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K-Culture Decoded

How to Order Food Delivery in Korea as a Foreigner (Baemin and More)

Facts last checked: Updated:

The 30-second answer

Use Baemin. It runs in English, lets visitors sign up with an overseas phone number by text verification, and accepts overseas cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Apple Pay with foreign-issued cards. Coupang Eats and Yogiyo are less reliable for short-term visitors, so treat them as backups.

Key takeaway
The app is rarely the hard part anymore. Most failed orders come from the address: get your hotel's Korean road-name address and ask the front desk where riders should drop food off.
Pro tip
Ask the front desk for the hotel's address in Korean and paste it straight into the app. Add your room number and a short note like 로비에 두고 가 주세요 (please leave it in the lobby) if the hotel doesn't let riders upstairs.

How food delivery works in Korea for visitors

Korea has three big delivery apps: Baemin (배달의민족), Coupang Eats (쿠팡이츠), and Yogiyo (요기요). For years all three were hard to use without a Korean phone number, a resident registration number, or a Korean card.

Baemin has moved furthest. Its operator, Woowa Brothers, added English, Chinese, and Japanese to the app on February 4, 2026, covering search, menus, payment, and order tracking. Visitors can now sign up with an overseas phone number by text verification, and since June 2, 2026, the app also takes Apple Pay with foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express cards.

The other two apps are catching up at different speeds. Korean press reports say Coupang Eats accepts Visa and Mastercard and has English menu translations, and that Yogiyo supports overseas phone verification, but payment options for foreign visitors there are still limited.

Baemin vs. Coupang Eats vs. Yogiyo for foreign visitors

App English Sign up without a Korean phone Foreign payment Verdict
Baemin Yes (plus Chinese and Japanese) Yes, via overseas phone text verification Overseas cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Apple Pay with foreign Visa/Mastercard/JCB/Amex Start here
Coupang Eats English listed in the app; menus translated A 2025 report said a Korean phone was required; check in the app Visa and Mastercard reported, but card errors have been reported too Backup
Yogiyo Check in the app Overseas text verification reported in 2026 A 2025 report said foreign cards weren't supported; check in the app Least likely to work

How to order delivery to your hotel in Korea

  1. Step 1: Install Baemin and set up your account

    Download Baemin – Food Delivery (seller: Woowa Bros Co., Ltd.). Its App Store listing supports English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. When signing up, choose the option for an overseas phone number and enter the code you receive by text.

  2. Step 2: Get your address in Korean

    Ask the front desk or check your booking confirmation for the hotel's Korean road-name address (도로명주소). Paste it into the app rather than typing an English version, then add your room number.

  3. Step 3: Ask the hotel where deliveries go

    Some hotels and apartments don't let riders go upstairs. Ask the front desk whether you should meet the rider at the entrance or pick up in the lobby, and write that in the delivery note.

  4. Step 4: Order and pay

    Pick a restaurant that delivers to your address, add items, and check the total, including any delivery fee, before you confirm. If your card is declined, try Apple Pay or Alipay/WeChat Pay if you have them, and check that your bank allows foreign transactions.

  5. Step 5: Track it and keep your phone on

    Baemin shows order status in real time. Keep your phone nearby in case the rider calls or messages, and head to the lobby when the app shows the rider is close.

  6. Step 6: If delivery won't work, use pickup or go local

    Baemin also has a pickup option, so you can order ahead and collect the food yourself. Otherwise, a convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) is usually a short walk away for a quick meal, or ask the front desk to recommend a nearby restaurant or help you place an order.

Show this in Korean

  • 호텔 주소를 한국어로 알려 주실 수 있어요?

    Pronunciation: Hotel jusoreul hangugeoro allyeo jusil su isseoyo?

    Could you give me the hotel's address in Korean?

  • 배달 음식은 어디에서 받으면 돼요?

    Pronunciation: Baedal eumsigeun eodieseo badeumyeon dwaeyo?

    Where should I pick up delivery food?

  • 로비에 두고 가 주세요.

    Pronunciation: Robie dugo ga juseyo.

    Please leave it in the lobby. (for the delivery note)

Foreigner FAQ

Do I need a Korean phone number to order delivery?

Not for Baemin. Visitors can sign up with an overseas phone number using text verification. Coupang Eats has required a Korean number in the past, so check the sign-up screen before you count on it.

Can I pay with my US, UK, Canadian, or Australian card?

On Baemin, usually yes. It accepts overseas cards, and Apple Pay with foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express cards. Individual cards can still be declined by your bank, so have a second payment method ready.

Is the whole app in English?

Baemin's English mode covers search, menus, payment, and order tracking. Some restaurant photos, notes, and messages from the shop may still be in Korean.

Can I get food delivered to a park or Airbnb?

Baemin says you can order to your hotel, your Airbnb, or even the Han River. For parks, pick a clear meeting spot and keep your phone on so the rider can reach you.

What if nothing works?

Use Baemin's pickup option, grab something from a convenience store, or ask your hotel's front desk for help. You can also call the 1330 Travel Helpline (1330 in Korea, +82-2-1330 from a foreign phone) for interpretation.

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