Korean Phrases for Making a Restaurant Reservation
Korean phrases for making a restaurant reservation combine Pattern 02 — verb stem plus 고 싶어요 (go sipeoyo), "I want to" — with a few short answers for headcount and time. Open with 예약하고 싶어요 (yeyakago sipeoyo), "I'd like to make a reservation," then reply when staff ask 몇 분이세요? (myeot buniseyo?), "How many people?"
- Open the call: 예약하고 싶어요 (yeyakago sipeoyo), "I'd like to make a reservation."
- Give party size: 두 명이에요 (du myeong-ieyo), "Two people."
- Name a time: 7시에요 (ilgop sieyo), "At 7 o'clock."
- Confirm the name: 제 이름은 데이비드예요 (je ireumeun Deibideuyeyo), "My name is David."
How do you start the phone call?
Popular Seoul restaurants fill up fast on weekends. Call during lunch hours when staff are less rushed, and lead with why you are calling before details.
You: 안녕하세요, 예약하고 싶어요. — annyeonghaseyo, yeyakago sipeoyo. — "Hello, I'd like to make a reservation."
Them: 언제 오세요? — eonje oseyo? — "When would you like to come?"
You: 토요일 7시에요. — toyoil ilgop sieyo. — "Saturday at 7 o'clock."
| Situation | Say this |
|---|---|
| Start the reservation | 예약하고 싶어요 (yeyakago sipeoyo) |
| Two people | 두 명이에요 (du myeong-ieyo) |
| Four people | 네 명이에요 (ne myeong-ieyo) |
| Ask if a time is open | 7시 가능해요? (ilgop si ganeunghaeyo?) |
| Leave your name | 제 이름은 데이비드예요 (je ireumeun Deibideuyeyo) |
Practice this out loud with SULSUL — the app says it, you repeat it →
What does staff ask after the time?
Once you name a day and hour, the host checks the book and asks for a name and phone number. Catch 이름 (ireum, name) and 전화번호 (jeonhwabeonho, phone number).
You: 7시 가능해요? — ilgop si ganeunghaeyo? — "Is 7 o'clock available?"
Them: 네, 가능해요. 성함이 어떻게 되세요? — ne, ganeunghaeyo. seonghami eotteoke doeseyo? — "Yes, that works. May I have your name?"
You: 제 이름은 데이비드예요. — je ireumeun Deibideuyeyo. — "My name is David."
If the slot is full, staff offer another time. Say 다른 시간 있어요? (dareun sigan isseoyo?), "Do you have another time?" For what to say once you arrive and sit down, see Korean phrases for ordering at a restaurant — the 주세요 (juseyo) pattern picks up right where the reservation ends.
What usually goes wrong before you hang up?
Travelers often give the date in English month names and lose the staff mid-sentence. Use Korean day names — 토요일 (toyoil, Saturday), 일요일 (iryoil, Sunday) — plus 시 (si, o'clock).
You: 일요일 6시, 두 명이에요. — iryoil yeoseot si, du myeong-ieyo. — "Sunday at 6, two people."
Them: 네, 예약해 드릴게요. — ne, yeyakhae deurilgeyo. — "Yes, I'll book that for you."
You: 감사합니다. — gamsahamnida. — "Thank you."
A second mistake is hanging up without repeating the time back. Confirm with 7시 맞죠? (ilgop si matjyo?), "7 o'clock, right?" so you do not show up when the table was held for a different hour. Walk-ins at busy spots still work — ask 예약 없이 들어갈 수 있어요? (yeyak eopsi deureogal su isseoyo?), "Can we come in without a reservation?" before you queue outside.
Say it out loud, not just in your head
Reading 예약하고 싶어요 here is not the same as saying it while a host is answering the phone during the dinner rush.
SULSUL is a speaking gym for exactly that moment: pick a survival pattern, say it out loud, get an instant fix from the AI pronunciation coach, then run the real situation as a mission. The 100-pattern PDF workbook comes along as a bonus.
