How to Order Tteokbokki in Korean for Travelers: Spice, Toppings & Phrases
Travel Korean · Street Food
How to Order Tteokbokki in Korean: Spice, Toppings & Phrases
Order a serving, ask about heat, add cheese or noodles, request takeout, and understand the most common snack-shop menu words.
Quick Answer
For a basic order, say 떡볶이 일 인분 주세요—“One serving of tteokbokki, please.” Ask 많이 매워요? before ordering if you are sensitive to spice. At a specialty shop, you may be able to select a heat level and add cheese or noodles. At a street stall serving one shared batch, the sauce may not be adjustable, so ask whether a milder option is available rather than assuming it can be changed.
Explore More Korean
Read 떡볶이 and 튀김 in Korean
떡볶이 — Tteokbokki
Romanization: tteok-bok-kki
Standard pronunciation: [떡뽀끼]
Meaning: Rice cakes cooked in a seasoned sauce; red gochujang-based tteokbokki is the best-known version.
tteok
ㄸ + ㅓ + ㄱ
bok
ㅂ + ㅗ + ㄲ
i
ㅇ + ㅣ
튀김 — Fried Food
Romanization: twi-gim
Meaning: Fried items such as squid, sweet potato, dumplings, or seaweed noodle rolls.
twi
ㅌ + ㅟ
gim
ㄱ + ㅣ + ㅁ
What to Order with Tteokbokki
Snack shops called 분식집 often sell tteokbokki with fried foods, sundae, fish cake, and gimbap. The playful abbreviation 떡튀순 refers to 떡볶이 + 튀김 + 순대, although menus and set combinations vary.
| Dish | Korean | What It Is | Ordering Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tteokbokki | 떡볶이 | Rice cakes in a seasoned sauce, often with fish cake and vegetables | Ask about spice and ingredients. |
| Fried sides | 튀김 | Fried vegetables, seafood, dumplings, or 김말이 | Choose individual pieces or an assortment, depending on the shop. |
| Sundae | 순대 | Korean sausage commonly filled with glass noodles and other ingredients | Not the same as an ice-cream sundae. |
| Fish cake | 어묵 | Fish cake, often served on skewers with broth | Broth prices and service policies differ by vendor. |
| Gimbap | 김밥 | Rice and fillings rolled in dried seaweed | Ingredients vary, so ask about dietary restrictions. |
How to Choose a Tteokbokki Spice Level
There is no nationwide scale. Some restaurants use names, some use numbers, and traditional stalls may offer only one sauce. Always check the shop's own menu.
| Menu Wording | Romanization | Approximate Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 순한맛 | sun-han-mat | Mild flavor on that restaurant's scale |
| 보통맛 | bo-tong-mat | Regular or medium on that menu |
| 매운맛 | mae-un-mat | Spicy |
| 아주 매운맛 | a-ju mae-un-mat | Very spicy |
How to Add Toppings and Sari
추가 means “addition” or “add-on.” 사리 commonly refers to an extra portion added to a shared dish, especially noodles or additional rice cakes. Menu terminology varies, so use the exact item name shown.
| Add-on | Korean Request | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 치즈 추가해 주세요. | Please add cheese. |
| Ramyeon noodles | 라면 사리 추가해 주세요. | Please add ramyeon noodles. |
| Boiled egg | 삶은 달걀 추가해 주세요. | Please add a boiled egg. |
Essential Korean Tteokbokki Phrases
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 떡볶이 일 인분 주세요. | Tteok-bok-kki il in-bun ju-se-yo. | One serving of tteokbokki, please. |
| 이거 많이 매워요? | I-geo ma-ni mae-wo-yo? | Is this very spicy? |
| 덜 맵게 해 주세요. | Deol maep-ge hae ju-se-yo. | Please make it less spicy. |
| 안 매운 떡볶이 있어요? | An mae-un tteok-bok-kki i-sseo-yo? | Do you have non-spicy tteokbokki? |
| 치즈 추가해 주세요. | Chi-jeu chu-ga-hae ju-se-yo. | Please add cheese. |
| 어묵 빼 주세요. | Eo-muk ppae ju-se-yo. | Please leave out the fish cake. |
| 포장해 주세요. | Po-jang-hae ju-se-yo. | Please pack it to go. |
| 여기서 먹을게요. | Yeo-gi-seo meo-geul-ge-yo. | I'll eat here. |
Real-Life Ordering Dialogues
1. Ordering at a Snack Shop
Staff: 어서 오세요. 뭐 드릴까요?
Welcome. What can I get you?
Traveler: 떡볶이 일 인분이랑 튀김 오천 원어치 주세요.
One serving of tteokbokki and 5,000 won worth of fried items, please.
Staff: 여기서 드세요?
Are you eating here?
2. Choosing Spice and Toppings
Staff: 매운맛은 어떻게 하시겠어요?
Which spice level would you like?
Traveler: 순한맛으로 주세요. 치즈도 추가해 주세요.
Mild, please. Please add cheese too.
Staff: 네, 알겠습니다.
Okay.
3. Asking for Takeout
Traveler: 떡볶이 이 인분 포장해 주세요.
Please pack two servings of tteokbokki to go.
Staff: 네. 십 분 정도 걸려요.
Okay. It takes about ten minutes.
Vegetarian, Vegan, and Allergy Questions
Removing visible fish cake does not make ordinary tteokbokki vegetarian or vegan. The broth or sauce may contain anchovy, seafood, meat-based ingredients, or other animal products. Fried foods may share oil or equipment with seafood and other allergens.
- 육수에 멸치가 들어가요? — Does the broth contain anchovies?
- 어묵 빼고 만들어 주세요. — Please make it without fish cake.
- 채식 메뉴 있어요? — Do you have a vegetarian menu?
- 저는 [ingredient] 알레르기가 있어요. — I am allergic to [ingredient].
Practice Quiz
Select each question to reveal the answer.
1. How do you order one serving of tteokbokki?
Answer: 떡볶이 일 인분 주세요.
2. How do you ask whether it is very spicy?
Answer: 이거 많이 매워요?
3. What does 떡튀순 mean?
Answer: A combination of 떡볶이, 튀김, and 순대.
4. How do you request takeout?
Answer: 포장해 주세요.
5. How do you ask for cheese?
Answer: 치즈 추가해 주세요.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every tteokbokki shop make it less spicy?
No. Specialty restaurants may offer levels, but a street stall may serve one pre-cooked batch. Ask before ordering.
Is traditional tteokbokki vegetarian?
Not necessarily. Fish cake and anchovy-based broth are common, and sauces vary. Confirm all ingredients.
What is 즉석떡볶이?
It is tteokbokki cooked or finished in a pot at the table, often with selectable add-ins such as noodles, eggs, vegetables, or cheese.
Is fish-cake broth always free?
No. Availability, price, refills, and service practices depend on the vendor. Check the menu or ask.
How much does tteokbokki cost in Korea?
Prices vary by city, portion, restaurant type, and toppings. Check the current menu instead of relying on a nationwide price estimate.
Key Takeaway
Start with 떡볶이 일 인분 주세요, ask 많이 매워요?, and use 추가해 주세요 for add-ons. Because recipes, heat scales, prices, and service styles vary, read the shop's menu and ask before assuming a request is possible.
