Not all Korean food is spicy, and not every spicy dish can be made mild.
Some restaurants let customers choose a spice level. In other places, the broth or sauce has already been prepared, so the heat cannot easily be changed.
Before ordering, ask:
- Is this dish spicy?
- Can it be made less spicy?
- Is there a non-spicy option?
Quick Guide
| What you need | Korean phrase |
|---|---|
| Ask whether it is spicy | 이거 매워요? |
| Ask how spicy it is | 많이 매워요? |
| Request less spice | 덜 맵게 해주세요. |
| Ask whether it can be non-spicy | 안 맵게 할 수 있어요? |
| Leave out chilli | 고추 빼주세요. |
| Request sauce separately | 양념 따로 주세요. |
| Ask for the mildest level | 제일 덜 매운 단계로 주세요. |
| Ask for another menu | 안 매운 메뉴 추천해 주세요. |
“Less Spicy” Does Not Mean “Not Spicy”
덜 맵게 해주세요
Deol maepge haejuseyo.
Please make it less spicy.
Use this when you can eat some spice but want less than the restaurant’s usual amount.
안 맵게 할 수 있어요?
An maepge hal su isseoyo?
Can you make it not spicy?
This asks whether the spicy ingredients can be removed.
The answer may be no when the sauce, seasoning or broth was prepared in advance.
양념 따로 주세요
Yangnyeom ttaro juseyo.
Please serve the sauce separately.
This works only when the sauce is added separately or near the end of cooking.
Explain Your Spice Tolerance
Simply asking 이거 매워요? may not be enough.
A staff member may say a dish is only a little spicy, but that answer can reflect their own taste.
A clearer phrase is:
매운 음식 잘 못 먹는데 괜찮을까요?
Maeun eumsik jal mot meokneunde gwaenchanheulkkayo?
I do not eat spicy food well. Will this be okay?
This helps the staff understand that you are not only asking whether chilli is present. You want to know whether the dish is suitable for someone with a low spice tolerance.
Spice tolerance differs among Koreans too.
I enjoy spicy food, but I would not say I handle it especially well. When I eat with Korean friends, we normally discuss the spice level before ordering. Some of my friends avoid spicy food, while others go out specifically to eat something very hot.
Foreign visitors are no different. Some want to avoid spicy food completely, while others enjoy trying it.
When the Spice Level May Be Adjustable
A restaurant may be able to reduce the heat when:
- the menu offers numbered spice levels;
- chilli is added near the end;
- the sauce can be served separately;
- the dish is cooked individually;
- a spicy topping can be removed.
Even with the same menu name, preparation can differ by restaurant. Ask before ordering.
When It May Be Difficult to Change
Reducing the heat may be difficult when:
- the broth was prepared in advance;
- the ingredients were already marinated;
- the spicy sauce forms the base of the dish;
- several portions are cooked together;
- the restaurant serves only one standard recipe.
Stews, hot pots and pre-marinated dishes often fall into this group.
When the staff says the spice cannot be adjusted, choosing another menu is usually more practical than asking them to change the recipe repeatedly.
Do Not Judge by Colour Alone
Red food is not always extremely spicy, and pale food is not always mild.
A clear soup can contain hot green chilli. A red sauce may taste more sweet or savoury than hot.
The word 순한맛 also needs caution. It means a milder level compared with the restaurant’s other options. It does not always mean completely non-spicy.
Words that may suggest heat
매운— spicy매콤— mildly or pleasantly spicy얼큰— hot and spicy, often used for soup청양— containing Cheongyang chilli불— often used for fiery dishes마라— mala flavour
Words that may suggest a milder option
간장— soy sauce seasoning소금구이— salt-grilled맑은— clear broth백탕— white broth불고기— bulgogi-style seasoning
These are only clues. They do not guarantee that a dish is completely mild.
When You Want to Try Spicy Food
A foreign friend once wanted to try dakbokkeumtang, a spicy braised chicken dish.
I explained before ordering that the dish could be quite hot. My friend still wanted to try it but found the strong seasoning difficult after the food arrived.
I suggested eating smaller bites with:
- plain rice;
- mild side dishes;
- vegetables without spicy seasoning;
- lettuce or other wrap vegetables.
The rice and mild foods did not remove the spice, but they made it easier to control how much spicy sauce was eaten at once.
Trying spicy food should be a choice, not a test. There is no reason to finish a dish when it is no longer enjoyable.
What to Do If the Food Is Too Spicy
- Slow down and take a break.
- Eat smaller bites with plain rice.
- Choose mild side dishes or unseasoned vegetables.
- Avoid taking large amounts of sauce or broth.
- Ask whether another, milder menu is available.
- Stop eating if the discomfort becomes too strong.
Do not force yourself to continue simply because the dish is popular or because other people can eat it.
Useful Korean Phrases
이거 매워요?
Igeo maewoyo?
Is this spicy?
많이 매워요?
Mani maewoyo?
Is it very spicy?
매운 음식 잘 못 먹어요.
Maeun eumsik jal mot meogeoyo.
I do not eat spicy food well.
덜 맵게 해주세요.
Deol maepge haejuseyo.
Please make it less spicy.
안 맵게 할 수 있어요?
An maepge hal su isseoyo?
Can you make it not spicy?
고추 빼주세요.
Gochu ppaejuseyo.
Please leave out the chilli.
양념 따로 주세요.
Yangnyeom ttaro juseyo.
Please serve the sauce separately.
제일 덜 매운 단계로 주세요.
Jeil deol maeun dangyero juseyo.
Please give me the mildest spice level.
안 매운 메뉴 추천해 주세요.
An maeun menyu chucheonhae juseyo.
Please recommend a non-spicy menu.
A Simple Ordering Routine
- Ask whether the dish is spicy.
- Explain that you do not eat spicy food well.
- Ask whether the heat can be reduced.
- Request the sauce separately when possible.
- Choose another dish when the recipe cannot be changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Korean restaurants make food less spicy?
Sometimes.
It is more likely when the dish is cooked individually or the menu offers selectable spice levels.
Does 덜 맵게 mean not spicy?
No.
It means less spicy than usual. Some heat may remain.
Is 순한맛 completely mild?
Not necessarily.
It is usually the mildest option within that restaurant’s scale, but it can still feel spicy.
Are all red Korean foods spicy?
No.
Colour alone does not show how hot a dish will taste.
Do all Koreans eat spicy food well?
No.
Spice tolerance varies from person to person.
What should I order if I cannot eat spicy food?
Ask the staff for a non-spicy recommendation. Soy sauce, salt-grilled or clear-broth dishes may be useful starting points, but confirm before ordering.
Final Thoughts
You do not need to eat very spicy food to enjoy Korean cuisine.
Ask before ordering, explain your spice tolerance and choose another dish when the recipe cannot be changed.
A simple sentence such as 매운 음식 잘 못 먹어요 can help the staff recommend something you are more likely to enjoy.