Dining tips

Rice: Wait for the server to dole it out. Once the bowl is empty, cold water is added to the crusty remains to create a rice soup.

Eggs: That whole egg placed next to your tofu pot is raw. Just crack and add it to the bubbling stew. Stir gently to fold it into the depths of the stew, where it will steam to soft-cooked perfection.

Soup: Keep your bowl on the table instead of bringing it to your mouth, and use the long-handled “emperor’s spoon.”