Why Korean Side Dishes Are Free vs. Paid Abroad Explained
The Ultimate Guide for Foreigner Travel: Korean Food Culture and Free Side Dishes (Banchan) at a Korean Restaurant
One of the most surprising things for foreign tourists traveling in Korea.
When you order a main dish at a Korean restaurant, side dishes are provided for free without any additional cost. Just the fact that they're free is surprising enough, but there's actually something even more amazing. Most restaurants will refill your side dishes for free when you finish them.
As long as the side dishes aren't part of the main dish, it's common for most restaurants to give you more when you ask for additional side dishes. This is the charm of Korean restaurants.
Side Dish Culture Comparison: Korea vs. East Asian Neighbors (Restaurant Comparison)
What about Japan's side dish culture?
Japanese restaurants have a different side dish culture compared to Korea. In Japan, when you order a main dish, rice and miso soup typically come with it. However, various side dishes aren't automatically provided like in Korea. If you want side dishes at a Japanese restaurant, you need to order them separately, and each side dish incurs an additional charge. For example, a small side dish like pickles or salad costs around 300 to 800 yen extra. This is a different structure from Korea's free unlimited refill side dish culture.
Image description: In Japanese restaurants, most restaurants require separate ordering of side dishes. Japanese cuisine has the advantage of being easily accessible to travelers from most countries. While some Korean restaurants or most Chinese restaurants have the disadvantage of being difficult for foreigners to approach, Japanese food has a very low barrier to accessibility.
However, in Japan, ordering side dishes often means each one comes with a separate charge, making it easy to eat but resulting in a higher final bill compared to other countries. For example, a meal that costs $50 (60,000-70,000 won) in Korea would cost $100-$130 (120,000-160,000 won) or more if ordered in Japan, which is a downside.
Taiwan and Hong Kong's Separate Side Dish Ordering Culture
Taiwan and Hong Kong have a different side dish culture compared to Korea. In Taiwan restaurants, when you order a main dish, rice typically comes with it, but various side dishes aren't automatically provided like in Korea. If you want side dishes at a Taiwan restaurant, you need to order them separately, and each side dish incurs an additional charge. For example, a small side dish like pickles or salad costs around 50 to 150 Taiwan dollars extra.
This image was taken during my recent trip to Taiwan.