Twenty-four menu clues
Recognise the building blocks before ordering.
Look for the cooking word
Dish names often combine an ingredient with a cooking method. Spotting 구이 or 볶음 gives you a useful first clue, even if the rest of the name is new. Point to the whole item when asking; two dishes can share a familiar word but have different ingredients.
A name does not list everything
The words below describe common menu terms, not complete recipes. Rice rolls, dumplings, pancakes and sauces can contain ingredients their names leave out. Noodles or vegetables do not establish that a dish is vegetarian. Ask about the broth and seasoning as well as visible toppings.
Ask before changing an order
Show the dish you mean and name the ingredient you want to avoid. A kitchen may prepare a sauce or broth in advance, so removing a topping might not produce the meal you need. If the answer is uncertain, choose another option rather than relying on the picture.