Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much.
Western cultures teach that one must eat quietly and never ever make slurping sounds when it comes to noodles or broth or anything else for that matter.
Japan is a country which has many unique cultures within it, and slurping is one of the most unusual characteristics! This can be a huge surprise when you come across it for the first time as it often is considered as a bad behavior at meal in many other countries.
Loud slurping may be rude in the U.S., but in Japan it is considered rude not to slurp. Oh, and don't forget to use your chopsticks to get the noodles into your mouth. It is also acceptable to bring your small bowl of food close to your face to eat, instead of bending your head down to get closer to your plate.
Most Koreans do not eat with a knife or fork. Slurping and belching are acceptable while dining, and is sometimes considered a sign of appreciation of the cooking. Tipping is not a part of the culture in Korea.
Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much.
14) Do not slurp your noodles.
That's a Japanese tradition and not acceptable at all in Thai culture. You're supposed to eat as quietly as possible.
Blowing your nose at the table, burping and audible munching are considered bad manners in Japan. On the other hand, it is considered good style to empty your dishes to the last grain of rice.
No Slurping
Never ever slurp the ends of the pasta into your mouth. This is an amateur move and makes for awkward dining experiences in fine dining atmospheres. Instead, work on perfecting the fork technique above, and make sure that the pasta is tightly wound around your fork before you start to eat it.
In Japan, crossing one's legs is seen as disrespectful. It is because when you do this you show the bottom of your feet to guests, and since they have picked up dirt, you are showing that dirt to your guests.
Generally, it is acceptable to burp, slurp while at the table. Staring at another diner's plate is also considered rude. It is inappropriate to make sounds while chewing. Certain Indian food items can create sounds, so it is important to close the mouth and chew at a moderate pace.
6 China: Leave Food On Your Plate
This is the case in China. It's considered rude to eat everything on your plate because doing so implies that you're still hungry, even if you're not.
In China, leave some food on your plate – it's rude to clean your plate, like you're telling your host that he or she did not provide you enough.
Always leave food on your plate in China.
That's not so in China. Finishing your plate when dining at someone's home in China suggests the food wasn't filling enough, and that your host was skimping on the portion size. Always leave behind a little food to show the host that their meal was filling and satisfying.
In China and Taiwan, burping is the highest form of flattery—it means you like the food! “The host considers the noise a compliment,” says Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, founder and president of the Etiquette School of New York.
Strange as it may sound, in Japan it is perfectly acceptable to loudly slurp your noodles while you're eating. The Japanese believe that slurping when eating noodles and soup, is the best way of displaying your appreciation of the food and the person who's cooked it.
It is such a culinary sin that some people ask if it is illegal to cut pasta. The answer is no but it isn't good etiquette. In Italy, it is very common to use the spoon to taste a lot of dishes (e.g. pretty much anything that is creamy or a contains a lot of sauce).
The reason why you should not break pasta is that it's supposed to wrap around your fork. That's how long pasta is supposed to be eaten.
Don't burp: In some countries, for example in India, burping is a sign of satisfaction and satiety. But in Italy, it's unacceptable. Basically, you should avoid every loud sound—slurping is another good example.
It is OK to burp in public, but please pardon yourself:
"Australians often say, 'excuse me' to get a person's attention and 'sorry' if they bump into them. They also say, 'pardon me' or 'excuse me' if they burp or belch in public or in a person's home."
If you're walking around temples and shrines, it is a good idea to be respectful and have a top layer with sleeves and no tummy or cleavage showing. However, it is not a rule and you'll sometimes see Japanese people not following these dress-code standards.
Burping is polite
In China, burping isn't considered rude. In fact, it's actually a sign of gratitude to the cook and satisfaction with the meal. It's a great compliment, so don't be surprised when you hear a burp or two at the dining table.
Not as strict as Singapore, where chewing gum is only available with a doctor's prescription, thailand still has strict laws regarding the disposal of chewed gum. Throwing your chewed gum on the street is prohibited and can get you a fine of about 20000 bath.
Shared dishes are picked up with either chopsticks or forks and eaten in a small hand-size bowl. It's alright to sip or slurp from the bowl and shovel the last bits of a meal using your chopsticks.
Thais use forks and spoons
The Chinese influence tried to make chopsticks the norm in Thailand as well, and efforts were made by way of missionaries. However, the chopstick movement was quickly quashed by the monarchy in charge at the time.