How to Find Restaurants That Accept Foreign Cards

Nothing ruins a good meal like discovering, at the counter, that your card doesn't work. Here is how to avoid it.

Check before you sit down

Look for Visa/Mastercard stickers on the door or register.
At chains and franchises, foreign cards almost always work.
If it's a tiny local spot, assume you might need cash.

Ask in advance

A simple phrase helps. Show staff your card and ask:

Useful phrase

"해외 카드 되나요?" (hae-oe kadeu doena-yo?) — "Do you accept foreign cards?"

Most staff understand the intent even if your pronunciation is rough.

Use map app reviews

In Naver Map and KakaoMap, listings sometimes note accepted payment methods, and reviews mention card issues. It's not perfect, but it's a useful signal.

When in doubt, carry cash

Withdraw a moderate amount from a "Global" ATM at the start of the day. Cash removes all payment anxiety at small restaurants and markets.

On this site

Our restaurant articles include a Foreign cards field. Where it is labeled example data, treat it as a starting point and confirm on arrival — payment policies change and can differ between branches.