Food delivery in Korea used to feel almost impossible for short-term visitors. You could choose your fried chicken, enter your hotel address—and then get stopped by a Korean phone-number check or a payment screen that rejected your card.
That has changed. Baemin now offers English, Japanese and Chinese support and accepts foreign credit cards, making it the most practical first option for many tourists.
Shuttle Delivery is another foreigner-friendly choice that supports English and international payment methods, although its restaurant selection and delivery areas are more limited. Other Korean apps may still work better for residents who have a verified Korean phone number and locally issued card.
This guide explains which food delivery apps actually work for tourists, how to order to a hotel or apartment, and what to do when phone verification, payment or address entry causes a problem.
Quick Answer
Yes. Foreign tourists can now order food delivery in Korea more easily than before.
- Try Baemin first: It offers English, Japanese and Chinese support and accepts foreign credit cards.
- Try Shuttle Delivery as a backup: It is bilingual and accepts major credit cards and PayPal, but its coverage and restaurant selection are more limited.
- Expect more restrictions on other local apps: Korean phone-number verification or a locally issued payment card may still be required.
- Ordering to a hotel: Use the hotel’s exact Korean address, confirm that outside delivery is allowed and plan to meet the driver in the lobby.
App requirements can change, so keep takeout or a nearby convenience store as a backup.
Which Food Delivery App Should Tourists Try First?
For most short-term visitors, Baemin is now the best app to try first. Its international service supports English, Japanese and Chinese, as well as foreign credit cards, WeChat Pay and Alipay+.
Baemin’s official international guide provides the latest information about supported languages and payment methods.
Shuttle Delivery is a useful alternative for travelers who prefer a fully bilingual service. It accepts major credit cards and PayPal, but it operates in fewer areas and offers a smaller selection of restaurants than Baemin.
Shuttle Delivery’s official FAQ explains its ordering and payment options.
| App | Best for | International payment | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baemin | Most foreign tourists | Foreign credit cards, WeChat Pay and Alipay+ | Restaurant and checkout options can vary |
| Shuttle Delivery | English-speaking users within its service areas | Major credit cards and PayPal | More limited coverage and restaurant selection |
| Coupang Eats or Yogiyo | Residents with a Korean account and payment setup | Depends on the account and payment method | Not the most reliable first choice for short-term visitors |
App features can change. Check the available payment method at checkout before confirming the order.
Why Ordering Can Be Difficult for Tourists
Korean delivery services are designed mainly for people living in Korea.
Local users normally have:
- A Korean phone number
- A Korean card or bank account
- A saved home address
- Familiarity with Korean address formats
- The ability to communicate with a driver
Tourists may have only an international card, a foreign phone number, and a hotel address written in English.
This can create problems during registration, payment, and delivery.
The most common difficulties are:
- The app does not accept a foreign phone number.
- Identity verification fails.
- An overseas credit card is declined.
- The address cannot be found.
- The app is mostly in Korean.
- The driver calls or sends a message in Korean.
- The hotel does not allow delivery to guest rooms.
These problems do not mean delivery is impossible. They simply mean that you may need a different method.
Do You Need a Korean Phone Number?
Not always—but you may still need a phone number that can receive verification texts or calls.
Baemin now provides an international service for overseas users. However, the exact registration and verification process can differ by country, app version and account type. Do not assume that every foreign number will work in every situation.
Other Korean delivery apps may still require a Korean phone number connected to local identity verification. This is one reason an app may work easily for a foreign resident but fail for a short-term tourist.
Some travel eSIMs provide internet access without a usable phone number or SMS. Other tourist plans may include incoming calls or texts, so check the exact product. Receiving an SMS code still does not guarantee support for Korean identity verification. Our Korea eSIM guide for beginners explains what to check before buying.
Before ordering, check that:
- Your number can receive SMS messages
- Your phone can receive a call from the driver
- The country code is entered correctly
- Your hotel or accommodation can help if the driver cannot reach you
If phone verification fails, try Baemin’s international ordering option, Shuttle Delivery or ask your hotel front desk for assistance.
Can You Pay With a Foreign Credit Card?
Yes—some food delivery services in Korea now officially accept internationally issued cards.
Baemin accepts foreign credit cards through its international service. It also lists WeChat Pay and Alipay+ as supported international payment options.
Shuttle Delivery accepts major credit cards and PayPal. This can make it a useful backup when another app rejects your payment.
However, a foreign card can still fail because:
- Overseas or online transactions are disabled
- The card issuer blocks the payment
- Additional authentication cannot be completed
- The billing information does not match
- A particular restaurant or checkout option uses a different payment process
Visa or Mastercard branding does not guarantee that every transaction will succeed. If one card fails, check your bank’s overseas-payment settings or try another card.
Do not rely on cash payment at the door. It is not available for every order, and communicating with the restaurant or driver may be difficult.
How to Enter a Korean Address
The delivery address must be precise.
A Korean address may include:
- Province or metropolitan city
- District
- Road name
- Building number
- Apartment or building name
- Unit number
- Entrance instructions
For example, a hotel name alone may not be enough.
Use the exact Korean address shown by the hotel, accommodation provider, Naver Map, or KakaoMap.
Copying the Korean address is often easier than typing it manually in English.
Before ordering, save:
- The full Korean address
- The hotel or building name in Korean
- The lobby phone number
- Your room number, if allowed
- A note explaining where to leave the order
For help finding Korean addresses, read How to Use Naver Map and KakaoMap in Korea Without Getting Lost.
Ordering Food Delivery to a Hotel
Food delivery to a hotel is possible in many cases, but hotel policies vary.
Some hotels allow drivers to leave food at the front desk or lobby.
Others do not accept outside food deliveries for guests.
Drivers are often not allowed to go directly to guest-room floors because of security restrictions.
Before ordering, ask the hotel:
- Is outside food delivery allowed?
- Can the driver leave the order at the front desk?
- Should I meet the driver in the lobby?
- Is there a specific entrance for delivery drivers?
- Can hotel staff help communicate with the driver?
Do not enter only your room number and expect the driver to come upstairs.
A safer delivery instruction is:
“Please leave the order at the hotel lobby.”
You can also ask the front desk to write the hotel name and delivery instructions in Korean.
Ordering to an Airbnb or Apartment
Ordering to an apartment or short-term rental can be more complicated than ordering to a hotel.
The driver may need:
- The building number
- The apartment name
- The unit number
- The building entrance code
- Instructions for the correct entrance
- Directions to a specific tower
Large apartment complexes may contain several buildings with similar names.
Make sure you know the exact building number before ordering.
Do not share a private entrance code unless the accommodation host has confirmed that it is appropriate.
When possible, meet the driver at the main entrance.
This is easier for both the visitor and the driver.
What Happens After You Order?
Once the order is accepted, the app normally shows the restaurant’s progress and the estimated delivery time.
The driver may call or send a message when:
- The address is unclear
- The building entrance is locked
- The hotel lobby cannot be found
- The driver has arrived
- The order must be handed over directly
If you do not speak Korean, prepare a short message in advance.
For example:
“호텔 로비에 놓아 주세요.”
Hotel robie noa juseyo.
Please leave it in the hotel lobby.
“건물 입구에서 만나요.”
Geonmul ipgueseo mannayo.
Let’s meet at the building entrance.
“전화 대신 문자 부탁드립니다.”
Jeonhwa daesin munja butakdeurimnida.
Please send a text instead of calling.
A translation app can help, but it is better to prepare the message before the driver contacts you.
Easier Alternatives for Foreign Visitors
When a Korean delivery app does not work, there are several easier alternatives.
Ask the Hotel Front Desk
Hotel staff may be able to:
- Recommend nearby restaurants
- Place an order by phone
- Explain the address to the driver
- Help with Korean-language communication
- Confirm where the order should be delivered
Some hotels will not place orders for guests, but asking is still worthwhile.
Order Directly From a Restaurant
Some restaurants accept direct orders by phone or through their own website.
This method can still require Korean communication and a local payment option.
It works best when a hotel employee, Korean-speaking friend, or accommodation host can help.
Visit a Nearby Restaurant
In many Korean neighborhoods, a restaurant is only a short walk away.
Eating in person avoids:
- Account registration
- Phone verification
- Delivery fees
- Minimum order requirements
- Address problems
- Driver communication
It is often faster than spending a long time trying to make an app work.
For dining tips, read Korean Restaurant Etiquette: What Foreign Visitors Should Know.
Use a Convenience Store
Convenience stores are useful when it is late, raining, or difficult to order delivery.
You can buy:
- Lunch boxes
- Kimbap
- Cup ramyeon
- Sandwiches
- Fried chicken
- Dumplings
- Salads
- Drinks
- Snacks
Many convenience stores also provide microwaves and hot water.
Read Korean Convenience Store Food Guide for Foreign Visitors.
Buy Food for Takeout
Most Korean restaurants offer takeout.
You can walk to a restaurant, place an order, and bring the food back to your hotel.
A useful phrase is:
“포장해 주세요.”
Pojanghae juseyo.
Please make it takeout.
Takeout is often easier than delivery because you do not need to create an app account or explain an address.
Delivery Fees and Minimum Orders
Food delivery in Korea may include several additional costs.
These can include:
- Delivery fee
- Small-order fee
- Minimum order amount
- Distance surcharge
- Busy-hour surcharge
- Bad-weather surcharge
- Packaging fee
A restaurant may offer inexpensive menu items but require a larger minimum order.
The final price can be much higher than the listed food price.
Always review the total before paying.
Also check whether utensils, napkins, sauces, or side dishes must be selected separately.
Some apps may not include disposable utensils automatically.
Tips for Ordering Korean Food
When browsing a Korean menu, pictures can be useful, but they do not always show portion size accurately.
Check whether the item is intended for:
- One person
- Two people
- A family
- A shared group meal
Korean fried chicken, jokbal, bossam, and some stews may come in larger portions.
Rice may not always be included with soups or main dishes.
Look for:
- 공기밥 — bowl of rice
- 1인분 — one serving
- 2인분 — two servings
- 맵기 — spice level
- 순한맛 — mild
- 보통맛 — medium
- 매운맛 — spicy
Do not assume “mild” means completely non-spicy.
For Korean fried chicken, read Korean Fried Chicken Guide for Foreign Visitors.
Common Mistakes Foreign Visitors Make
The first mistake is waiting until late at night to test a delivery app for the first time.
Set up the app earlier in the day, when you still have other food options.
The second mistake is using only an English address.
Save the Korean version as well.
The third mistake is assuming every foreign credit card will work.
Prepare a backup payment method.
The fourth mistake is ordering to a hotel without checking the hotel’s delivery policy.
The fifth mistake is ignoring calls from an unfamiliar Korean number.
The caller may be the driver.
The sixth mistake is ordering food that is too large or spicy without checking the description.
The seventh mistake is spending an hour trying to make an app work when a restaurant or convenience store is nearby.
Useful Korean Phrases for Food Delivery
“배달 주문하고 싶어요.”
Baedal jumunhago sipeoyo.
I would like to order delivery.
“호텔 로비에 놓아 주세요.”
Hotel robie noa juseyo.
Please leave it in the hotel lobby.
“건물 입구에서 만나요.”
Geonmul ipgueseo mannayo.
Let’s meet at the building entrance.
“전화 대신 문자해 주세요.”
Jeonhwa daesin munjahae juseyo.
Please text instead of calling.
“주소를 찾기 어려우신가요?”
Jusoreul chatgi eoryeoushingayo?
Are you having trouble finding the address?
“포장해 주세요.”
Pojanghae juseyo.
Please make it takeout.
“맵지 않게 해 주세요.”
Maepji anke hae juseyo.
Please make it less spicy.
Not every restaurant can change the spice level, but asking may help.
Related Korea Compass Guides
For help finding buildings and Korean addresses, read How to Use Naver Map and KakaoMap in Korea Without Getting Lost.
Before your trip, see Best Apps for Traveling in Korea: What to Install Before You Arrive.
For dining manners, read Korean Restaurant Etiquette: What Foreign Visitors Should Know.
For an easy backup meal, see Korean Convenience Store Food Guide for Foreign Visitors.
For official travel information about Korea, visit VisitKorea.
Korea Compass Note
Do not make food delivery your only plan on your first night in Korea.
Before returning to your hotel, check whether there is a convenience store, restaurant, or takeout option nearby.
Save your accommodation’s Korean address and ask the front desk about delivery rules before placing an order.
A local delivery app can be convenient, but it is not always the easiest choice for a short-term visitor.
When the app becomes frustrating, takeout or a nearby convenience store may be faster, cheaper, and less stressful.