People in northern Thailand traditionally sit on the floor when eating. When the food is ready, it is poured into cups and placed on the khan tok tray. Then it is ready to be served.
Khan tok is used as dining furniture to keep food off the ground at special occasions such as wedding parties, funerals, housewarming parties and temple festivals.
Khan tok dinners involve different foods depending on social status. Khan tok dinners are a northern tradition, especially in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang.