← Korean Drinking Culture

Ordering at Bars & Pubs

바/호프에서 주문

Textbook맥주 한 잔 주십시오maek-ju han jan ju-sip-si-oOne glass of beer please
Real생맥 한 잔이요 / 여기 맥주 한 병이요saeng-maek han jan-i-yo / yeo-gi maek-ju han byeong-i-yoOne draft beer / One bottle of beer here🏷️ Any casual setting
📺 In context
생맥 = 생맥주 = draft beer. 병맥주 = bottled beer. At Korean bars (호프집), beer comes in 500cc glasses or big pitchers (피쳐). Soju is almost always sold by the bottle.
Bar & pub vocabulary
생맥주Draft beer (생맥 for short)
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병맥주Bottled beer
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피쳐Pitcher
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소주Soju
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소맥Soju + beer mix
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안주Side dishes/snacks with drinks
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치맥Chicken + beer (치킨 + 맥주)
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추가 주문이요Additional order please
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계산이요Bill please
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Ordering at a Korean bar
여기 생맥 두 잔이랑 치킨 하나요Two draft beers and a chicken here
소주 한 병 더요One more bottle of soju
안주 뭐가 맛있어요?What's good for snacks?
안주 없이 술만 돼요?Can we just get drinks without food?
얼음 주세요Ice please
Most Korean bars REQUIRE you to order 안주 (food) with your drinks. This isn't optional — it's the business model. 안주 없이 is often not allowed. Budget for food when you go drinking.
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Korean bar types: 호프집 (beer pub — cheap, casual), 이자카야 (Japanese-style — trendy), 칵테일바 (cocktail bar — pricier), 포장마차 (street tent bar — the most authentically Korean). For the real experience, find a 포장마차 near 을지로 and order 소맥 with 닭발 (chicken feet). That's peak Korean drinking.

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