The big buffet comeback

盛大自助餐的回归

Round Table China

2026-07-23

19 分钟
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单集简介 ...

China's buffet restaurants used to be the pinnacle of dining out. Then they lost their shine and nearly disappeared from the dining scene. But now they are making a surprising comeback, this time in shopping malls with much lower price tags. So what changed, and have diners' expectations changed along with the price? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Xingyu
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单集文稿 ...

  • discussion keeps the world turning.

  • This is Roundtable.

  • You're listening to Roundtable.

  • I'm Fei Fei, together with Xing Yu and Steve Heatherly.

  • Coming up, once upon a time, the buffet in China meant luxury.

  • The special occasion splurge.

  • And then it vanished, stripped off its glamour and left for dead.

  • Now it's back, especially in shopping malls and at a much cheaper price point.

  • So what's changed with buffets now?

  • And are diners still showing up for the same expectations?

  • Our podcast listeners can find us at Roundtable China on Apple Podcast.

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  • And before we dive into the discussion today, remember we said on Wednesday that we're doing something very special?

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  • And now let's come back to today's discussion, buffets.

  • Lately, buffets have been making noticeable comeback in China.