If you’ve been studying Korean for a while, you probably already know the basic words for food and drinks. But when you watch Korean YouTube videos, scroll through Instagram, or chat with Korean friends online, you’ll notice something interesting — people often use totally different words.
That’s because real-life Korean is full of slang.
In this guide, you’ll discover some of the most common Korean slang words related to food and drinks. For each term, you’ll get:
- Hangul
- Romanization
- Meaning
- Example sentences
- When to use it
- Cultural notes
These expressions are easy for beginners to understand, and intermediate learners will also pick up useful nuances.
Let’s dive in!
1) 먹방 (meokbang) – “eating broadcast”
Meaning: A livestream or video where someone eats food (often large amounts) while talking to viewers.
Examples
-
나 어제 먹방 봤어.
(Na eoje meokbang bwasseo.)
I watched a mukbang yesterday. -
그 유튜버 먹방 진짜 잘해.
(Geu yutyubeo meokbang jinjja jalhae.)
That YouTuber is really good at mukbang.
When to use it: Extremely common online and in casual speech.
Cultural note: Mukbang became popular in Korea in the early 2010s and later spread worldwide through platforms like YouTube and AfreecaTV. It reflects how central food and shared eating experiences are in Korean culture.
2) 맛집 (matjip) – “popular restaurant known for good food”
Meaning: Literally “taste house.” A restaurant known for having especially good food. It often implies popularity, but the core meaning is “a place with great food.”
Examples
-
여기 진짜 맛집이야.
(Yeogi jinjja matjibiya.)
This place is seriously a great restaurant. -
홍대 맛집 추천해 줄래?
(Hongdae matjip chucheonhae jullae?)
Can you recommend a good restaurant in Hongdae?
When to use it: Very common in conversations, blogs, reviews, and social media.
Cultural note: People often search “지역 + 맛집” (area + matjip) when looking for good places to eat.
3) JMT / 존맛 (jonmat) – “super delicious”
Meaning: Extremely delicious. It comes from 존나 맛있다 (jonna masitda), which is very slangy and slightly vulgar.
Examples
-
이거 존맛이야.
(Igeo jonmasiya.)
This is insanely good. -
그 카페 케이크 JMT!
(Geu kape keikeu JMT!)
That cafe’s cake is amazing!
When to use it: Very casual. Common among friends, online, and in text messages. Avoid in formal settings.
Cultural note: JMT is often written in English letters in chats and comments.
4) 꿀맛 (kkulmat) – “tastes like honey”
Meaning: So delicious it feels as sweet as honey. It can also describe something especially satisfying.
Examples
-
운동 끝나고 마시는 물은 꿀맛이야.
(Undong kkeutnago masineun mureun kkulmasiya.)
Water after a workout tastes amazing. -
오늘 치킨 꿀맛이다.
(Oneul chikin kkulmasida.)
The chicken today is so good.
When to use it: Casual speech and online. Friendly and positive.
Cultural note: 꿀 (honey) in Korean slang often signals something really good or satisfying.
5) 단짠 (dan-jjan) – “sweet and salty”
Meaning: A combination of sweet (단) and salty (짠). It describes addictive flavor pairings.
Examples
-
이 과자 단짠이라서 계속 먹게 돼.
(I gwaja dan-jjaniraseo gyesok meokge dwae.)
This snack is sweet and salty, so I can’t stop eating. -
단짠 메뉴 추천해 줘.
(Dan-jjan menyu chucheonhae jwo.)
Recommend something sweet and salty.
When to use it: Very common in everyday conversation and food marketing.
Cultural note: Many Korean snacks and sauces aim for the perfect 단짠 balance.
6) 맵찔이 (maepjjiri) – “bad with spicy food”
Meaning: Someone who can’t handle spicy food.
Examples
-
나는 맵찔이라서 불닭 못 먹어.
(Naneun maepjjiriraseo buldak mot meogeo.)
I’m bad with spicy food, so I can’t eat fire chicken. -
맵찔이도 먹을 수 있어?
(Maepjjirido meogeul su isseo?)
Can someone who’s bad with spicy food eat this?
When to use it: Casual and playful. Often used jokingly.
Cultural note: Spicy dishes like tteokbokki and buldak are hugely popular in Korea. Calling yourself 맵찔이 is a playful way to tease yourself.
7) 소확행 (sohwakhaeng) – “small but certain happiness”
Meaning: Small daily joys — often related to food or drinks.
Examples
-
퇴근 후 맥주 한 캔은 소확행이지.
(Toegeun hu maekju han kaeneun sohwakhaengiji.)
A can of beer after work is a small but certain happiness. -
디저트 먹는 게 나한테는 소확행이야.
(Dijeoteu meokneun ge nahanteneun sohwakhaengiya.)
Eating dessert is my little happiness.
When to use it: Casual; common in blogs and social media.
Cultural note: The term became widely popular in the late 2010s as people began focusing more on small, everyday pleasures rather than big achievements.
8) 혼밥 (honbap) – “eating alone”
Meaning: Eating by yourself.
Examples
-
오늘은 그냥 혼밥할래.
(Oneureun geunyang honbaphallae.)
I’ll just eat alone today. -
혼밥하기 좋은 식당이야.
(Honbaphagi joeun sikdangiya.)
It’s a good restaurant for eating alone.
When to use it: Very common in everyday conversation.
Cultural note: Eating alone used to feel lonely to some people, but now it’s completely normal — especially among young people and office workers.
9) 술고래 (sulgorae) – “booze whale”
Meaning: Someone who drinks a lot.
Examples
-
걔는 진짜 술고래야.
(Gyaeneun jinjja sulgoraeya.)
He’s a real heavy drinker. -
술고래라서 소주 두 병도 괜찮대.
(Sulgoraeraseo soju du byeongdo gwaenchantdae.)
He’s such a heavy drinker that two bottles of soju are fine.
When to use it: Casual. Often teasing, but not necessarily insulting.
Cultural note: Korea has a strong drinking culture, especially in work settings and company gatherings.
10) 낮술 (natsul) – “day drinking”
Meaning: Drinking alcohol during the day.
Examples
-
주말이라서 낮술했어.
(Jumalliraseo natsulhaesseo.)
I drank during the day because it’s the weekend. -
낮술은 빨리 취해.
(Natsureun ppalli chwihae.)
Day drinking gets you drunk quickly.
When to use it: Casual conversation; sometimes joking.
Cultural note: 낮술 can feel playful or slightly rebellious, especially on weekends or holidays.
11) 카공 (kagong) – “studying at a cafe”
Meaning: Studying or working at a cafe.
Examples
-
나 오늘 카공할 거야.
(Na oneul kagonghal geoya.)
I’m going to study at a cafe today. -
여기 카공하기 좋아.
(Yeogi kagonghagi joa.)
This place is good for studying here.
When to use it: Very common among students and young professionals.
Cultural note: Korea’s cafe culture is huge. Many cafes are designed with studying and working in mind.
Quick Practice Quiz
Try these:
-
What would you call someone who can’t eat spicy food?
a) 술고래
b) 맵찔이
c) 낮술 -
Fill in the blank:
이 과자 너무 _______이라서 계속 먹게 돼.
(This snack is sweet and salty, so I keep eating it.)
-
Translate into Korean slang:
“This place is seriously a famous restaurant.”
-
Which slang term would you most likely see on YouTube?
a) 먹방
b) 단짠
c) 혼밥
Answers
- b) 맵찔이
- 단짠
- 여기 진짜 맛집이야.
- a) 먹방
