🍽️ Food & Allergy Card
Pick what you can't eat, then tap Show the card and hand your phone to the staff before you order.
Eating in Korea with dietary needs
- Broth and seasonings hide animal products. Many soups and stews use anchovy or meat broth, and kimchi is often made with salted seafood (jeotgal). The card mentions these.
- Soy and sesame are everywhere in Korean cooking, as soy sauce, doenjang and sesame oil.
- Ask for a dish without meat: "고기 빼 주세요" (gogi ppae juseyo) means "please leave out the meat".
- Severe allergies: carry your medication. A card helps you explain, but staff can't always guarantee there's no cross-contact.
Words to look for on menus
| 돼지고기 | pork |
|---|---|
| 소고기 | beef |
| 닭고기 | chicken |
| 해물 / 해산물 | seafood |
| 멸치 | anchovy (common in broth) |
| 젓갈 | salted seafood (used in kimchi) |
| 육수 | broth / stock |
| 달걀 / 계란 | egg |
| 땅콩 | peanut |
| 채식 | vegetarian |
In an emergency, call 119. More numbers in emergency help.
Questions
Is the Korean on the card correct?
The card uses simple, polite Korean that restaurant staff understand. It also mentions anchovy or meat broth and salted seafood, because these are common hidden ingredients in Korean food.
Can a restaurant guarantee my food is safe?
Not always. Many Korean kitchens share oil, pans and sauces, so staff may not be able to rule out cross-contact. If your allergy is severe, carry your medication and choose simpler dishes where ingredients are easy to check.