Do You Share Dishes at Chinese and Other Asian Restaurants?

[Admiral Yi]

Based on a Back Room conversation about ordering at Chinese restaurants.

[Ed Anger]

It's slop.

[Zanza]

Depends. If the food is served at the center of the table, meant to be shared, I share. If it is served as a single plate per customer, I don't share. Everything else would be strange.

[Gups]

Of course.

[The Brain]

Yes. I am not gay.

[Barrister]

Some Chinese places will do a "combo plate", with 3 different dishes on your plate.  That of course is eaten individually.

But other than that - of course it's family style.

[garbon]

Depends. Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

[merithyn]

Have never eaten Chinese food - in a restaurant or as take-out - family style. Not something anyone I know does.

[merithyn]

Depends. Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Is that the Jaron option?

[Admiral Yi]

Some Chinese places will do a "combo plate", with 3 different dishes on your plate.  That of course is eaten individually.

But other than that - of course it's family style.

To be clear, I'm not asking about places at the mall food court.  I'm talking about sit down restaurants with a waiter.

[Maximus]

Never knew it was an option. But then I don't think I've eaten in a chinese restaurant that wasn't a buffet.

[Barrister]

Some Chinese places will do a "combo plate", with 3 different dishes on your plate.  That of course is eaten individually.

But other than that - of course it's family style.

To be clear, I'm not asking about places at the mall food court.  I'm talking about sit down restaurants with a waiter.

I'm talking about sit-down joints too.

But mind you the places with "combo plates" I'm thinking of are all shitty northern-Canadian restaurants.

[Jacob]

Yes of course.

[Syt]

Depends on where I go, what is ordered (and whether it comes on a plate or in a serving dish with plates extra), and with who I'm there.

Though with a larger group we might order platters (at any restaurant, not just Asian) plus some extra dishes for everyone to mix and match.

[Malthus]

I always assumed "family style" was how it was eaten. Everyone I know generally eats it that way. In Chinese restaurants, you get a serving dish and seperate plates.