Chope
chop seat
Here, chope is the local word for reserving a place, not the restaurant-booking company.
Just Tell Me
Chope means saving a seat or place; at Singapore food centres, a tissue packet on a table often means someone is coming back with their food.
Also called: chop seat, chope seat
Explain Like I’m Five
Think of the tissue packet as a tiny “reserved” sign. Its owner is queuing for lunch, so the seat can look empty without being available.
Where You’ll Run Into It
At a hawker centre or kopitiam, friends may save seats while someone buys cai png. A dabao order is takeaway, so it does not require a seat.
Example
“You chope the table; I’ll queue for chicken rice.”
Your friend saves the seats while you order, so you can eat together when the food is ready.
Watch Out
An item on a seat can signal that it is taken. Ask if you are unsure, rather than moving someone’s things. If you join a partly occupied table, ask which seats are free.
Choping is a common convention, but not everyone likes it. Be considerate: save only the seats you need, share unused space, and come back after ordering instead of holding a table while you go elsewhere.
Use something inexpensive, such as tissues; do not leave your phone or wallet unattended.
Sources
Related
- foodDabaoUpdated
Dabao means ordering food or a drink to be packed for takeaway instead of eating or drinking it at the stall.
- foodHawker centreUpdated
A hawker centre is a shared Singapore dining space where many independent stalls sell a wide range of prepared food and drinks.
- foodKopitiamUpdated
A kopitiam is a local coffee shop where drink and food stalls share a casual dining space serving a neighbourhood or nearby workers.
- foodCai pngUpdated
Cai png, also called economy rice, is rice served with a customer’s choice of prepared dishes displayed at a food stall.