Buffet style restaurants are unique from other food establishments. Your food is already prepared and presented on various buffet tables, and you walk around until you piece together your desired meal. While this is an informal, serve-yourself style, it comes with rules of etiquette to ensure sanitation and positive dining experiences. Here are a few of those etiquette tips so you can properly enjoy your next buffet.  

What Is the Etiquette for a Buffet Restaurant?

1. Use Serving Utensils

No matter if you are grabbing a roll or a fried chicken leg, always use the provided serving utensil. If one is not offered, let a waiter know so they can replace it. While it might seem easier to grab certain types of food with your hands, like pizza or bread, it’s a food contamination risk and will make other guests uncomfortable. 

2. Wait Your Turn

Even if you are in a hurry to eat, never reach across someone to grab your food. This could cause you or the other person to spill their food or plate since you are not giving them room to move around. Wait for your turn until you are in front of your chosen food.  

3. Keep Serving Utensils Where They Belong

Using one serving utensil to serve multiple options of food is a cross-contamination risk. This could make the food unappealing to other guests, or someone could have an allergic reaction from the unknown mixture of food.

4. Keep the Buffet Line Moving

Some buffets are explicitly designed to enhance a good flow of traffic, so there aren’t crowds of people piling up in one section. Help keep the flow going by moving quickly through the buffet line. If you are unsure of what you want, feel free to roam the buffet and assess all your delicious options. Then you can rejoin the line once you have made your decision. This will give you a chance to explore and possibly try new foods while also keeping with the flow of the buffet line. 

5. Keep a Close Eye on the Children

Some children get excited by the buffet style of eating since the food is in arms reach. Try talking with your children about specific etiquette tips for them, such as not running through buffet lines or grabbing food right off their trays. If they are still too young to get their food on their own, try making their plate and getting them situated before creating your meal. 

For an all-you-can-eat Asian seafood buffet that the whole family can enjoy, go to McCully Buffet, located in Honolulu, HI. With over 25 years of experience, they cultivated their skill in creating a wide range of Korean and Japanese staples. Take advantage of their children’s discount by enjoying a delicious family dinner any day of the week. For customer reviews, visit their Yelp page or call (808) 951-0511 to make a reservation.