News & Trending Travel News

13 Things About American Restaurants That Amaze International Visitors

Some norms in American dining culture surprise visitors from outside of the U.S.

african american waiter serving at restaurant
Updated Oct. 1, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Many Americans are surprised to learn that our restaurant culture is not universal — in fact, it’s far from it.

International travelers often report feeling perplexed by the customs in American restaurants. Of course, if you decide to step up your travel game and visit other countries, you might feel the same way about their dining culture.

Here are 13 things about American restaurants that frequently shock international visitors.

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Tipping is expected

EdNurg/Adobe anxious woman at restaurant taking out money from wallet

This is the top complaint that foreign visitors tend to have when visiting U.S. restaurants. Elsewhere in the world, wages for the wait staff are built into the prices you pay at a restaurant.

The American expectation of tipping 15% to 20% of the bill is not the norm around the world.

For example, in many popular European tourist destinations, customers will tip a few euros if the service is exceptional or if they want to help the server stop living paycheck to paycheck. But overseas, tips aren't considered obligatory.

The dining experience can be rushed

Pintau Studio/Adobe smiling waiter in cafe

Another thing that may shock European visitors is the mad dash at many American restaurants to get food served and eaten and tables cleared so a new batch of guests can come in.

Many Europeans are accustomed to a more lax dining experience, which may include a relaxed aperitif or espresso after a meal.

Water comes with ice

rawintanpin/Adobe glass of water with ice

Many foreign travelers are surprised that all drinks in U.S. restaurants — even water — seem to come with ice.

On the other hand, many Americans traveling outside of the country for the first time may be shocked when they are given a small cup of room-temperature water with a meal.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

Get Capital One Shopping now

There is a menu just for kids

Stanislaw Mikulski/Adobe mom and daughter studying the menu

Kids menus — which tend to include child-friendly options such as chicken tenders and grilled cheese — are the norm in the U.S., even at some high-end restaurants.

Yet, in many places around the world, kids are expected to order from the adult menu and offerings just for children are deemed unnecessary.

The drinking age is 21

Kelly Castro/Adobe no person under 21 allowed sign

Many young travelers are shocked to find that they can’t drink alcohol in the U.S. even though it is perfectly legal to do so in their home countries. 

While the federal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, much of Europe, South America, and Asia let young people drink at age 18 or at least by 20.

In fact, countries such as Mali, Germany, and Malta have even lower drinking ages — 15, 16, and 17 respectively.

Restaurants are open 24 hours

Gitzz/Adobe 24 hours neon sign

Americans know and love their 24-hour diners — whether you have a go-to local spot or a neighborhood Waffle House or Denny’s. But this is not the norm elsewhere.

Some Europeans may even expect restaurants to close at midday, between lunch and dinner. They marvel at American restaurants that are open not only throughout the day but all night as well.

Taxes are not included in the price

nicoletaionescu/Adobe woman checking restaurant bill

The custom of not including the tax in the final price in America can be shocking for visitors when they are dining out or shopping.

Depending on which state they are visiting, travelers may be surprised to find their final bill at a restaurant is quite a bit higher than they anticipated.

Meal portion sizes are huge

Joshua Resnick/Adobe holding huge sloppy cheeseburger

The portion size Americans are used to is not the norm around the world. Research indicates that American plates started growing in the 1970s and 1980s, and many restaurants keep their customers coming back with super-size dishes.

Thus, international visitors may find they need to take advantage of our “doggy bag” culture as well.

Free refills are standard

ภาคภูมิ ปัจจังคะตา/Adobe ice americano coffee

Free refills are another distinctly American dining expectation. In the U.S., patrons can expect to get free refills of soda and juice at many dining establishments.

However, this isn't something travelers from overseas are accustomed to.

Earn money online by taking surveys

$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.

Follow these simple steps to start earning:

  1. Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
  2. Take surveys.
  3. Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!

P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.

Get your share of $55,000 daily by signing up here

Server check-ins are the norm

elnariz/Adobe friendly waiter serving food to friends

Servers in the U.S. are often trained to check in on customers regularly to see if they need anything else.

This attentiveness can often lead to bigger tips from American diners, but check-ins are not customary worldwide. Some foreign travelers may be put off by the practice, as they are used to asking if they need anything from a server.

There is a tendency to ID everyone

CupOfSpring/Adobe  man show valid ID to buy alcohol

Some restaurants in the U.S. ID patrons even if they look like they are more than 50 years old. The process likely comes from the fact that consequences can be severe for any establishment found to serve alcohol to patrons under 21, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

This can be perplexing for visitors from countries that have much lower drinking ages.

Servers take your card away

davit85/Adobe  waiter in apron at counter

At some American restaurants, servers bring you a credit card machine so you can pay from your table. However, most American diners are accustomed to the waiter or waitress picking up a credit card and taking it away to process the bill.

Many foreign travelers expect to pay at the table and might wonder where exactly the staff is taking their card.

Air conditioning is everywhere

epic_images/Adobe waiting to order food

International travelers may be shocked at how commonplace air conditioning is throughout the U.S., including in pretty much every restaurant.

Air conditioning is far less common in countries around Europe, so the arctic feel in American restaurants in the summer may come as quite a surprise.

Bottom line

Jacob Lund/Adobe couple sharing milkshake at a diner

Foreign visitors who eat in U.S. restaurants are shocked by many of the customs they see. But you likely would be just as surprised by the things you might witness in overseas eateries.

So, grab one of your top travel credit cards, book a trip to Europe, and find out for yourself.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • $0 annual fee
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
  • Apply Now
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card
4.1
info
Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

$0

+

Why we like it