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How to Eat at Korean Restaurants: Ordering, Side Dishes, Water, Tipping, and Local Etiquette

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  How to Eat at Korean Restaurants: Ordering, Side Dishes, Water, and Local Etiquette Eating at local restaurants is one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling in Korea. Korea has so many delicious foods, such as bibimbap, Korean barbecue, kimchi stew, cold noodles, tteokbokki, and kalguksu. But if it is your first time visiting a Korean restaurant, you may feel a little confused at first. You might wonder: “How do I call the staff?” “Can I get water by myself?” “Are side dishes free?” “Is it okay to eat alone?” “How do I order from a kiosk?” “Do I need to tip?” Korean restaurants have many customs that may feel different from restaurants in other countries. Some things are very normal for Koreans, but they can be confusing for foreign travelers. In this guide, I will explain how to order food, how water and side dishes work, whether solo dining is okay, how to use kiosks, how to avoid spicy food, how to pay, how to choose a good restaurant, and basic restaurant etique...

T-money vs WOWPASS vs Seoul Climate Card: Best Korea Travel Card for Foreigners

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  Which transportation card should foreign travelers use in Korea? If you are visiting Korea for the first time, you may start wondering about transportation cards even before you arrive at the airport. “Should I buy a T-money card?” “Is WOWPASS enough?” “Seoul Climate Card offers unlimited rides, so is that the best option?” Korea may seem to have many different transportation cards, but the basic idea is not difficult once you understand the purpose of each card. The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at the image below. This image is not meant to show a strict mathematical relationship between the three cards. In other words, it does not mean that Seoul Climate Card is completely included inside T-money , or that T-money is completely included inside WOWPASS . Instead, this image is a simple visual guide to show how each card is generally used and how broad its usage can be. Here is the basic idea. WOWPASS : An all-in-one card for foreign travelers t...

Korean Convenience Store Cup Noodles Guide: Spice Levels, How to Eat, and Local Tips

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A Korean Local’s Guide to Convenience Store Cup Noodles Spice levels, how to eat them, and what Koreans actually think When you walk into a Korean convenience store, one thing will almost immediately catch your eye: An entire wall of cup noodles. There are so many options. Honestly, even I haven’t tried all of them. Different shapes, different colors, different sizes. If you can’t read Korean, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. I’m Korean, and I’ve been eating these noodles my whole life. In this guide, I won’t just tell you what each cup noodle tastes like. I’ll also share what Koreans actually think about them. These are the ones I’ve tried, the ones I genuinely recommend, and a few honest opinions along the way. Quick Answer: For non-spicy options, choose Tempura Udon Big Cup or Chapagetti . For a classic Korean taste, start with Yukgaejang Sabal Myeon . If you want real Korean spice, try Shin Ramyun . Always use the hot water dispenser, follo...