[Note: This post is full of food pictures. Don’t read if you’re hungry. You’ve been warned.]

When I first came to Korea all by myself in 2013, I was actually worried about having to eat out alone. Why? Because what I’ve read on the Internet beforehand was anything but pleasant: “You will get stared at A LOT”, “They will chase you out of the place” are only some examples.

I’m not saying that these people made up their stories, they sure did encounter difficulties, but that doesn’t mean that you will too. In my case, I haven’t had any problems with solo dining here in Korea. Like ever.

I still remember my first day alone in Seoul. I was strolling through Insadong, it was 12pm and I started to get hungry. It took a while to pull myself together and enter a typical Korean restaurant, just to notice that there were actually two solo diners eating casually. No stares, no angry waiter, no nothing. This took a load off my mind and I was able to peacefully enjoy my Mandu (dumplings).

From that moment on I ate out alone countless times, without ever being looked at or even chased out of the restaurant. After all, you are a paying customer and the consumer is the boss, right?

Solo eating actually seems to be pretty common in Korea. I spotted solo diners in practically every restaurant I’ve eaten in here.

Nevertheless, you should pay attention to these aspects:

1.Don’t eat in overcrowded restaurants, because in the eyes of the waiter, you take up space that could be filled with two to even four people. This isn’t the case in half-full dining places as they still have enough tables for other customers and thus don’t mind solo eaters.

2.You might encounter some problems when trying to eat Korean barbecue. The meat is served in portions and one portion is usually meant for two people. If you only want to eat half of one portion, you should ask the waiter if it’s possible to do so. Keep in mind that he might reject your request.

And that’s basically it. Just choose a restaurant, as you normally would when dining out with someone else, go in, order and enjoy your food. Eating out alone is nothing to be ashamed or afraid of! As a popular sports brand’s slogan states: “Just do it.”

Till next time,

Julie