Korean Job Discussion Forums

[korea.teacher]

I got refused service at a small restaurant this afternoon (had problems at a second restaurant, too) and need some help understanding what happened and how to fix it.

I was on my way to visit a local temple and stopped at a small restaurant to grab a gimbap to take with me (btw I'm dressed nice and look like a typical tourist enjoying the weekend).

Like a "hundred times before," I explained to the cook behind the counter that I was vegetarian, to please leave out the meat and egg and requested a vegetarian gimbap.

Never had a problem before.

The cook started making it but stopped when another lady behind the counter with an angry face said something, and then the lady looking uncomfortable motioned for me to get out of the restaurant.

I went across the street to another small restaurant to try again.

In this case, I walked in but when I got in line the lady preparing food turns around and stares at me like she's disgusted, and stares and stares and stares, and when I look around, everyone is staring. So uncomfortable, I just left.

I decided to return home and stopped by a food court at a Lotte Mart. I ordered there (bibimbap). Same kind of situation, but this time the employees were helpful and smiling and added, "Enjoy the meal."

I've never experienced the kind of rudeness I experienced at the first two places.

I'm wondering if the behavior might be related to these restaurants being the kind of small eateries you see on side streets, that they might not have experience with foreigners and don't know how to interact with them.

I'm trying to figure out what to do differently next time so I don't get refused service.

[cabeza]

I find a lot, certainly not all, of the older women over the age of about 45, to be the most unfriendly, sour people in Korea. I have also encountered the frowns and stares.
On Thursday my girlfriend, who is Korean, and I were on one of the islands in Southwest Jeollanamdo. We walked into a small restaurant and the woman looked at us like we had just taken a dump on her doorstep. This continued throughout the service. She didnt say a word. Dumped the food down. Took the money. Nothing. I just laughed, becuase what can you do?
My girlfriend said it's just how older women tend to be. Sourpusses.

So, why did they do that to you? Who could say?
Bad day? Offended at being asked to alter their kimbap? Don't like foreingers? Just bitches? A combo of all those things? I would pretty much bet that you did nothing wrong.

It used to really bum me out and piss me off. But like you said, there are lots of nice people who go out of their way to be courteous. So swings and round abouts.

[Julius]

[young_clinton]

There had to have been something about you, what you wearing, possessed etc. for two women at two different restaurants to show disgust. Of course maybe one restaurant phoned the other restaurant.

I had a woman at the bus depot in Buyeo refuse to give me service for some strange reason (in this case most likely language difficulties, other cultural no no's).

[korea.teacher]

[korea.teacher]

[/quote] It could be any one of a hundred things, but something about your account makes me think you were too hesitant and did not express yourself quickly and clearly. When you've got twenty people waiting for a gimbap the last thing you need is someone timewasting and causing confusion. quote]

Actually, in the first tiny restaurant I was the only one in line; everyone else was seated and eatting.

In the second place, I was at the end of line when the food preparer turned around and just stared at me like she'd never seen a foreigner, looking rather depressed and scary at the same time.

[optik404]

I'm assuming you spoke in Korean? My friend always a for no egg, but they always give him one n his bibimbap. One time I asked for no mayo at mcds and they gave me a dumbfounded look. I think a lot of places don't like when you modify the order.

[korea.teacher]

[Deja]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia

[dairyairy]