Slurping your noodles loudly is considered a compliment to the chef throughout Japan and China – a sign of deep appreciation for your one-bowl meal. In South Korea and Singapore, however, not so much. There, you might get unappreciative glances – the kind you get when you talk too loudly in a quiet train carriage.

What country is it polite to slurp?

Japan: Slurp Your Food to Say Thank You

Slurping, usually when eating noodles or soup, is a sign of appreciation for the chef. In Japan the louder the slurp, the greater the thanks.

In what culture is slurping good?

Cultures such as Chinese and Japanese, highly encourage slurping noodles as an expression of enjoyment and appreciation of the food being eaten.