Side Dish Math, Western Style

A few weeks ago--no, it's February already, so a month ago--during my winter vacation, I was in Myeong-dong, Seoul, and happened to see a T.G.I. Friday's. Now, being the lover of unhealthy western food that I am, especially when I am denied it so often, I quickly ducked into the restaurant chain for some grub.

I wanted a burger and fries (non-Lotteria style), but also some veggies, for I had been living in a hotel for a few days and was missing my normal, semi-healthy diet.

So I asked for just that, a cheeseburger, fries, but also an order of the "freshly steamed vegetables". All this was not cheap, mind you, but, what the hell, I was on vacation.

Problem: the Korean waitress told me, as I knew she would, that the burger only came with one side dish.

Now, this points to a major discrepancy between western and Korean restaurant meals: side dishes in the west usually cost extra while in Korea they are a normal part of the meal; not only that, but here they are refilled free-of-charge.

So I told the waitress yes, I understood, and I would pay for the extra side dish.

Her face face screwed up with uncertainty, and she told me she would go ask the manager.

As she walked off, I was left to wonder, "Ask the manager what? If it's ok for me to pay for an extra side dish?"

The situation reminded me of one I had experienced in America, before I left to go teach in Japan. I had gone to Walmart to get my passport photos, and while at the photo counter I asked the teenage male clerk how much they would cost.

"They are 5 for fifteen dollars," he said, "But if you buy 5 you get an extra free."

I replied, to make sure I understood, "So I get 6 for fifteen dollars?"

"No," he said, looking confused, "You get 5 for fifteen dollars. Then you get an extra one free."

I didn't press the issue since I didn't want to get gray matter on my shirt when his brain exploded.

Back to T.G.I.Friday's . . . the waitress returned from speaking to the manager (whom I can't help but think/wish, looking at the list of employees available for advancement, crossed my waitress' name off) and assured me that I could, indeed, get my extra side dish if I was willing to pay for it.

Yes, thank you.

Imagine me, the mathematically-challenged (ok, I'm stupid with numbers) writing this post.

I imagine there is some link here between this and putting 3 of the same damn convenience stores on the same damn street, but other than both situations being ever so ridiculous, I can't think of it . . .