Restaurants in Thailand
Restaurants in Thailand
Eating at Restaurants in Thailand
Forget about the drop-sticks, contrary to rumor, you will almost never use chopsticks in restaurants in Thailand. In fact, you will typically only receive them when you order Pad Thai or one of the noodle soups. The default is the good old Western spoon and fork which comes in varying degrees of cleanliness. To eat politely, you hold the spoon in your right hand and the fork in your left. Use the fork to rake food onto the spoon and only put the spoon into your mouth. Putting the fork into your mouth shows about as much sophistication as belching at the table.
Here are some tips for dinning at restaurants in Thailand:
Thai menus can be as thick as phone books. This is because the cook will attempt to make anything dish from any country that you can think of….and without fail, the Western food is miserably bad. Do yourself a favor and skip straight to the Thai food section on the menu – it will be cheaper and far more edible.
If you are sitting at low lounging tables at restaurants in Thailand, always remember not to show people the bottoms of your dirty feet while they eat….even non-Buddhists won’t find it very appetizing.
Many restaurants in backpacker areas will have TVs with movies or Western TV shows like the Simpsons playing day and night. If you don’t care about the food, you can shop around based on what movie you feel like watching.
The service in restaurants in Thailand is unbelievable. Even in a busy place, the staff somehow uses the Matrix to knows exactly who is where, who had what, and exactly what you need at all times. If you change tables to socialize or for a better view, you throw off their delicate system of tracking orders so make sure you let someone know.
It is common to be sitting in a restaurant in Thailand in places that have stray dogs and/or chickens wandering about on the floor near your table. Do yourself a favor and don’t eat food that touches the table or any surface.
Always look for a restaurant in Thailand that is busy! There is safety in numbers. Most poor restaurant owners would rather not throw out costly ingredients so if the turnover is slow, you might get aged meat or veggies. Yuck!
Tipping is not necessary or expected in restaurants or bars.
It is OK to loiter in restaurants in Thailand for hours and hours, writing in your journal, sleeping, whatever you want. Just order something – be it a fruit shake, meal, coke, whatever….unless seats are limited he staff will usually let you hang out all day long which is great if you are waiting for a bus or train.
Restaurant owners in Thailand will almost always try to seat you at a conspicuous table near the front or sidewalk to show off their business. Remember the rule of only eating at busy places? Your table is not exactly chosen for your comfort, so don’t be afraid to ask to move to a quieter or more relaxing spot.
Thai curries are sweet, spicy, and God’s gift to our bored tongues. Unfortunately though, it takes a lot of time to whip up one of these specialties….and you may even see a guy run out of the kitchen and get on a motorbike to go buy the ingredients he needs to make for your meal! So, if you are in a hurry or have a bus to catch, order something else.
Interacting with a waiter or waitress in a restaurant in Thailand is a great way to consistently learn a new Thai word. Even if you only learn how to properly pronounce one new word a day, you will be way ahead of the game. Point to words in your guidebook and they will gladly help you while you wait on your food.
When you eat outside in the evening, expect the mozzies to be having a feast of their own on your legs under your table! They appear in the cool shadows first as the sun is still giving up for the day. Spray your feet before you go or burn a mosquito coil under the table.
You typically pay at the end of a meal and they keep a running tab for you. If you sit too long or things get too hectic, don’t be surprised if one of the ladies comes over and says harshly “you pay now!”.
Don’t choose restaurants in Thailand on appearance – choose them based on turnover. A place with a nice storefront and decoration charges more and is no more safer. The truth is that behind the curtain is the same old Thai woman in the same dirty kitchen using the same ingredients from the market as the cheaper restaurants.
Grab a handful of toilet paper off the table and stick it in your pocket for later – you won’t find any in the restrooms. If you are eating extra spicy curry, grab some extra!
Despite how bad they need it, avoid feeding the stray cats and dogs that are roaming around the restaurants in Thailand. The owners usually don’t want them encouraged. Do it outside or check with the server.
