At a Korean restaurant, the meal often starts with banchan

Order a meal at many Korean restaurants and small dishes of kimchi, seasoned vegetables and pickles arrive alongside it. These are banchan. Refills are common, but the selection and refill policy vary by restaurant.

LOTS OF SMALL PLATES

Banchan are usually shared from small plates in the middle of the table. The number and selection depend on the restaurant and the meal.

REFILLS VARY BY VENUE

Ask the staff about banchan refills. Some restaurants have a self-service counter instead. Which dishes can be refilled and how they are served vary by restaurant.

Sources & context

2026-09-18