Why don't Ethnic Chinese Restaurants serve milk?!
Anyone have a clue as to why they do this? When I asked my hosts they just shrugged their shoulders.
Answers:
If it's frequented by Asians, Milk probably would not be a very big seller. Asians in general have a much higher level of lactose intollerance than those of European decent.
Well, the Eastern Asians don't generally drink milk after they pass the "baby stage". That's because they usually lack an enzyme so they have intolerance in lactose (as Mark says). Asians also don't usually eat cheese.
I once met a girl who is half Philippinese and she told me so.
For that matter I don't see a lot of other restaurants serving milk. The only restaurants that serve milk are the ones that target children as regular customers like McDonalds. Chinese restaurants are definitely not "children's restaurants".
It's ridiculous to ask for milk in a Chinese restaurant, they don't drink milk. They were probably laughing at you in the kitchen.
All I can say is "Milk is for babies and beer is for men."
I would have had a beer.