Why a Seoul Restaurant Owner is Cracking Down on Takeout: Shocking Cases of Excessive Food Theft

Daniel Kim | 2026.04.07

돈가스
/Online community
A notice from the owner of an all-you-can-eat pork cutlet spot in Seoul's Guro District has been circulating online—and it's sparking conversation. The sign asks customers to stop packing up and walking out with restaurant food after several incidents of people removing dishes without permission.

The owner says staff have repeatedly caught patrons trying to secretly take pork cutlets, salads and side dishes by stuffing them into containers they brought from home or into disposable plastic bags.

Many of those caught claimed they just couldn't finish their meal, but some took far more than that — the owner reports instances of customers leaving with 12 or more cutlets at once. The most extreme case involved packing 26 cutlets into an 8-liter kimchi container (about two gallons).

Until now, the restaurant has mainly issued warnings out of compassion for customers facing financial hardship. But the owner warns that if the behavior continues, they will take stronger measures. He says he’ll call the police immediately if it happens again and reiterates that buffet-style food is intended to be eaten on the premises.

He also asked other diners to help. If you witness similar behavior, report it to the counter — the owner promises whistleblowers will not face any penalties.

He offered a separate accommodation for customers truly in need: if they visit after 1:30 p.m., he will provide freshly fried cutlets and a meal, and will pack side dishes for them.

He added that he's not well-off himself and that he's running a business, not doing charity work — so he appealed to customers to follow the basic rules.