"A single meal out cost me over several hundred thousand won," one consumer said.
Amid rising prices, consumers are flocking to value-for-money buffets that allow them to enjoy meals and desserts in one place while easing the burden of high costs.
According to the 2025 annual consumer price trends released by Statistics Korea on Monday, dining-out prices rose 3.1 percent. Combined with processed food prices, which climbed 3.6 percent, the burden on household food budgets has become increasingly visible.
Against this backdrop, buffets offering both meals and desserts are gaining attention for their value. E-Land Eats, the nation's top buffet operator, has opened five additional outlets of its flagship brand Ashley Queens this year alone, bringing its total number of domestic stores to 120.
The number of outlets, which had exceeded 100 before 2020, dropped to 59 in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has recently shown signs of recovery. VIPS, operated by CJ Foodville, also expanded from 25 locations in 2022 to 35 within a year, adding 10 stores.
Existing buffet operators are cutting prices to secure market share. E-Land Eats lowered the weekday lunch price at its Korean buffet "Jayeon Byeolgok" from 19,900 won to 12,900 won.
New entrants are also joining the buffet market one after another. Catering company Ourhome opened the first outlet of its buffet brand "Take" in Jongno, Seoul, on the first of this month. The weekday lunch price is 23,900 won. Lotte GRS, which operates Lotteria, opened the second location of its Korean buffet "Bokjugeok" in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, last month. Offering more than 50 Korean dishes at 15,900 won for weekday lunch, the chain is being recognized for its value.
Luxury hotel buffets, meanwhile, continue to raise prices. The Parkview at The Shilla Seoul increased its weekend dinner adult price from 198,000 won to 208,000 won. Constance at Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam also raised its price from 195,000 won to 205,000 won. Hotel shaved ice desserts, priced between 130,000 won and 150,000 won, have become a symbol of high-end dining.
At the same time, a shift in consumer behavior is emerging, with families opting for low-priced buffets instead of hotel buffets that were once preferred for family outings. Even on special occasions such as Children's Day, consumers are increasingly choosing value-focused dining options, which analysts say reflects heightened price sensitivity across consumer segments.
