What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
I don’t know how much is considered expensive for lunch and dinner. I think over *$50 (5000 yen ~ 8000 yen) for lunch and $100 (10000 yen ~ 16000 yen) for dinner.
*$1=100~160 Japanese yen
〇 Wagyu Restaurant in Japan
Over 10 years ago, I visited Osaka with my friends. We were hungry, so we stopped by the Kobe beef restaurant. The restaurant was Teppan-style (e.g., Benihana restaurant), and I paid $50 (5000 yen ~ 8000 yen) per person.
*Wagyu/Kobe beef is from black cattle raised in Hyogo prefecture.
〇 Polynesian Restaurant in Florida
I went with my female friend before, and I liked this place. So, I invited my dad in 2019. My female friend was originally from China, and her parents owned a big company. I am from a middle-class family in Japan. I always check menu prices before ordering, but she asked a server, “What is today’s special menu?”.
The restaurant served great food and Polynesian dance shows. We drank (I drank juice 😅), ate full-course dinners, and watched dance shows. Including a tip, I paid over $150 (15000 yen ~ 24000 yen) per person when I went with her. And I paid over $100 (10000 yen ~ 16000 yen) per person when I went with my dad.
About 15 years ago, I worked in an upscale Japanese restaurant. This restaurant closed a long time ago, but I want to tell you how much each sushi was…
- Nigiri (2 pieces): $8~10,
- Sushi Roll: $10~20,
- Sushi Combo with Miso Soup or Salad: $20~50,
- Omakase (Sushi Chef’s Choice): ???
How much are operating costs?
- Food cost: 28~35%,
- Labor cost: 25~30%,
- Other costs are Rent, Marketing, Equipment, Technology and so on…
In Florida, many Asian restaurants are family-owned. To make a profit, working with family members is good.
I talked to the Japanese restaurant owner in 2012. At that time, to open a small restaurant was over $100,000, so now it is over $200,000. Not cheap at all…😱
In my opinion, expensive doesn’t always mean high quality.
According to Internet sources, only 20% of total restaurants can be successful.
Photos by LILI
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