Free Samples at a Korean Supermarket Aren't Lunch, My Friend.

This happened when my friend Timmy ended up staying in Korea longer than expected.

We went to a nearby E-Mart, a big Korean supermarket chain, to get him a blanket, a few things he needed, and some groceries for the house. I go there pretty often since it's close to my place, so for me, it was just a normal grocery run.

We got the bedding and household stuff first, then headed down to the food section.

Then we smelled grilled meat

While we were putting things into the cart, we started smelling something really good.

Someone was grilling meat nearby.

Timmy loves food, so of course he immediately started walking toward the smell.

We followed it and found a free sample station.

A woman working there was grilling meat and giving small pieces to customers to try.

When Timmy got closer, she picked up a piece and held it out to him.

There was just one problem.

Timmy doesn't speak much Korean.

He looked at the meat.

Then he looked at the woman.

Then he looked at me.

His face was basically saying:

Is she giving this to me?

The woman kept holding out the meat, and Timmy just stood there looking confused.

They were standing there silently looking at each other, and I couldn't help laughing.

"Eat it. She's giving it to you."

As soon as Timmy understood, his eyes lit up.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

He thanked the woman a few times and immediately put the meat in his mouth.

He chewed for a second.

I didn't need to ask what he thought.

He loved it.

Then Timmy started getting a little too comfortable

Timmy finished the first piece, but he didn't leave.

He looked back at the woman.

There was a very hopeful look on his face.

She laughed and gave him another piece.

He ate that one too.

Then he looked at her again.

I started thinking:

Wait. Is he planning to keep eating?

In Korean supermarkets, you'll often see free sample stations like this. You usually try one bite, and if you like it, you buy the product.

Timmy seemed to have a slightly different understanding of the system.

He was treating the food sample like the beginning of a meal.

"Hey."

Timmy looked at me.

"That's not lunch, my friend."

He laughed.

But by that point, I think he'd already eaten quite a few pieces of the grilled meat.

So I finally laughed and said to the woman,

"Can I get some of this? It's really good."

And just like that, I ended up buying some of the meat we had been sampling.

Timmy looked extremely happy.

I went to the supermarket to buy groceries, and somehow I'd bought extra meat.

Then we found the dumpling samples

We went back to shopping.

A little later, we came across another free sample station.

This time, it was dumplings.

I looked at Timmy.

Timmy looked at me.

And this time, he just kept walking.

He didn't even try to get closer.

I think he remembered what I'd told him earlier.

Okay. He's finally learned.

Honestly, I was kind of grateful.

But then I thought about it. Trying one sample was obviously fine.

So this time, I told him to go ahead.

"Go get one."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Just try one."

Timmy slowly walked over to the sample station and took a dumpling.

He ate it.

I laughed.

The woman working there laughed too, and Timmy started laughing as well.

We finished our shopping and headed home.

On the way, I asked him,

"Did you eat a lot of samples today?"

He laughed.

"It was really good."

I just laughed.

Maybe next time I should keep him away from the sample stands.

Although, honestly, I'll probably try them with him again.

One piece is fine.