If there's one thing I'm a little smug about as a Korean, it's our food delivery. You can get a single bowl of soup brought to your door at 2 AM, in the rain, for a small fee, and it arrives hot. The catch for newcomers is that the apps are built entirely around Korean phone numbers, Korean addresses, and Korean payment. Once you clear those three hurdles, a whole world opens up. Let me walk you through it like I would for a friend who just moved in.
The Two Apps You Need
- Baemin (λ°°λ¬μλ―Όμ‘±) β The giant. The widest selection of restaurants, the one most Koreans open first. The interface is mostly Korean, but the navigation is visual enough to manage.
- Coupang Eats (μΏ ν‘μ΄μΈ ) β The main rival, often faster with single-rider deliveries, and a bit more foreigner-friendly if you already have a Coupang account from online shopping.
There's also Yogiyo, a solid third option. You don't need all three. Start with one.
The Three Things That Trip People Up
1. Your phone number
You'll need a Korean 010 number to sign up and verify. This is yet another reason to sort out your phone plan early β almost everything in Korean daily life keys off that number.
2. Your address
Korean addresses use a road-name system that won't match what you're used to. The apps let you search by building or drop a pin on a map, which is the easiest route. Better yet, learn your address in Korean once and save it. If you live in an officetel or apartment, include your building and unit number (λ/νΈμ) β riders genuinely need it to find you.
3. Payment
Link a Korean card, or pay through Kakao Pay or Naver Pay if you've set those up. Some places still allow cash on delivery, but card or Korean pay apps are smoother and increasingly expected.
How Ordering Actually Goes
Browse by category or restaurant, add items to your cart, and watch for the minimum order amount (μ΅μμ£Όλ¬ΈκΈμ‘) β most places require β©12,000ββ©15,000 before they'll deliver, which is why Koreans often order enough for two meals. At checkout you'll see a small delivery fee (λ°°λ¬λΉ), usually β©2,000ββ©4,000 depending on distance and weather. Then you track the rider on a live map until they're at your door.
Little Things Worth Knowing
- Tipping isn't a thing. The price you see is the price you pay. Don't feel you owe extra.
- There's a request box at checkout for notes like "leave at the door (λ¬Έ μμ λμΈμ)" or "no green onions." A translation app helps here.
- You can order far more than restaurant food. Convenience-store runs, groceries, cafe drinks, even late-night snacks all show up on these apps.
- Disposable cutlery is now opt-in for environmental reasons, so check the box if you need a fork or spoon.
The first order is the only awkward one. After your address and card are saved, getting dinner delivered becomes a fifteen-second tap. I still think it's one of the quiet luxuries of living in Korea, and now it's yours too.
