Unit canteens include organs, institutions, social organizations, private non-enterprise units, enterprises, etc., to supply internal workers, students and other centralized dining food service providers. Commonly found in schools, companies, factories and military barracks, is a large number of people to eat collectively. Most of the unit canteens are attached to the unit's logistics department and are generally considered to be non-profit.

Definition of unit canteen has a textual interpretation and the provisions of existing regulations: "Modern Chinese Dictionary" canteen: organs, organizations in the supply of members of the unit to eat the place. Cafeteria is a food production operator: "Chinese people's *** and food hygiene law" article 54: "food production operator: refers to all units or individuals engaged in the production and operation of food, including staff canteens, food vendors and so on." ; Article 35 of the Regulations on the Hygiene Management of School Canteens and Collective Dining for Students: "Canteen: an entity that provides dining services exclusively for students after the school's own canteen, contracted canteens, and the socialization of college and university logistics." ; (Catering and Collective Dining Distribution Units Health Code) Article 3: "Canteen: refers to set up in institutions, schools, enterprises, construction sites and other locations (places), for the supply of internal workers, students and other dining units."