A greasy spoon is a small, cheap eatery – either an American diner or coffee shop, or a British or Irish cafe – typically specializing in fried foods and/or home-cooked meals. The term greasy spoon has been used in the United States since at least the 1920s and is sometimes used in the United Kingdom to refer to a cafe or caff, (which is not to be confused with the European term café, which may mean "coffeehouse" or "bar"). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term greasy spoon originated in the United States and is now used in various English-speaking countries. In Ireland, the term is almost exclusively used in Ulster, especially throughout Northern Ireland and parts of County Donegal (chiefly East Donegal and Inishowen).