How to Use Korean Restaurant Kiosks: Buttons and Ordering Steps
How to Use Korean Restaurant Kiosks: Buttons and Ordering Steps
Most Korean restaurant kiosks follow a recognizable sequence: choose a language if available, select dine-in or takeout, build the order, review options and quantity, pay, then save the order number.
Choose 먹고가기 or 매장 for dine-in, 포장 for takeout, add the menu and required options, review 장바구니, press 결제, and keep the 주문번호 shown after payment. If the payment returns to the menu without a number or receipt, ask staff before paying again.
Question answered: Which buttons should a visitor press, in what order, to complete a dine-in or takeout restaurant-kiosk order?
Information checked: September 7, 2026. Exact prices, interfaces, hours, and local rules can change; confirm the linked official source when your decision depends on them.
Quick Reference
| 매장 / 먹고가기 | Dine-in |
|---|---|
| 포장 / 가져가기 | Takeout / to go |
| 메뉴 / 옵션 | Menu / options |
| 기본 / 추가 | Standard / add |
| 수량 / 변경 / 삭제 | Quantity / change / delete |
| 장바구니 | Cart |
| 주문 / 결제 | Order / payment |
| 주문완료 / 주문번호 | Order complete / order number |
Why This Matters
The hard part is rarely the touchscreen itself. Visitors get stuck when a required option is hidden below the first screen, takeout is selected accidentally, a card authorization fails, or the successful order number disappears too quickly.
This article covers only screen operation and order completion. Dining customs, shared dishes, and table manners remain in the separate restaurant-etiquette guide.
What To Know First
- English or a globe icon may appear on the opening screen, but translations can be incomplete. Camera translation is useful for option screens that remain in Korean.
- 매장, 먹고가기, or 매장식사 means dine-in. 포장 or 가져가기 means takeout. Some shops ask this before the menu and others after the cart.
- Required option groups may cover size, temperature, spice level, rice, sauce, toppings, side dishes, or disposable utensils. A highlighted line often means one choice is still missing.
- 장바구니 is the cart, 수량 is quantity, 변경 is change, 삭제 is delete, 이전 is back, and 취소 is cancel.
- 결제 means payment. 신용카드 is credit card, 간편결제 is mobile or simplified payment, and 영수증 is receipt.
- A successful payment should lead to 주문완료 or 결제완료 and a 주문번호. The card-terminal approval sound alone is not enough if the order screen never confirms completion.
How To Use This In Korea
- Wake the screen and choose English or the language icon when offered. Check the branch or counter name at the top if several food outlets share a kiosk area.
- Select 매장 or 먹고가기 for dine-in, or 포장 for takeout. If table service uses a table number, enter it exactly when prompted.
- Open a menu category, select an item, and read every required option. Scroll to the bottom before deciding that the add button is disabled.
- Choose size, temperature, spice, toppings, sides, and other options deliberately. Watch for extra prices beside add-ons and use 기본 when you want the standard configuration.
- Open 장바구니 and compare every item, option, 수량, and total. Remove duplicates and confirm dine-in or takeout before pressing 주문 or 결제.
- Choose a payment method and follow the separate card terminal. Insert, tap, or swipe only as instructed; keep the card in place until the terminal says to remove it.
- Photograph or remember the 주문번호 and take the receipt if printed. Watch the pickup display or listen for the number, then compare the tray or bag with the order before leaving.
Common Mistakes
- Pressing 포장 when intending to eat inside, which can change packaging or available menu options.
- Skipping a required option because the screen needs to scroll farther down.
- Adding the same menu twice while trying to reopen its option screen.
- Tapping 결제 repeatedly during a slow authorization and risking duplicate attempts.
- Walking away after card approval without saving the order number or checking 주문완료.
First-Timer Tips
- Use camera translation on a photo rather than holding up the line while pointing the camera at each screen for a long time.
- Build one item completely before adding the next so option sets do not get mixed.
- Keep a second card or cash ready because foreign-card acceptance varies by terminal and merchant.
- Ask staff by showing the stuck screen; the official tourism guide specifically notes that staff can help with unmanned ordering.
- For severe allergies, do not rely on kiosk translation alone. Confirm directly with staff that cross-contact and ingredients can be handled.
Before You Go
- Choose language where available.
- Confirm dine-in or takeout.
- Complete every required option.
- Review cart, quantity, and total.
- Wait for payment completion.
- Save the order number and receipt.
FAQ
What is the Korean button for takeout?
포장 means takeout. 가져가기 can also mean to go. For dining inside, look for 매장, 먹고가기, or 매장식사.
What does 결제 mean?
결제 means payment. After it succeeds, look for 결제완료 or 주문완료 and a 주문번호.
What if my foreign card does not work at the kiosk?
Wait for the terminal result, try another supported card network if appropriate, or ask staff for an alternative payment route. Do not repeat the charge without checking whether the first attempt succeeded.
Related Invite Korea Guides
Sources And Further Reading
- VISITKOREA About Korean Food - Official visitor guide noting the growing use of unmanned ordering machines and the option to ask staff for help.
- VISITKOREA Custom Gimbap Ordering Example - Official restaurant example showing kiosk-based selection of rice, vegetables, sauce, and toppings.
- VISITKOREA Korean Food - Official Korean food and food travel reference for international visitors.
- Korean Food Promotion Institute - Korean food culture and hansik information.
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