Amid persistent inflation, buffets are once again being seen as a smart, value-driven dining choice — and Ourhome is stepping into that market with a new restaurant brand. It's also the first dining concept the company has launched since joining the Hanwha Group.
Ourhome unveils a global gourmet buffet
Industry sources said on the 10th that Ourhome will launch a restaurant brand called Take, built around a global gourmet buffet concept, with plans to open its first location in Seoul’s Jongno district. The debut outlet will be in the basement of the Yeongpoong Building in Jongno; construction is underway and the company is targeting a late-April opening.
The location — around Gwanghwamun and Jongno — benefits from heavy weekday foot traffic from office workers and draws tourists and day-trippers on weekends, making it a site with steady demand throughout the week.
Ourhome is currently hiring chefs to handle buffet preparation and staff for customer service as it prepares to launch the store. Take is designed so diners can sample dishes from multiple countries in one setting. Prices are expected to sit in the low 20,000 KRW range (approximately $15), though final pricing hasn’t been set.
The new brand will be run by Ourhome’s GP division (foodservice). That unit already operates airport concession shops, fine-dining restaurants and wedding venues, and has accumulated extensive restaurant know-how.
Buffets regain traction as a value option in a high-price environment
Ourhome’s move into buffets appears driven by rising dining costs and a growing appetite for meals that deliver strong satisfaction per dollar. As restaurant prices climb, consumers are gravitating toward buffets that let them enjoy a wide variety of dishes in one visit.
For example, major buffet chains like Ashley Queens and Vips expanded from roughly 80 locations in 2022 to more than double that number last year. After shrinking during COVID-19 social distancing, the buffet market is expanding again during this period of high prices.
Industry observers say Ourhome’s expertise in large-scale catering could translate into a competitive advantage in the buffet space. Its ability to procure ingredients in bulk, control costs, and develop in-house recipes could help it establish a foothold in the value-buffet market quickly.
Some analysts view the buffet push as a strategic effort to diversify revenue beyond catering and ingredient distribution. Having relied heavily on B2B catering, Ourhome appears to be expanding its consumer-facing footprint by growing its restaurant business.
An industry official said, \"As dining prices rise, consumers are returning to buffets where they can enjoy a variety of dishes at once. Ourhome's new brand could further intensify competition in the market.\"
