Traveling Alone but Told to Order for Two? The Rule That Costs You 15,000 Won More

Quite a few solo travelers have walked into a Korean barbecue restaurant only to be told, "We only serve from two portions." In January 2024, a video showing a restaurant in Seoul's Dongdaemun district pressuring a solo diner to order two portions — and even share a table with strangers — went viral and sparked controversy. This "minimum two servings" practice isn't limited to one restaurant; it's a common rule at a good number of Korean barbecue places.

At a glance: At the popular chain Saemaul Sikdang, one serving (180g) of grilled Korean pork belly costs 15,000 won, but the first order must be for two servings · Hongojip, which has individual-grill seating for solo diners (in Myeongdong, Yeonnam-dong, Yongsan and elsewhere in Seoul), lets you order alone starting at 9,900 won for 150g (a mix of pork belly, beef brisket and pork shoulder) · According to Korea Consumer Agency data, the average price of 200g of pork belly at Seoul restaurants was about 21,321 won in August 2026, up 4.3% from January

Why do so many places sell only from two servings up? The common explanation in the industry is that cooking just one portion doesn't cover the gas cost of heating the grill or the labor of setting the table. So a solo diner forced to order two servings ends up paying nearly 15,000 won more than the single-serving price. That's not a small gap — it can mean spending half a day's food budget on a single meal.

There are two ways to avoid this. One is to seek out a restaurant like Hongojip that's built from the start for solo diners, with individual grills and small-portion menus. The other is to simply ask before sitting down: "Can I order just one serving?" Some restaurants still require two servings even when the menu lists a single-serving price, so checking before you order is the surest way to save money.