I sat down at the restaurant, but no spoon and chopsticks came. While I waited quietly, the person at the next table opened a drawer and took out their own utensils. I heard that an international student went through this in their first week too. ## In Restaurants in Other Countries In many countries, when a customer sits down, the staff set out a fork and knife for them. Customers wait at their seats, and the staff take care of whatever they need. ## At Korean restaurants At many restaurants in Korea, there are spoons and chopsticks, tissues, and water cups in a drawer beside the table or on a shelf on the wall. Customers take them out and use them themselves. There is a reason for this. Many restaurants have few staff, so when customers grab what they need themselves, the food goes out faster. Even when lots of customers arrive at once, like at lunchtime, there's less waiting. If all the spoons and chopsticks are set out in advance, even the ones nobody used have to be washed again. So they let you take out only as much as you need. To Koreans, this isn't unfriendly; it's a convenient way of doing things. ## Try it right away When you sit down, first look at the side and underside of the table and the nearest wall. There should be a utensil box or a drawer. Tissues and water are often nearby too. If you can't find them, ask, "Where are the spoons and chopsticks?" Those words are enough.