Snack bar

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A snack bar in Amsterdam

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A snack bar usually refers to an inexpensive food counter that is part of a permanent structure where snack foods and light meals are sold. A snack bar at a beach is a small building situated high on the sand.

Besides soft drinks, candies and chewing gums, some snack bars sell hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, potato chips/corn chips, et cetera.

While this is usually the case, sometimes "snack bar" refers to a small cafe or cafeteria.

Various small, casual dining establishments might be referred to as a "snack bar," including a beverage and snack counter at a movie theater and/or a small deli.

Most places that have snack bars, in order to get people to spend money if they want food or drink, adopt a policy of, "No Outside Food or Drink".

[edit] In Japan

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Snack bar (hostess bar). (Discuss)

A sunakku bā in Sukagawa, Japan (note the absence of windows)

In Japan, a "snack bar" (スナックバー sunakku bā), or "snack" for short, refers to a kind of hostess bar, an alcohol-serving bar that employs female staff that are paid to serve and flirt with male customers. Although they don't charge an entry fee (and often have no set prices on their menus), they usually have an arbitrary (and expensive) bill or charge a set hourly fee plus a "bottle charge". Customers purchase a bottle in their own name and it is kept for future visits. Typical snack bars are segregated ethnically, and customers can choose from Thai, Filipina, Russian, Korean and Japanese entertainers in ascending expense. Dating hostesses is discouraged but not forbidden. It is often possible to pay the bar for dating privileges. Prostitution is illegal and snack bar hostesses are normally not prostitutes. In Japan, "snack bar" can also refer to a candy bar.