# Why are Chinese restaurants (and seemingly only them) operating with "pass-through" doors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575 "2021-05-20T20:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/1 "2021-05-20T20:58:23Z")
It could just be a Hampton Roads phenomenon; I haven’t done any traveling during the pandemic. But at every Chinese restaurant I’ve gone to during the pandemic, they block the entrance to the restaurant (or at least the window to the kitchen) with a structure similar to that used in gas stations in the middle of the night. You talk to them through a microphone; you pass them the money through a slot; they give you the food through a slot. And it’s _only_ been the Chinese restaurants. Not the Asian ones; the Chinese ones. I’ve sat down a couple times at my favorite Thai restaurant during the pandemic. Is it fear of violence; what? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/2 "2021-05-20T21:05:06Z")
We have an Asian eatery doing that in town. The Chinese place is mostly take-out and it is just walk on in. The Chinese Restaurant we love has table service. We went for Valentine’s Day Dinner in fact. The first time we ate in a place for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/3 "2021-05-20T21:16:19Z")
I’ve only been to one particular Chinese restaurant during the pandemic, but they haven’t done this. Right now, they’re operating normally. But even in the depths of lockdown, the front doors were open, and you walked up to the normal counter to pick up your takeout order. No slots or blocked doors. Starbucks I found had the oddest arrangement. They set up a little desk just within the doors. They only allowed one person at a time inside, where “inside” was just a little 4x2 ft area to stand in. You ordered outside and then went in to pay and pick up. It just seemed kinda pointless. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/4 "2021-05-20T21:18:54Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > We have an Asian eatery doing that in town. The Chinese place is mostly take-out and it is just walk on in. In the New Orleans area, the same type of Chinese take-out places are doing the windowed-booth thing described in the OP. I’ve seen it at four different places spread out across the metro area. There’s another more-upscale Chinese restaurant that we like to frequent near our home. They have a beautiful, busy dining room (pre-pandemic) and also do a brisk take-out business. That place **did not** go with the booth-and-microphone set-up – their counter looks the same as normal at least as of recent weeks. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/5 "2021-05-20T21:47:52Z")
I don’t recall a Chinese restaurant like that, but 2 fried chicken places come to mine, Churches and Kennedy Fried Chicken, normally placed in poorer areas which help explain their choice of such a barrier. Some even have a fancy spin thing to pass food/money. What I’ve seen many Chinese restaurants have are those ‘hanging bead’ doors to divide the kitchen from the front area. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/6 "2021-05-20T22:09:53Z")
That is also how the Chinese restaurants I’ve been to in NYC and on Long Island have been operating during the pandemic. However I suspect that the actual reason is that most of (all?) the places being talked about are the tiny hole-in-the-wall set-ups where there is maybe space for one seat/table inside and then it’s just a counter with the kitchen straight behind. They aren’t places that would normally be used for dine in anyway. And for whatever reason, Chinese take-out restaurants tend to use this format more than other cuisines. So it’s just really simple to put up a barrier between the customer and the workers. Could also be that a lot of these places are run by people who have had more experience with that kind of thing in China and wouldn’t have the same objections to a barrier that looks like that as other cultures might. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/7 "2021-05-20T22:39:36Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > However I suspect that the actual reason is that most of (all?) the places being talked about are the tiny hole-in-the-wall set-ups where there is maybe space for one seat/table inside and then it’s just a counter with the kitchen straight behind. They aren’t places that would normally be used for dine in anyway. And for whatever reason, Chinese take-out restaurants tend to use this format more than other cuisines. So it’s just really simple to put up a barrier between the customer and the workers. One of the Chinese restaurants in question actually has a fairly large dine-in setup, capable of fitting 30-40 people, probably. But yes, most of them are hole-in-the-walls. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/8 "2021-05-20T23:17:00Z")
My local go-to Chinese place has the pass-through. Now I hunger for pork dumplings. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/9 "2021-05-21T02:30:28Z")
Before masks became common in my town, it was _only_ the Chinese migrants who were wearing them. And _all_ the elderly mainland Chinese seemed to be wearing them. Plus the Taiwanese of all ages. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/10 "2021-05-21T10:41:53Z")
I think it’s because they know some Chinese patrons will feel fully entitled to walk right past any signage asking them to line up here, or wait there. And the best way to stop that is a barricade that forces patrons to follow their protocols. It avoids having to tell a perhaps regular, or elder customer, that even he must abide the restrictions. It avoids the sin of NOT deferring to elders or regular customers, deeply ingrained behaviours in most Asian cultures, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/11 "2021-05-21T11:01:09Z")
I’ve talked with the Chinese family that runs a local restaurant about similarities that seem universal in Chinese restaurants. Their explanation is that they all order supplies from the same giant wholesaler. When the pandemic began, wholesaler saw there’d be a need for bio security and began offering a set-up for that. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/12 "2021-05-21T11:39:36Z")
It might be a coincidence - I’ve seen this set up at other places besides Chinese restaurants. Both at other types of predominately take-out restaurants and also specifically at doctor’s office, where they now have a barrier at the front desk ( which is really a counter) and a microphone and speakers and a slot to pass paperwork through. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/13 "2021-05-21T11:58:51Z")
I’ve been to three Chinese restaurants this year, and none does this. They are passing out the food from where the cashier sat, near the door, without any special barriers. And last night, when i picked up my takeout Chinese, there were two small parties eating in the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/14 "2021-05-21T14:14:56Z")
I’ve been to three Chinese takeout places during the pandemic. One has this set up. The other two do not, merely putting up a plexiglass panel near the cash register. The one that uses it was one of the first to reopen. I suspect it was an overabundance of caution, when some people were blaming the Chinese for the epidemic. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/15 "2021-05-21T15:02:37Z")
The Chinese place by my work has this. It is the “whole in a wall” strip mall joint and it was probably fairly easy to construct a plywood “wall” with plexiglass barrier but I do find it interesting that this is a seemingly common set-up for Chinese food joints around the country and not for the other restaurants in the same strip mall. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/16 "2021-05-21T15:07:14Z")
FWIW, the family-run Chinese restaurant from which we regularly order delivery shut down entirely for several months at the start of the pandemic, even when other restaurants were still doing carryout and delivery, and they cited health concerns as the reason why. Even after they reopened, they have been exceptionally careful. When they re-opened, they kept their dining room closed (it’s still closed today), and they went to contactless delivery – their driver would set the bag next to our front door, ring the doorbell, and then back off 10 feet or so to watch and make sure that the food was brought inside. I’ve not done carryout where I pick up there since the pandemic started – I haven’t seen one of those pass-through doors at their restaurant (I drive past there regularly), but I would not be surprised if they have some sort of enforced distancing inside for carryout patrons. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/17 "2021-05-21T15:12:58Z")
I think what strikes me as odd is that every other place I get food from has gone the “Hang sheets of plexiglass from the ceiling over the regular counter” route. Only the Chinese food place has moved the point of sale up 10-15’ from where it previously was and constructed a wall to further keep the customers out. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/18 "2021-05-21T15:13:36Z")
I’ve never seen a Chinese place do this but then again I haven’t eaten Chinese since the pandemic. The only place I’ve seen do this is a pizza place downtown but they’re open regularly as well and they’ve been doing it since before the pandemic. I did, however, go there because of the pandemic, because it was a couple months ago, before I had gotten the jab, but everywhere was opening back up regardless, and my previous attempts to get calories found the convenience stores jam packed with the maskless. In fact I’ve only gotten carryout from two places since the pandemic: an Indian place which is walk-in, and a Japanese place that _used_ to deliver to your car when you pulled up, but now has a barrier where you pay and slide, but indoors where you have to run the gauntlet of the unmasked hanging around and breathing into the air waiting for their teppan yaki table to open. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/19 "2021-05-21T15:16:04Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > But at every Chinese restaurant I’ve gone to during the pandemic, they block the entrance to the restaurant (or at least the window to the kitchen) with a structure similar to that used in gas stations in the middle of the night. You talk to them through a microphone; you pass them the money through a slot; they give you the food through a slot. I’ve seen that as well at two different Chinese (one Sichuan, one Northern Chinese) restaurants in town. Both have ample dine in space. Though recently as restrictions have lessened they’ve opened up the dining area. But I did think it was a bit curious as well. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575/20 "2021-05-21T15:21:12Z")
My hypothesis, particularly for Chinese restaurants which are owned by immigrants and/or have older family members working there, is that they have experience with (or at least, more personal knowledge of) previous viral outbreaks which were more limited to China and Asia, like the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. Thus, the higher degree of caution in those restaurants, compared to others. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-chinese-restaurants-and-seemingly-only-them-operating-with-pass-through-doors/942575.md?page=2)