The Challenges with American Dining

Hyung Gon Yun (Hugh)

ESL 100

9/29/2013

Final Draft/ Essay1

The Challenges with American Dining

I have noticed there are many differences of dinning styles around the world. This is especially true in the United States because people are so diverse, so people can experience many kinds of food and cultures. Coming from South Korea, the differences that I have experienced in America restaurant style are tremendous. I have been living in Chicago for about five years. Before I came to the United States, I had already known many differences regarding the food, the language, and the culture, but I didn’t know about American restaurant style. Eating out in Korea was very comfortable for me; however, I have had a hard time adapting to American restaurant style like food courses, dining etiquette, and tipping.

            In my experiences, most American restaurants have several courses, and many Americans like to drink wine during the meal. When I order food in an American restaurant, the server always ask me the same questions, such as drink, appetizer, soup, salad, main entrée and dessert. I know I do not have to order everything, but if I order American restaurant style, it is always same courses. Korean restaurants, in contrast, do not have food courses like American restaurants. When a person orders food, the server brings all the food at once. Most Korean restaurants only have entrées. In addition, I have seen many Americans drinking wine during the meal in the restaurant, but many Koreans do not drink wine or alcohol during the meal, and they drink water end of the meal. Even though I have been in the U.S. for almost five years, I still have a hard time adapting to American restaurant style.

            Dining etiquette has also presented some obstacles for me. In the U.S., there is specific dinning etiquette in the restaurant. For example, as soon as people sit down, it’s proper to put your napkin on your lap and the host should eat first. Do not make noise, and do not talk with food in your mouth. I can understand this kind of dining etiquette, but sometimes I forget them. However, in Korea it’s common for people to make some noise when they eat, people don’t have to put their own napkin on their lap, and people can talk with food in their mouth. I have hard time following American dining etiquette because when I eat food, I make noise. Especially when I eat hot soup and noodles, it is kind of loud.  I tried to fix this problem because my wife always gets angry at me during the dinner time. My wife is American and although she enjoys Korean dining culture, she always complains that my eating style is so rude. In Korea, I never had problems with dining etiquette. I always made noise when I ate food and talked with food in my mouth. Here in the U.S., I have to follow American dining etiquette or else people will think I’m rude.

            Tipping is a big part of American restaurant culture and this was a big change for me because I had never tipped in South Korea. At first, I hated tipping because I felt like I was wasting my money. I have learned that tipping is not mandatory in most of the United States, but it is expected in all restaurants. I have also heard that most servers do not earn a good salary from their restaurant owner, but they can make more money from tips. Thus, these days if I go to restaurants, I try to tip 15% to 20% depending on the service. If I have good service in the restaurant, I do not mind paying a good tip. However, if I didn’t get good service, I do not want to tip. These days if I go to a restaurant, I think more about restaurants service and food quality because I pay for the both.

            I really enjoy my life in the U.S. and I’m comfortable with most of the American culture that I have learned since I came here. The one area I still have a hard time adapting to is American restaurant style because of food courses, dining etiquette, and tipping culture. Eventually, I have gotten better at adapting to American restaurant style. If it wasn’t for this dining style with many courses, I wouldn’t get to enjoy dessert so often.