At Singapore hawker centres, diners commonly “chope” a seat with tissues, an umbrella or another personal item before joining a food-stall queue. A Singapore Tourism Board guide explains the routine of reserving a table, queuing at a stall and, where needed, remembering the table number for service.
Eating involves more than one order of waiting. A diner secures the seat first and then waits for food. A tiny packet of tissues can hold one place while its owner stands in another line.