Eating Like a Pro at Sikdang: Korean Restaurant Etiquette 101

OMG, you guys! 🤩 I'm literally so excited to share my fave insider secrets about Sikdang etiquette with you besties! 🤗 I was at this super authentic Sikdang in Hongdae with my friends, and we were all lowkey clueless about the dos and don'ts of eating at a traditional Korean restaurant. Luckily, my BFF's mom, who's from Seoul, schooled us on the proper way to dine at Sikdang. Now, I'm sharing those tips with you, so you can eat like a pro, just like us! 🍜

POV: My First Sikdang Experience

So, we walked into this tiny Sikdang in Hongdae, and the aroma of sizzling meat and spices hit us like a wave 🌊. We were all like, "OMG, this smells so good!" 🤤 But, as we sat down, we realized we had no idea how to order or what to do. My BFF's mom took charge and explained that we should start by saying "annyeonghaseyo" (ah-n-yong-hah-se-yo, hello) to the staff and bowing slightly to show respect 🙏.

Etiquette 101: Dos and Don'ts

Here are the top things to keep in mind when eating at a Sikdang:

When receiving a bowl of soup, say "gamsahamnida" (gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah, thank you) and then take a small sip before eating the rest 🍲
When eating with chopsticks, don't leave them standing upright in your rice bowl, as this is reminiscent of a funeral ritual 😳
When ordering, say "baedal, please" (bah-deh-al, delivery, please) if you want to order takeout or "jip-shi, please" (jip-shee, at home, please) if you want to eat in
When finishing a meal, say "gamsahamnida" and then place your chopsticks on the chopstick rest to show appreciation 🙏

More Tips and Tricks

Here are some more insider secrets to help you navigate a traditional Korean restaurant:

When eating with a group, it's customary to order a variety of dishes to share, so everyone can try a little bit of everything 🍴
When eating spicy food, it's okay to say "maekjeok!" (mah-kyo-g, it's spicy!) and ask for a glass of milk or other dairy product to help cool down 🥛
When leaving a restaurant, say "gamsahamnida" and then bow slightly to show appreciation for the meal 🙏

✨ Fun Fact or 💡 Pro Tip

Did you know that in Korea, it's considered impolite to finish a meal completely, as this implies that the host didn't provide enough food? So, be sure to leave a little bit of food on your plate to show appreciation for the meal 🍴