21st December 2025 – (Taipei) A Taiwanese hotpot restaurant has sparked heated debate online after staff shared CCTV footage showing three diners repeatedly helping themselves to unlimited items – and then secretly packing extra food and drinks to take away, despite clear rules banning take‑outs.
According to a staff member, the restaurant offers rice, noodles and beverages on an all‑you‑can‑eat basis for dine‑in customers only, with prominent notices stating that food may not be packed to go. Yet a family group of three not only took generous portions of vermicelli and rice during their meal, but also removed additional items at the end of the sitting. The staff member wrote that this was “the first time” such behaviour had been encountered and appealed to diners to show consideration, noting that “running a business and making money is not easy”.
The incident, which occurred on the evening of 10 December, was later reviewed by the restaurant manager, who checked the surveillance footage after noticing discrepancies when clearing the table. The manager found what was described as “spectacular” images on screen and decided that a firm response was needed.
The footage shows an elderly man, an elderly woman and a younger woman seated at a four‑person table around 7pm. After finishing their hotpot, the older woman, seated against the wall, can be seen placing several unopened packs of instant noodles next to her on the bench. She then quickly slips the packets into her handbag in one smooth motion, while the man beside her watches but does not intervene.
The clips further reveal that the family did not stop at dry goods. Towards the end of the meal, the younger woman passes a plastic bag to the older woman, who then picks up unopened canned drinks from the table, places them inside the bag and twists it tightly closed. The restaurant later commented under the post that if the diners had simply asked, the items could have been sold to them at a discount.
In a detailed account on social media, the staff member said the group spent NT$867 (about HK$221) on their meal at the all‑you‑can‑eat hotpot venue. They allegedly left with several packs of instant noodles and at least one canned drink concealed in their bags. The staffer stressed that the restaurant’s policy allows customers to take as much rice, noodles and soft drinks as they wish while dining in, and that the prices were kept low to ensure nearby students could eat affordably. What upset staff, the post added, was the deliberate attempt to smuggle food out despite already generous portions and clear house rules.
The employee also noted that the manager had even provided extra meat to the group as a goodwill gesture because they were the first customers to arrive that evening, only to discover later that additional items had been taken without permission. The episode left staff “speechless” and frustrated.
Once the CCTV footage was posted, it quickly triggered strong reactions from internet users. Commenters accused the diners of shameless behaviour and a lack of basic ethics, pointing out that it is common knowledge that food from “all‑you‑can‑eat” deals is not meant to be taken away. Many described the conduct as greedy and embarrassing, with some suggesting it amounted to theft and could justify a police report. Others remarked that the diners’ furtive manner – repeatedly covering and bagging items – showed they were fully aware that what they were doing was wrong.
Despite the anger, the restaurant ultimately decided not to call the police. Instead, according to the staff member, the establishment placed the family on an internal blacklist, ensuring they will not be allowed to dine there again. The post’s author said the decision was taken because the value involved – three packets of noodles and some drinks – was relatively small, but added that “where there is a first time, there can be a second”, explaining that the purpose of sharing the footage was to vent frustration and highlight the issue of customer behaviour.
The post Taiwan hotpot diners condemned after secretly packing food from all‑you‑can‑eat buffet appeared first on Dimsum Daily.
No comments yet.