How to Make a Restaurant Reservation in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)
No Korean phone number? Here's how to book restaurants in Korea in 2026 with CatchTable Global, Naver Map's new passport verification, a phone call in Korean, or someone who books for you.
You found the perfect restaurant in Seoul. Then the booking page asks for a Korean phone number, or the only option is to call, in Korean. This is one of the most common problems visitors run into.
The good news: in 2026 there are more ways around it than ever. Here are four, from easiest to most reliable.
The short answer
| Your situation | What to use |
|---|---|
| The restaurant is on CatchTable | CatchTable Global app |
| The restaurant books through Naver Map | Naver passport verification |
| The restaurant only takes phone calls | Call in Korean, or ask your hotel |
| Nothing works | Ask someone to book for you |
1. CatchTable Global
캐치테이블 (CatchTable) is the app many popular Korean restaurants use for bookings. Many restaurants on it take reservations only through the app, and you can join a waitlist when it's full. (Korea JoongAng Daily)
There's a separate English version for visitors called CatchTable Global. Travel guides report you can sign up with an email instead of a Korean phone number. (Hani Seoul)
The catch: not every restaurant in the Korean app shows up in the global one. If yours isn't there, try the next option.
2. Naver Map, with passport verification
A lot of smaller restaurants, salons and cafes take bookings through 네이버 지도 (Naver Map). Until recently, that meant a Korean phone number.
In June 2026, Naver started letting foreign visitors verify their identity with a passport on their phone, so they can use reservations, orders and payments on the map without a local number. (The Korea Times)
The catch: Naver says it will expand the services that support passport verification gradually, so not every booking flow may work yet. Some popular restaurants also use separate waitlist apps that still ask for a Korean number.
3. Call the restaurant in Korean
Plenty of places, especially older family restaurants, still take bookings only by phone. A short call is easier than it sounds. You need about five sentences.
예약하고 싶어요.
ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo "I'd like to make a reservation."
오늘 저녁 일곱 시에 두 명 가능해요?
o-neul jeo-nyeok il-gop si-e du myeong ga-neung-hae-yo? "Is 7 tonight possible for two?"
이름은 제인이에요.
i-reu-meun je-i-ni-e-yo "The name is Jane."
When you arrive:
예약했어요.
ye-ya-kae-sseo-yo "I have a reservation."
얼마나 기다려야 돼요?
eol-ma-na gi-da-ryeo-ya dwae-yo? "How long is the wait?"
4. Ask someone to book it for you
If the app won't take your number, the restaurant only answers in Korean, and your hotel can't help, ask a Korean friend.
Don't have one? I'll do it. Tell me the restaurant, the date and how many people, and I'll book it in your name, in Korean. It's free while I'm testing it, and I'll never ask for your card number.
Before you book
- Check the deposit and no-show rules. Some restaurants ask for a deposit or charge for no-shows. Read the policy in the app before you confirm.
- Solo diners: most Korean BBQ places want at least 2 servings, even for one person, so check before you book a table for one. (How to order Korean BBQ)
- Save the Korean name of the restaurant. Taxi drivers and map apps search much better in Korean.
FAQ
Can I use CatchTable without a Korean phone number?
Travel guides report that CatchTable Global, the English version for visitors, lets you sign up with an email. Not every restaurant in the Korean app is listed in the global one.
Can foreigners book on Naver Map?
Since June 2026, foreign visitors with a passport issued outside Korea can verify their identity on Naver and use map reservations without a Korean number. Naver says more services will support it over time.
How do I say "I'd like to make a reservation" in Korean?
예약하고 싶어요 (ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo).
What if a restaurant only takes phone bookings?
Call with the phrases above, ask your hotel front desk, or ask me to book it for you.
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