Worried that every Korean meal will be painfully spicy? You do not have to avoid Korean food. The key is to ask early, use the right Korean phrase and choose dishes where the sauce or broth can be adjusted. A polite request usually works better than silently trying to pick out chili after the food arrives.
This guide explains how to order less-spicy food in Korea, what the most useful phrases mean, which menu words deserve attention and which dishes are often easier starting points. Recipes and restaurant policies vary, so use the guide as a communication tool rather than a promise that any dish will be completely chili-free.
Say 덜 맵게 해 주세요 (Please make it less spicy) or 안 맵게 해 주세요 (Please make it not spicy). Before ordering, ask 이거 많이 매워요? (Is this very spicy?) and point to a dish that looks mild. If you have an allergy or a medical restriction, explain it clearly and ask about the ingredients rather than relying only on the word “mild.”
Start by asking how spicy the dish is
Menus do not use one nationwide spice scale. One restaurant's “mild” can be another restaurant's medium, and a dish that looks red may be sweet rather than aggressively hot. Ask before the order is finalized:
- 이거 많이 매워요? — Is this very spicy?
- 안 매운 메뉴 있어요? — Do you have a non-spicy menu?
- 순한 맛 있어요? — Is there a mild version?
- 아이도 먹을 수 있어요? — Could a child eat this? This is a useful way to ask about heat, but it is not an allergy question.
Listen for words such as 안 매워요 (not spicy), 조금 매워요 (a little spicy), 매콤해요 (pleasantly spicy or with a light kick) and 많이 매워요 (very spicy). When the answer is unclear, ask the staff to recommend something mild instead of guessing from the photograph.
The phrases that help most
The most natural request depends on whether the kitchen can change the recipe. Use a polite sentence and say it while ordering:
- 덜 맵게 해 주세요. — Please make it less spicy.
- 안 맵게 해 주세요. — Please make it not spicy.
- 고추 빼 주세요. — Please leave out the chili peppers.
- 소스 따로 주세요. — Please serve the sauce separately.
- 고춧가루 빼 주세요. — Please leave out the red-pepper powder.
- 저는 매운 음식을 못 먹어요. — I cannot eat spicy food.
For pronunciation, 덜 맵게 해 주세요 is roughly “deol maep-ge hae ju-se-yo.” You do not need perfect pronunciation. Showing the phrase on your phone and pointing to the dish is perfectly practical, especially in a busy market or when ordering at a kiosk.
What “less spicy” can and cannot change
Some dishes are seasoned after the main ingredients are cooked. A stir-fry, noodle sauce or dipping sauce may be easy to reduce. Other dishes are built around a chili-based paste or broth from the beginning, so the kitchen may only be able to add less sauce or serve it on the side.
That is why 소스 따로 주세요 can be more useful than asking for a complete recipe change. It lets you control each bite. For soup, ask whether the broth itself is spicy. Removing chili slices from the top does not remove chili that has already infused the broth.
If the dish is prepared in advance, the restaurant may say it cannot be changed. That is not a refusal to help; it usually means the recipe is already mixed. Choose another menu item rather than assuming the dish is safe because the server heard “less spicy.”
Menu words to recognize
These words are clues, not a perfect guarantee:
- 매운맛 — spicy flavor.
- 순한맛 — mild flavor.
- 고추장 — red chili paste; it is often sweet and savory but still contains chili.
- 고춧가루 — Korean red-pepper powder.
- 청양고추 — Cheongyang chili, commonly used for a sharper heat.
- 불닭 — fire chicken; usually a warning that the dish is intentionally very spicy.
- 매콤 — lightly to moderately spicy depending on the restaurant.
Red color alone is not enough to judge a dish. Some sauces are colored with chili but taste more sweet and savory, while pale broths can contain fresh chili or pepper. Ask the staff when the spice level matters to you.
Safer starting points for a mild meal
No dish is guaranteed everywhere, but the following are often easier choices for visitors who want to begin gently:
- Bulgogi — thinly sliced marinated beef, usually sweet and savory rather than hot. Check whether the restaurant offers a spicy variation.
- Seolleongtang — a milky-looking beef-bone soup normally seasoned at the table with salt, pepper and green onion. The restaurant may provide condiments separately.
- Samgyetang — chicken and ginseng soup. It is generally not a chili-forward dish, though side dishes can be spicy.
- Japchae — glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and meat. Ask whether the sauce contains chili or a spicy topping.
- Gimbap — rice rolls with different fillings. Avoid a spicy tuna or spicy pork filling if you are sensitive to heat.
- Mandu — dumplings that can be steamed or fried. Ask for a non-spicy filling and request dipping sauce separately.
- Kalguksu — knife-cut noodle soup. The clear version is often milder than a red, chili-seasoned version.
Even these options can change from shop to shop. Kimchi, pickled peppers and a spicy dipping sauce may arrive as side dishes. You can leave them untouched without making the meal awkward.
Ordering at a kiosk, convenience store or delivery app
Kiosks often have a customization button or a request field. Look for 맵기 (spice level), 순한맛 (mild), 소스 별도 (sauce separate) and 고추 빼기 (remove chili). If there is a short request box, type:
맵지 않게 부탁드립니다. 고추와 매운 소스는 빼 주세요.
Please make it non-spicy. Please leave out chili and spicy sauce.
For delivery, a request may be missed when the kitchen cannot modify the dish, so choose a menu that is mild by design. For convenience-store meals, check the package for words such as 매운, 불닭 or 청양 and do not assume that a small cup is mild.
Allergies and medical restrictions need clearer language
Spice preference is different from an allergy. “Less spicy” does not necessarily remove shrimp paste, fish sauce, sesame, dairy or other ingredients. If you have an allergy, show a translated allergy card or write the exact ingredient in Korean. You can say 알레르기가 있어요 (I have an allergy) and name the ingredient. Ask whether the kitchen can prevent cross-contact, and leave if the answer is uncertain.
What I would prioritize
- Ask 이거 많이 매워요? before ordering.
- Use 덜 맵게 or 소스 따로 when the kitchen can adjust it.
- Choose a naturally mild dish and keep spicy banchan or sauces separate.
- If the food is hotter than expected, stop eating and ask for rice, a plain side or a different dish instead of trying to finish it.
Common mistakes
- Assuming “mild” means zero chili.
- Ordering a red stew without asking whether the broth is spicy.
- Thinking that removing visible peppers makes the whole dish safe.
- Using “no pepper” when the real problem is a chili-based sauce.
- Waiting until the first bite to explain an allergy or severe intolerance.
BEST 3 QUESTIONS
What is the simplest phrase for less spicy?
덜 맵게 해 주세요 is the most useful general request. If you need the dish to contain no chili at all, explain that clearly and ask what the kitchen can guarantee.
Is bulgogi always non-spicy?
Ordinary bulgogi is usually sweet and savory, but restaurants may offer spicy bulgogi or add a hot sauce. Ask before ordering and request sauce on the side if needed.
What should I do if the food is already too hot?
Stop and ask the staff whether a milder replacement or plain rice is possible. Do not force yourself to finish it, and do not assume that drinking water will solve the problem.
Related guides
- What to Eat in Korea: 10 Foods for First-Time Visitors — a broader introduction to choosing Korean dishes.
- Korean Etiquette for Visitors — practical guidance for polite everyday interactions.
Official information
- VISITKOREA: spicy Korean foods and ways to balance the heat
- VISITKOREA: ingredients and seasonings in Korean food
- National Institute of Korean Language — use the official dictionary when you want to check a Korean word.
Recipes, spice levels, customization and allergy procedures vary by restaurant. Ask before ordering and follow the staff’s current guidance.
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