世論 What Japan Thinks

Between the 1st and 5th of April 2007 MyVoice looked at all-you-can-eat restaurants. This is perhaps a subject dear to many foreigners’ hearts as they can find the portions in Japan a little small. This survey does not, however, cover all-you-can-drink offers.

Demographics

17,261 members of the MyVoice internet community completed a private internet-based survey. 54% were female, 2% in their teens, 18% in their twenties, 39% in their thirties, 26% in their forties, and 15% in their fifties.

I’ve got a few favourite all-you-can-eat restaurants in the Kansai area, and we tend to visit about twice a month. Rather than just listing them, let’s try a Google Map of the locations.

Click here to visit my custom Google Maps map.

My number one top spot is Solviva atop of the Hankyu Terminal Building in Umeda. It’s 1,890 yen for a varied selection of Japanese farm cooking, with some organic veggies here and there. There’s about forty dishes to choose from, then another ten or so desserts, organic coffee and tea, and a wonderful view from the counter seats looking north over Osaka. There’s also an alcohol menu with interesting shochu, from boring old wheat or potato base to milk via corn and sesame.

I also discovered this interesting page of reviews of other all-you-can-eat locations in Osaka.

Survey results

Q1: About how often do you go for all-you-can-eat meals? (Excluding hotel breakfast buffets) (Sample size=17,261)

Once a week or more	0.5%
Twice or thrice a month	1.9%
Once a month	6.8%
Once every two months	7.0%
Once every three or four months	11.8%
Once every six months	18.6%
Once a year	16.0%
Less than that	24.5%
Never	13.0%

Q2: What kind of all-you-can-eat meals do you go for? (Excluding hotel breakfast buffets) (Sample size=those eating them, multiple answer)

Yakiniku (grilled meat)	63.6%
All kinds of Western dishes	35.4%
Various dishes	35.3%
Cake, dessert	35.2%
Shabu-shabu, sukiyaki (hot pot)	34.8%
Sushi	30.7%
Chinese	29.5%
Italian	28.3%
All kinds of Japanese dishes	22.3%
Natural, organic foods	13.2%
Fish, sea food (crab, fugu, etc)	12.1%
Kushi-yaki, kushi-age skewers	11.0%
Curry	9.9%
Okonomiya, monju (savoury pancakes)	5.9%
Asian, ethnic	5.6%
French	3.0%
Seasonal cooking (matsutake mushroom fair, etc)	2.1%
Other	1.4%
No answer	0.3%

Q3: About how much do you usually pay for all-you-can-eat meals? (Sample size=those eating them)

Up to 999 yen	1.7%
1,000 to 1,999 yen	48.1%
2,000 to 2,999 yen	33.9%
3,000 to 3,999 yen	12.6%
4,000 to 4,999 yen	2.0%
5,000 yen or more	1.0%
No answer	0.8%

Q4: Who do you go with to all-you-can-eat meals? (Sample size=those eating them, multiple answer)

Family	66.3%
Small group of friends	54.1%
Large group of friends	17.9%
Lover	12.1%
By myself	3.9%
Other	1.1%
No answer	0.7%

Q5: Thinking about the price, service, food, etc, at all-you-can-eat meals, how satisfied do you feel afterwards? (Sample size=those eating them)

Totally satisfied	8.5%
Quite satisfied	40.2%
It’s OK	38.7%
A little dissatisfied	10.3%
Totally dissatisfied	1.4%
No answer	0.9%

Q6: How do you obtain information about all-you-can-eat locations? (Sample size=17,261, multiple answer)

Word of mouth from friends, family	46.2%
Free paper	34.0%
Internet	30.1%
Shop sign or menu	21.6%
Advertising leaflet	20.0%
Television	19.2%
Magazine	18.1%
Newspaper	6.0%
Book	2.3%
Public transport advertisement	1.6%
Radio	1.4%
Other	1.3%
Nowhere in particular	15.3%
No answer	1.4%

Q7: What are the important points when selecting where to go for an all-you-can-eat meal? (Sample size=17,261, multiple answer)

Delicious food	76.0%
Varied menu	64.0%
Cheap	27.4%
Fast restocking of buffet	26.7%
Good shop atmosphere or view	24.1%
No restrictions	23.7%
Short waiting time	23.6%
Good customer service	22.0%
Discount coupons and other offers	21.9%
Can eat high-grade food	17.8%
Can make reservations	12.0%
Topic of conversation	8.2%
Famous shop	4.5%
Other	1.2%
Nothing in particular	5.7%
No answer	1.0%