Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Restaurant etiquette

One of my favorite things about this wonderful country: the FOOD. If you were to look at my Hana Bank account, you would find that most of my spending goes to restaurants ( which is fine by me). I blogged about food here so now it's time for a little lesson on Korean restaurant etiquette.


The Yeogiyo Button and the Yeogiyo yell:
If you need something in a Korean restaurant, you have to call the waiter over to your table. A loud ‘yeogiyo!’ (over here!) will usually suffice, but most restaurants also have a yeogiyo button. It’s a plastic button built into the end of your table. Push it and a bell rings, summoning your waiter. This is not considered rude or disrespectful. It's the norm and so efficient. Nice-uh! 




Mool juseyo!


One menu:


This one can be a little frustrating at points, especially when you are eating out with a group of 10. Many of the restaurants here only give you one menu. Just one. Perhaps it's the whole individualistic society mentality but sometimes, I want my own menu! I've learned to share, though.






Itty-bitty napkins and toilet paper used as napkins: 
I think Korea has the smallest napkins known to man. I go through about 30 of them when I'm out for Korean barbecue. If the restaurant doesn't have napkins, then just look around and you'll find the perfect roll of toilet paper. 


Incomplete without a cutesy toilet paper holder


Suhbuhsuh:
Ahhh suhbusuh/service-ee (Konglish for service). Service in Korea is the act of receiving free things. Yep, free. Sometimes at Homeplus, they'll throw in a couple of toothbrushes for "subbuhsuh." At Etude House, you'll get subbuhsuh in the form of nail polish and make-up remover.  At restaurants in Korea, they'll give you an extra side dish, some soju or dessert as suhbuhsuh. Assa!


Mool teeshoo:
Korean restaurants will give you a small wet napkin known as mool teeshoo (water tissue). You can use this to clean your hands before diving into the lettuce, soybean paste and meat when you're out feasting on wonderful Korean barbecue. You can also use this to clean your hands and face after your feast.






Scissors as knives:
Scissors are often used for food in Korea. In many restaurants, you will receive a pair of scissors to cut food (especially meet and noodles that are too long to handle). 

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