the table.

물 주세요 mul juseyo Water, please.

Restaurants usually serve water for free, but it never hurts to ask.

Ordering drinks: 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요

Remember the native-Korean numbers and counters from Unit 2? They're back: 한 잔 means 'one cup/glass,' using 한 (the counter-form of 하나) plus 잔, the counter for drinks. Put a drink name in front and 주세요 on the end: [drink] + [number]잔 주세요.

아메리카노 한 잔 주세요 amerikano han jan juseyo One Americano, please.

잔 is the counter for cups/glasses — 두 잔 is 'two,' 세 잔 'three,' just like 개/명/살 from Unit 2.

Ordering at a café counter

여기요
yeogiyo — Excuse me!
주문하시겠어요?
jumunhasigesseoyo? — Would you like to order?
아메리카노 한 잔 주세요
amerikano han jan juseyo — One Americano, please.
네, 알겠어요
ne, algesseoyo — Okay, got it.

Say it out loud

아메리카노 한 잔 주세요 amerikano han jan juseyo One Americano, please.

Listen, then repeat aloud. Matching the rhythm matters more than perfection.

Check yourself