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I’ll admit, I was one of the many typical westerners who assumed that all Asian countries use chopsticks. And since Thailand is in Asia, they must also use chopsticks, right? Wrong! Thai people do not use chopsticks.
Thai people really only use chopsticks when they’re eating Chinese food or when they have noodles in soup.
There’s a lot more to know about good table manners though than using chopsticks or not. Keep reading for my top tips so that you can properly eat Thai food like a local!
Table of Contents
Do shoes stay on or off?
Usually, your shoes will stay on when you go to a Thai restaurant, but it’s a good idea to look at the entryway first. If you see a shoe rack or rows of shoes outside, you’ll want to take your shoes off too.
Some smaller cafes will even be set inside people’s homes. And if you’re going in someone’s home, you should always take your shoes off.
Be sure you greet the host
In Thai dining, it’s customary to greet the host. When greeting the host, you should put your hands together like you are going to pray, and take a very small bow forward.
There is also one Thai traditional greeting that is used for everyone and everything. Yup, just one. “Sawasdee.”
Thais don’t say something different for “Good morning,” or “Good afternoon,” or “Hello.” They just say “Sawasdee” and follow it with “ka” if they are female, or “krub” if they are male.
So, if you are greeting someone in Thailand this is what you would say:
- If you are female, you would say “Sawasdee ka”
Pronounced as “Sah-wah-dee Khaaa” - If you are male, you would say “Sawasdee krub”
Pronounced as “Sah-wah-dee Khrap”
This makes it easy since you’ll only need to learn that one basic greeting!
What about chopsticks?
Surprisingly, Thai people do not use chopsticks as often as you think. The only time you’ll see Thais use chopsticks is when they are eating Chinese food (duh!) or noodle soups.
Chopsticks just aren’t a thing in Thailand. Thais prefer spoons.
Really…a spoon?
Yes, that’s correct. Not a fork, but a spoon. Thai people will primarily use a spoon to eat with. The fork is only used as a shovel to push food onto the spoon. And since Thai food is already bite size, there is no need for a knife.
And those soup noodles? They still use chopsticks, but they use them to put the noodles onto their spoon.
Don’t ask for salt and pepper
You’re not going to find salt and pepper shakers on the dining table. Thailand’s equivalent to salt and pepper is fish sauce and Thai chilis. There will be little jars of them on every table. You may find them already mixed together or they may be in separate jars ready for you to combine on your plate.
You may be sitting on the floor
If you find yourself sitting on a mat or pillow on the floor, it’s important to make sure you don’t point your feet at anyone. Stretching your feet or legs out in front of others is considered offensive and rude in Thailand.
You should sit with your legs tucked to the side or sit cross-legged.
You eat rice with your hands
If it’s sticky rice, it’s eaten with your hands! Ball it up, then make it into a pinch pot and use it as a little edible spoon to eat.
Any other type of rice you will use a spoon, making sure that the fork is only used to push the rice onto the spoon.
Don’t wait for them to bring you the bill
In Thailand, eating is a social activity and isn’t rushed, so you’ll likely need to let the host know when you are ready for the check. The international “air check mark” works here just like it does everywhere else.
Don’t be caught off guard when you look at the bill either. Restaurants are allowed to add a VAT (value added tax) and a 10% service charge to your bill, if they prominently display the fee to customers.
Considering how inexpensive food is in Thailand, this may only amount to a few cents. And not all restaurants do this. But it’s still something to be aware of.
Tipping isn’t customary
Thailand does not have a tipping culture and tips are not expected. If you do decide to tip, it should only be loose change or a small bill. Tipping is not percentage based like it is in the US.
Leaving 20 Baht (about .55 USD) is appropriate if you want to leave a little “Thank you.”
There you have it. My tips for eating like a local in Thailand.
