What Does 잘 먹겠습니다 (Jal Meokgetseumnida) Mean?

Quick Examples

A note on spelling. The official romanization of 잘 먹겠습니다 is jal meokgetseumnida, but you'll see the phrase written many ways: jal meokgesseumnida, jal mukgetseumnida, jal mokgetseumnida or jal mukgesseumnida. They're all the same phrase.

See also: 밥 먹었어? — the 'did you eat?' greeting

Who Are You Thanking?

Unlike a prayer or Japan's itadakimasu (which it's often compared to), 잘 먹겠습니다 is aimed at people: the host who cooked, the senior who's paying, the friend who's sharing. Eating alone, most Koreans skip it; at someone's table, skipping it feels unmannerly.

What the cook says back — 많이 먹어, 잘 먹어 or 맛있게 먹어 — is explained in three ways to say "enjoy your meal".

At a Restaurant vs. at Someone's Table

Here's where learners often overdo it: you don't say 잘 먹겠습니다 to restaurant staff. When they bring the food, a simple 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) or 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) is what you say.

At a restaurant, the phrase is for the person paying. If someone senior in your group is treating everyone, say 잘 먹겠습니다 to them before you start. And when it hasn't been decided who's paying, saying 잘 먹겠습니다 to someone is a half-joking way of hinting that they should treat you.

At home, it matters most when it's clear who prepared the meal and that person is someone you know — or the family or friend of someone you know. A friend's mother who cooked dinner, a host who laid the table: then say it clearly, and loud enough for them to hear. Mumbling it into your plate misses the point, because the words are for them. The same person should hear 잘 먹었습니다 when you finish. For the everyday check-in about meals, see 밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?).

Common Mistakes

Related Knowledge

• 밥 먹었어? — the 'did you eat?' greeting
• 감사합니다 — the thank-you ladder
• 어서 오세요 (eoseo oseyo) — welcome!