How to Read a Korean Cafe Menu (Most Words Are English in Disguise)
Americano, latte, waffle: most Korean cafe menus are English words written in Hangul. Learn to read them, plus the exact phrase to order your coffee.
Korea has a cafe on almost every corner, and ordering coffee is often the very first Korean conversation travelers have. Here's a secret I always shared with the people I guided: you already know most of the menu. It's just written in Hangul.
Quick test: can you read this sign?
Show the answer
스타벅스 커피 (seu-ta-beok-seu keo-pi): Starbucks Coffee. Even global brands write their names in Hangul here, which makes cafe signs great reading practice.
English words in disguise
| Menu | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아메리카노 | amerikano | Americano |
| 카페라떼 | kape latte | cafe latte |
| 아이스티 | aiseuti | iced tea |
| 핫초코 | hatchoko | hot chocolate |
| 케이크 | keikeu | cake |
| 와플 | wapeul | waffle |
| 아이스크림 | aiseukeurim | ice cream |
Two that are not English, but you'll see everywhere:
- 녹차 (nokcha): green tea
- 우유 (uyu): milk
Hot or iced?
Put 아이스 (aiseu, "ice") or 따뜻한 (ttatteuthan, "warm") in front of your drink:
- 아이스 아메리카노: iced Americano
- 따뜻한 아메리카노: hot Americano
Cafe slang you'll hear everywhere
| Slang | Short for | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아아 | 아이스 아메리카노 | iced Americano |
| 뜨아 | 뜨거운 아메리카노 | hot Americano |
| 얼죽아 | 얼어 죽어도 아이스 아메리카노 | "iced Americano, even if I freeze to death" |
Yes, 얼죽아 people really do order iced coffee in January. Say it to a Korean friend and watch them laugh.
Your first order
아이스 아메리카노 하나 주세요.
aiseu amerikano hana juseyo "One iced Americano, please."
Then you might be asked if it's for here or to go:
포장이요.
pojang-iyo "To go, please."
먹고 갈게요.
meokgo galgeyo "I'll have it here."
The first player is natural speed, the second is slow.
Kiosk survival guide
Many cafes in Korea use ordering kiosks, and some have no English button. These are the words you'll tap:
| On the screen | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 매장 | maejang | for here (eat in) |
| 포장 | pojang | to go |
| 사이즈 | saijeu | size |
| 샷 추가 | syat chuga | extra shot |
| 주문하기 | jumunhagi | place order |
| 결제하기 | gyeoljehagi | pay |
| 카드 | kadeu | card |
Mini quiz
1. You want your coffee to go. Do you tap 매장 or 포장?
포장 (pojang) is to go. 매장 (maejang) is for here.
2. Your friend orders 뜨아. Hot or iced?
Hot. 뜨아 is short for 뜨거운 아메리카노, a hot Americano.
3. Read this out loud: 와플
wa-peul: waffle!
Why loanwords are the best place to start
When you read 아메리카노 and suddenly hear "Americano" in your head, that little "aha!" moment matters. Learning research shows that early wins keep you motivated, and words you already understand free up your brain to focus on the letters themselves.
That's why my 7-day workbook starts you on real words like 커피 (coffee), 피자 (pizza) and 바나나 (banana) from Day 1, and ends with a full cafe menu mission.
Free download
The Seoul Cheat Sheet
Ten signs, eight cafe words and six travel phrases on two printable pages.
Get the free PDFFrom the author
Learn to Read Korean in 7 Days
A printable, step-by-step workbook that takes you from your very first letter to reading a real cafe menu and Seoul signs. Numbered stroke order, a memory trick for every letter, and real words from Day 1.
See the workbookEmma is a Korean-American who grew up in the US and now lives in Seoul. A marketer by trade, she spent years guiding first-time visitors around Korea and teaching them to read Hangul.