Eating Out

Posted on 01. Jun, 2009 by April in food, Thai Culture, Thailand

Eating out seems to be the way to go around here. With full meals for as little as 80 cents on the street, and all you can eat for an hour for $8.00 (I was very excited to discover that sushi restaurant!), it leaves very little motivation to cook. My ladies class confirmed that if you’re only cooking for two, eating on the street is cheaper than buying groceries. Here are things that stand out when you first get to Thailand…

In a Restaurant:

The wait staff is very polite (at one restaurant the waitress even called me “Madam”), stands and waits by your table as you decide what to order, and keeps your drink full. Unlike America, food comes out as it is ready. Even if it is 10 minutes before someone else’s dish. In regular restaurants, there is no tipping. In more expensive restaurants, it is already included on the bill. The wait staff will not bring the bill until you request it. No matter how long you stay there talking, they will not bring the check until you beckon them.

Jason ordering mini-crepes filled with quail egg and sausage

On the Street:

This is the cheap way to go. You can get a plate of delicious Pad Thai for less than a dollar. Some places serve in more of a “to-go” style. Other vendors have lightweight tables set up nearby with all the necessary condiments where you can eat. At most places you walk up to the booth to place your order, while others you sit and someone comes to take your order.

Anything can be put in a bag- rice, soup, noodles, meat, soda, you name it! And all beverages are served with a straw. ALL beverages. You go to 7Eleven and buy milk, you’ll automatically receive a straw with it. Even a little can of coffee gets a straw. I’ve been told that if you have a glass you don’t necessarily get a straw- pretty reversed from what we’re used to in the States! It is not uncommon to see a kid (or adult) walking down the street with a plastic bag full of soda and a straw sticking out the top .

Also, get used to using both hands as you eat. The spoon is in your right hand to shovel food into your mouth while the fork in your left hand serves as an extra utensil to help the food get onto the spoon. Using the fork to put food in your mouth is not the correct way.

So how do you know what is good to eat? We’ve been told that you should eat where there are a lot of Thais eating. Sure sign that it’s good food. We’ve also been told that seeing rats or cockroaches is a sign that the food is good, but I think they’d like anything . You can just go up and point to food that you see there, but from personal experience, this is risky. Your best bet is to learn the names of food you like, follow a Thai friend to where they make it best, and then return to the same place later.