Thai restaurant

Table etiquette, Serving Food and Eating
Visitors to Thailand are generally surprised that Thais rarely use chopsticks; rather they eat with a dessertspoon and large fork. The spoon is held in the right hand. The fork held in the left hand is used to push food onto the spoon. The spoon is raised to the mouth and the food eaten from it. The ingredients in Thai dishes are never bigger than bite-size, therefore, it is not necessary to use a knife.

In Thai cuisine, chopsticks are usually only used when eating 'Chinese' food such as noodles. However, your host or the restaurateur will always supply you with the appropriate utensils so you don't need to worry. Only in a very cheap restaurant do you choose your own utensils, which will be in containers on your table. If you do find chopsticks difficult, then it doesn't matter you can always eat 'Italian style', i.e., large spoon in left hand, fork in right!

If you are having sticky (glutinous) rice then you should use your right hand to eat. Pick up a small lump in your hand; knead it to a ball in your palm. Put it straight in your mouth or dip it in any sauce. You should always use your right hand for all actions, as the left hand is considered unclean!

Eating in a local restaurant
Everything is usually very simple and the restaurant is for eating and satisfying your hunger and thirst, and then leaving almost straightaway, conversation is kept to a minimum. Rarely are there individual menus in English or even in Thai. There may however be a list of items available written simply on the wall. If you don't know what to order then ask the owner to help you, they can recommend something for you, or you can point to various ingredients in the kitchen and they can make them up for you. The other alternative is to see what others are eating and ask for the same. On every table there will be a set of condiments Sugar, ground peanuts, fish sauce with chilies, Vinegar with chilies, Dried ground red chilies, Fish sauce and Soy sauce. Condiments come in a long sectioned metal silver container, a glass set with lids and spoons, recycled jam jars or original small bottles. You will rarely see a saltcellar in a restaurant, use fish sauce instead. Thai people like snacking. Therefore, the portions served in local restaurants are very small. You will notice that people like to eat all day. You will be given a plate, bowl, dessertspoon and fork set. On the table you will find your chopsticks in a jug-like container that looks like a liquidizer or blender, or they will be in a silver metal box with the small soupspoons. You will also find a jug of cold tea, which is free, bottled water and sometimes pork crackling (looks like corn snacks), which you will be charged extra for. Paper napkins are usually white or pink and will be in a glass or plastic holder. You may find a plastic square tissue box or the obligatory toilet roll. Toothpicks will be loose in a plastic holder, small glass or a saltcellar style container.

Tipping
It is not usual to tip in local restaurants though many Thais leave about B20+ after a meal for two. In middle to high-class restaurant a 10-15% of the bill tip would be appropriate. The easy way to pay is usually to round off the bill and to tell the waiter not to bring any change, i.e. 'my ton tawn'!

Calling the waiter
First lesson, don't snap your fingers in the air, this would be considered extremely rude. Instead, put your hand up and wave your fingers together up and down rapidly and call 'Nong nong' or 'Pee pee'. Use 'Nong' if the waiter is younger than you. Use 'Pee', if the waiter is older than you. Here are Thai words and phrases, which may help you when you are out on the food circuit!!