Often times at restaurants I wish to take home the leftover food for later consumption. The bf objects to this and says it is a big "no-no" in Thailand. I am not talking about scraps off of plates, but dishes that are basically uneaten. Anyone had similar experiences?

Oh, I no, I pay the bin I can do what I want, but no sense in making a scene over this issue.

One of my clients here in Thailand who would probably be described as on the fringes of hi-so routinely has left-overs 'bagged' for taking home!

Whilst eating at the excellent Veggie restaurant in S Pattaya, I mistakenly ordered a dish that tasted too much like meat. The waiter pointed at the uneaten dish & said soemthing that sounded like "trash" to me. I nodded.

He then bagged it up for takeaway .

So it got taken as far as the first bin down the street.

If there is a substantial portion left my bf unhesitatingly asks to bag it to take home ... and from what I've seen this isn't uncommon or indeed a social faux pas ..

I have been in the company of many Thai boys and although I don't like leftovers, they (the Thai boys) have all mostly taken any excess food away in a doggy bag. Sometimes for them and others have claimed they would give to a sibling or a friend staying in their room. Now, I'm not saying all would do this and I believe that possibly more educated or higher class would not like to be viewed this way.

 

In the US many retired folks do this as the portions in most restaurants are huge.

that doggy bag will be the normal plastic bag you get the takehome variety of the very same dish in-or a collection of those (1 for soup, 1 tiny for the unavoidable chilli, etc.). Sometimes att the very cheap 30 bt eating places you have to pay 5 bt for the plastic container.

But in this area in BKK it is quite uncommon. Anyway-I think Thai food gets dull very soon if not kept well, kept too long or simply left to cold.

that doggy bag will be the normal plastic bag you get the takehome variety of the very same dish in-or a collection of those (1 for soup, 1 tiny for the unavoidable chilli, etc.). Sometimes att the very cheap 30 bt eating places you have to pay 5 bt for the plastic container.

But in this area in BKK it is quite uncommon. Anyway-I think Thai food gets dull very soon if not kept well, kept too long or simply left to cold.

 

I was referring to the styrofoam, usually molded, containers that they slip into a bag. I can understand with the others it would be a pain in the.....

Thanks for your replies. I am beginning to think that my bf is just fussy and not wanting to take leftovers is not a Thai thing. I know even back home some of my friends will not ever ask for a doggy bag nor will eat any leftover food of any kind. I suppose it is personal preference.