How to Order at a Korean Kiosk When the Screen Is in Korean
Self-order screens have taken over Korean fast food and cafes, and the English button is not always where you expect. Here is the sequence every kiosk follows.
Reality check
- English menu
- Photos only
- Going alone
- Perfectly normal
- Payment
- Card accepted — most kiosks are card-only; a few take cash at the counter instead
Ordering at a counter is easy: you point. Kiosks removed the person you were pointing at, and for a visitor that turned the simplest transaction of the day into the most intimidating one. It is worth five minutes to learn, because these machines are now everywhere — burger chains, cafes, noodle shops, even some traditional restaurants.
Every kiosk runs the same sequence
- 1
Find the language button
Usually a small globe icon or the word ENG, most often in a top or bottom corner of the very first screen. It is deliberately unobtrusive. If you tap into the menu before switching, back out to the start.
- 2
Choose eat in or take away
This question comes early and is often the first thing on screen, before you have chosen anything. The two buttons usually show a tray and a paper bag. Prices can differ slightly between the two.
- 3
Pick your items
Categories run along the top or the side. Photographs are usually good enough to order from without any language at all.
- 4
Work through the options
Set meals ask you to choose a side and a drink on separate screens. The button that moves you forward is normally bottom right.
- 5
Pay by card
Insert or tap on the reader below the screen. Most kiosks do not accept cash — if yours does not and you have none of the right cards, staff will take the order at the counter.
- 6
Take the ticket
A slip prints with an order number. Watch for that number on the screen above the pickup counter. Nobody will call your name.
If there is no English
Some smaller shops run Korean-only kiosks. Point your phone camera at the screen and use live translation — it handles menus well. Failing that, staff will almost always come and tap through it with you. Standing looking puzzled is a perfectly effective strategy and nobody minds.
Things that surprise people
- Water, cups and cutlery are usually self-service at a station along the wall. They are free.
- Side dishes at a restaurant are free and refillable. This is not an upsell, and asking for more is normal.
- You often clear your own tray at fast food chains.
- In many cafes you take a buzzer that vibrates when the drink is ready.
+Can I still order at the counter?
Often, but not always — some branches staff the counter for pickup only. The kiosk is the intended route and going straight to it is less awkward than being redirected.
+What if I press the wrong thing?
There is a back or cancel button on every screen, usually bottom left. Nothing is charged until you pay, so you can restart freely.