Translate Korean Menus: Master BBQ Orders & Spot Sesame
Korean BBQ menus expect you to know cuts, banchan, and ordering etiquette. Now you can order like a local.

BBQ Menu Confusion?
Korean menus use Hangul script and assume you know your cuts: Samgyeopsal (pork belly), Chadolbaegi (brisket), Galbi (ribs). MenuVista explains every cut and side dish.
- โCharacters you can't read, dishes you can't identify
- โGeneric word-for-word translation with zero food context
- โNo idea what allergens are hiding in the dish
- โPointing at the menu and hoping for the best
- โEvery dish translated with real culinary context
- โIngredients broken down, allergens automatically flagged
- โFull nutritional breakdown before you order
- โOrder with confidence in any language, anywhere
Sesame & Fermented Fish Alert
Sesame oil and seeds are in almost EVERYTHING Korean. Kimchi often contains fermented shrimp. Banchan sides hide allergens. MenuVista catches them all.
Nuts & peanuts
Hidden in sauces, marinades, desserts
Shellfish & seafood
Broths, stocks, and garnishes
Gluten
Soy sauce, marinades, fried dishes
Important safety note
Sesame oil and seeds are in almost EVERYTHING Korean. Kimchi often contains fermented shrimp. Banchan sides hide allergens. MenuVista catches them all.
Not just translation.
Menu intelligence.
Translation apps were built to convert text. MenuVista was built specifically for the restaurant table.
Know what you're
looking at.
Familiarize yourself with essential korean food vocabulary before your next meal.
๊น์น (Kimchi)
KoreanMeaning
Fermented vegetables
๋ถ๊ณ ๊ธฐ (Bulgogi)
KoreanMeaning
Marinated grilled meat
์ฐ๊ฐ (Jjigae)
KoreanMeaning
Stew
๋ณถ์ (Bokkeum)
KoreanMeaning
Stir-fried
๊ตฌ์ด (Gui)
KoreanMeaning
Grilled
ํ (Tang)
KoreanMeaning
Soup/broth
๋ฐฅ (Bap)
KoreanMeaning
Rice
๋ฉด (Myeon)
KoreanMeaning
Noodles
๋ฐ์ฐฌ (Banchan)
KoreanMeaning
Side dishes
์ผ๊ฒน์ด (Samgyeopsal)
KoreanMeaning
Pork belly
๋น๋น (Bibim)
KoreanMeaning
Mixed
์๋ (Yangnyeom)
KoreanMeaning
Seasoned/marinated
How to read a korean menu.
Korean meals come with ๋ฐ์ฐฌ (banchan) โ free side dishes that are refilled for free. The number of banchan indicates the restaurant's quality level.
Korean BBQ is a group activity. The meat is cooked at the table and wrapped in lettuce leaves with sauces and sides. Order 1-2 types of meat per 2 people.
Soju is the most consumed spirit in the world. It's always shared โ never pour your own glass. Hold your glass with two hands when someone pours for you.
Korean restaurant numbering can be confusing: 1์ธ๋ถ means 'one serving' but it's usually for 2 people to share. Minimum order is often 2์ธ๋ถ.
Many Korean restaurants specialize in one dish only. A restaurant named '์๋๋ถ์ฐ๊ฐ' (Sundubu Jjigae) probably only serves varieties of soft tofu stew โ and that's a sign of quality.
Common questions about korean menus.
Can MenuVista read Korean menu boards?
Yes. Korean restaurants often use LED boards, handwritten signs, or wall-mounted menus. MenuVista handles all these formats including mixed Korean/English text.
How does it handle Korean portion sizes?
MenuVista explains Korean portion conventions, including that many dishes are meant for sharing (2์ธ๋ถ minimum) and that banchan side dishes are free and unlimited.
Does it detect sesame and soy in Korean dishes?
Sesame oil and soy sauce are ubiquitous in Korean cooking. MenuVista flags these along with fermented seafood (์ ๊ฐ), shrimp paste, and other common allergens.
Can it translate Korean BBQ menu options?
Yes. MenuVista explains the different cuts of meat, marination styles (์๋ vs ์), and cooking methods so you know exactly what you're ordering at the grill.