What To Expect at a Vietnamese Restaurant
Dining at a Vietnamese restaurant should be an enjoyable experience for everyone. To help familiarize you with the 'process', and to give you a few ideas on what to expect at a Vietnamese restaurant, we've put together this list of tips to help you feel comfortable in your experience.
Seating
Like most serviced restaurants, the Vietnamese have servers to take guests to their seats. However, in cases where the servers are too busy to provide immediate service, it is perfectly ok for guests to pick a table of their choice, without having to wait for the server.
Tea or Water?
It is very common, and almost expected, that every Vietnamese restaurant serves its guests free hot tea upon their arrival. Although hot tea is the automatic offer, guests can ask for water or even iced, unsweetened tea as substitutes.
Reading the Menu
Typical menus often feature the appetizer section at the front, followed by an extensive single meal entree section in the middle. Towards the end of the menu, one would find the 'special dishes', family dinner combinations, and 'veggie dishes'. And finally, the beverage and desserts sections are listed on either the very last page or on the back cover.
Most menus list items in English, Vietnamese, and sometimes, Chinese. Scattered on the pages are photos of 'suggested' items that new guests may find useful.
Ordering
Most Vietnamese restaurants use a menu system that numbers all the items in ascending order starting from number 1. There are two common ways of ordering your meals: 1 - Simply tell the server the number labeled on your choice items; 2 - Write, or mark down that number on the order sheet, if provided. Hand the sheet to the server when you are ready.
For a list of recommended dishes for beginners, click here.
Utensils
Most restaurants prepare more than enough chopsticks and soup spoons for everyone at each table. Guests may use the chopsticks and spoons as needed. Although forks and knives are only provided with certain dishes, they are always available upon request, should you not feel comfortable using chopsticks.
If you are not familiar with using chopsticks, and would like to learn how to, we recommend this article.
When To Use Chopsticks
Many people have the misconception that enjoying Vietnamese food requires the ability to manipulate chopsticks. That is quite the contrary, actually. Many Vietnamese dishes are not accompanied by chopsticks, but instead, by spoons and forks. And all the dishes that are commonly eaten with chopsticks can easily be devoured with forks or spoons.
Dishes that are traditionally eaten with chopsticks include all noodles - dry, and in soups. Rice, when served on plates, or in bowls, is meant to be eaten with a spoon and/or fork.
Paying
To enhance their quick service, most restaurants often have your bill prepared and waiting at the register even before you finish your meals. It is common for guests to walk up to the register to pay for their bill as they leave the restaurant. But if you prefer to sort out your bill while enjoying that last cup of tea, your server will be more than happy to bring it to your table.
We certainly hope this will help, and we wish you a great experience!
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