Korean Dictionary
How to say "Restaurant" in Korean
“Restaurant” in Korean is 식당 (pronounced "Sikdang").
식당
Sikdang
Usage & Context
A general word for a place to eat. 레스토랑 is used for Western-style restaurants. Korean 식당 culture includes calling servers by saying 여기요! (here please!) and using table buzzers. Many Korean restaurants specialize in one specific dish, unlike multi-cuisine Western restaurants.
Example Sentence
근처에 맛있는 식당이 있어요?
Is there a good restaurant nearby?
How to use 식당 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Restaurant” is 식당, romanized as Sikdang.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 식당.
What learners usually mean by “Restaurant in Korean”
This query is usually for travel Korean: finding a restaurant, booking, or asking what kind of place it is.
Real usage
식당 is the general word for restaurant. 음식점 is also common and slightly broader. 레스토랑 often implies a Western-style or more formal restaurant.
Avoid this mistake
Do not use 레스토랑 for every place to eat. A small Korean lunch spot is usually 식당.
Better pattern
Use 식당 for everyday restaurant, 음식점 for food establishment, 맛집 for a popular good restaurant, and 레스토랑 for Western-style dining.
travel question
근처에 괜찮은 식당 있어요?
Is there a decent restaurant nearby?
local recommendation
여기 맛집으로 유명해요.
This place is famous as a good restaurant.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Sik-dang." "Sik" sounds like the English word "sick." "Dang" rhymes with "song" but with a 'd' sound at the beginning, similar to "dong" in "ding-dong." The stress is fairly even across both syllables.
More Example Sentences
Suggesting a dinner plan with friends.
저녁에 한식 식당 갈까?
Shall we go to a Korean restaurant for dinner?
Asking for a solo dining recommendation.
이 근처에 혼밥하기 좋은 식당 추천해 주세요.
Please recommend a good restaurant for eating alone around here.
Praising the food at a workplace cafeteria.
우리 회사 식당 밥이 진짜 맛있어요.
The food at our company cafeteria is really delicious.
Cultural Context
식당 (sikdang) is a general term for an eatery, often implying a more casual or traditional Korean establishment. It's distinct from 레스토랑 (reseutorang), which typically refers to Western-style or more upscale restaurants. Many Korean 식당 specialize in one type of dish, like a 'kimchi jjigae sikdang' or 'samgyeopsal sikdang,' making it easy to find specific culinary experiences. It's common to call servers by saying '여기요!' (yeogiyo!) or using a table buzzer.
Editorial note
We review entries like 식당 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
식당 예약했어요?
Did you make a restaurant reservation?
이 식당은 뭐가 맛있어요?
What's good at this restaurant?
식당 찾고 있어요.
I'm looking for a restaurant.
Related Expressions
레스토랑
Reseutorang
Restaurant (Western-style, often more upscale)
맛집
Matjip
A restaurant famous for delicious food (literally 'taste house')
밥집
Bapjjip
Eatery, a place that serves rice-based meals (casual, homey feel)
분식집
Bunsikjip
Snack bar (serving tteokbokki, gimbap, ramyeon, etc.)
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