# Appropriateness of using chopsticks in an Asian restaurant **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029 "2012-08-10T01:19:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/21 "2012-08-10T03:19:55Z")
Nonsense. Japanese food is prepared to be eaten with chopsticks. Once you know how to use them, eating _nigiri_ is much easier with chopsticks than with a fork. They’re basically tongs. If you’re using a fork, you’ll have to balance the piece on your fork, or try to split it in two, in which case it is likely to disintegrate. Chopsticks are great. I use them to cook all the time. They’re perfect for scrabbled eggs, for instance. I wouldn’t eat a steak with chopsticks, but Chinese and Japanese food is generally prepared assuming you will not need to cut it further. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/22 "2012-08-10T03:26:22Z")
I take a pair of chopsticks with me when I go for sushi. I use them at the office when I eat sometimes, too, because it’s easy enough for me to keep in my work bag. I don’t use them at all Asian restaurants, because not every Asian culture uses chopsticks. But I’m really not clear on which ones do and which ones don’t. I never know what’s “appropriate” at my local Thai restaurant, for instance… I understand that they don’t really ‘care’ what I do, but I do like to eat in the culture the food comes from. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/23 "2012-08-10T03:34:57Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > The basic concept seem to be confirmed [here, with a bit of nuance](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-01/09/content_297513.htm) while [this seems to suggest that knives (and one assume forks used for ‘stabbing’ food) were too warlike for the dinner table.](http://www1.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2010-10/21/content_398082.htm) > > I don’t know how authoritative either link is, but they’re pretty much in accord with what I’ve always heard. Yes, but I don’t think metal has anything to do with it. Your second link confirms that metal chopsticks have been in use since ancient times, among the wealthy. (First link isn’t working for me.) I can understand why knives were considered too violent for the dinner table, but metal utensils per se were never considered taboo, as far as I know. As an aside, only my eldest uncle gets to use the silver spoon and chopsticks when we get together on holidays. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/24 "2012-08-10T03:35:43Z")
I always eat my sushi with a fork. It’s actually less embarrassing than trying to use the chopsticks. I do at least start with the chopsticks, before asking for a fork. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/25 "2012-08-10T03:37:08Z")
This white American eats his noodles with chopsticks every morning. I use whatever utensil is appropriate. Thai food? Big spoon! Noodle soup or Sushi? Chopsticks! South Indian? Right Hand! > [@](#): > > I gently explained to her that the fork was higher and better technology than chopsticks WTF is “higher” technology? Maybe you demonstrated your lack of manual dexterity, so she extrapolated to your bedroom skills, and therefore didn’t want a second date? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/26 "2012-08-10T03:37:29Z")
What do you mean by “Asian” restaurant? Thais do not use chopsticks with rice. That’s a Chinese and Japanese practice. They use chopsticks for noodle dishes and spoon and fork for rice, the spoon being the utensil that actually conveys the rice into the mouth. So it depends on the type of restaurant. I doubt Indians or Iraqis use chopsticks at all. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/27 "2012-08-10T03:41:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Nonsense. Japanese food is prepared to be eaten with chopsticks. Once you know how to use them, eating _nigiri_ is much easier with chopsticks than with a fork. They’re basically tongs. If you’re using a fork, you’ll have to balance the piece on your fork, or try to split it in two, in which case it is likely to disintegrate. Nigiri is prepared to be eaten with your fingers, and that is easier than using chopsticks. A fork wouldn’t work well in that case, but most other dishes are just as easy or easier to eat with a fork. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/28 "2012-08-10T04:20:34Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Yes, but I don’t think metal has anything to do with it. Your second link confirms that metal chopsticks have been in use since ancient times, among the wealthy. (First link isn’t working for me.) I can understand why knives were considered too violent for the dinner table, but metal utensils per se were never considered taboo, as far as I know. > > As an aside, only my eldest uncle gets to use the silver spoon and chopsticks when we get together on holidays. 🙂 Thanks for fighting my ignorance. I retract my earlier statement and amend it to state that traditionally metal implements such as knives (and probably forks as well due to their ‘stabbing’ nature) were seen as improper for civilized meals. But the impropriety was due to the cutting/stabbing nature of the implements and not their material composition. ---
**Author:** ![greenslime1951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@greenslime1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenslime1951)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/29 "2012-08-10T04:27:54Z")
> [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](#): > > WTF is “higher” technology? More advanced. A fork has more utility, and as far as manufacture goes, is a more sophisticated instrument than two sticks. And to dignify your other snotty comment with an answer, it was our last date because she asked me the question in the first place. Why was I using a fork instead of chopsticks? Because I wanted to. She seemed to have the idea that it was “wrong” to eat Chinese food with a fork. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/30 "2012-08-10T04:57:00Z")
I have a tough time eating sushi in public, because I use my fingers. Exclusively. Wouldn’t know where to BEGIN using a fork, and while I _can_ use chopsticks, I’m just more likely to make a mess. So I use the chopsticks to mix up whatever condiments, and from then on out it’s finger-food. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/31 "2012-08-10T05:11:47Z")
I have these [http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/c50f/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/c50f/) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/32 "2012-08-10T05:18:17Z")
I buy a pack of cheap chopsticks (100 count) before every school year. I eat lunch in my classroom, and if it isn’t a burger, it usually gets eaten with chopsticks. Freaks the kids out a bit to see me eat salad with a pair, but such is life. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/33 "2012-08-10T05:33:52Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > This is my thought; > Panda Express - go for the fork, formal reastraurant - I’ll use the chopsticks because I can and it’s tradition (if I didn’t know how I’d have no problem asking for a fork though). Panda Express? Did you know that you can’t actually get Panda there at all? I know! I was surprised, too! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/34 "2012-08-10T05:46:14Z")
> [@greenslime1951](#): > > More advanced. A fork has more utility, and as far as manufacture goes, is a more sophisticated instrument than two sticks. I dispute the former; forks utterly fail for simple stirring or for situations where grasping is easier than piercing, which is most Japanese food. The latter does not make forks _better_, simply more complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Chipacabra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Chipacabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chipacabra)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/35 "2012-08-10T06:42:29Z")
I use chopsticks for a lot of foods because it’s easier. It’s easier to eat noodles with chopsticks than with a fork. It’s easier to pick up bite-sized morsels that don’t respond well to skewering with a chopsticks than with a fork. You can’t grab with a fork; only scoop, poke, and scrape. Also, chopsticks keep the cheetos powder off your fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/36 "2012-08-10T06:59:43Z")
Yeah, you do it because it’s the correct utensil for the food, not because it’s quaint or whatever. You definitely need them for sushi (to keep the sushi in one piece); I also prefer eating noodles with them. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/37 "2012-08-10T07:03:29Z")
At home we use chopsticks every time I cook Chinese or Korean cuisine. So at Chinese restaurants we always use them too. It just feels natural. Neither of us is of Asian heritage, but what does that matter? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/38 "2012-08-10T07:09:33Z")
> [@Chipacabra](#): > > I use chopsticks for a lot of foods because it’s easier. It’s easier to eat noodles with chopsticks than with a fork. It’s easier to pick up bite-sized morsels that don’t respond well to skewering with a chopsticks than with a fork. You can’t grab with a fork; only scoop, poke, and scrape. > > Also, chopsticks keep the cheetos powder off your fingers. This is pretty much my attitude to. Plus, where I live we are eating in Chinese restaurants more than 90% of the time. But once you get used to them, chopsticks are an extension of your fingers - although growing up using them, a knife and fork are never that versatile. Plus - in Asian culture its really really polite to “serve” bit sized morsels to the plates of the seniors at the table - chopsticks are a really easy way of doing this (I find easier than serving spoons) And to the OP - Given you attitude, I’m surprised the girl didn’t whack you upside the head with a cleaver - you certainly deserved it. And I think she will be rather pleased that you didn’t deign to do her the honour of a second date. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/39 "2012-08-10T07:26:57Z")
I’ve never tried to use chopsticks. I’ve also never been on stilts before. That’s because there are forks and my feet reach the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029/40 "2012-08-10T08:01:31Z")
All the restaurants where I live are Asian. My chopstick skill was already pretty good, but now I’m godly. My etiquette I’m sure could use work still. Looking up this chopstick related vocabulary in Japanese revealed a bunch I didn’t know about: [Chopstick words](http://jisho.org/words?jap=*%E7%AE%B8*&tag=&sortorder=relevance&eng=&dict=edict) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriateness-of-using-chopsticks-in-an-asian-restaurant/631029.md?page=3)