There are different dining etiquettes in every country since all countries develop out of their own beliefs and cultures. You know that it is impolite to eat first while having a family dinner. You know that it’s the eldest person who has to start the meal first. This is one of the dining etiquettes in Korea. But have you ever wondered about dining etiquettes in other countries? Here are some of the dining etiquettes of three Asian countries. Read and compare them with dining etiquettes in Korea.

- Dining Etiquette in India -
Most Indians are vegetarians. This is because they have dietary restrictions according to their religious groups. For example, Hindus and Sikhs do not eat beef and Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol. If you ever have a chance to invite Indians, remember to avoid serving beef or check their personal preferences in advance!
Indians don’t use cutlery for eating. If utensils are used, it is usually tablespoons or forks. Then, what do Indians use to eat their food? Much Indian food is eaten with the fingers. Therefore, everyone must wash their hands before sitting at the table and after finishing the meal. They always use their right hand to eat because they use their left hand in the bathroom.
Just like dining etiquette in Korea, the eldest person at the table is expected to eat first. Moreover, leaving a small amount of food on your plate after you finish eating indicates that you are satisfied. If you finish all your food on the plate, Indians might think that you are still hungry!

- Dining Etiquette in China -
Koreans eat rice with spoons and side dishes with chopsticks. For Chinese, almost all foods are eaten with chopsticks, even rice. They hold the bowl containing rice in one hand and use the chopsticks in the other. When the bowl of rice is nearly empty, they hold the bowl right under their mouth and push the rice into the mouth using chopsticks.
Sometimes Chinese make slurping or belching sounds while they eat. Don’t be offended by this because it is their way of saying that they are enjoying the food. Also, they think it natural to use toothpicks between courses and at the end of the meal around the table. Of course, they cover their mouth while they use the toothpick!
If your plate or glass is empty, they will refill it very quickly because this is a sign of respect. However, you do not need to finish everything they give you because there are no strict rules about finishing all the food. If you are full, just leave a little food in your bowl or leave some tea in the glass to avoid more being served to you.

- Dining Etiquette in Japan -
Japan is one country that has strict traditions and etiquettes. Therefore, it is important to say these traditional phrases such as “itadakimasu” before the meal, which means “I gratefully receive,” and “gochisosama” after the meal, which translates “Thank you for the meal.” Japanese also use chopsticks while eating a meal. However, it is considered rude to pass food directly using your chopsticks to someone else’s plate and vice versa. To get food from a shared plate, they use the other ends of the chopsticks.
You must empty your dish completely because Japanese are very economical. If they give you some extra food, such as another bowl of rice, accept it with thanks. Refusing food is considered bad manners. Moreover, it is okay to make slurping noises while eating soup or noodles. They think it is natural to make some sounds while eating. However, unlike Chinese, it is rude to burp while eating. In addition, avoid talking about topics related to the toilet or something dirty. They would be terribly offended.