"This Is Not a Snack Bar": Jindo Restaurant Forces Unified Orders... Owner's Daughter Says "It's Entirely Our Fault"

After Ordering Multiple Dishes at Sashimi Restaurant, Staff Says "Please Unify Your Order"
Owner's Daughter Admits Fault: "It Was Entirely Our Mistake... We Apologize"

YouTuber Changhyun is talking with a staff member who insisted on unifying the menu after ordering food at a restaurant in Jindo, Jeollanam-do last month. Changhyun YouTube

A restaurant in Jindo, Jeollanam-do, has sparked controversy after insisting that customers ordering multiple dishes unify their order. As criticism mounted, an online user who identified herself as the daughter of the restaurant owner issued an apology in the comments.

Recently, outrage has spread across several online communities as a video by YouTuber Changhyun was shared. In the video, Changhyun, who had served as the MC for a singing contest at the Myeongnyang Battle Festival near Uldulmok in Jindo, visited a restaurant with his companions for a meal.

After sitting down and reviewing the menu, the group ordered grilled gizzard shad, mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), abalone porridge, and other dishes, but received an unexpected response. A staff member told Changhyun’s group, “That’s not allowed. Please unify your order. This is not a snack bar.” When Changhyun asked for an explanation, the staff member said, “We can’t make just one serving of abalone porridge in the kitchen. We don’t use small bowls; it’s cooked in a large pot.”

After a brief discussion, the group decided to leave without eating. While the group reacted calmly, online users expressed anger and confusion. Comments included, “It was the right decision to leave immediately. Are they telling customers to unify their orders just because it’s bothersome to work?” and “If that’s the owner, the restaurant will go out of business.”

As the criticism intensified, an online user who claimed to be the daughter of the restaurant owner commented, “I was very surprised, as was my mother, after seeing the unfriendly service in the video. We just found out about it and were so flustered that I’m leaving this comment in a hurry. The woman in the video is not the owner, but a staff member helping with serving.”

She continued, “My mother mainly works in the kitchen, so she was very shocked after watching the video. She feels sorry for not managing things properly and for causing discomfort and leaving a bad impression of Jindo. We fully acknowledge that it was our fault to treat customers rudely.”

She concluded, “My mother has been running this sashimi restaurant in the same place for nearly 30 years and is elderly, so I hope you understand that I am posting this comment first on her behalf. We will discuss with our family and take immediate follow-up measures. We watched the video together with the staff member in question, and she also wants to apologize in person.”