The bustling streets of South Korea can wear you out in no time. But can you really skip the best part of your visit, which includes their best cuisines? Luckily, with just a few taps ordering food is made easy with food delivery apps. Here are some facts that you need to know about food delivery in Korea and the Korean words you need to remember!
Food delivery in South Korea is a convenient and popular option for residents and visitors alike. Whether you’re craving Korean cuisine or international flavors, you can enjoy an abundant selection of dishes delivered right to your doorstep. However, as a tourist in a foreign community, you might be wondering what home delivery services are like in other countries. Here we gathered some tips and apps that’ll come in handy when ordering food in South Korea!
Things You Need To Know About Food Delivery In Korea
Craving for Tteokbokki (Red Rice Cakes) or Jjigae (Korean Stew) on a cold winter night in South Korea? Well, there’s no need for you to salivate by looking at images from Google. There are several food delivery platforms that can serve you delicious food in a nickel of time! But before you explore Korean food delivery apps available in the country, here are some things you need to know about their services!
1. Delivery Services
There are plenty of food delivery applications available in the country, with the most popular ones being Baedal Minjok (also known as Baemin) and Yogiyo. These platforms have user-friendly apps and websites that allow you to browse menus, place orders, and track deliveries. These apps are typically available on both iOS and Android.
2. Types of Cuisine
There are a whole lot of cuisines from your favorite local restaurant available for delivery, ranging from Korean dishes like bibimbap, fried chicken, and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) to international options like pizza, burgers, sushi, and more. There’s something for every taste and preference.
3. Ordering Process
When placing an order, you can download the app or visit the website of your preferred delivery service. You’ll need to create an account, provide your delivery address, and select the restaurant and items you want to order. Payment options are really flexible, too because they usually include credit/debit cards, mobile payment apps like KakaoPay or Naver Pay, and sometimes cash on delivery.
4. Delivery Times
Food delivery in South Korea is known for its speed and efficiency. Depending on the restaurant’s location and the time of day, deliveries can arrive within 30 to 60 minutes. Some delivery services also offer scheduled delivery options, allowing you to order in advance.
5. Delivery Areas
Food delivery is widely available in most urban areas of South Korea, including major cities like Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu. However, the availability of specific restaurants may vary depending on your location.
6. Additional Services
In addition to delivering food from restaurants, some delivery platforms offer extra services. For example, you can order groceries, convenience store items, flowers, and even medication through certain delivery apps.
7. Delivery Fees and Minimum Orders
Delivery fees and minimum order amounts can vary depending on the delivery service and restaurant. Some restaurants may offer free delivery or have lower minimum order requirements during specific promotions or off-peak hours.
8. Korean Language
Most delivery service apps and websites in South Korea are primarily available in the Korean language. However, some platforms have English language options or provide English customer support, making it more accessible for non-Korean speakers.
The Best Food Delivery Apps In South Korea
1. Baedal Minjok App (Baemin)
Baemin is a user-friendly food delivery app in South Korea. It allows customers to browse restaurants, search for cuisines, read reviews, and view menus. Orders are coordinated with restaurants and delivered by riders with real-time updates. You may enjoy its additional features that include personalized recommendations, promotions, and the option to save favorite restaurants.
2. Yogiyo
Yogiyo is another popular food delivery app in South Korea. It provides a vast selection of restaurants and food choices, allowing you to order various types of cuisine from your favorite Korean restaurants. It is known for its fast delivery and convenient features, such as real-time tracking of your order to estimate delivery time.
Sadly, the app’s interface uses the Korean language. But don’t worry, if you can’t read Hangul, you can always open the Yogiyo website on your browser and use Google Translate to help you out!
3. Shuttle Delivery
Do you want a tourist-friendly app that also has English options? Luckily, ordering your favorite pizza with Shuttle Delivery won’t need a Google Translation. You can pick from a diverse range of cuisines that’ll satisfy your cravings! While customers who want “Instagram Friendly” photos, you’ll find this unique section on their app. Unfortunately, it’s not a 24/7 delivery service, it’s only open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
4. Coupang Eats
Coupang Eats is an e-commerce platform that also offers food delivery services. It provides a diverse range of restaurant options, including popular chains and local eateries. It’s also known for its quick delivery and competitive prices.
If you want to get your hand on your favorite food quickly, then you might as well subscribe to Coupang Rocket. They offer various benefits to members like:
- Rocket Delivery. It’s a service offered to members wherein Coupang’s own delivery workers ensure overnight delivery of items that are ordered prior to midnight.
- Rocket Fresh. It’s a service dedicated to delivering fresh food. Just like Rocket Delivery, Rocket Fresh ensures overnight delivery of fresh foods. Customers who place their orders before midnight can receive their food by 7 AM. This is like the online version of grocery shopping made easy for busy people like you!
- Rocket Direct Purchasing. If you want to purchase foreign goods, you only need to wait three days for them to arrive at your doorstep!
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