Yay or Nay: Should Tumblers Be Banned in Samgyupsal Places?
What's inside your tumblers?
You might have seen many trending TikTok videos of diners eating at Korean samgyeopsal or samgyupsal restaurants. While there is nothing new about watching people eat heartily at their favorite Korean barbecue spots, there was something very different about this video: the diners were sneaking food into a drink tumbler.
@userrrrrrrr88888888 SULBAD SUMSUMAN #samgyupsal #lifehacks #samgyuphack #fyp ? BIZCOCHITO - ROSALÍA
Also read:
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The SPOT.ph Guide to Korean Food
User comments on the viral Tiktok Samgyup Hack:
As of writing, the video has garnered over 1.2 million views and over 1,200 comments. Some comments egged the posters on, and even tagged their friends to do the same.
"u know what to do", "dala tayo", "salamat sa idea", "dalhin mo tumbler mo HAHA", and "ganito pala dapat hahahaha" were some of the comments.
However, some were worried, citing the CCTV, or video surveillance cameras: "wla po ba cctv", "makikita kayo sa cctv", and "Boss namin na tutok sa cctv ???? utusan kame agad para sabihan mga ganyang customer".
Some found it wrong but funny that it was posted at all: "hindi na nga dapat ginawa pinost pa HAHAHQHAHAHA."
This, however, isn't the only incident where food was snuck out of restaurants by other TikTok video posters. Some TikTokers have also taken videos of themselves sneaking out food out in erm, ingenious ways, including in their tumblers, in napkins, or simply in their bags. Remember when another TikTok video of folks sneaking out togarashi from a Japanese restaurant made the rounds?
This TikTok "hack" begs the question: was that right for them to do? Or on a more practical note, the next time you visit a samgyupsal restaurant, especially one that offers unlimited food, might tumblers be banned? This might not be a big deal for some, but for those who bring tumblers filled with our choice of beverage, whether it be plain water, an iced coffee, or any special drink the restaurant doesn't serve, this seemingly innocent container might not be allowed in anymore.
Not only that, seeing how some TikTokers employed other means of sneaking out food, it isn't difficult to imagine a future where diners' belongings may be searched by security should they have cause to suspect them of sneaking out food that should be paid for.
Also read: The Serious List: Your Comprehensive Guide to Korean Barbecue and Where to Get It in Manila