# Substitution Culture in Restaurants

> Restaurants face backlash over substitutions as customers demand changes to dishes.
- Title: Substitution Culture in Restaurants · Eater | Shortify
- Summary: Restaurants face backlash over substitutions as customers demand changes to dishes. Restaurants like Taan and Lom Wong set strict substitution policies to…
- Keywords: taan, lom wong, chicago, substitution policy, fish sauce, dining out, restaurant, customization, food, culture, Substitution, Restaurants
- Source: Eater — https://eater.com/dining-out/993334/substitutions-boundaries-pre-shift
- Author: Mary Anne Porto
- Published: 2026-10-22T14:29:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: taan, lom wong, chicago, substitution policy, fish sauce, dining out, restaurant, customization, food, culture
## Taan's substitution policy
Taan, a Chicago restaurant, limits substitutions to protect Thai culinary identity.

> The first [wave of] immigration of Thai people in Chicago was in the 1970s, and a lot of [Thai] food here still feels like it’s from that time.
## Substitution requests ramp up
Guests increasingly ask for substitutions due to dietary preferences and restrictions.

> It would slow down service and speed, and that was not just affecting us, but the guest experience in many ways.
## Taan's policy shift
Taan implemented a policy stating fish sauce and shrimp paste cannot be removed from dishes.

> Ingredients like fish sauce and shrimp paste are 'the fabric that defines our cuisine,' and therefore, could not be removed from any dishes that include it.
## Lom Wong's award impact
Lom Wong in Phoenix received James Beard Awards and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.

> [After the award,] we had more guests than we were used to picking things apart.
## Substitution boundaries
Lom Wong sets clear expectations for substitutions, including no removal of beef or shrimp paste.

> Sunny is our guiding light of cultural context. [She advises, considering if] changing something about a dish compromises the integrity of the dish.
## Vegan options
Taan offers a vegan, gluten-free fried rice as a 'catchall' option for dietary restrictions.

> We make sure that that dish is also really, really good and substantial; it’s not just an appetizer.
## Key takeaway

Restaurants like Taan and Lom Wong set strict substitution policies to protect their culinary identity.