Why Do Korean Restaurants Give Free Side Dishes (Banchan)?
Short answer: Korean restaurants give free side dishes (banchan, 반찬) because in Korea a meal is not complete without them. A traditional Korean table is built around rice, soup and several small shared dishes, so restaurants treat banchan as part of the meal you ordered, not as an extra. At most everyday restaurants you can also ask for refills at no charge, although rising food costs mean a few places now charge for extras or use a self-service bar.
What counts as banchan?
Banchan are the little plates that arrive before or with your main dish. The most famous is kimchi, usually napa cabbage or radish (kkakdugi), but the set changes from restaurant to restaurant and even from day to day. Common ones include:
- Namul – seasoned vegetables such as spinach, bean sprouts or bracken, dressed with sesame oil and garlic.
- Jorim – small foods braised in soy sauce, like potatoes, black beans or fish cake.
- Bokkeum – stir-fried dishes such as anchovies or zucchini.
- Jeon – small pan-fried pancakes, more common at home-style restaurants.
- Gyeran-jjim – fluffy steamed egg, often served at Korean BBQ places.
A simple noodle shop might give you only kimchi and pickled radish, while a traditional set-meal restaurant (hanjeongsik) can cover the whole table with a dozen or more plates.
Why banchan come free
Rice, soup and side dishes are one meal
The Korean way of eating is bap (rice) plus guk (soup) plus banchan. Rice is the centre and side dishes give it flavour, so serving a main dish without them feels unfinished to Korean diners. The custom grew from home cooking: families kept fermented and preserved foods ready, and every meal used a selection of them. Restaurants simply carried that home table into the dining room.
Hospitality and "jeong"
Generous side dishes are also a sign of care. Koreans often talk about jeong (정), a warm feeling of goodwill between people. A restaurant that keeps your banchan full is showing that it wants you to leave satisfied. Many regulars judge a place by its kimchi and side dishes as much as by its main menu.
Competition between restaurants
In busy food streets, side dishes are part of how restaurants compete. Diners notice when a place cuts back, so most owners keep banchan free even when ingredient prices rise.
Are refills really free?
At most casual Korean restaurants, yes. When a plate is empty you can ask for more by saying "Banchan jom deo juseyo" (반찬 좀 더 주세요, "More side dishes, please") or point at the plate and say "Igeo deo juseyo" ("More of this, please"). Some restaurants have a self-service corner (셀프 코너) where you refill banchan yourself; a sign saying "셀프" means help yourself.
Two things are not part of the deal. First, the main dish: extra meat, fish or stew is always ordered and paid for. Second, rice is often charged separately at BBQ restaurants. Higher-end restaurants may also limit refills, and in recent years some small restaurants have started discussing or adding charges because of higher food costs. If you are unsure, just ask before ordering more.
Banchan manners
- Banchan are shared by the whole table, while each person usually gets their own bowl of rice.
- Take a small amount onto your rice or plate rather than digging around in the shared dish.
- Ask for a refill when you will actually eat it; leaving full plates behind is seen as wasteful.
- Do not tip for refills. Tipping is not expected in Korea – see our guide to tipping and table manners.
As LUMI from POPORO CITY likes to say: "The kimchi tells you if the restaurant cares."
Quick tips
- Learn one phrase: "Banchan jom deo juseyo".
- Look for a "셀프" sign – it means self-service refills.
- Extra meat and rice usually cost money; side dishes usually do not.
- At Korean BBQ, banchan and lettuce for wraps are normally included – see how to order at a Korean BBQ restaurant.
- Try at least one bite of each dish; it is the easiest way to discover new Korean food.
FAQ
Is it rude to ask for more banchan?
No. Asking for a refill is normal and staff expect it. Just ask politely and only for what you will eat.
Do Korean restaurants outside Korea also give free banchan?
Many do, but it varies. Some charge for refills or serve a smaller set, so check the menu or ask.
Can I take leftover banchan home?
Usually no. Banchan are meant to be eaten at the table, and most restaurants do not pack them. Main dishes can sometimes be packed if you ask.
Why is the banchan different every visit?
Many restaurants change their side dishes with the season and what is fresh at the market, so the selection can rotate even at the same place.
Are banchan vegetarian?
Not always. Kimchi often contains fish sauce or salted shrimp, and some dishes use anchovy broth. If you avoid animal products, ask before eating.