A foreign student who saw '소·중·대' (small, medium, large) on the menu at a fried chicken or jokbal restaurant asked me a question. "I'm eating alone, so I should order the small (小), right?" But in Korea, that's not necessarily the case. ## Do this before you order First, check whether the menu lists the number of people, like '2인' or '3~4인'. If it doesn't, ask the staff, "이거 몇 명이 먹어요?" (How many people does this feed?) They'll tell you right away. If you're eating alone, the small (소) size is usually right, but portions differ from restaurant to restaurant, so this question is the most accurate one. If there's food left over, just say, "Please pack it up for me." ## Why Is It Divided by the Number of People? Korean food is originally often placed in the middle and shared by several people. Stew, jokbal, and fried chicken are all set in the middle of the table and eaten together. So "how much does one person eat" mattered less than "how many people gathered today." It was also easier for the restaurant to prepare pots and plates according to the number of guests. Small, medium, and large don't refer to the size of the food, but to the size of the group. ## It's confusing because it differs from shop to shop Some places have 'small' as 2 servings, and others as 1–2 servings. There's no law that sets a standard; each restaurant decides for itself. That's why even Koreans often ask when they go to a restaurant for the first time. These days, more and more restaurants have a separate "single-person menu" for customers dining alone. Look for it on the menu first.