The Mysterious Art of Table Claiming in Taiwan
Just last week, we went to IKEA for lunch. From outside, we saw plenty of empty tables and felt pretty relaxed - looked like finding a seat would be a breeze. But once we got inside, we realized those tables weren’t empty at all. They were claimed - each one silently reserved by something ordinary: a jacket draped over a chair, a pack of tissues, even a lone keychain on the table. No people, just personal items standing guard.
If you’ve been to a Taiwanese food court, you’ve probably had a similar experience. You spot an open table, stomach growling, only to find it’s already “taken” by a pen. Or maybe it’s a half-empty water bottle, an umbrella, or a tragically crumpled tissue pack.
At first, it might seem like someone stepped away mid-meal. But no - that pen isn’t just a pen. It’s a flag planted in the name of fried rice. That umbrella? A silent bouncer. Even a random glasses case sends a clear message: “This table is taken. Don’t even think about it.”
These items aren’t abandoned. They’re declarations.
Welcome to the unspoken art of table claiming in Taiwan.
It’s a kind of public-space etiquette built on trust. No signs, no timers -just a mutual understanding that if an object’s there, the seat is spoken for. And people respect it. Locals won’t touch a placeholder, even if it looks like it’s been there forever. They’ll keep looking for a truly unclaimed spot - often while standing beside a perfectly “empty” table guarded by a bottle of mineral water.
Why? Because there's an invisible code. A cultural norm. A placeholder - even a pen - is off-limits. It’s not about the item’s value; it’s about respecting boundaries and avoiding awkwardness. Sure, you could sit down (and some do), but most won’t. In Taiwan, it’s often easier - and more polite - to wait than to challenge the system.
Unless the item looks abandoned for days, it’ll likely stay untouched until a cleaner clears it away. Until then? That umbrella reigns supreme.
Want to join in? Go for it. Just don’t use anything you’d be sad to lose. If a cleaner mistakes it for trash, you might lose your placeholder - and your lunch.
BTW, this placeholder etiquette goes beyond food courts. You’ll spot it outside temples, clinics, concert halls - anywhere people line up early. Instead of standing in line, you’ll see neat rows of water bottles, jackets, and plastic bags marking spots. It might look odd to outsiders, but here, it’s just another clever way to wait - without really waiting.
Comments
Post a Comment