Eating out abroad with kids: 7 things to sort out before you order

Before you go: learn how people eat there

Dining customs vary a lot from country to country. In Japan, many ramen and set-meal shops have you buy a meal ticket from a machine at the door, and seating is mostly at the counter. Korean barbecue places often require you to order at least two portions. Street food in Thailand tends to be spicy. And in Europe, dinner starts much later than we’re used to in Taiwan. Ten minutes of reading before you leave saves a lot of standing around confused once you’re there.

• Check local mealtimes so you can avoid the busiest hours
• Find out how ordering usually works: ticket machine, order at the counter, order at the table, or order on a tablet
• Learn whether tipping is expected and whether cards are accepted
• Note down a few local dishes your kids might like

Build mealtimes into the plan

Hungry kids can’t wait. What we do is eat 30 minutes to an hour earlier than usual and get into the restaurant before the crowds. We put sights between meals, instead of doing a whole attraction on empty stomachs and then hunting for food.

Can’t read the menu? Check three things first

Even when a menu has photos, it’s often hard to tell what a dish tastes like or whether it’s spicy. Checking these three things before you order avoids a lot of misses:

1. What the main ingredient is (chicken, pork, beef, seafood)
2. Whether it’s spicy, and whether anything is raw
3. Roughly how big the portion is, and whether the kids need their own

I usually take a photo of the menu with my phone and read a translation, and I ask the staff to recommend dishes that aren’t spicy. A translation tool helps you understand the names of dishes, but for flavor and ingredients, the staff are always the most reliable source.

Food allergies and foods your child won’t eat

If your child has a food allergy, you need to prepare separately before the trip. Don’t rely on translating on the spot. I wrote a separate guide on this: “Traveling abroad with a food allergy: how to prepare an allergy card for your child.” Even without allergies, it helps to note down what your child won’t eat, such as cilantro, chili or raw fish, and mention it when you order.

The right seat makes meals much easier

• Counter seats aren’t very kid-friendly. With little ones, ask whether a table is available
• Some restaurants have high chairs or kids’ cutlery, so ask when you’re seated
• Sit by the aisle and away from the kitchen, so it’s easy for the kids to get up

Learn a few local phrases

You don’t need much. A handful of phrases is enough: “thank you,” “not spicy, please,” “do you have a high chair?” and “the check, please.” Have your kids learn to say thank you too. Staff are usually delighted, and the kids feel like they’re part of the trip.

Turn meals into trip memories

Each day, we let the kids pick one local food they want to try, and afterwards we all give it a score. The kids go from being fed to choosing for themselves, and picky eating has dropped a lot. Those meals are also what we talk about most once we’re home.

FAQ