cultural differences in restaurants

I love to eat all kinds of cuisines from all over the world - I'm always intrigued to see cultural differences in restaurants and its food. They all offer foods, but they are all different in various ways.  I'm Japanese. I admit we all look alike (lol), though I can recognize the differences pretty well - Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese etc... It's easy for me to distinguish the nationalities. The ways to cook and present foods, the way to decor the restaurants, the seasonings on the tables etc.... This time, I wanna talk about service differences in Asian restaurants.

I'm not a stereo type ;p But this is my OBSERVATIONS about the cultural differences in restaurants:

- Service -

Vietnamese: Don't expect services much. Friendly customer service?! Forget that especially from older generations... I'm serious. LOL. Even my Vietnamese friends agree with me ;p Yeah, they bring you foods and drinks. But they tend to offer bare minimum / not-so-attentive services. Unless you ask, you don't get "services" much. Once you get used to it, it wouldn't bother you much. I don't - because I'm happy with the foods they offer. Little service doesn't bother me ;) lol. You should feel lucky if you found the Vietnamese restaurants that offer good services. There's some out there ;) 

Korean: Their expectations for tips are ridiculous. (Most of the time) I tell you the reasons why... I think most Korean restaurants don't offer good services. I've been in restaurant industry for long time, so I do know what it takes to offer “excellent” service. “Good services” should mean the services that all of customer's needs should be fulfilled without their asking. Some Korean restaurants have a button on tables like the one on airplane to call a flight attendant. Really?! You won't come to check your tables unless the customers pushed the button??? You bring one drink at the buffet and the customers do all the works – you still DEMAND to give you 20% tips??? They'll chase you down till you give them reasonable tips (for the server) if you left little tips... Come on!! If you want a tip, you should earn it by giving me a good service. Don't expect it just because of the custom. I'm just saying...

Japanese: Their services are very attentive and friendly. They are not so used to the custom of tips – Japanese don't have the tip system in Japan. Despite of the fact, they try to offer the best service possible. That's their nature. You might encounter the inconvenience – just because of “language” barrier...;p

Thai: Their services are bare minimum, but not as bad as Vietnamese nor Korean. I often find friendly owners. Their services are usually quick.


- Labels & Signs for menu -

Vietnamese: They don't put signs for many OBVIOUS ones - for their own people. Which means they don't put labels for all the stuff - especially To-Go ones ;( (It rarely happens to Japanese restaurants.) The Vietnamese do cater their own people mainly, so they seem not to be bothered to put signs for everything assuming their main and most customers knew them already... I wanna try those unfamiliar stuffs, but it's kinda hard for me to ask questions a lot... English translation is bare minimum. The long Vietnamese names are hard to read nor to remember. I don't plan to learn the language, either. It's too hard for me ;( It's nice if they offer pictures more on the menu... Well, but those disadvantages (for Non Vietnamese customers) tickle my curiosity to try their stuff - I'm curious and adventurous ;)

Korean: They don't translate everything like Vietnamese. I had a Korean restaurant that absolutely NO ENGLISH in Garden Grove, CA.

Japanese: They translate everything. They often use pictures so that you know what you get. But their English skills are usually poor and crack you up sometimes ;p

Thai: They translate everything and often offer pictures on the menu.

- Decor - 

Vietnamese: It's bare minimum. Rough walls, simple tables etc... They might put some pictures or stuffs that are believed to make them rich (golden budda, bamboo trees, flog with coins etc.). Rarely fancy, just simple. Or you can see many "Cafe" style ones. Those types are a lot neater than the former ones. 

Korean: It's simple but they seem to put more efforts than Vietnamese. Dark color furniture, their characters or Chinese characters on the wall etc.. Or miss-matched decors picking up from IKEA catalog and their own furniture places - half contemporary and half traditional... It cracks me up ;p 

Japanese: I think it's the cleanest and most welcoming. Fancy places are usually very simple and minimalism. 

Thai: They put their traditional statues and pictures of their county a lot. 

- Payment -

Vietnamese & Thai: Most of them are CASH only or $10 minimum for credit card usage. You better bring cash just to be safe side. It makes me smile when I see the signs of credit cards ;p 

Japanese & Korean: I rarely see Cash only places. (Restaurants in Mitsuwa are cash only)

I can keep going and going.... I just wanted to give you heads up for your Asian restaurant visit. Trying their foods and seeing cultural differences in restaurants do help you to understand where they come from. You don't see all but I do enjoy seeing the differences from my culture ;)


I'm Asian foodie, so you can trust me ;)