Is asking someone about their fav ethnic restaurant rude?

[heathert]

Did he ask her what the best "Asian" food restaurant was or did he ask her about a specific type of Asian cusine? I could see why she would be offended if he asked about asian food in general. I mean she cannot be expected to be an expert on any one type of food let alone all the different types of food in that region of the world.

Also, there is a difference between asking someone you know and asking some random stranger or acquaintance. It also depends on whether you know the person frequents those types of restaurants.

He just asked what the best places were; they hadn't really spoken prior to that incident.

Heather

[Lunadiana75]

Yes, I can see why she is upset.  Like others said, there is nothing wrong persay with this question if it's in the right context.

Exactly what is Asian food anyway?  Chinese is very different from Japenese which is very different from Thai which is very different from Korean.  It's like saying "Hey, all Asians are the same, and even though you were born and raised in Anmerica you shopuld still be an expert on all things Asian.  So where should I eat?"  Honestly, no one ever asksmewhere the best German restaraunts are!

[NYGirl100]

Yes, I can see why she is upset.  Like others said, there is nothing wrong persay with this question if it's in the right context.

Exactly what is Asian food anyway?  Chinese is very different from Japenese which is very different from Thai which is very different from Korean.  It's like saying "Hey, all Asians are the same, and even though you were born and raised in Anmerica you shopuld still be an expert on all things Asian.  So where should I eat?"  Honestly, no one ever asksmewhere the best German restaraunts are!

I agree, context is everything.  If someone who is basically a complete stranger comes up to me and asks me where the good "Asian" restaurants are, I would be pretty upset, because he clearly didn't know or care what ethnicity I was and lumped all "Asians" together.  I don't mind answering questions from my friends or at least people that I've talked to more than once, and I would rather they ask me first what ethnicity I am and then ask whether I can recommend a good Chinese/Japanese/Thai/etc restaurant. 

[Xanthia, Maker of fine Tin-foil hats since 2007]

Exactly, Lolane.  I have a friend whose mother's family is Cuban, and they frequent Cuban restaurants.  I think it would be A-OK if I asked her about where I can go in town for good Cuban food.

I have another friend whose parents were born and raised in Italy.  They grew up eating the traditional Italian cooking, and it's always amusing to ask them which restaurants in town serve good Italian food!

LOL. when people find out I am from New Orleans, they will sometimes ask me where they can go for some good Cajun food around here, I look them in the eye and say "My house."

"Authentic" cultural foods and what are prepared for the masses are two entirely different things, I like some "Cajun Style" places, but mostly people over spice or "blacken" things and call it Cajun...nope, that would be like me opening a can of Spaghetti O's and calling it "Authentic Itallian food"