In Qingdao, China, a group of young adults caused a stir by consuming 300 crabs and 50 boxes of durian at a seafood buffet. The group exceeded the limited dining time until the restaurant closed its doors, prompting a discussion about dining etiquette, food waste, and overeating.
According to the South China Morning Post, six men and one woman in their 20s visited the buffet at 5 pm and stayed until 9:30 pm, eating thousands of seafood dishes, meats, 80 mangoes, and 50 boxes of durian for dessert.
After finishing their meal, the group left a table full of shrimp shells and neatly displayed their leftover crab shells. Although the maximum dining time is two hours, the restaurant was unable to stop the group due to the large number of customers that day.
When the video of the incident went viral on social media, Chinese netizens had mixed reactions. Some expressed concern about the health effects of overeating, while others criticized the restaurant for poor management. Meanwhile, others defended the group, saying that as long as they paid for their meal, there was no moral problem.
One of the five Chinese young adults in the group is unemployed, highlighting China’s record high youth unemployment rate of 19.6%, which is becoming a social problem despite the country’s high university enrollment rate.
Young people see seafood buffets as good value, as the price of seafood has been rising this year. Although one of Zhang’s friends claimed to be hungry again only two hours after their meal, there was no way for them to return to the buffet.
This incident sparks an important discussion about dining etiquette, food waste, and overeating. While enjoying a Chinese buffet, it’s essential to show respect for the food and other customers, avoid food waste, and eat healthily.
