"Shall We Share a Table Instead of Eating Alone?"... The Generation Sitting with Strangers at One Table [The World Through Gen Z]

(38) 90% of U.S. Gen Z View Communal Tables Positively
Seeking Analog Experiences Amid Digital Fatigue
Preference for 'Light Interaction' After COVID-19
"An Opportunity to Get Closer to Strangers"

Editor's NoteMillennials & Gen Z (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) are recognized as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing era, setting new standards across society. In [The World Through Gen Z], we shed light on the lives and values of Millennials & Gen Z around the world and explore how they are transforming society.

The culture of 'communal tables,' where people sit and dine with strangers, is gaining popularity among Millennials & Gen Z. In the past, people had mixed feelings about sharing tables due to the awkwardness and discomfort of being with strangers, but as digital fatigue accumulates and more young people seek analog experiences, perceptions of communal dining are changing.

'Communal Tables' Divide Generations

Recently, the U.S. business media outlet Business Insider reported that "Generation Z is popularizing shared dining by sitting together at the same table," adding that "since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a way to interact naturally with others without any burden."

According to the online reservation service company Resy, 90% of Generation Z respondents said they enjoy dining at communal tables, whereas only 60% of Baby Boomers said they prefer sharing tables. This highlights clear generational differences, with a notably higher preference for communal dining among younger people.

Recently, a culture of dining together at the same table with strangers has been spreading among Generation Z in the United States. Pixabay

In a related survey, 63% of respondents said that communal tables help them meet new people, and 50% shared that they have had interesting conversations with strangers they would not normally approach. Additionally, one in three respondents (about 33%) said they made new friends at communal tables, and one in seven (about 14%) said they found a date.

The culture of sharing tables and sitting together has existed for a long time, but preferences have shifted depending on the social climate. Donnie Madia, co-founder of the Chicago-based restaurant group One Off Hospitality, explained, "After the September 11 attacks in 2001, people wanted more intimate interactions in smaller spaces," and added, "A similar trend appeared after the 2008 financial crisis, with restaurant guests preferring a 'communal atmosphere' of dining together with others."

'Digital Detox' Drives Gen Z... Seeking Light Interaction

Pixabay

Analysts say that the reason Millennials & Gen Z prefer communal dining is closely linked to the 'digital detox' trend, as they seek to escape a life centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and smartphones. In the past, people were reluctant to engage in forced conversations with strangers, but after experiencing social isolation during COVID-19, there is now a clear tendency to prefer light, real-world interactions.

Michael Della Penna, Chief Strategy Officer at the data marketing company InMarket, said, "For people who lack social skills, are somewhat shy, or have long been accustomed to digital environments, sharing a table with strangers is a great comfort," adding, "It offers a safe opportunity to communicate and become socially closer, free from the pressure of having to lead the conversation."

Some see meeting new people as part of the overall experience. Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy, also said, "For Generation Z, 'sharing a meal together' has now become the new standard, and a shared table is the most suitable setting," adding, "Not knowing who will sit next to you is part of the experience and the fun."

'Eating Alone' Culture in Korea... Driven by Rise of Single-Person Households

Woman eating alone. Photo by Getty Images Bank

However, South Korea is considered a country where the so-called 'eating alone' culture is well developed.

According to the 'World Happiness Report 2025' released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the average number of dinners South Koreans had with others per week between 2022 and 2023 was only 1.6. This means that Koreans eat alone more than five times a week. Compared to other countries, the frequency with which Koreans dine with others is noticeably lower: ▲South Africa (5.0 times) ▲Australia (4.9 times) ▲Mexico·Canada (4.8 times) ▲Argentina (4.7 times) ▲Brazil·Italy (4.6 times), and so on.

The report noted, "Eating alone is most pronounced in East Asia, especially in South Korea and Japan," adding, "This phenomenon is mainly due to the increase in single-person households and an aging population."