Etiquette of eating noodle soup in China

I'm currently in Yunnan, China and one of the cheaper and still very yummy things to eat here is a spicy, oily, rice noodle soup.

I'm used to getting similar dishes such as Laksa at home in Australia with chopsticks and an Asian soup spoon. I'm fully aware ethnic cuisines and eating experiences can get modified to varying degrees when exported.

Here in Yunnan I get a big bowl of noodles with quite a lot of liquid. Normally I would eat the noodles with the chopsticks and sip the soup with the spoon in the other hand. I learned this from watching Asian people eat in Chinatown and in Asian restaurants.

But here I seem to always receive chopsticks and no spoon.

Is it rude to drink the soup from the bowl as though it were a large cup, or do people regard the soup as part of the washing up and not as part of the meal?

I know I can pick it up and drink it if I want, but I want to know if this is either offensive/rude/vulgar/uncouth or just not done for any other reason.

Best Answer

No It really not rude and offensive in fact I have seen many chinese people doing it in the resturants well You may also see some people taking sip with the bowl not with the spoon. The problem with it is that when chinese people drink, they make noise like SHRRRRRR ! which is not good at all. But now as china's culture is also in evolution process so maybe many people find it annoying and do not do. You can do as far as no SHRRRR ! :-)

Pictures about "Etiquette of eating noodle soup in China"

Etiquette of eating noodle soup in China - Joyful Asian women eating traditional noodles soup together

Etiquette of eating noodle soup in China - Top view of black bowl with Asian soup with noodle and green onion served with bamboo chopsticks on black tablecloth

Etiquette of eating noodle soup in China - Delicious traditional Asian soup and rice with vegetables served on tray

How do you eat soup in China?

Soup: Soup is not an essential dish if you have had enough food, but Chinese people usually drink a bowl of soup after (or before) a meal. Soup may be served after all hot dishes have been served. It's served in a big bowl, and the waiter can help you spoon it into your bowl.

What is the etiquette for eating noodles?

Using utensilsIf you are using a fork and a plate, the spoon should be on the left hand and the fork on the right. Push the tines through the noodles and meet the spoon on the other side. Hold the spoon tight and spin the fork until no noodle strands are hanging and then lift it to your mouth .

Is it rude to drink from soup bowl in China?

If it's an actual bowl, then yes, it's rude. Well, 'bad table manners' would fit the bill better, but exhibiting bad table manners in public is considered sort of rude, so\u2026 If it's a cup of soup, then it's considered quite alright to drink from it.

Is slurping noodles rude in China?

Slurp noodles and soup. It is not only socially acceptable to slurp when eating noodles or soup, it is considered polite and a sign that the meal is being enjoyed.

Slurping 101: tips on how to eat a bowl of ramen

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Katerina Holmes, Katerina Holmes, Nadim Shaikh, DLKR