Tables covered in plastic tablecloths, uniform chairs, a salt shaker filled with grains of rice to keep the salt dry, pepper, and a napkin holder proudly bearing the words “Bon Appétit”. What characterizes the space of workers’ restaurants? What makes a restaurant a workers’ restaurant? And do places like these still exist today?

In an attempt to explore these questions and trace the design and architectural characteristics of workers’ restaurants, I set out on a journey between eateries across the country. Observing these spaces, in all their details, led to human encounters, stories of food, family, culture, and home.

The work presented here takes the form of a photographic series documenting workers’ restaurants across the country. Through images of interiors, objects, and spatial details, the series traces a shared visual language that runs through these places, revealing the shared patterns that shape them.