How to Communicate Dietary Restrictions in Korea: What to Say, How to Read Labels, and How to Find Suitable Restaurants

Dietary restrictions can be difficult to explain in Korea because an ingredient may be hidden in soup stock, seasoning, dipping sauce, kimchi, a processed meat product, or a garnish. A dish that appears vegetarian may contain fish sauce or meat broth, and a food described as “vegetable” may still include egg, milk, or soy sauce.

The safest approach is to separate three questions: what you cannot eat, whether even a small amount is dangerous, and whether shared equipment is a problem. Then communicate those points in simple Korean before ordering.

At a glance: the safest way to order

What to say in Korean

Start with the exact ingredient

Use the ingredient name rather than a broad category whenever possible. Show the Korean word on your phone and say it slowly:

• Peanuts: 땅콩 (ttangkong)
• Tree nuts: 견과류 (gyeongwaryu)
• Milk: 우유 (uyu)
• Egg: 달걀 or 계란 (dalgyal or gyeran)
• Wheat: 밀 (mil)
• Gluten: 글루텐 (geulluten)
• Soy: 대두 or 콩 (daedu or kong)
• Fish: 생선 (saengseon)
• Shellfish: 조개류 (jogaeryu)
• Shrimp: 새우 (saeu)
• Crab: 게 (ge)
• Pork: 돼지고기 (dwaejigogi)
• Beef: 소고기 or 쇠고기 (sogogi or soegogi)
• Chicken: 닭고기 (dakgogi)
• Fish sauce: 액젓 (aekjeot)
• Alcohol: 술 or 알코올 (sul or alkol)

Use these short sentences

• “I have a ___ allergy.”
  저는 ___ 알레르기가 있어요. (Jeoneun ___ allereugiga isseoyo.)
• “I cannot eat ___.”
  저는 ___을/를 먹지 못해요. (Jeoneun ___eul/reul meokji motaeyo.)
• “Even a small amount is not okay.”
  조금도 먹으면 안 돼요. (Jogeumdo meogeumyeon an dwaeyo.)
• “Does this contain ___?”
  이 음식에 ___이/가 들어가요? (I eumsige ___i/ga deureogayo?)
• “Does the broth contain meat or seafood?”
  육수에 고기나 해산물이 들어가요? (Yuksue gogi-na haesanmuri deureogayo?)
• “Please leave out ___.”
  ___은/는 빼 주세요. (___eun/neun ppae juseyo.)
• “Is this cooked in the same oil or pan?”
  같은 기름이나 프라이팬에 조리하나요? (Gateun gireumina peuraipaene jorihanayo?)
• “If you are not sure, please tell me.”
  확실하지 않으면 말씀해 주세요. (Hwaksilhaji aneumyeon malsseumhae juseyo.)

Do not say only “vegetarian” or “no spicy food”

Dietary words can be understood differently. If you are vegetarian, specify whether you eat eggs, dairy, fish, or seafood. If you are vegan, say that you do not eat meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, butter, or other animal products. If you avoid pork for religious reasons, also ask about processed meat, broth, dumplings, and sauces.

For example, you can write:

For vegan travelers, add:

How to read Korean food labels

On packaged foods, look for the ingredient list, the allergen information near it, and any warning about possible mixing during manufacturing. Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety lists regulated allergens including eggs, milk, buckwheat, peanuts, soybeans, wheat, fish such as mackerel, crab, shrimp, pork, peach, tomato, walnuts, chicken, beef, squid, clams, pine nuts, and sulfur dioxide in specified circumstances. The exact Korean wording on a package is more important than a translated product name.

Words that may reveal hidden ingredients

Read the full ingredient panel rather than relying on a front-of-package phrase such as “vegetable,” “original,” or “plain.” For instant noodles, snacks, sauces, convenience-store meals, and desserts, check the seasoning packet and every separate component. A product can have more than one package inside.

Restaurant menus may also show allergen information near a dish, on a separate information sheet, or through an online ordering page. However, not every small restaurant provides detailed English information, and a menu symbol may not explain whether the ingredient is in the broth or sauce. When the consequence of an error is serious, ask staff directly.

How to choose a suitable restaurant

1. Decide how much certainty you need

• Preference or mild intolerance: A restaurant that can remove the ingredient may be enough, but confirm sauces and broth.
• Strict vegetarian or vegan diet: Choose a restaurant with a clearly described plant-based menu and ask about fish sauce, shrimp paste, egg, and dairy.
• Food allergy: Ask about hidden ingredients and preparation equipment before ordering.
• Severe allergy or anaphylaxis risk: Prefer a restaurant that can communicate clearly and do not order if staff cannot confirm the ingredients or cross-contact risk.

2. Search using the right Korean terms

When searching map apps or restaurant websites, combine the food type with a dietary term:

• 비건 — vegan
• 채식 — vegetarian or plant-based eating
• 알레르기 — allergy
• 글루텐 프리 — gluten-free
• 할랄 — halal
• 무첨가 — without added ___; check exactly what is omitted

Search results are a starting point, not proof that a restaurant is safe. Check the current menu or contact the branch before going, because menus, staff, ingredients, and opening arrangements can differ by location.

3. Ask before sitting down when possible

Show your written explanation before ordering. Ask whether the kitchen can prepare a dish without the ingredient and whether the same cooking oil, pan, grill, knife, or cutting board is used. If the staff seem uncertain, choose a simpler alternative or another restaurant rather than trying to negotiate after the food arrives.

4. Choose dishes with fewer hidden components

Simple rice, plain grilled ingredients, fresh fruit, and clearly labeled packaged foods can be easier to verify than stews, sauces, marinades, dumplings, mixed noodles, and fried foods. This is not a guarantee of safety: ask about seasoning, broth, and cooking equipment each time.

Common Korean dishes that need extra questions

• Bibimbap: Check the egg, meat, gochujang, sesame oil, and any sauce. The vegetables alone do not tell you whether the dish is suitable.
• Gimbap: Ask about ham, egg, crab stick, tuna, mayonnaise, and seasoning in the rice.
• Stews and soups: Ask what the broth is made from. Meat, anchovy, shellfish, or fish sauce may be used even when the visible ingredients are vegetables.
• Kimchi: Recipes vary. Ask whether fish sauce, salted shrimp, or other seafood products are included.
• Jjajangmyeon: The sauce commonly contains pork, and the noodles may contain wheat.
• Jjamppong: It usually requires a seafood and broth check.
• Fried food: Ask whether the same oil is used for shrimp, meat, or other allergens.
• Desserts and drinks: Check milk, butter, egg, nut toppings, syrups, and flavored powders.

What to do if the restaurant cannot confirm

Do not treat a smile, a nod, or the phrase “probably not” as confirmation. Politely ask again using the written ingredient name. You can point to the specific item on your card or phone and ask the staff to check with the cook.

If the answer remains unclear, use one of these alternatives:

1. Choose a restaurant with a dedicated vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or allergy-aware menu.
2. Select a packaged food with a complete Korean ingredient label.
3. Eat a food you have already verified rather than experimenting when the restriction is medically important.
4. Ask a Korean-speaking companion, hotel staff member, or the Korea Travel Helpline for interpretation help.

The Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 Travel Helpline provides travel information and interpretation support by phone and online chat. It can help with communication, but it cannot guarantee that a particular dish or restaurant is medically safe.