Take a clear menu photo, use IMO image translation, then compare the dish name with the official menu. Ask the branch about ingredients, spice level and today's availability before ordering.
Understand a menu or sign from a photo, then decide what to do.
How can I order if I cannot read the Korean menu?
Take a clear photo that includes the menu and prices, then choose your language in Image translation. Retake tiny text closer up. Confirm allergies, ingredients and extra charges with the shop rather than relying only on the translation.
Choose the photo and target language, then review usage conditions.
Read the translation and confirm important ingredients or conditions with the shop.
Before you start
Open Image translation, choose your target language, then upload a photo. You can upload a screenshot of Korean directions or signs. Review the notice and credits before reading.
You are outside a restaurant: the picture looks inviting, but the Korean name does not tell you what you will eat. This free guide helps you keep the name, photo and a simple question together before choosing a branch.
From a menu photo to a real branch
Read the Korean dish name with IMO image translation; keep the original photo for the staff.
Compare the name with the official menu, then ask the branch about ingredients and spice level.
Open IMO quick actions and choose Food. Choose your search area or current location when IMO asks; check the exact branch before opening its Kakao route.
Two official menu examples
Hanshin Dakbal (한신닭발): chicken feet in spicy broth, according to the official menu.
Yeoltan Bulgogi (열탄불고기): pork with gochujang sauce on the official Saemaeul Sikdang menu.
Location is chosen inside IMO. A search result or a route is not a confirmed visit, booking or order.
Does a translated dish name confirm every ingredient?
No. A translated name and a menu picture do not establish a complete ingredient or allergen list. Ask the staff before ordering.
How do I move from a menu to a restaurant?
Check the official store directory, then open IMO quick actions and select Food. Confirm the branch name and address before using the existing Kakao route.
An independent IMO guide using public brand information. Confirm ingredients, menu availability, prices and opening hours with the individual branch.
Practical answers for planning and getting around Korea.
How can I understand the dishes on a Korean menu from a photo?
Take a clear, glare-free photo, including the dish names and prices. Keep the Korean original beside the translation. For unfamiliar dishes, ask separately about cooking method, portion size and ingredients; a translated name does not confirm the actual recipe.
If a translated dish name is unclear, how can I check its ingredients and how it's cooked?
Show the Korean dish name and photo, then ask what is in the main ingredients, broth and sauce. Ask whether it is grilled, fried or simmered. A general dish explanation may differ from that restaurant’s recipe, so confirm with staff.
How can I tell whether a Korean menu price is per person or for a shared dish?
Read the price together with serving, weight and minimum-order notes. Tell staff your party size and ask whether the price covers one serving or a shared dish. Confirm the minimum order, total cost and any extras before ordering.
What's the best way to check a handwritten or blurry Korean menu?
Retake the photo in good light, keeping the menu flat and photographing small sections. Do not guess unreadable characters. Ask for a printed menu or staff help, and confirm unclear prices or ingredients before placing an order.
How can I clearly explain a food allergy at a restaurant in Korea?
Show staff a Korean card naming your specific allergens. Ask about ingredients and shared preparation equipment. If staff cannot confirm the precautions you need, do not order or eat the food; consider another restaurant where those precautions can be confirmed. AI translation cannot certify that food is safe for your allergy.
How can I ask a Korean restaurant whether a dish contains pork?
Show a written request that you do not eat pork. Ask separately about meat, broth, fat, sauces and side dishes, and whether substitutions are possible before ordering. A pork-free answer does not establish compliance with every dietary or religious requirement.
What should I check when looking for vegetarian restaurants in Korea?
Explain whether you are vegetarian or vegan and list what you avoid. Check broths, sauces and toppings even for vegetable-based dishes. Review the current menu and confirm the particular branch can accommodate you; do not assume recipe changes are possible.
How can I check how spicy a dish is before ordering in Korea?
Tell staff your spice tolerance and ask whether the dish can be made milder or the sauce served separately. Compare with foods you know rather than relying only on a spice label. Some prepared sauces cannot be adjusted.
How can I tell the staff what I want to order at a Korean restaurant?
Point to the Korean dish name or photo and show the quantity. Confirm options and spice level one at a time, then check the staff’s understanding and total. A translated request helps communication; it does not itself place or confirm an order.
How can I order at a Korean restaurant if I can't understand the kiosk screen?
Check the kiosk’s language option first. If you cannot understand an option or payment step, pause and ask staff for help rather than guessing. When photographing a screen for translation, exclude card details, payment codes and other private information.
How can I ask whether a restaurant in Korea accepts card payments?
Before ordering, ask whether cards are accepted and whether your foreign-issued card can be used. Acceptance does not guarantee approval of a particular card. Check the displayed amount and currency, and never send card numbers or verification codes into translation chat.
How can I ask for takeaway at a restaurant in Korea?
Ask whether the specific dish is available for takeaway before ordering. Show the name and quantity, mention any sauce or cutlery request, and confirm packaging charges and preparation time. Check that staff have actually accepted the takeaway order.
How can I find non-coffee drinks on a Korean café menu?
Look through tea, juice and milk-based sections, then choose flavour and temperature. Ask whether coffee is included. If you need to avoid caffeine, ask about that separately; a drink without coffee is not automatically caffeine-free. Confirm ingredients with staff.
How can I understand a Korean notice in my language using a photo?
Photograph the complete notice clearly and compare the translation with the Korean original. Check dates, times and restrictions separately; ask staff about unclear wording. For emergency, medical or legal instructions, confirm the official explanation rather than relying only on AI translation.
