What to send
Send a polite message with the details the restaurant needs. For example:
> 안녕하세요! 예약 가능한지 여쭤보고 싶습니다. 6월 22일 오후 7시 2명 방문 가능할까요? 예약자 이름은 Kim입니다. 감사합니다. > > *Hello! I'd like to ask whether a reservation is possible. Would 22 June at 7 pm for 2 people work? The name is Kim. Thank you.*
Write the date as month then day (6월 22일), the time as 오전 for morning or 오후 for afternoon and evening (오후 7시 is 7 pm), and the party as a number followed by the counter for people, 명. Including the date, time, party size and name helps staff answer without asking for those details separately.
What comes back
A reply saying that a table is available may still require you to confirm or pay a deposit. Follow the restaurant’s instructions, then save its explicit confirmation with the date, time, party size and name visible. Some accounts ask for the exact spelling of your name or the last digits of a phone number to log the booking; that is normal.
Allow about 48 hours before writing again. If a follow-up also goes unanswered, you still do not have a confirmed table. Try another stated contact method or make another plan; silence does not tell you why the restaurant has not replied. A sent message does not confirm a booking.
To cancel, write in the same thread: 죄송하지만 예약을 취소하고 싶습니다 (sorry, but I would like to cancel my reservation).
Who books this way
The small, design-led restaurants and cafés of Seongsu and Mangwon, and chef-run places elsewhere, often never joined CatchTable or Naver Booking: they may instead use direct messages to arrange bookings. 'Book by DM' (DM으로 예약) in the bio or a pinned post is the sign. KakaoTalk is a messaging app. If the restaurant links a KakaoTalk channel for reservations, send the same booking details there. For chef-driven restaurants outside the booking apps an email address in the bio is the third version. Korean diners book these the same way; it is not a visitor's workaround.
