Food & Beverage Vocabulary in Korean

Expand your Korean skills with Food & Beverage Vocabulary in Korean. Learn essential words for meals, ingredients, drinks, and ordering food. 

Korean food terms help you describe meals, flavors, cooking tools, ingredients, and restaurant experiences naturally. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition system, you’ll remember each Korean term easily and use them smoothly in daily food conversations.

Below is a preview of Food & Beverage vocabulary in Korean, selected from GuruLango’s 5000-word learning set.

1. Meal

Use these words to talk about different meals and eating occasions.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

식사

siksa

Meal

아침

achim

Breakfast

점심

jeomsim

Lunch

저녁

jeonyeok

Dinner

간식

gansik

Snack

야식

yasik

Late-night meal

식단

sikdan

Diet plan

도시락

dosirak

Lunchbox

뷔페

bwipe

Buffet

코스 요리

koseu yori

Course meal

다이어트 식단

daieoteu sikdan

Diet meal

2. Meat 

Use these words to describe different kinds of meat used in cooking.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

고기

gogi

Meat

소고기

sogogi

Beef

돼지고기

dwaejigogi

Pork

닭고기

dakgogi

Chicken

양고기

yanggogi

Lamb

칠면조

chil-myeonjo

Turkey

haem

Ham

베이컨

beikeon

Bacon

갈비

galbi

Ribs

스테이크

seuteikeu

Steak

3. Dairy Product

Use these words to talk about dairy products in Korean.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

우유

uyu

Milk

치즈

chijeu

Cheese

버터

beoteo

Butter

요거트

yogeoteu

Yogurt

크림

keurim

Cream

아이스크림

aiseukeurim

Ice cream

생크림

saengkeurim

Whipped cream

연유

yeonyu

Condensed milk

요구르트

yogureuteu

Drinking yogurt

두유

duyu

Soy milk

4. Dishes

These terms refer to ready-made dishes and commonly eaten meals.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

요리

yori

Dish

김치찌개

gimchi jjigae

Kimchi stew

된장찌개

doenjang jjigae

Soybean paste stew

불고기

bulgogi

Bulgogi

비빔밥

bibimbap

Bibimbap

잡채

japchae

Stir-fried glass noodles

라면

ramyeon

Instant noodles

만두

mandu

Dumplings

떡볶이

tteokbokki

Spicy rice cakes

삼겹살

samgyeopsal

Grilled pork belly

5. Seafood

Use these Korean words to describe seafood ingredients.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

해산물

haesanmul

Seafood

새우

saeu

Shrimp

문어

muneo

Octopus

오징어

ojingeo

Squid

연어

yeoneo

Salmon

참치

chamchi

Tuna

홍합

honghap

Mussel

조개

jogae

Clam

ge

Crab

가리비

garibi

Scallop

6. Fruit

Use these terms to describe common fruits in Korean.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

과일

gwail

Fruit

사과

sagwa

Apple

바나나

banana

Banana

오렌지

orenji

Orange

딸기

ddalgi

Strawberry

포도

podo

Grape

수박

subak

Watermelon

멜론

mellon

Melon

복숭아

boksunga

Peach

파인애플

painaepeul

Pineapple

7. Vegetables

Use these vocabulary items to talk about vegetables and greens.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

채소

chaeso

Vegetable

양파

yangpa

Onion

감자

gamja

Potato

고구마

goguma

Sweet potato

당근

dang-geun

Carrot

버섯

beoseot

Mushroom

상추

sangchu

Lettuce

브로콜리

beurokolli

Broccoli

시금치

sigeumchi

Spinach

배추

baechu

Napa cabbage

8. Dessert

Use these words to describe desserts and sweet snacks.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

디저트

dijeoteu

Dessert

케이크

keikeu

Cake

쿠키

kuki

Cookies

초콜릿

chokollit

Chocolate

아이스크림

aiseukeurim

Ice cream

푸딩

puding

Pudding

파이

pai

Pie

젤리

jelli

Jelly

bbang

Bread

마카롱

makarong

Macaron

9. Taste & Flavor

These expressions help you explain food taste preferences.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

mat

Taste

달다

dalda

Sweet

짜다

jjada

Salty

매워요

maewoyo

Spicy

쓰다

sseuda

Bitter

시다

sida

Sour

고소하다

gosohada

Nutty

담백하다

dambaeghada

Mild

진하다

jinhada

Strong

싱겁다

singgeopda

Bland

10. Texture

Use these Korean terms to describe food texture clearly.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

부드럽다

budeureopda

Soft

바삭하다

basakhada

Crispy

쫄깃하다

jjolgit-hada

Chewy

촉촉하다

chokchokhada

Moist

단단하다

dandanhada

Firm

질기다

jilgi-da

Tough

끈적하다

kkeunjeokhada

Sticky

부슬부슬하다

buseul-buseulhada

Crumbly

고슬고슬하다

goseul-goseulhada

Fluffy

기름지다

gireumjida

Greasy

11. Drinks

Use these words to name drinks served hot or cold.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

음료

eumnyo

Beverage

mul

Water

cha

Tea

커피

keopi

Coffee

주스

juseu

Juice

우유

uyu

Milk

탄산음료

tansan eumnyo

Soda

맥주

maekju

Beer

와인

wain

Wine

칵테일

kakteil

Cocktail

12. Spices & Condiments

These words help you describe seasonings in Korean cuisine.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

양념

yangnyeom

Seasoning

소금

sogeum

Salt

설탕

seoltang

Sugar

후추

huchu

Pepper

고추장

gochujang

Chili paste

된장

doenjang

Soybean paste

간장

ganjang

Soy sauce

식초

sikcho

Vinegar

참기름

chamgireum

Sesame oil

마늘

maneul

Garlic

13. Herb & Aroma

Use these terms for herbs used in cooking and flavoring dishes.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

허브

heobeu

Herb

바질

bajil

Basil

파슬리

paseulli

Parsley

로즈마리

rojeu mari

Rosemary

민트

minteu

Mint

생강

saenggang

Ginger

깻잎

kkaetnip

Perilla leaf

ssuk

Mugwort

레몬그라스

lemon geurasu

Lemongrass

pa

Green onion

14. Cooking Method

These Korean words describe cooking techniques and methods.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

굽다

gupda

Grill

볶다

bokkda

Stir-fry

튀기다

twigida

Deep-fry

삶다

samda

Boil

찌다

jjida

Steam

끓이다

kkeurida

Simmer

재우다

jaeuda

Marinate

썰다

sseolda

Slice

섞다

seokkda

Mix

양념하다

yangnyeomhada

Season

15. Cooking Utensil

Use these words to name common kitchen tools and utensils.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

냄비

naembi

Pot

프라이팬

peurai paen

Frying pan

kal

Knife

도마

doma

Cutting board

숟가락

sutgarak

Spoon

젓가락

jeotgarak

Chopsticks

국자

gukja

Ladle

거품기

geopumgi

Whisk

접시

jeopsi

Plate

bol

Mixing bowl

16. In the Restaurant

Use these expressions for restaurant conversations and dining situations.

Hangul

Romanization

English Meaning

메뉴

menyu

Menu

주문하다

jumunhada

Order

추천하다

chucheonhada

Recommend

계산서

gyesanseo

Bill

예약하다

yeyakhada

Make a reservation

맛있어요

masisseoyo

It’s delicious

더 주세요

deo juseyo

Please give me more

포장해 주세요

pojanghae juseyo

To-go please

매워요

maewoyo

It’s spicy

물 주세요

mul juseyo

Water, please

These sixteen food and beverage categories help you describe meals, ingredients, flavors, utensils, and dining experiences naturally in Korean. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition system, you’ll memorize these words effortlessly and feel confident discussing food anytime.

Start learning with GuruLango today and enjoy Korean food vocabulary like a native!