Tipping Etiquette in Thailand

[Hal65]

What is the standard tipping etiquette in bars and restaurants? In traditional Thai places is tipping even expected at all? (Reason I ask is I hear in many countries, tipping is a foreign concept)

[JouniF]

Tipping is not expected in Thailand. Thais are very straightforward with money, the price is the price and that's it (when speaking of restaurants and such, markets and such are different, there you can talk about discount).

That being said, I follow, and would recommend to others too, a tipping etiquette in which to leave a small tip when eating food which is cheap and good. For example, if the price is 35, just pay 40. If the price is 50-55, pay 60, and so on. In more expensive places I only tip if I feel like I have received a better than average service, which doesn't happen very often (as with more expensive places, I'm expecting a higher quality in service and food anyway).

Edited May 21, 2014 by JouniF

[marko kok prong]

Depends on the service,if good i tip,maybe 20 to 40 baht,if not i don't,but it is not expected like in the Usa.

[David48]

Hal65 ... you ask a most often asked question.

May I ask you one?

You had an interest in the Kingdom for some many years ... how long have you lived in Thailand?

I'm off to enjoy a brew ...

[Skint]

Many restaurants have a 10% service charge in which case fark all is given as a tip. All other places are given 20 baht.

[Hal65]

Hal65 ...

You had an interest in the Kingdom for some many years ... how long have you lived in Thailand?

Hello, I've been here five weeks. You're right, I've been dreaming of the place for years before I had the opportunity to finally move here :-)

Edited May 21, 2014 by Hal65

[Ulysses G.]

Don't tip in cheap Thai noodle stalls and such. In most medium priced restaurants a small tip is expected, and appreciated - most Thais tip too. I usually leave 20 baht per diner. In an expensive place, a 10% tip is probably about right.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[saakura]

They should make "How much should i tip in Thailand" a pinned topic.

[evadgib]

Many restaurants have a 10% service charge in which case fark all is given as a tip. All other places are given 20 baht.

My suspicions are that the "service charge" is a ruse & unlikely to filter down to the staff. I therefore usually drop THB 20 in the tip box of my regular haunts which is appreciated.

[David48]

Hal65 ...

You had an interest in the Kingdom for some many years ... how long have you lived in Thailand?

Hello, I've been here five weeks. You're right, I've been dreaming of the place for years before I had the opportunity to finally move here :-)

Thanks Hal65 ... just that I noted that you joined 4 years ago.

But have had 25 OP's in these past 2 weeks.

Busy Boy ...

This place is a mine of information.

You will do well ... that's my Tip.

Edited May 21, 2014 by David48

[realenglish1]

It may not be expected but at MK Restaurants The server for some reason always waits after you receive the pay tray like they expect you to pay a tip. I hate this .Why don't they give you your change and leave

Its because they expect a tip . For what. We cooked the food.

[uptheos]

What is the standard tipping etiquette in bars and restaurants?

You've been on this forum for 4 years and you really need to know this?

[larsjohnsson]

Thai people only like to give tip if a farang is paying the bill

[h90]

5-10 % if there is no service charge

[alien365]

I've been told not to tip in the cheap noodle places. Strange since I feel they deserve the tip more than the waitresses usually updating their Facebook status' in the medium priced restaurants who giggle and get all nervous serving the foreigner. The last medium priced restaurant I went to there was another foreigner present. When he paid I heard the staff asking each other how much he tipped and they were disappointed with 100 baht! After I heard that I gave them nothing as the service was sub standard anyway. At Moo Gatat places I wont tip either; the water and ice buckets are overly expensive there and its self service just like MK mentioned by another member.

I now tend to frequent the same places, If they are keeping an eye on my drink then I will tip 20-40 baht. I expect if I lived in BKK then I would be expected to tip more but here that seems acceptable.

[jamie2009]

Tipping in the US is part of the servers salary, you can add it on the CC when you pay the bill, they pay tax on this or give them a few dollars which they prefer as its tax free..

In Italy tipping is not expected but you alaways pay a charge per person per table.

Taxi drivers in Thailand for me always expect a tip especially from the airport in BKK.

i dont tip when I buy drinks, food, if the serice is ok and the food good I will.

[Suradit69]

They should make "How much should i tip in Thailand" a pinned topic.

It certainly gets a certain segment of the TV regulars excited. The same people who are clueless about Thai culture and Thai language and who only seek out farang food in the supermarkets & restaurants and moan endlessly when imported booze isn't served certain days because of religious holidays, suddenly become Studious Keepers of Thai Traditions and announce that TIPPING IS NOT EXPECTED IN THAILAND. Welcome to the 21st century! You don't need to play at being Diamond Jim, but give a thought to the wait-person whose take home pay could stand a little topping up if the service was good.

If you ever watched a Thai waitress/waiter open the folder in which they brought you your check at a farang-frequented restaurant or bar as you're waddling toward the exit, you'd know a tip is very much expected. You might also want to learn at least one Thai expression that you'll hear a lot if you never leave a tip. "kee niaow:" Usually applied to people who have money, but are loath to spend it.

Of course, in small restaurants with a largely Thai clientele it is not common, just as in fast food places and low-end eateries in farang land. My Thai friend always handles the "check bin" when we eat at a restaurant and a small tip is always left.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Suradit69

[Strangebrew]

Well if waitress fat I usually tip her over as leaving. But if lady nice give more than tip give whole thing but sometimes lady can only take tip guess it just depends Opps that's what happens when in the LOS to long It up to you if cheap charlie don't tip if service bad leave small tip if service good big tip if food good drop off tip to chef if food taste bad punch chef in face. If looking to impress date tip big. But 10% to 15% is the norm.But once gave waitress 200% tip pissed off resturant owner who was <deleted>.

[Strangebrew]

First of all MK food substandard I like 8 better Don't like that volcano cone thing at outdoor place at Impact. the oversalted fish from the river that I wouldn't pee in much less eat what is caught in it

[enuff said]

It may not be expected but at MK Restaurants The server for some reason always waits after you receive the pay tray like they expect you to pay a tip. I hate this .Why don't they give you your change and leave

Its because they expect a tip . For what. We cooked the food.

No, not because they expect a tip.

They are told to remove the tray immediately on page 187 of the MK Employees manual. It's part of the business model.

That's why they do it in ALL MKs. Capiche?

Would you work for what they make in a day, no. Your nose is way to high in the air for that. Treat the menials sh#&*tie. That's a good motto.

'nuff said

~

[Spoonman]

I usually balance my tips at some where between 0% and 0% of the final bill depending on service provided.

[lostmebike]

First of all MK food substandard I like 8 better Don't like that volcano cone thing at outdoor place at Impact. the oversalted fish from the river that I wouldn't pee in much less eat what is caught in it

What does this post mean???

[Greg Nixon]

I am a good tipper. I quite often give 10% to 20%. This helps me in so many ways. The waitresses remember me and give me good service. The last two communities I lived in were low down on the totem pole in average income when I moved in. Before I moved out these communities had become first in total family income.

What goes around comes around. If you do well and share it, it comes back to you and how many times would that $3 tip be spent as it passes through your neighbours hands? Perhaps your daughter and son will be employed because the community prospers.

As the communities increased in wealth my son became employed in the first community and then my daughter became employed in the second community. People see you tip and they follow suit. If you cannot afford it do not tip, but if you can be generous. It will come back to you.

[uptheos]

They should make "How much should i tip in Thailand" a pinned topic.

It certainly gets a certain segment of the TV regulars excited. The same people who are clueless about Thai culture and Thai language and who only seek out farang food in the supermarkets & restaurants and moan endlessly when imported booze isn't served certain days because of religious holidays, suddenly become Studious Keepers of Thai Traditions and announce that TIPPING IS NOT EXPECTED IN THAILAND. Welcome to the 21st century! You don't need to play at being Diamond Jim, but give a thought to the wait-person whose take home pay could stand a little topping up if the service was good.

If you ever watched a Thai waitress/waiter open the folder in which they brought you your check at a farang-frequented restaurant or bar as you're waddling toward the exit, you'd know a tip is very much expected. You might also want to learn at least one Thai expression that you'll hear a lot if you never leave a tip. "kee niaow:" Usually applied to people who have money, but are loath to spend it.

Of course, in small restaurants with a largely Thai clientele it is not common, just as in fast food places and low-end eateries in farang land. My Thai friend always handles the "check bin" when we eat at a restaurant and a small tip is always left.

They might say it after you're out of ear shot, but not when there's a chance you might overhear. It's more than their job is worth, they don't know if you can speak Thai or not.

[Seastallion]

I gave a tip once. Had been drinking in a restaurant. Bought a bottle of johnny walker and got quite pissed over the evening. I had to pay for the whiskey up-front as they had to go and buy it. I then had a meal which cost 40baht. I handed over a 500 bt note, thinking it was 50, and waved away the change.

The waiter was so shocked, he said "Noooo, too mut!". It was then that I saw the hundreds on the plate and realised what I had done.

But I stuck to my guns and let him keep it.

The next day, the waiter insisted he buy all my beers! He also wanted me to meet his sister . Unfortunately I was involved with someone at the time.

[Pinot]

In bars I tip 20 baht for 1 drink or 10 drinks. I don't go to many nice restaurants.

[chrisinth]

With the exception of establishments asking for service charges, tipping here in Thailand should be up to the individual based on the service experienced. Nothing is written in stone, it is a flexible medium.

If I am in a bar or restaurant where I know the policy is for the tips to be shared with the staff, and I have enjoyed myself, then I normally tip more than normal.

If I am in a bar or restaurant where I have received bad service my only tip would be for them to get a job they liked.................

[belg]

tipping ? well, take the bills and leave the coins

[HeijoshinCool]

tipping ? well, take the bills and leave the coins

The first time I visited Japan I did that. A few blocks down the sidewalk, the teen male server gasped up behind me, holding out the coins.

[alien365]

I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the service standards when I came to Thailand. In the Thai restaurants in England I was always met with attentive, non intrusive staff with smiles on their faces. This made it a pleasure to eat at their restaurants. Now here it is rare to see a genuine smile or to receive what I would call good customer service which affects my decision to tip. The amount of times I've seen staff play fighting in front of customers or tried to get their attention, but the lakhorn took precedence over customers is unbelievable. That's why when I find genuine friendly places I like to return to them.