[chowfun]

Coming from the States, I am accustomed to tipping big. I've tried to control the tipping somewhat, but I've had very little success so far. I have a lot of empathy for the wait staff and will gladly share my income when they provide average or above average service.

What's your tipping habit like?

[Brown_By_Nature]

I usually tip 5-10% above the service charge in cash. Service charge and tips made on credit cards usually go to the company and not the staff in most cases.

[PDLM]

If there's nothing special about the service then nothing. If something special then it could be anything from a few coins up to several hundred dollars, depending on how special, the size of the bill, the type of place, how often I go there, etc.

[campas12]

most of the restaurants i've been to have SC included- i generally don't add to that. back in nyc, it'd be 20% for decent service, 10% for crap, and 25+% for great.

here i've been tipping cabbies ....usually round up + 5

[Skyhook]

We leave the coins for casual meals, if a larger event say 5 or so friends at dinner, at a more formal restaurant, if we receive William Angliss Institute levels of service, then we might tip a $100 or more...

In my opinion, one of HK's best restaurant hosts, has to be Sing at Jaspa's in Sai Kung, he's excellent, and always works hard to make your evening pleasant. As a result, he gets tipped very well.

I think that has most to do with the reason to tip, if the wait staff helped contribute to an enjoyable evening, you feel compelled to tip fairly.

Bad service gets nothing BTW.

[FilipH]

I didn't even know it's customary to tip in Hongkong (apart from the sometimes included service charge). Good to know though !

[ricster]

I've learnt that most places don't expect a tip. They only expect it from westerners because that's what westerners do.

The taxi drivers always give change to my wife (she's chinese), they've even called her back to tell her there's change. If I'm in a cab and there's change, they tend to hang back as if it's a given.

I say do what you feel is right for you.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by FilipH

I didn't even know it's customary to tip in Hongkong

It isn't - only ignorant Americans with money to burn do it.

[leghk]

Originally Posted by PDLM

It isn't - only ignorant Americans with money to burn do it.

Being from the UK, the only tip I usually leave is "Don't eat yellow snow"

Although not customary for locals, I do tip here (for good service) at restaurants, hairdressers, massage (legit of course),taxis etc. With the discrepency in wages between expats and locals I think it is always good to give something back to the local community.

When bars try to force you to tip by giving your change back in coins then I don't tip on principle

[DanielandHayley]

Originally Posted by leghk

Being from the UK, the only tip I usually leave is "Don't eat yellow snow"

Although not customary for locals, I do tip here (for good service) at restaurants, hairdressers, massage (legit of course),taxis etc. With the discrepency in wages between expats and locals I think it is always good to give something back to the local community.

When bars try to force you to tip by giving your change back in coins then I don't tip on principle

I always tip taxi drivers, and usually at restaurants. It really pisses me off when bars add a 10% service charge tho, expecially when you order your drink at the bar, pay for it there and then...ridiculous