Suggesting a Menu: 'How about...?'

🦄

TL;DR 🦄

🍕 이거 어때요? [i-geo eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about this?"

🍜 라면 어때요? [ra-myeon eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about ramen?"

👍 저는 이게 좋아요 [jeo-neun i-ge jo-a-yo] — "I like this one"

🙆 저는 다 좋아요 [jeo-neun da jo-a-yo] — "I'm fine with anything"

✅ 그럼 이걸로 할까요? [geu-reom i-geol-lo hal-kka-yo?] — "Then shall we go with this?"

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

어때요? [eo-ttae-yo?], literally "how is it?", is one of the most useful phrases for making suggestions in Korean. Just attach it after any noun and you've made a casual proposal — no complicated grammar needed.

피자 어때요? — "How about pizza?"

이 식당 어때요? — "How about this restaurant?"

창가 자리 어때요? — "How about the seat by the window?"

It works for food, plans, places, times — basically anything you want to float as an option. The response can be a simple 좋아요 (good), 괜찮아요 (it's fine), or another suggestion.

🎭 어때요? vs. 어떻게 생각해요?: Suggesting vs. Asking for Opinion

어때요? is for floating a quick suggestion or option — "how about X?" 어떻게 생각해요? [eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo?] is for asking someone's broader opinion — "what do you think (about X)?"

피자 어때요? — "How about pizza?" (a suggestion — easy yes/no)

이 메뉴 어떻게 생각해요? — "What do you think about this menu?" (invites a fuller opinion)

When you're deciding between options, 어때요? is quick and natural. When you want someone's thoughts or reaction, 어떻게 생각해요? opens more discussion.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

이거 어때요? [i-geo eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about this?"

피자 어때요? [pi-ja eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about pizza?"

이 식당 어때요? [i sik-dang eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about this restaurant?"

저는 이게 좋아요 [jeo-neun i-ge jo-a-yo] — "I like this one"

저는 다 좋아요 [jeo-neun da jo-a-yo] — "I'm fine with anything"

그럼 이걸로 할까요? [geu-reom i-geol-lo hal-kka-yo?] — "Then shall we go with this?"

다른 거 어때요? [da-reun geo eo-ttae-yo?] — "How about something else?"

음료는 뭐가 좋아요? [eum-nyo-neun mwo-ga jo-a-yo?] — "What's good for drinks?"

저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요 [jeo-neun mae-un geo jal mo-deo-geo-yo] — "I can't really eat spicy food"

좋아요, 그걸로 해요 [jo-a-yo, geu-geol-lo hae-yo] — "Okay, let's go with that"

🛠️ Putting Together

A: 오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을까요? 한식 어때요?

B: 좋아요! 근처에 괜찮은 한식당 있어요?

A: "What should we eat for dinner tonight? How about Korean food?" B: "Sounds good! Is there a decent Korean restaurant nearby?"

🦄 Grammar note: 어때요? attaches directly to the noun (한식 어때요?) — no extra particle needed, which makes it super quick to use.

A: 음료는 뭐가 좋아요? 아이스 아메리카노 어때요?

B: 저는 다 좋아요. 그걸로 해요!

A: "What's good for drinks? How about an iced Americano?" B: "I'm fine with anything. Let's go with that!"

🦄 Grammar note: 저는 다 좋아요 is a friendly, flexible response — but watch Pitfall #2 below for when it can come across as too passive.

A: 이 메뉴 어때요? 좀 매워 보이는데.

B: 저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요. 다른 거 어때요?

A: "How about this menu item? It looks a bit spicy." B: "I can't really eat spicy food. How about something else?"

🦄 Grammar note: 다른 거 어때요? ("how about something else?") is a polite way to redirect a suggestion without rejecting it outright.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 메뉴 정했어요? 저는 김치찌개 어때요?

[me-nyu jeong-hae-sseo-yo? jeo-neun gim-chi-jji-gae eo-ttae-yo?]

"Did you decide on the menu? How about kimchi stew for me?"

지은: 좋아요! 저는 다 좋아요.

[jo-a-yo! jeo-neun da jo-a-yo]

"Sounds good! I'm fine with anything."

민수: 음료는 뭐가 좋아요? 콜라 어때요?

[eum-nyo-neun mwo-ga jo-a-yo? kol-la eo-ttae-yo?]

"What's good for drinks? How about cola?"

지은: 저는 콜라보다 사이다가 더 좋아요.

[jeo-neun kol-la-bo-da sa-i-da-ga deo jo-a-yo]

"I like Sprite more than cola."

민수: 그럼 사이다로 할까요?

[geu-reom sa-i-da-ro hal-kka-yo?]

"Then shall we go with Sprite?"

지은: 네, 좋아요. 그걸로 해요!

[ne, jo-a-yo. geu-geol-lo hae-yo!]

"Yes, sounds good. Let's go with that!"

🧭 Speaking Tip

어때요? is your go-to for floating quick suggestions — just say the item plus 어때요? and you're done. If someone suggests something and you genuinely have no preference, 저는 다 좋아요 works great. But if you're asked repeatedly, try to offer at least one real preference (저는 이게 좋아요 / 저는 ~보다 ~가 더 좋아요) — it keeps the conversation moving and shows you're engaged. Once everyone agrees, wrap it up with 그럼 이걸로 할까요? or 그걸로 해요.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Using 어때요? when you actually want someone's deeper opinion — for that, use 어떻게 생각해요? instead.

❌ Always answering 저는 다 좋아요 — said too often, it can come across as indecisive or unhelpful. Mix in real preferences sometimes.

❌ Using casual 어때 with someone older or in a formal setting — stick with 어때요 unless you're close friends.

❌ Forgetting that 어때요? attaches directly to nouns — no need for extra particles like 은/는/이/가 before it (이거 어때요?, not 이거는은 어때요?).

You're ready to make menu suggestions like a pro — 어때요? ✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: For each prompt, write your response in Korean using the patterns from this lesson. Then check the toggle below for a sample answer.

1. Say "How about this?"

Answer

이거 어때요? (How about this?)

2. Say "How about pizza?"

Answer

피자 어때요? (How about pizza?)

3. Say "How about this restaurant?"

Answer

이 식당 어때요? (How about this restaurant?)

4. Say "I like this one."

Answer

저는 이게 좋아요. (I like this one.)

5. Say "I'm fine with anything."

Answer

저는 다 좋아요. (I'm fine with anything.)

6. Say "Then shall we go with this?"

Answer

그럼 이걸로 할까요? (Then shall we go with this?)

7. Say "How about something else?"

Answer

다른 거 어때요? (How about something else?)

8. Say "What's good for drinks?"

Answer

음료는 뭐가 좋아요? (What's good for drinks?)

9. Say "I can't really eat spicy food."

Answer

저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요. (I can't really eat spicy food.)

10. Say "Okay, let's go with that."

Answer

좋아요, 그걸로 해요. (Okay, let's go with that.)

📚

Vocabulary Box

어때요? — how about?/how is it?

어떻게 생각해요? — what do you think?

메뉴 — menu

정하다 — to decide

음료 — drink/beverage

매운 거 — spicy thing

콜라 — cola

사이다 — Sprite/lemon-lime soda

그걸로 — with that one

다른 거 — something else

Pitfalls 💡

어때요 attaches directly to nouns — no extra particle.

Don't overuse 다 좋아요.

Match formality — 어때 vs 어때요.

🚀

Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full exercise sets!

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Suggesting a Menu: 'How about...?'

Work through these three exercises to practice making suggestions and responding to them. Try answering out loud before checking each answer — and use the Iru Helper Widgets above if you want to hear the pronunciation again.

Exercise 1 — Making Suggestions 🍕

A. Say "How about this?"

Answer

이거 어때요? [i-geo eo-ttae-yo?]

B. Say "How about pizza?"

Answer

피자 어때요? [pi-ja eo-ttae-yo?]

C. Say "How about this restaurant?"

Answer

이 식당 어때요? [i sik-dang eo-ttae-yo?]

D. Say "How about something else?"

Answer

다른 거 어때요? [da-reun geo eo-ttae-yo?]

E. Say "How about kimchi stew for me?"

Answer

저는 김치찌개 어때요? [jeo-neun gim-chi-jji-gae eo-ttae-yo?]

F. Say "How about an iced Americano?"

Answer

아이스 아메리카노 어때요? [a-i-seu a-me-ri-ka-no eo-ttae-yo?]

G. Say "How about cola?"

Answer

콜라 어때요? [kol-la eo-ttae-yo?]

H. Say "What should we eat for dinner tonight?"

Answer

오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을까요? [o-neul jeo-nyeok mwo meo-geul-kka-yo?]

I. Say "What's good for drinks?"

Answer

음료는 뭐가 좋아요? [eum-nyo-neun mwo-ga jo-a-yo?]

J. Say "How about Korean food?"

Answer

한식 어때요? [han-sik eo-ttae-yo?]

📚

Quick Reference

(Noun) + 어때요? — how about (noun)?

어떻게 생각해요? — what do you think?

메뉴 — menu

음료 — drink

한식 — Korean food

Exercise 2 — Responding to Suggestions 👍

A. Say "I like this one."

Answer

저는 이게 좋아요.

B. Say "I'm fine with anything."

Answer

저는 다 좋아요.

C. Say "I can't really eat spicy food."

Answer

저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요.

D. Say "I like Sprite more than cola."

Answer

저는 콜라보다 사이다가 더 좋아요.

E. Say "Okay, let's go with that."

Answer

좋아요, 그걸로 해요.

F. Say "Then shall we go with this?"

Answer

그럼 이걸로 할까요?

G. Say "Then shall we go with Sprite?"

Answer

그럼 사이다로 할까요?

H. Say "Sounds good! Is there a decent Korean restaurant nearby?"

Answer

좋아요! 근처에 괜찮은 한식당 있어요?

I. Say "It looks a bit spicy."

Answer

좀 매워 보이는데.

J. Say "Yes, sounds good. Let's go with that!"

Answer

네, 좋아요. 그걸로 해요!

📚

Quick Reference

저는 다 좋아요 — I'm fine with anything

저는 ~가 좋아요 — I like ~

~보다 ~가 더 좋아요 — I like ~ more than ~

그걸로 해요 — let's go with that

그럼 ~할까요? — then shall we ~?

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 💬

A. "오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을까요? 한식 어때요?" — What does this mean?

Answer

"What should we eat for dinner tonight? How about Korean food?"

B. Respond with "Sounds good! Is there a decent Korean restaurant nearby?"

Answer

좋아요! 근처에 괜찮은 한식당 있어요?

C. Say "What's good for drinks? How about an iced Americano?"

Answer

음료는 뭐가 좋아요? 아이스 아메리카노 어때요?

D. Say "I'm fine with anything. Let's go with that!"

Answer

저는 다 좋아요. 그걸로 해요!

E. Say "How about this menu item? It looks a bit spicy."

Answer

이 메뉴 어때요? 좀 매워 보이는데.

F. Say "I can't really eat spicy food. How about something else?"

Answer

저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요. 다른 거 어때요?

G. Say "Did you decide on the menu? How about kimchi stew for me?"

Answer

메뉴 정했어요? 저는 김치찌개 어때요?

H. Say "What's good for drinks? How about cola?"

Answer

음료는 뭐가 좋아요? 콜라 어때요?

I. Say "I like Sprite more than cola."

Answer

저는 콜라보다 사이다가 더 좋아요.

J. Say "Then shall we go with Sprite? — Yes, sounds good. Let's go with that!"

Answer

그럼 사이다로 할까요? — 네, 좋아요. 그걸로 해요!

📚

Cheat Sheet

(Noun) + 어때요? — how about ~?

저는 다 좋아요 — I'm fine with anything

저는 ~가 좋아요 — I like ~

그럼 ~로 할까요? — shall we go with ~?

그걸로 해요 — let's go with that

🎉 잘했어요! You can now suggest and decide on a menu with confidence!