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K-Culture Decoded

How to Use Catch Table Without a Korean Phone Number (2026)

Facts last checked: Updated:

The 30-second answer

Download CatchTable Global (not the Korean-only CatchTable app) and sign up with Google, Apple, or email; it needs no Korean phone number and takes foreign-issued cards for deposits. If a restaurant isn't on it, use a paid booking service like Creatrip, ask your hotel, or join the waitlist in person.

Key takeaway
There are two CatchTable apps. The one for visitors is CatchTable Global, which skips the Korean phone check; the domestic app is built around Korean identity verification.
Pro tip
Turn on push notifications and use an email you actually check. That's how CatchTable Global tells you when your waitlist turn is coming up, so you can wander nearby instead of standing in line.

Why booking restaurants in Korea is tricky for visitors

Many of Korea's most popular restaurants now take bookings and waitlists only through apps. The domestic versions of these apps usually verify your identity through a Korean mobile number, which a tourist on a foreign SIM or eSIM can't pass.

CatchTable responded with a separate Global app for international users. According to Visit Korea, it lets you create an account with Google or Apple without a Korean phone number and pay with foreign-issued credit cards. The App Store listing says it covers 8,000+ restaurants and supports search in 20 languages.

Some restaurants still aren't bookable this way. For those, visitors lean on paid booking services, hotel staff, the restaurant's own social media, or simply showing up and joining the line.

Ways to book a Korean restaurant without a Korean number

Option Korean phone needed? What it costs Best for
CatchTable Global app No (Google, Apple, or email sign-up) Free app; some reservation-only restaurants charge a deposit on your foreign card Most popular restaurants, reservations and remote waitlists
Creatrip booking service No Per-booking service fee (listed from about US$11 in Sept 2026); no cancellations after payment Restaurants you can't book in CatchTable Global
Hotel concierge or front desk No Ask your hotel Staff can call the restaurant in Korean for you
Restaurant's Instagram DM No Varies by restaurant Small places that post booking instructions on Instagram
On-site waitlist tablet Asks for a phone number; foreign numbers may not work Free Walk-in spots with a queue at the door

How to book with CatchTable Global, step by step

  1. Step 1: Install the right app

    Search the App Store or Google Play for CatchTable Global (listed as "CATCHTABLE: Book Restaurants"). The regular Korean CatchTable app is aimed at locals and expects Korean phone verification.

  2. Step 2: Sign up with Google, Apple, or email

    Create your account with a Google or Apple login or email. You don't need a Korean number. Allow push notifications so you get booking and waitlist alerts.

  3. Step 3: Add a foreign credit card

    Some reservation-only restaurants ask for a deposit to prevent no-shows. In CatchTable Global, deposits can only be paid with a foreign-issued card, so add your home card before you try to book.

  4. Step 4: Book a table or join the waitlist

    Filter by date, time, party size, and area. Choose reservation if a time slot is open, or waitlist to join the line remotely. Visit Korea notes that waitlists, remote or on-site, don't require a deposit. Read each restaurant's cancellation and deposit rules on the booking screen before you confirm.

  5. Step 5: Show up on time

    Watch the app and your email for updates, then head over when your turn is close. Show your booking in the app to the staff when you arrive.

  6. Step 6: If the restaurant isn't in the app

    Try a paid booking service such as Creatrip, ask your hotel front desk to call, check the restaurant's Instagram for booking instructions, or go early and put your name on the tablet at the door.

Show this in Korean

  • 캐치테이블로 예약했어요.

    Pronunciation: Kaechi-teibeul-lo yeyak-haesseoyo.

    I made a reservation through Catch Table.

  • 대기 명단에 올려 주세요.

    Pronunciation: Daegi myeongdan-e ollyeo juseyo.

    Please put me on the waiting list.

  • 몇 분 정도 기다려야 해요?

    Pronunciation: Myeot bun jeongdo gidaryeoya haeyo?

    About how many minutes is the wait?

Foreigner FAQ

Can I use CatchTable without a Korean phone number?

Yes, if you use CatchTable Global. It lets you sign up with Google, Apple, or email and doesn't ask for a Korean number. The domestic CatchTable app is the one that expects Korean phone verification.

Does CatchTable Global accept US, UK, Canadian, or Australian credit cards?

It's built for foreign-issued cards. Visit Korea says deposits in CatchTable Global can only be paid with foreign-issued cards. Add your card in the app before booking to confirm it goes through.

Do I have to pay a deposit?

Only at some reservation-only restaurants, and the amount and refund rules are set by each restaurant. Joining a waitlist, remotely or on-site, doesn't require a deposit.

The restaurant I want isn't in CatchTable Global. What now?

Try a paid booking service like Creatrip, which books on your behalf for a fee. Note that Creatrip doesn't allow cancellations after payment and refunds failed bookings as points, not cash. You can also ask your hotel to call or check the restaurant's Instagram.

How will I know when my waitlist turn is coming up?

CatchTable Global sends real-time updates through the app and by email. Keep notifications on and stay close enough to get back quickly.

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