A YOB threatened to stab a Chinese takeaway owner unless he handed over free chips with tomato sauce.
Gary Sheriff, who was armed with a screwdriver, warned Chungyon Shek “give me some chips with tomato sauce or I will stab you in the head”.
The 26-year-old dropped the weapon without causing any injury when the police arrived at China City in Sunderland.
Sheriff, of Churchill Avenue, Southwick, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and having an offensive weapon.
Judge Brian Forster, at Newcastle Crown Court, jailed him for four months.
The judge told Sheriff: “The courts have one message – anyone who behaves in this type of way in a public take away will receive a custodial sentence.
“There was a weapon, there was a threat to use the weapon and the case involves staff working in a vulnerable, front-line position.”
Julian Smith, defending, said Sheriff has a long-standing problem with drink and had “limited recollection of the words and gestures used” in the incident.
Sheriff has more than a dozen previous convictions for being disorderly, among other offences.