Thailand doesn't use chopsticks
Unlike Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and China where chopsticks are ubiquitous, Thailand does not traditionally use chopsticks as a primary eating utensil.
Where this was said
Advanced Etiquette: Rubbing, Raking, and Restaurant Habits
At 39:40 · chapter starts 37:50
The hosts move into what they call 'advanced' etiquette, though both agree the ranking feels arbitrary. [1] — Josh Clark "Rubbing disposable chopsticks together to remove splinters is a near-universal habit — and in Japan, it's considered an insult to the resta…" 35:20 The most relatable revelation: rubbing waribashi together to remove splinters — a reflex almost every chopstick user develops — is interpreted in Japan as an implicit insult to the restaurant's quality. Josh freely admits he does it every time and probably always will. They discuss the regional split on rice-raking: lifting a bowl close to your face and scooping rice into your mouth is perfectly normal in China but rude in Japan. The communal dish etiquette is more universal: you should never use your eating chopsticks to serve from a shared plate, because it's germy. The compromise — flipping your chopsticks around to use the thicker end — is slightly more polite but arguably no more hygienic, since that's where your hands have been. Josh and Chuck find the whole thing charming in its specificity.
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